Nov 18, 2020
Episode 055--Stop the Food Madness
Before I lost an extreme amount
of weight and made some drastic changes in my life, I had a
love-hate relationship with Thanksgiving and any other big holiday.
I loved the food, but I hated the fact that it seemed like I had no
ability to control what and how much I ate.
Every year I’d lose and then
gain back more than I’d lost. It was a never-ending roller coaster
ride. I wanted off but I couldn’t find the stop button.
I’d scream to myself, “Can’t anyone
help me stop this madness?” I was talking to the right person
because only I could prevent the forest fire I had started once I
began eating the things I had no control over. Only I had the power
to stop myself from sinking once again into the abyss of food
addiction. But to do that I had to allow God to be in charge of
what I ate.
I wanted to shout to myself,
“STOP the FOOD MADNESS.” But it felt like an exercise in futility.
I was the size of two people, but I still couldn’t lose the weight
and keep it off.
Many of those I know who want to
lose weight have that same love-hate relationship with the upcoming
holidays and don’t want to pack on the pounds through the holidays.
Even if you pigged out at Halloween already, you can begin again.
Remember we are only a failure, when we don’t learn from our
mistakes.
So I want to give you seven tips
to help stop the food madness during the holidays.
- Figure out what you want to commit to doing
regarding eating during the holidays. Sit down and write out your
agreement with yourself and God. Read it aloud to yourself so your
brain knows exactly what you are committing to. Then, keep the
agreement you have made with yourself and God. Plan ahead. Bring an
alternative with you to a holiday meal.
- Know
your limits. For me and many others I know, that is not eating any
sugar-laden desserts. Even one bite can be too much. Many times
during the holidays we falsely use the phrase, “Just this little
bit won’t hurt. I’ll just have one piece of pie and then I’ll be
done.“ While this may work for some people, it does not work for
those of us who know we are in the category of being a sugar and
carbohydrate addict. As my mentor likes to say, “One is too many
and 10,000 is not enough.” This is true for addictions of all
sorts.
- When
filling your plate, choose a smaller plate if available. When I buy
plastic plates for any meals I serve, I choose the smaller sized
plates. It’s funny because no one even sees the difference unless
the other size plate in nearby. The smaller plate is about an inch
smaller all around but it actually helps us not overfill our
plates.
- Thanksgiving or Christmas dinners CAN be
healthy meals because many will have turkey as the main meat.
This is a great low-calorie protein source. If you are hungry, eat
more turkey. Snack on the turkey. Turkey is good. Show the turkey
some love.
- If
you have a lot of weight to lose, understand that one holiday meal
can mean disaster for you. Viewing your eating plan as a forever
lifestyle instead of a diet will keep you on track. It’s not worth
throwing away a year of work on one meal. It can happen if you
don’t get back on track quickly. We must understand that just like
an alcoholic gets better by not drinking alcohol, we will get
better by not eating the foods which are addictive to
us.
- A lot
of tips out there will tell you to eat a little of your favorite
dessert, to eat sugar in moderation, to save room for your favorite
foods and eat less of others. This is dangerous advice for us if we
are obese, morbidly obese, a sugar and carb addict or an overeater.
There is no stopping us once we get started. Many dietitians,
nurse, trainers and doctors don’t understand this. However, we know
our bodies better than they do. Yes I said that. You DO know your
body better than the doctors, dietians and nurse. That means you
are the only one who can begin to take charge of your lives by
listening to what God’s still small voice is telling you.
Make your choice ahead of time. You can’t eat that and you won’t
let anyone else talk you into it.
- Change your mindset. I no longer look at
holidays and worry that I will feel deprived of my formerly
favorite treats. I need only look at my before and after pictures
to understand sugar and high carbohydrate-laden foods are my
enemies. What I started to tell myself when I first began my
lifestyle journey is: “I get to eat healthy.” I also tell myself
that these other people are stuck in having to eat junk that clogs
their system and makes them continue to gain weight, feeling
miserable and leading them towards an early death, which they could
prevent if they just made the right decision. I feel sorry for
them. And I truly do.
At this point in my life, I am
also aware that people are watching me to see what I eat and don’t
eat. My life is silent witness to others trapped in food addiction.
Your life is a witness as well. Who knows you are embarking on a
forever lifestyle journey? What would they think if they see you
eat things they know are unhealthy? What does that say to
them?
Here’s my definition of freedom:
“Freedom is being free from the stronghold that tells me I have to
eat that brownie, cake or dessert. Freedom is not feeling bound to
the foods that call my name in the middle of the night and draw me
to them.
“Today, I am free. I am free
from my cravings. I am free to say no to food temptations. I am
free to walk away and not feel drawn to the foods that will capture
and enslave me again. I am free to make healthy choices.
I am free to provide good fuel for my body.”
“Now may God, the inspiration
and fountain of hope, fill you to overflowing with uncontainable
joy and perfect peace as you trust in Him. And may the power of the
Holy Spirit continually surround your life with His super-abundance
until you radiate with hope!” Romans 15:13 TPT.
Overcomers Link:
https://TeresaShieldsParker.com/overcomers-christian-weight-loss-acdemy/