How to Overcome Overeating

While reading Eating Well magazine, I noticed an interesting article relating to my last post about food addiction and overeating. David A. Kessler, M.D., author of The End of Overeating, explains the reasons behind the American diet, how the food industry manipulates our senses and choices about food, and how to break free from the vicious cycle of unhealthy eating. I have not read the book, only the article and watched a video on Amazon.com, but it appears to clinically and scientifically illuminate and expose the reason we are compelled to eat the way we do. This book, however, seems to ignore the spiritual element, but his research and findings make it even more clear to me how the enemy uses food against us.

A three-pronged approach to battling food issues is most effective. First, it’s important to be knowledgeable of the physical body, understand the way your body processes food, and how food companies can manipulate your desire for food. Dr. Kessler’s book seems to effectively tackle these realities in his book.

Second, changing your mindset and your behavior is crucial to overcome food issues. Change your mindset by letting food be your slave rather than you being a slave to food. Does food occupy your thoughts? Are you constantly drawn to unhealthy snacks and sweets? Food is your fuel, not your friend. Behavior modification is necessary to either, remove you from a tempting situation, or change your habits and hang-ups with food. For instance, stay out of the junk and snack food aisle at the grocery store. Will not buying a bag of chips really kill you? By the way, warn your children changes are coming to your household. This lowers the amount of confrontation with whining children.

Finally, and most importantly, is prayer. God wants you to have a healthy relationship with food. He is your biggest cheerleader. Trust Him to help you by finding scripture on which to meditate that counteracts the darts of the devil. Jesus, tempted by Satan with food, used His Word to battle, so how much more so will we be tempted and overcome in this same regard. Food is not the answer to our crummy day; Jesus provides us comfort through his word, through the listening ear and reassuring voice of a friend, or through a therapeutic hobby, for instance. My favorite scripture is John 4:34, “My food,” said Jesus “is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work.” Find a scripture, which speaks to your need, and use it when the enemy tempts you.

Be proactive and take charge of your eating with three simple, but challenging tasks:

1.. Be aware what you choose to eat and why you choose to eat and pay attention to hunger cues. Are you eating when you are hungry, sad, excited, etc.

2. Keep away from tempting situations for now. Stay out of the sweet or baking, or snack food aisle at the grocery store, for example.

3. Find a scripture and meditate on it daily, especially in tempting situations.

Share with me your stories of triumph or tragedy related to food. I love to hear from you.

God Bless,

Theresa Anderson

Honestly Theresa - Proverbs 31 Ministries

For those of you not familiar with Proverbs 31 Ministries, let me introduce you. They have an awesome online daily devotion and today's devotion inspired me to leave a comment. Read today's devotion titled Honestly by Lysa Terkeurst, President of Proverbs 31 Ministries and fearless leader to many great ladies on the Proverbs 31 team. I discovered these women to be gracious and giving with the servant heart of Jesus. Please visit their website and today's devotion by clicking here.
I have also copied my comment below which gives a glimpse of my own tale of honestly, related to Lysa's devotion.

Lysa,
Thank you for your honesty, transparency and courage to post your own spiritual and physical struggles. For several years, I experienced the roller coaster weight problems and spiritual convictions associated with food addiction. There, I said it - addiction. Some food, like ooyey, gooyey brownies and warm chocolate chip cookies call my name and compel me to eat them, until they are gone. I'm going to eat them anyway, why not get it over with a little quicker.

Today, by the Grace of God, I am back on track. However, with every meal, I need to make a decision and when wise choices prevail, I praise the Lord. Yesterday, my children and I ate at Moe's (welcome to Moe's!). My daughter ordered a kid's meal which came with a cookie. My son, who didn't get the kid's meal, was not happy and cried big tears to guilt his sister into sharing. After hearing his repeated pleas for that cookie, I decided to let my daughter enjoy her cookie all by herself while my son and I watched. Cruel, some would say, but I told my son - who also derives much pleasure from food at 7 years old - it is good for our character to resist the urge to eat every sweet which looks good. I am happy to say, my son and I both survived without eating the cookie and my daughter enjoyed the entire portion.

Another recent victory came when a plate of chips were placed smack dab in front of my face during an entire meal with friends. I, without guilt, enjoyed 3 or 4 chips then was able to say, "no more and you wimpy chips have no power over me!"

I will revel in the victories my Good Lord gives me until I stand on top of a mountain of victories and look down upon the valley of chips, brownies, and donuts which I willingly denied through the power of Christ!
God Bless You Lysa,
Theresa Anderson

Father not Forsaken

In your youth, did your father ever refuse you a night out with your friends? Did he deny you a slumber party or night at the movies or say no to summer camp because he wanted you to stay home for a change?

My parents weren’t like that, but I knew other parents who were. My mother and father both worked long hours to support our large family. As the youngest of eleven children and mostly unsupervised, I would often come and go as I pleased without asking permission or saying where I would be. In one regard, I loved the freedom, yet I yearned unknowingly for boundaries. In some small section of my soul, a lack of boundaries equated to a lack of love.

I recall as a young girl, one afternoon after school I phoned a friend to spend the night and she said she would call me back after asking her parents. When she returned my call, I remember vividly her response on the other end of the phone. She said, “I can’t come over, my dad wants me to stay home tonight.”

My heart sank and her words hit me in the gut. I wasn’t upset she could not come over; I was upset her parents wanted her to stay home and my parents never did - or so it seemed. Not knowing how it feels to be wanted, I walked outside pouting with my head hung low, kicked the gravel beneath my feet and grumbled to myself, “I wish my parents wanted me to stay home.”

As an adult with a different perspective, I know my parents loved me. They were a hard-working duo with a lot on their plate and doing their best to raise eleven children. However, as a young girl growing up, their lack of involvement in my life led me to habitual bad judgment with poor choices.

Today, as a mom myself, I know how fragile parenting can be. We are all imperfect parents relying on God and his wisdom daily to help our children eventually become healthy, responsible God-fearing men and women of God.

God’s Word says in Psalm 27:10, “Though my father and mother forsake me, the Lord will receive me.” God is our Father and the only perfect parent. He will catch us when our parents fail and He will catch our children when we fail.

When was the last time you told your child you love them, gave them a big hug and let them know you are proud of them? When was the last time you had a meaningful conversation with your child? Do you know their friends or their friend’s parents? When was the last time you spent quality time having fun with your kids?

This week, I encourage you to become re-acquainted with your children. Tell them to stay home for a change because you want to spend time with them. They may not appreciate it today, next month, or the next time you tell them no. But, their heart will expand and your relationship will too.

God Bless,
Theresa