Tuesday 26 September 2006

Question of the Day

What is the difference between cheat and treat?

Discuss.

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6 Comments »

  1. I think cheat is when you make little allowances on a rather regular basis. When you “cheat” it’s easier to continue to make wrong choices. The word just sounds like something you are not supposed to do. I think treat is when you are rewarded for all of the positive that you have done. ex. after 5 weeks of making very smart decisions in reguards to food and exercise, my husband and I treated ourselves to a burger with the bun (was not supposed to have the buns) and we split an order of onion rings. That was it. No more “treating” ourselves. We went knowing that this was a treat and that we could not let it bring us back to where we had been. It tasted sooo good and yet, it didn’t leave me feeling guilty (cheating does).
    Well, that’s my 2 cents worth.

    Comment by Tami — September 26, 2006 @ 5:36 am

  2. I think Tami is onto something - a treat is planned….cheating is typically spurred by emotions or some other fickle factor.

    Comment by Blair — September 26, 2006 @ 6:08 am

  3. I see it much the same way as Mandi and Blair. A treat is rare and planned for, with allowances being made prior to lessen its effect. Like being very careful and disciplined for the week, knowing you will have a piece of pie at a family dinner.
    A cheat is spontaneous and is thereby not thought through. It does not involve a view of the bigger picture but focuses on the moment of desire in isolation from goals. It is also usually surrounded by lies (to ourselves).
    One cheat often leads to another: I have a cake when I shouldn’t, might as well have another since I blew it anyway.

    Comment by lady laura — September 26, 2006 @ 8:51 am

  4. I think cheating is also denying what the root of wanting that food is. Denying the effect having that food might have to your body and success. When I have cheated - it was convincing myself that it wasn’t “that” bad or I “deserved” something.

    Treating to me is EARNING the food that is not the norm.

    So to me-

    Cheat: false deserving
    Treat: Earning

    Comment by Kat — September 26, 2006 @ 12:09 pm

  5. Good answers everybody!! That’s pretty much what I was thinking too. I think that when you plan for a food exception - it’s a treat. I think when you go off plan compulsively, it’s cheating. I also think that frequency has something to do with it. If you’re “treating” multiple times a day, for example, it’s more like cheating. :razz:

    I also think that how you feel about the treat/cheat should be taken into account. I think of it the way I used to think about alcohol. (I don’t drink anymore) My rule was - if you need a drink, you better not have it. But if you would just enjoy one then it’s ok. If you NEED/crave/gotta have that forbidden food, it might be better to resist it. But if you’re planning a treat in perfect control, just knowing you will enjoy a small amount, that’s fine.

    For me, I can have two small squares of a chocolate bar as a treat. I enjoy it and I don’t have cravings. But I wouldn’t treat with something like tortilla chips. I can’t be trusted with them.

    Comment by blestwithsons — September 26, 2006 @ 1:02 pm

  6. I’m with you Blest! No Mexican restaurants for me…the chips and salsa just call my name over and over…Tami…Tami…just one…just one more…Tami…

    Comment by Tami — September 26, 2006 @ 1:49 pm

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