I bet you didn't know you could have deep thoughts about peach rings. Well, it takes a special kind of talent, but it can be done.You'll recall that a year ago, August 2007, I gave up chocolate. It was a necessity for me-I was eating a lot of it, ruining my health, and making it my source of comfort instead of turning to God to give me strength. I went chocolate-free with the Lord's help.
During that time, I discovered that other things could also taste good. I'd always headed right for chocolate in the past, but I learned that cinnamon is delicious, Swedish fish have always been a favorite, and I rediscovered gummy peach rings, something I'd gotten from time to time as a child.
After nine months of being chocolate-free, I did indulge again, and now I do eat it from time to time, although not as compulsively as before. But I've learned something else.
It wasn't the chocolate that was the problem. It's food that is the problem.
Taking the chocolate away was one thing. It showed me that I do have the ability to turn away from something I love. That was vital knowledge, because I didn't think I could do it before. I honestly give all the credit to Heavenly Father for stepping in and taking that over for me. I could not have done it alone.
But the problem extends much deeper than just chocolate. It's food. Pure and simple. It almost doesn't seem to matter what kind-I just like it. I'm kidding myself if I think that going chocolate-free is the answer to my problems, when I'm still eating all the other goodies that are out there. Substituting gummy peach rings for chocolate doesn't work if I'm eating gummy peach rings every time I get upset.
With all of this ruminating comes the realization that until I tackle my addiction to food in a broad-spectrum way, it never will be conquered. So I'm going back on the twelve-step program I used to get off the chocolate, and I'm going to tackle food as a whole. Going off the chocolate showed me that it can be done, and now I need to apply those principles I've learned to the entire problem. Wish me luck.
21 comments:
Great Blog- you have some really great stuff on here. I am going to have to get a hold of some of your books and give them a read!
That's actually really profound--and the real key, I'm sure. Best of luck!
I'm right there with ya, Tristi. Maybe we can find a way to help each other! I totally understand how you feel.
Wow - I am impressed! I really need to follow your example, but.... uhhhhh..... maybe just not quite right now.
GOOD LUCK!!!!
I'm going to want to know how it goes, so that when I'm ready to to follow, I know the path to take. SO keep up posted!
Good luck, Tristi! I'm sure you will come through with blazing colors! If it would help I could send you a copy of my 8 day rotation diet. Ha, ha! I found it hard to come by rabbit and cassava root there in Utah, though. Have a great day!
I wish you SO much good luck! I always had a nice metabolism growing up was never overweight until after I got married. I gained about 60 pounds over the years.
Last year, I lost almost 40 pounds. That was amazing to me, because I had NEVER had to lose weight. I really didn't think I could do it, but I did. Of course, I gained 20 back, and am gaining from pregnancy (different, of course). But after I have this baby, I have the knowledge that it is possible for me to cut back on eating and exercise and that I can lose weight.
So I know where you are coming from. Let's hope we can all lose the weight we want.
Good luck, Tristi! Remember you are worth every bit of the effort it will take.
Thanks for your support, everyone! I will definitely keep you updated on how it goes.
Maybe you could switch to cinnamon bears instead... LOL
And you CAN do it, Tristi. You've proven it already. Keep it up!
Waving cinnamon bears in front of me, Josi? :)
Thanks for the update! I'd wondered how your chocolate-free life was going.
I hear you on food addiction. Blessings and best wishes to you!
Good Luck Tristi!!!
Believe me, I know how hard it is. I'm addicted to food too. In fact, I'm addicted to everything. When I try to go without TV, I start blogging all the time. When I try to stop blogging, I end up reading all day long (not that reading is bad, mind you. But reading all day long is bad).
But food is different you can eat while you watch TV. You can eat while you blog. You can eat while you read. So, food is the hardest one to tackle.
BUT, I know you can do it!!! The biggest success I've had is when I changed my paradigm from trying to lose weight to trying to be healthy. I had a HUGE wake-up call several years ago and changed on a dime. lost 30 lbs without even trying to diet and exercise, really. But over the years, I've gained it all back because I got lazy. So, I'm trying to get back into that mode of thinking.
Anyway, I always ramble. Sorry. I should have just said GOOD LUCK!!
Oh wow, you are one brave brave courageous woman.
Good luck to you! If you can stay off chocolate for nine months, you can do anything. You go, girl!
So I defiantly have to throw my two cents in on this one since it is up my ally. I'm happy you have made the conscious connection with eating and emotions, that is a huge step. Second, the twelve step program you mentioned... does it work with reasons you eat, issues deeper than food? If not I would be concerned. Going on diets alone are only a band aid and when one losses their discipline (which everyone does because we're human) they will revert back to their old ways unless the underlining issue is addressed and worked out. (This is why gastric by-pass alone does not fix the problem- but that is another issue) I could go on and on about these issues. I am happy for your desire to improve yourself and for again, the recognition that eating is controlled by more than just hunger.
Best luck!
And for the record I think you look great just how you are!!
Hi Haley,
This program is really an awesome one. It's LDS based and deals totally with learning to lean on God in everything and understanding that He can and will heal us in everything, from our emotional pain to our addictions to our physical infirmites. It's called "He Did Deliver Me from Bondage."
Thanks for your concern ...and I'm probably going to be picking your brain a lot. :)
I have actually heard of this program from several people who are trying to heal from anorexia. They say it helped them more than going to eating disorder facilities. I wish they had it when I was recovering.
I think it sounds great and of course you can come to me with any questions or concerns.
Sounds like you are doing it right. =)
I just picked up a book from the library called The Writing Diet. We'll see what it has to say. Ha!
Speaking as a thin man who's never been overweight, I don't know if this will help. I think people need to quit focusing on how overweight they are and simply ask themselves as they're looking at a tree, Could I climb that tree? Without being completely out of breathe?" This is how I tend to view fitness. Can I climb a tree? It's an ability I always took for granted when I was a kid. It's something I don't ever want to be unable to do. Or maybe alternatively "Could I run to the end of my block?" And then actually do it. If you can't, you'll be out of breathe, and your body will tell you what it is you need to do to get yourself to the point of being able to. From there, the question becomes, how much do you want such a basic ability you know you used to have and can have again?
Anonymous, that is a great point. We shouldn't look solely at the numbers on the scale but how we feel and how we function. Right now, I'm pretty much at the, "Hi, Tree! How's it going? Slap me some bark!" stage, meaning I know the tree is there, and that's about as far as it goes. :) I do want to be able to be active, go out and play with my kids and be involved rather than just supervising. It doesn't matter to me if I weigh 130 or 200, as long as I have the capacity to do what I want, but the more a person weighs, the less they are able to be involved in many aspects of life. That's a major reason to lose weight, right there.
Wonderful post. And I can recommend the LDS 12 Step program and He Did Deliver Me from Bondage, too. It's helped me so much in my life.
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