i can’t blame it on being italian anymore
I’m not sure the most politically correct way to say what I’m trying to say. Which may be the reason nobody talks about this issue.
But in an effort to be honest about a struggle of mine,
to open for discussion a topic I believe others will resonate with,
and to speak from a heart of mutual respect and non-judgment,
I will try my best.
(Even as I’m cringing…)
It’s a myth that overeating is a problem only for people of a certain size.
I like to eat.
Actually, I like to eat a lot.
I’ve always blamed it on being Italian. We Ronzinos love us some food!
If there aren’t abundant leftovers, we haven’t cooked enough. If our plates aren’t piled high, we must not be feeling well. If we aren’t addicted to carbohydrates, we’re practically sacrilegious.
But the truth is that it has less to do with my heritage than it does with my heart.
While I’m still unearthing all the reasons why, I can no longer avoid this simple fact:
I overeat.
My portion sizes are routinely larger than healthy.
I usually continue eating long after I’m full simply because it tastes so dang good.
I eat when I’m bored or because it’s “time to”, whether I’m hungry or not.
In the past few months, I’ve realized what an emotional eater I am. I crave carbs when my heart hurts.
I recognized a huge red flag when I caught myself trying to trash my empty Chick-Fil-A carton before my friend noticed it.
Yeah. I have eating issues.
So I’m choosing to go public with my unhealthy eating habits to help force some change in me.
(Nothing says motivation like public accountability.)
My first intentionality is to scale down my portion sizes. Not to minuscule, but to normal. To healthy.
I’m also going to try eating slower. I say try because I usually don’t realize how fast I eat until I’ve cleared my plate. (Yikes.) If you have suggestions on ways to remember to slow down, please pass them along.
And I am going to ask God for help. Sounds so simple, but—to be completely honest—I’ve never asked Him to help me with this before. It’s time to start.
(Still cringing.)
{tackle-hug}
i miss your face. i think it’d be fun to cook and eat with you someday. (i never have done either, really…)
Food is my second love. I’m a big foodie. I could eat and eat and eat and never think twice about it. It’s a miracle I’m not overweight (well, okay… more than the 5-10 baby pounds I’m convinced will never leave) or extremely unhealthy. I would rather eat than do anything else, truly.
Wanna hang out? Sure, where are we eating?
Wanna go on a date (me and Jake, duh)? Sure, where should we eat?
Wanna go see a movie? Yeah, but where will we eat first?
Wanna go get a few drinks? Totally, but do they serve food?
Seriously. Thank God I’m done having babies…. because the amounts I was able to then would put you to shame. Oh for shame. ha!
I kid and I joke, but I do know that for some it’s a big problem, especially the emotional eating….which I struggle with as well. I eat when I’m bored, when I’m sad, when I’m depressed. I do other things during those times as well (ahem…computer time) and I’m slowly being convicted more and more about all that I use to replace the importance of God during those times. He is important all the time, but during those harder times I tend to go straight for the food, instead of going straight to Him. Sounds so simple, and maybe even unrelated to some, but one has everything to do with the other.
Good luck in your quest friend. Know you’re not alone….. I think more people struggle with this than are ready to admit, or even acknowledge to be honest.
@gritandglory says:
you hit the nail on the head. i instinctively move toward food (or friends or music or or or or…) instead of God.
i’ve been thinking all day about something tracee said on her blog: “If we don’t worship God, we WILL worship someone or something else.” i know that whatever is the focal point of my attention is the object of my worship. which means i’ve exchanged God’s glory for worthless idols (jeremiah 2:11). like food.
ouch.
(repentance is in order.)
get out of my head.
@gritandglory says:
shut your pie hole!
yea…. literally! :)
@gritandglory says:
hahaha! thank you for that release of scared-energy with some burst-out-loud laughter!
i don’t know how many times i’ve written the, “i need accountability with my eating…” post. ugh. lost 25lbs early last yr. but it’s back. and in different places, might i add. so i appreciate your openness with this issue. i don’t eat a lot of BAD food… in fact, i keep to a fairly healthy diet but i am weak for chocolate and mindless snacking.
@gritandglory says:
“mindless snacking” sums me up to a T.
when anyone asks if i’m hungry, my answer is “i can always eat”. i don’t even think about whether or not i’m actually hungry! GAH!
i definitely need to surrender it to God. again… like Jeremy below… i’m not sure i’ve really done that either. seems too like… duh, it is food… why do i need God to control this? well, i guess if He didn’t expect it to be an issue, He wouldn’t have put gluttony in the Bible.
shoot dang.
Hey, both of you get out of MY head! Seriously! I think I could have written every word between the two of you so far. Weight wasn’t an issue for me until I was about 30/31, so I could get away with my enormous appetite. I can still eat a lot of people under the table! (Not something I’m necessaryily proud of, btw) Then I had 2 pretty intense emotional events and packed on the lbs, which i haven’t been able to get rid of for the last 13 yrs. Still working on that. Need to lose at least 40 lbs. I’m going public here (can we say “growth?” – my word for the year, but it feels more like I should use Alece’s word, cause it feels super risky!!!) I’ve asked God for help before, but I’m not sure I really wanted it when I asked for it. Clarification – I wanted the result, but I didn’t want the process. I wanted Him to fix it, not change things/me in the mean time. I wanted to get it done and never have to think about it again. And I’m coming to realize that I will have to think about this for the rest of my life. Which is a real bummer. Gahhh, discipline is a real bummer. I guess you don’t do it just for a season and then be done with it. I guess it’s not really discipline in that case. Whatever…
@gritandglory says:
i totally feel you on this one. i also desire the result without the process… and that applies to a whole lot more than my waistline.
I can really relate to this. I’m an emotional eater, and it’s just something I’ve recently started to recognize. My family always celebrated anything with going out to eat, and so that is always my default, and I also eat when I’m down too. I’ve been trying to watch my eating habits, but it’s not always easy.
Now that you mention it, I’m not sure I’ve ever asked God to specifically help me with eating habits. That’s a pretty good idea!
@JewelzSightings says:
Jeremy, great point. Why is it we just try to discipline ourselves to eat differently? What would it be like if we asked God to get involved. I’m dying to lose 30 lbs. I’d be happy if I lost 25… heck if I lost anything.. yet I get so confused with all the diets out there. I know it has to be a lifestyle change. So I’ve been telling God lately that I really want to lose the weight. Now I’m asking Him to show me how. Should have done that a long time ago. Lame…
@randishort says:
Wow! You really do tackle the “untouchable” subjects don’t you. ;-) Thanks for being so honest – gives the rest of us courage to do so as well.
And yes, I completely agree. Though my problem lays in the fact that I don’t eat. Much. Living alone, and working at a job where I cook for 20+ people a day, I just don’t have the desire to cook for myself when I get home (as much as I LOVE to cook).
But when I start to eat. I overeat. When I’m emotional. I overeat.
There’s no happy medium for me – it’s either not eat – or eat tonnes.
A lady in my church confessed to this same issue a couple of months ago. The ladies from our church were going out for lunch and a buffet was suggested since it has a variety of items for those who are picky eaters (raises hand!) and is a little cheaper. And she asked if we could go somewhere different because of her love for food. We were all shocked. She’s not overweight. She’s NEVER been overweight. But she understood that she had a problem.
There has to be a healthy balance there somewhere. Finding it is a struggle oftentimes.
Will be praying for you Alece.
@tamhodge says:
i was watching a health channel once…once, and they did an eating exercise with a young lady who over indulged regularly. they had her dish up what she would normally pile on her plate for dinner. they sat her down, gave her a napkin and utensils…AND a blindfold.
she had to eat with a blindfold on.
the purpose was to get her eyes off the next bite, which was only tricking her into thinking she was still hungry cuz there was still food left on the plate. instead, she ate about a 1/3 of the portion she had served herself but thought she had eaten much more. she was completely full.
i thought that was very interesting.
of course, blindfolding yourself at every meal isnt very practical and might land you a permanent spot in the nutty house if you bust that out in public too often.
but for poops and giggles i’ll totally blindfold you when youre here.
oh, that sounds so wrong.
@gritandglory says:
“for poops and giggles”!? seriously. how do you come up with this stuff!? (i love the way your brain works!)
so interesting about the blindfold. i wonder how i can translate that into my “real life”…
At least she used the tame version of that phrase!
haha! That’s what I was thinking!
@nateonamission says:
haha totaaaalllly :) oh my laaaaaaaaaaaaanta … shoot Alece, you’re rubbing off on me … This post/comments are makin’ my day.
@dg4G says:
Talking while eating is a great way to get you to slow down. Only works when you have someone else who does this naturally as two people who usually go head down, “can’t talk, eating” doesn’t work too well.
And as has been mentioned a few times, giving it to God is a bit of the bleeding obvious (He wants ALL of us after all) but it does work.
There’s an online “course” called The Lords Table you might wanna look at too
http://www.settingcaptivesfree.com/courses/lords-table/
@gritandglory says:
oh wow! that online workbook looks really helpful! i’m gonna be checking that out. thank you SO much, david!
(decision: i need to make myself sit down any time i eat. standing while i’m eating (which i do so often) just increases the imagined “urgency” to eat fast.)
@dg4G says:
I totally forgot about standing and eating, which I used to do all the time, but it’s been over 10 years since I broke that habit and I just naturally sit now…even if no-one else is.
It’s a great course, Diane & I found it through Amanda Sims, and love it!
(And I agree with Marisa, rarely has the unhealthy-relationship-with-food topic been handled so well. Thank you.)
@koalainscotland says:
If there aren’t people around, I’ll watch something while I’m eating…it does slow you down.
As a health scientist, I have many rants about nutrition, eating, food and so on. Oh, and did I mention I’m also a huge hypocrite? :-)
@mjdagenhart says:
The one good thing about my eating habits is how slowly I eat. I even get anxious (like that of walking on the left side of people) if I’m (somehow) not the last one to finish eating. It drives my friends a little crazy, but I refuse to change.
I don’t know how to help you remember to eat slowly. I accomplish it because I am so damn picky about which bite goes next (you would think it was the biggest decision of my life). There’s probably a healthier way to do it.
My biggest problems are that I love me some carbs and I eat WAY too much fast food. All of my favorite meals are carb-ilicious. And I hate to cook. Hate hate hate. So even when I am at home at meal time, I go buy something.
I’m an emotional eater too. The harder the day, the higher the carb content of my dinner.
Right now, I’m stuck between acknowledging my problem and caring enough to actually change.
I’m proud of you for taking the steps to change it.
(For the record, I think you addressed this sensitive topic very well.)
I don’t know my heritage, but I wish I had that to fall back on. That would be pretty cool, actually. :)
I’m a food lover as well. I almost wish I was a stinky cook (not that I’m bragging or anything ;) )
But, because of my love of food, hypothyroidism, and the fact that I had 5 kids in 8 years, I do battle with weight, so I have to be careful.
I highly recommend The Eden Diet book by Dr. Rita Hancock. It’s not really a diet. It’s a grace based eating plan, encouraging you to eat what you love, but only when you are truly hungry, and in healthy portions. It has helped me immensely.
All the mothers in all the ethnic families that I can remember, were insulted if you didn’t pile up your plate with their cooking, and leave your plate clean when you left the table.
The kind of overeating you describe very well can be seen in just about everyone who has given up smoking. Trading one emotionally driven habit for another.
As you say, we’re nervous, bored, and have to do something to occupy us, so we eat.
Changing our bad habits, overeating, or any others,, does require will power. Your are right that faith can give us the will power we need. Faith will also calm your nerves. The less nerves you are when you eat, the less you will eat.
When I was diagnosed with diabetes I was 25 lbs overweight, and had to change my eating habits. I did learn a few tricks.
Never, never eat while watching TV. Don’t eat when you are nervous, or upset. Do something to clam down first, reading the Bible or whatever works for you. I have gone on walks outside before having dinner.
This may seem silly, but I cut my meat, sandwich, into small squares, so it takes me longer to eat. Give your stomach time to tell your brain it is full.
A French Canadian friend said the french eat smaller portions because they savor every bite. Think about how good your food taste before you swallow, or how bad it taste if you cook the way I do. Either can work.
Whatever tricks, or advice, you try, it all really does come down to will power. Faith can given you will power better than anything else, although getting diabetes works pretty well too.
I love that you’re talking about this as well, Alece! It does seem like a “taboo” sort of subject where we can’t be honest with ourselves or each other about it because we’re too afraid of pushing each other into eating disorders or stepping on toes.
I was having a conversation with a friend of mine four or five years ago that really stuck with me. She was talking about digestive biscuits — these cookies they have in the UK that are just moremoremoremore-ish that I ate continuously while I was pregnant and living there. Crunched into yoghurt. She said one day as she was going to get a biscuit, she realised, “I’m going to this biscuit for comfort, instead of to God.”
At first I thought she was just being silly, but when I began to see it in my own life I thought — wow — who is my comforter? A glass of wine? An extra brownie? Going back for seconds because it’s just been a dag-gone tough week? If you take that extra moment to think about the why along with the what, it might speak to you like nothing else!
@koalainscotland says:
Oh crap…does this mean my desire for mini reese’s peanut butter cups count in this conversation????
Thank you for being open about this and sharing your heart! I have the same problem. When work is tough I go for comfort food and eat till im so over stuffed I wish I would puke, When i feel sad I want Bread and more bread. Im almost always the first one done eating before most people have even started and so then…. I go for more. I try to eat slower. and I try to portion less when its in my control. (most of the time its not since i eat out most) I will be praying for you, For us. To trust God to fill us up when we want to eat but are not hungry!
At the risk of sounding like a sexist pig, is it an accepted notion that women tend to eat their emotions moreso than men do? I’m not asking because I believe it fully, but because I’m curious.
Also, since this is such a “taboo” subject…why? Why is it so taboo?
Don’t people WANT to control their weight? If so, why is it so hard to talk about? Why are WE so ashamed to bring it into the light?
I’ll be the first to admit that I’m a little chubby. In fact, right now, about 40 lbs chubby. I’m not a big framed person so a lot of people don’t look at me as being overweight. But I do. I used to be a beanpole. Now I’m more of a telephone pole. But at the same time, I’m doing something about it.
Probably two totally different issues. My wife says I’m like the guy on that commercial that can do anything and lose weight…and she just breathes and gains weight. I know we all are unique and have different genetic make-ups…but….
The bottom line (as I think you’re saying in your post) is that it comes down to control. The areas that you can you are and the areas that you can’t you ask God to give you strength. I think I heard one time though that for a lot of women the things they eat are one of the few things they feel they are in control of (like literally the things they put in their mouth)…and they continue to snack regardless of the consequences (being out of control) because they still feel it’s something they control.
My intention is not to make this a gender issue either. There are plenty of overweight dudes too. Maybe most of us are just a little more comfortable in our skin? I know my little belly doesn’t keep me from dancing around the house, but my wife thinks she should be on display at Seaworld. Really, I say? She’s gorgeous. I don’t understand.
People (women mostly) are afraid to admit that they eat emotionally, because that means we have emotional problems we don’t want to face, and admitting that is akin to men admitting they have a drinking problem when they HAVE TO drink a 6 pack of beer a night. They like that drink, they want it to help them de-stress or just maybe enjoy something they think tastes good, but to admit that it’s SINFUL, that they have a problem with something that shouldn’t be a problem…. can feel taboo. Embarrassing would be the more appropriate word maybe?
My husband and I have this same problem for the same reasons so we aren’t much help to eachother. ha! I eat when I’m upset or bored. He eats when he’s stressed out at work or bored. So both of us after a long week on a friday night when the kids are in bed….. ha! To say we center our night around snacking and movies would be… well… so very true. haha!
@JewelzSightings says:
Russ, You said something that got me to thinking. I wonder in this Christian community, where women are told to submit to their husbands…. if food becomes a place where they get to choose for themselves what they want! I had never thought about that. But I do know this. Many women, including myself, have had a wrong view of submission. With that wrong view it sorta distorts many things… At least that’s been my experience.
I’ve often said the only thing I can change is my hair style… I have often said that it feels like it’s a man’s world and women are only here for the man. That comes out of that warped view of submission that I was taught… NOTE, it was not my husband’s fault. He never demanded my submission….
I don’t know if any of that contributes to women turning to food due to emotional issues… don’t know. But I know it’s a very real dynamic. I see it everywhere… Thank God He is renewing mine and my husband’s minds. We are learning to co-rule and co-reign as God spoke of in Genesis… Thank God!
Just my opinion on your question…
@gritandglory says:
i’m definitely appreciating hearing some guys’ thoughts on all this. thank you for chiming in, russ.
@gritandglory says:
and it IS frustrating how difficult it is to drop even one pound while it’s so easy to gain a few back on. grrrrr.
Thanks for sharing. You know, all our portion sizes are way too big and we eat way to much…too fast…too un-healthy! It’s a fast-paced world and we fall into it.
Consider this: Pray about your schedule first. If it is way too full and you become overwhelmed, consider if every activity is for God and in His will. That may help you slow down.
Consider a routine…a specific time to eat over an alotted time period. If it is scheduled, then you can’t schedule anything else! :-)
Find a dietician who can give you sound advice on portion sizes. The portion sizes America has seemed to have conformed to are way to large. I use a baby plate now, it looks full when I sit down. I am tricking my mind to think my plate is full I must be full! Ha Ha.
Really, I am not one to give this advice…I am trying the same things and trying to find my way. Maybe you will just get a chuckle out of these suggestions. Well, the prayer I know is the right thing to do, other than that…it is just blah blah. Sorry I don’t have more!
God bless! Thanks for sharing, as always.
Mary
@gritandglory says:
i like your baby plate idea…
put your fork down in between bites. yeah, it’s a little obnoxious at first, but it makes a huge difference. also, down water like it’s going out of style.. especially during a meal. those’ll definitely help you go slower.
and remember, it’ll suck at first and you’ll feel constantly hungry, but suffer through it for a week or so and your stomach will adjust and you’ll feel perfectly full with your new portion size.
love you.
oh this reminds me…. to do with the putting the fork down thing….. change your plate size. Only eat off of a salad plate and don’t get seconds. That will help substantially!
Sweetheart, you are so speaking my language! I was raised here in the South (US) where practically EVERYONE cooks and eats (and eats and eats)! I was forced into the clean-plate club as a kid and continue to this day.
I am an emotional eater as well. The secondary source of my problem (after the heart issue) is my mouth. My tongue to be exact. It all just tastes so dang good! My stomach couldn’t care less about most meals and my body doesn’t need half of the stuff I feed it. It’s my mouth that’s out of control (like I haven’t had that problem all my life! LOL)
I know in my head that I have unhealthy eating habits but I lack the strength on my own to deal with it. I’m thinking God is the source I will need to rely on for that. Now to act on it! – As I sit here at my desk with my bagel, cream cheese and coffee! ARRRGGHHHH!
Pray for me!
@gritandglory says:
i totally hear you on your tongue being the issue! i seriously love eating because it tastes good. :: sigh ::
right there with you. and while i’m at it can i just say, forget ethnic heritage, or region of the country, i think it’s all the CHURCH’s fault. seriously, do we ever gather when food is not involved? (Sunday am excluded). if you’re baptist, there must be donuts or a casserole on the counter! but really, i do love food. in fact, there are only 3 things i really don’t like – liver, beets, and boiled okra- and i’ve eaten all 3 of them. i think food issues are/can be some of the hardest to deal with because anything else you can totally eliminate from your life, but you have to eat every day. just sayin!
It’s not an Italian problem. It’s an American problem. We all overeat. Well…everyone I like at least. I tend to shake my head in disbelief at those people who eat half their salad and abruptly stop when they are full. That being said…I will TRY not to judge you if you get this under control. In fact, maybe it will inspire me to do the same?
Been there, done that, trying to lose 100 lbs. because of it.
It’s so easy to run to food because it’s there. You have the 24 hour stores just screaming for you day and night to come find a food idol when things go wrong.
I’ll be praying for you on it. It’s not easy but you can do it.
Okay, I’m going to read the comments after I write this, lest I shy away from being transparent. :)
Girl, if you were in my journal you would see that we’re on the same page. I have journals from SEVENTH GRADE where I’m all, “God, I need to be balanced in my eating.” The other day I had a semi-breakthrough, though, I was really, really disappointed & hurt by a decision that someone made that negatively affected my life, and in response I ate. But, the breakthrough was that I was TOTALLY conscious of my issue the entire time I was ‘self-medicating’. It was one of those, “Spirit is willing, flesh is weak” things… So, I’ve sought God about it, repented, etc.
I’ve recently lost 35 lbs., as a result of submitting my eating to the Lordship of Christ. In college I gained 35 lbs., and the year that I REALLY put it on coincides with the year I was farthest away from Christ. Now, some may say I’m reading into that, but I KNOW I am not… when I am in right-standing with God, I allow Him to satisfy me, to fill me, and because of that I don’t need to turn to food as comfort or sufficiency. When I am living a life of obedience and surrender, the ‘problem’ areas of my life line up with His Word.
(trying not to be scared…) I had a brief foray into porn, and wouldn’t you know my food issues, my weight, etc. were all outward signs of my heart problems. For me food is about control (I should use past tense, I’m working on walking in HEALING), and as I’ve come to realize that my life is not my own it’s easier to have a healthy relationship with food. And as I’ve allowed the healing and redemptive power of Jesus to transform my heart and mind, and seriously The Man is amazing—I have barely any recollection of all the junk I saw, He has RENEWED my mind!—I’ve been able to have healing in my eating habits as well.
Dear Lord, Alece, you’d think I was writing a blog post with this response. Oy. Oh! And, girl, I TOTALLY hear you on the hiding food wrappers thing. What I’ve realized is that if I’m not in sin there is NO shame, so if I’m scurrying to ‘hide the evidence’, well then, I shouldn’t have been overeating…
@gritandglory says:
thank you so much for so bravely sharing this part of your journey. seriously. wow.
I am in the midst of the same struggle and I have realized for about a year and a half that it is a very real struggle for me. I eat when I am bored, stressed, nervous, busy, having fun….every moment seems to be the right occasion! I used to be able to get away with it and not notice it too much in my physical appearance but it has all caught up with me and now I am trying hard to get rid of an extra 40 pounds that suddenly appeared out of “nowhere!”
I think the hardest part is not eating when I am really sad or nervous. Because during those emotions, I know I eat the most and the worst stuff for me, but when I DON’T eat them, I physically feel worse because my body seems to be addicted to that stuff. So I feel doubly miserable :-)
Lately I have really been learning the balance between true beauty and inner beauty as opposed to ONLY focusing on outward beauty but also realizing the very Godly character traits of self-control and taking care of the temple He gave us.
Right on board with you Alece! Thank you for bringing this up – I am on the beginning of this journey of change myself!
Soooo I overeat too….
Wishing I was one of those “people” who love salad, salmon and Oatmeal well wishing is one thing reality is another.
I of course prefer potatoes meat and bread ! =) Brownies ,soda and Candy !
I have broken up with the Pillsbury Dough boy over and over again. Just like many of the bad boyfriends of my youth Only to invite him back into my life so he can comfort me once more then leave me feeling worthless and ashamed the next day that I have yet again had a caloric one night stand with him.
Nature or nurture? Probably both I grew up in home with a broken mother who leaned on food so much so she had to have gastric bypass 10 years ago. Though I am only about 15 pounds overweight I’m still overweight. The bottom line I worship food more than God in those stressful moments losing myself to the sugar and mindless chomping. Momentary relief only Twizzler’s and M&M’s can seem to provide my two colorful drugs of choice.
Like most American’s I also love the taste of food ! Portion size out of control cleaning my plate a must ,and letting my Mother in-Law feed/LOVE me to death with her southern cooking yeah she lives 8 doors down from our house. Her love language is food and cooking is a spiritual gift of hers of course.
What I should do, pray before I eat about controlling myself , not just thanking him for all that dang good food. Pray before I go grocery shopping “LORD” please help me stay away from all those things that are getting between you and me and my health. How differently would we eat if we were sitting at the table with Jesus ? How differently would we eat if Jesus was there with us holding the bag of candy and popcorn that we love to shovel in to our faces while at the movies or sitting in our Lazyboy watching The Biggest Loser .
Thank you for the kick in the pants ! That are of course 2 sizes bigger than they should be !
@gritandglory says:
so simple, but something i’ve never done before: don’t just thank the Lord for my food before i start eating, but ask Him right then and there to help me exercise self-control.
that’s powerful.
thank you, lisa. for reals.
I will agree with you and others that when we are satisfied in Christ we are less likely to head for the pantry or refrigerator.
There are reasons the salad comes first at a meal. If it isn’t soaked in dressing, the fiber helps fill you up faster and then you are less likely to eat more of the higher calorie main course. Second, don’t completely swear off carbs, your body needs them. Protein will also make you feel more full than carbs will.
@PrudyChick says:
God is trying to teach my self control. I feel like I’m losing. :( This sounds weird but I’m glad you’re taking responsibility. Yes, fast food joints and huge portions at restaurants don’t help but in the end it comes down to us making the choice of where to eat and just how much we’re going to stuff in our faces.
I have this same problem. Which never was a problem till I left my teens behind. Then before con I never realized how much I was eating and how much I was gaining. After con I lost my baby weight by six weeks but was still unhappy with my weight and body. So after a year I started weight watchers never expecting to stick with it or to see size 6 again. It worked and somehow I stuck with it which is the biggest thing of all. Then all the stress of that winter made me loose even more weight and hardly eat. I went down to a size 0 at108lbs not good but it was fun to be that tiny girl for a while. Then after things settled down and I got back to normal my weight came normal and then some. I’m 5’4 and at 145 between a size 6-8. Not happy with it but also not ready to put in the effort for loosing weight. Actually we are trying for another kid and have been since november and I have lost any motivation to loose weight since I will be gaining anyways. That’s so not a good mindset to have.anyways that’s a secret so hopefully anyone I know in person won’t read this. I will pray for strength for you. And I pray I get knocked up soon so I can blame any weight gain on a baby. No I should pray for a change of heart in this eating issues.
@persimmonpulp says:
Careful on the “downing water” part – if you don’t already drink a lot of liquid while you eat, it’s not the best habit to start. The more liquid you drink, the harder your digestive system has to work to break it down. It’s actually better to not drink anything at all while you eat.
However… we have started making our youngest count to 30 between bites. It drives her crazy! BUT – she was taking such huge bites and cramming them in so fast that it was rather concerning. Now she has to set her fork down and count between bites. One good side effect of that is that now she realizes she is actually full before her plate is empty, and I’m OK with that.
I also agree with David that eating with someone else and having conversation can help. It forces you to slow down because you *shouldn’t* talk with your mouth full. I am the worst at eating while I am doing something else. That is sooooooo bad for you! I have found that when I eat, I need to put my focus on eating. If I am focused on eating I taste things better, I enjoy the food better, and I realize that I am full sooner. I had to come to terms with the fact that I was getting portions that were waaaaaaaay too large, and was wasting a lot of food. So, now I take less to start with and focus on enjoying it more.
That and I replaced a meal and a snack with a green smoothie… all the nutrients and it’s in a great grab-and-go container that I don’t have to think about. The portion is already controlled, I’m full after I drink it and it tastes great.
@gritandglory says:
wait…. what’s a green smoothie?
@persimmonpulp says:
leafy greens (like spinach, kale, dandelion greens, etc) mixed with fruit in a blender. I usually add kefir, cinnamon and honey to mine (the probiotics are good for you too) so they are more creamy. Very tasty, good for you, and helps increase the energy!
If you want a site with some good info, take a look at the following site:
http://www.greensmoothiequeen.com/gogreen/0310ripplemaker
(she has LOTS of good info on them)
@persimmonpulp says:
I have also read that eating an apple about 20 minutes before a meal helps you feel more full, thus you eat less. However, you also have to be paying attention to when you feel full – talk about a catch 22!
I’m right there beside you on the eating bit… I love food! However I used to be more on the slow side when eating – used to drive my parents crazy. I have sped up over the years though and now I am consciously having to force myself to slow down and enjoy each bite. It does make a difference when I focus on how it tastes instead of just shoveling it in. ;)
@persimmonpulp says:
I should point out, however, that drinking 64-80 oz. of water a day is very good for you – just not while you are eating and for about an hour or so afterwards. LOTS of water is good! I add some of the following when I get tired of the taste of plain water: lime, lemon, orange or cucumber slices, mint leaves, or fresh grated ginger. Some combinations of the above work great together… others not so much. Helps with the taste though, without adding the chemicals of things like crystal light.
@gritandglory says:
i’m all about the lime in my water. LOVED your idea of orange or cucumber slices though!
I’ll be honest, Alece… I used to roll my eyes at people who did this (I know! So! unkind!) because I seriously didn’t understand it. And then… I became an emotional eater, most especially these last few years while dealing with our 4+ year wait to adopt. I started trying to get my emotional eating under control this year. It’s been a hard journey, trying to retrain myself to more positive behaviors. A hard lesson for me, definitely: stay humble and compassionate, lest you find yourself in the same situation. Yep. Heh.
@gritandglory says:
oh my dang, i did the same thing. i could not understand the concept of emotional eating. i’d roll my eyes when tv and movies would show women eating ice cream right out of the container after a bad day. and then this past year i found myself turning to food when i was sad or hurting or frustrated. when i finally realized what i was doing, i was horrified. i’d become an emotional eater. that still seems crazy to me but, well, it’s true. sigh…
@christielici0us says:
First of all, I love you.
Secondly, I totally get what you’re saying here. I, too, am an emotional eater.
When I was so stringently dieting 3 years ago, I heard someone say, “Eat to live, don’t live to eat”. That really stuck with me, and I think that remembering that might be helpful to you. We need to put enough food into our bodies to keep them healthy and to give us the energy to get through the day. But we shouldn’t put food into our bodies as a substitute for something else we need, such as friends, hobbies, God, whatever it is we’re missing.
Part of my eating disorder has been the fast eating, too. I’ve actually said aloud “the last bite is always the best bite”, and then I eat like it’s a race to get to that last bite. Silly, really. I now try to slow down and savor what I’m eating, you know, really enjoy EVERY bite, not just the last one. And if I can’t do that, if I can’t enjoy every single bite, then maybe I shouldn’t be eating it in the first place.
Are you much of a water drinker? I’m a huge proponent of drinking water, for a lot of reasons. But the biggest reason is this: it helps keep you feeling fuller, making you less likely to eat too much. Water has so many benefits anyway, but if it can help me eat less food, that’s even better!
I am praying for you in this struggle. :)
@gritandglory says:
the race to get to the last bite… i feel like i do that subconsciously as well. dang.
and i hate drinking water. but i know i need to get better at drinking more H20 throughout the day…
Wow… I have to admit, I am the same way. I eat based on emotions or just because it is time to eat. I’ve asked God for help this week as I’ve started a new workout, now I just need Him to help me in this area too.
Overall, there is one thing I know and that is God is faithful. Hang in there, Alece. I know He’ll help you through this! <3
I FEEL you. I promise you I’ll be praying with you… and I’ll put it on a post-it note ;)
@Nomadstacey says:
I learned while going through Weight Watchers that I am an emotional eater. This out-of-touch-with-her-emotions girl is an emotional eater. I eat when I’m upset. I eat when I’m stressed. I eat when I feel overwhelmed. I eat when I lose hope. I eat when I feel out of control. Lots of eating. I’m better…not always, not as much as I want to be, but I am better. I also eat fast too. My WW leader gave a really good idea one week. She said in between bites, put your fork down and move your hand away. That way you have to evaluate how full you are between bites and when we put our fork down, it takes more time to pick it back up. We have to think about each bite before taking the next.
Hope that helps!
@gritandglory says:
thanks for the practical tip, little grey!
@JewelzSightings says:
So interesting so many of us seeking to be healthier, yet struggling to get there.
Menopause put pounds on me after the pounds from babies that mounted up for years….
Now, over 50 years old it’s so much harder to lose the weight. Funny how 35 years ago I was drinking milkshakes with eggs in them to gain weight… Now for the life of me I can’t hardly lose a pound. I’ve recently been asking God to help me lose the 30 lbs. I want to lose. It’s so hard. I have no idea how to even eat properly. I feel like I hardly eat anything as it is… so what now??? There’s quite a bit of confusion on how to even eat. We are tantalized with food all the time… SO many restaurants to choose from, so many commercials, magazines, food network, etc, etc…
I’ve recently found a website that tells me how many calories I need to eat to lose 2 lbs. a week. It also allows me to keep a journal of what I’m eating. We’ll see how it goes. It’s hard to fight this “overeating” demon sometimes!
@coloraturajoy says:
so…you’re going to share that website, right?! :)
@JewelzSightings says:
Sure, I am…. lol
Go to: http://www.livestrong.com/
You have to log on to get an account. It’s free. Under daily plate you will see how you can mark what you’ve eaten. The neat thing is you set up your own agenda. I wanted to lose 2 lbs. a week, so I set it up and it gave me the amount of calories to have every day, depending on my lifestyle… sendentary, active, etc… There are alot of other great resources on there as well.
@gritandglory says:
oh wow. that looks like it’ll be really helpful. i’ve never paid attention to the whole calorie-counting thing. ever. maybe i should.
@XCWATERBOY says:
food has never been a problem for me but I have a lot of excuses.
1) I’m a guy.
2) I’m a distance runner. Think Micheal Phelps but a bit less crazy. Running 10 miles on a regular basis (not something I’ve done recently fyi) makes food almost a spiritual experience when you get to the table. And no matter how much I would eat in college by 10 or 11pm I would be starving again hello burgers and pop tarts.
3) The only advice I have is this. Everything in moderation except healthy stuff. I eat/drink lots of unhealthy stuff. Beer, fast food, candy, chips. But I generally balance that by overloading on the good stuff like vegetables, chicken, and whole grain type things. I have also found when I eat too much sugar or bad stuff it’s not satisfying, makes me feel unwell (as well as old). But healthy stuff is good.
oh and eat breakfast. many people don’t and they tend to be unhealthy (sorry if you don’t).
@gritandglory says:
you’re right. i don’t eat breakfast.
BUSTED.
@XCWATERBOY says:
I’ve read eating ANYTHING for breakfast, doesn’t matter what is good for you. Funny thing is Ive found if I eat breakfast I will be hungry by lunch and feel ok eating then. If I don’t eat b-fast (rare) I don’t get hungry but then likely to eat more when I get to meal. So life is weird.
@kamriereed says:
My dad always tries to drink a full glass of water before he eats so his stomach is fuller. I have a huge soft spot when it comes to pizza. It doesn’t matter what type or where it came from I put it away like nobodies business.
Welp, something I’ve learned is that where your change will come from is in intense connection with the fact that you’re body is the temple of God. I surely don’t get this right, but I also don’t live in condemnation anymore. If condemnation, not conviction, is the fuel to eat “right”, then bag it now.
If it is conviction to have health so that your passion and purpose is lived out for a looooong time in Africa, well then keep going.
okay, that was like 2 years of teaching from the Spirit in my own life wrapped up in about 8 sentences.
What I’m trying to say is let God direct you from the Holy of Holies inside of you, from the depth of His Spirit inside of you. Not all from the plate in front of you. :)
Yes, do those practical things, those are awesome. I too eat too fast fo sho! But, I’m learning to look at all things thru the lens of a temple.
@gritandglory says:
i needed to hear this. thank you, natalie!
Ugh…you are sooooo messing with my mind this week girlfriend! Stop the madness! :)
Four years ago when I was praying through something, I remember asking God, is there anything I have an area of bondage in?
He said FOOD
Huh?
Fast forward four years to where I am now. I’m in your SAME boat. People notice how “healthy” I began looking a couple of years ago. then I go to zambia and the ladies give me the african compliment “Oooo you are getting so fat!” then I get married and go up 2 pants sizes.
I don’t get it.
what exactly is the problem with my cheetos, swiss-cheese-on-tostitoes-every-other-nite diet?
Signed,
Happy sailing down the River of Denial
@gritandglory says:
i don’t know WHAT happened this week. i didn’t have my posts pre-planned or even pre-written. it just … happened. slightly scary (okay, VERY scary) but i’m grateful for all the conversations that have taken place in the comments on all these posts. some good church going on here at The Grit.
pass the lime tostitos.
@pa3cia says:
but but but….. Jesus said “behold Im standing & knocking at your door. if you hear my voice & open the door, I will come in & we will eat together” (revelation 3:19cev)
Jesus looooooves to eat! =]
I’ve really appreciated reading everyone’s responses. I don’t think anyone mentioned it, but for many women, their view of food is closely tied to how their MOTHER viewed food. My mom’s very controlling. So was her mother and father. AND my dad over her! I so see my mother taking out her anger and frustration with foods because it’s something she can control.
Okay, don’t laugh, but I’ve had this soft blue pillow for about a year now. In the midst of this big move for the past seven (!) months, “Mr. Blue” (yes, I named him, now who’s being honest?) has well…. kind of kept me feeling stable and comforted. Probably shouldn’t admit that out loud, because um, that means he’s like my adult Blankie or something. But anyway, I swear I heard the Lord say a little while ago, “I want to be your Mr. Blue.”
YES. So there you have it. Oh boy. Bottom line, we’ve all got our emotional things we’re dealing with. Thank you for sharing so transparently, Alece. And for letting us feel safe enough to do the same.
Still praying.
@gritandglory says:
“for many women, their view of food is closely tied to how their MOTHER viewed food.” i completely agree! i see this pattern in my own life, and i want to be free from that.
“i want to be your mr. blue” — such a beautiful picture of God’s heart to be our go-to for comfort. i’m so glad you shared that.
Totally convicting as a mom with daughters. What. am I. teaching. them??? And even at 5, I see it already, in what she chooses to eat.
@gritandglory says:
yikes!
When I was in high school I remember having a really bad day at school. I told my mom about it when I got home. She gave me $10 and sent me to the grocery store. I came back with all manner of Hostess and cookies.
Safe to say, feeding my emotions is something I know about.
@gritandglory says:
what a poignant example.
and i understand that so, so well.
Ok I have more.
Late I have been exposed to a lot of health info mostly about how All the food we eat is So bad for your body. So in an effort to get more energy (something I have always had a problem with) I went off sugar and all food that my body would turn into sugar. Also a lot of organic and grass fed beef. So after four faithful days I went mad and ate 1/2 a piece of carot cake. Not so bad right? The next night a whole piece of cake and so on leading up to McDonald for lunch today. Needless to say I SUCK at sticking with anything. Mostly I feel convicted about what kinds of food I am eating. If this food really is harmful to the daily function of my body and I’m compromising all that I can be by not eating healthy then its really harming my “temple”. Also if I’m feeling like crap because of what I eat or after I stuff myself then my ability to be a wonderful mom and wife is hindered because I’m only using the energy I have left for them. Hm. Also yesterday God pointed out to me that I am keeping Him at arms length because that’s where I fe comfortable with him. So before yesterday I would have thought “pray about my eating? God doesn’t have a say in what I eat.” so I’m glad you brought this up.
A note on men vs women. My husband is an emotional eater but would never realize it let alone see it as a problem. My brother is too but has another problem where he eats too little. I don’t think he sees it but I tend to keep an eye on him. I think when he is stressed he won’t eat. All of these are problems but I don’t think men have the body image issues to try and live up to. It bothers me so much that I’m not going to look hot ina bikini this summer let alone wear one but I don’t see guys fretting over their lack of a sixpack unless its a six pack of beer missing then its thw end of the world.
@gritandglory says:
“God pointed out to me that I am keeping Him at arms length because that’s where I felt comfortable with him.” wow that’s convicting.
@cassgirl says:
Why is it a myth that all “fluffy” people overeat. I don’t neccessarily overeat, but I eat crap. Pass me the tortilla chips and salsa or a bowl Pho and push away the fruit. For me also eating always equals my emotional health. If I am buried in Tupperware, I eat until I go to sleep, if the sun shined and only had minor life interruptions than I barely eat. I have no clue if this made any sense. Like Lyndsey said, Amercians have this problem not just you italians.
@gritandglory says:
i totally get what you mean about the tupperware making you eat until you to go sleep. i respond similarly to my own tupperware (even though it looks very different than yours).
i wasn’t implying that all “fluffy” people overeat, but pointing out that some “smaller” people do. (like me.)
i rarely talk about my attempts to lose weight. the few times i have, inevitably the majority of people respond by telling me i’m being ridiculous and by making some comparison to themselves. as if because i’m smaller than they are, i could never have a problem with this and i shouldn’t need to lose weight. it gets frustrating.
my point: no matter what size we are, food can be a stronghold in our lives.
@cassgirl says:
I totally got what you said. But if we were standing beside each other, they would pick me first to having the overeating issue because I am large and your small. But as I said before, My stronghold is not always in my food in the overeating part but in what I eat and WHY I am eating. My stronghold is pleasing people and the minute that I have made an error or feel uncomfortable, I try”fix” it. It will take everything out of me to make it better. Although I may NEVER EVER fix them. Although, like in your overeating. I/ WE NEED TO SURRENDER IT. Harder done than said. But our amazing God is waiting
Love ya FF
@gritandglory says:
you’re right — the myths go both ways. we are so very quick to judge. (myself included.)
love you fierce friend!
uuuuummmm…
I.. just… dontwannatalkaboutit.
;D Kidding.
Totally an emotional eater, and because I’m home “alone,” all. the. time. food is my friend, my companion. When I’m lonely, tired, bored, sad, stressed, etc, food is there.
I have pending health issues and I need to “get control.” Problem is, everytime I start a “plan”, I get pregnant. No joke. (and no, I don’t need lessons on bc. My mom’s already got that lecture covered.) But I also have food addictions, like carbs/sugar, that is caused by my impending diabetes. And to start that “withdrawl” is scary.
And, because one mental obstacle surely isn’t enough, I’m a mom, and that means, I’m last on the list of people to take care of. No one carves out time so I can go to the gym or cuts the veggies for me. No one’s there to say “no, you can’t have that” when I take my 15th (not exagerating) cookie of the day.
Some things I have done in the past: I just don’t have it around. If there are no chips, I can’t eat them. Don’t walk past the donut counter. Or the candy aisle. When you put your food on your plate, eat only half. I need to work on the inviting God into it plan.
@gritandglory says:
i dontwannatalkaboutit either, to be honest. this whole post is so scary to me for lots of reasons…
i’ve been trying to do the “eat only half” at times. sometimes it works really well. others… notsomuch.
sigh.
@persimmonpulp says:
My mom used to take empty tupperware containers with her to restaurants… before she even STARTED eating she’d pack half of the food away. Or we would share a meal. Either way, you only have half the food to tempt you.
I try to do the same with my girls, but they generally don’t want the same things I do (bummer!). Instead THEY share, and I get stuck with a full meal and inevitably end up eating most of it.
I had to laugh at your Chick Fil A comment……I’ve found myself doing that same thing a time or two since our time in the US. I’ve ate more of that stuff than I care to admit, but my “excuse” is that I won’t get it again for over two years! :) Oh well……..for now I’ll just be a closet Chick Fil A container stuffer. :) ha! I am cringing too!!! :)
Dang. I’m in awe that you’re just putting it all out there – talk about a risk!! THANK YOU for this post. I can relate. I’m also working on dealing with the issue at hand instead of turning to comfort food…and breaking the cycle of self medicating with food when my heart is hurt. (and still stuffing my full face because a food is just too dang good) ‘Cause in my head, I know HE can comfort and love on me better than anyone but satan works so hard to keep me in shame by what I eat for comfort – stupid vicious cycle! You = one brave chica!!
@gritandglory says:
sigh… thank you, ingrid.
@koalainscotland says:
Some things I’ve learned over the years…
1. Carbs are ok in moderation – it’s choosing the right ones – eating wholemeal/wholegrain carb options will help you feel more full and also help prevent cravings for sugary snacks. Also they have more fibre to get those bowels moving :-)
2. eating little and often at regular times helps your metabolism. One of my pet peeves is plans like weight watchers with their ‘daily points’ systems so people ‘save up points’ by not eating throughout the day and have a big massive meal. This screws up your body metabolism as it doesn’t know when it’s getting food energy next so your body goes into ‘starvation mode’ – storing food energy as fat.
3. Drinking plenty of water – gets rid of toxins, helps you skin be clearer plus it helps you feel less lethargic – so less likely to ‘comfort eat’.
4. Trying to be strict with food shopping and food budget – I’ve found it helps to plan meals for the week, and buy specifically for that. That way I’m less tempted to go for junk food options because they aren’t in my fridge!
5. Make smaller portions. People find it weird that I stop eating when I’m full, and are all ‘is that all you’re going to eat’.
6. I also think that God is not a stingy God and that we can have a treat now and again. The hard part is not gorging when we do. so when I make cupcakes, I usually make them so I’m sharing them with others. It’s nice to enjoy food with people. I think it builds community sharing food around a table together.
I also love sharing a dessert with a friend if we’re at a restaurant – it’s much fun to try new things together, plus we eat less having ’1 portion’ between 2 (or more) of us!
Plus if you don’t have it all the time, a treat is just that…a treat!!
7. Avoid ‘Diet’ drinks & artificial sweeteners. They are worse than the ‘full fat’ kind because they replace sugars with sweetener which actually increases your desire for more.
8. reduce salt in your diet – I have not been able to put salt in food since learning about it more when I was studying for my degree at uni. As a result I’m VERY aware when salt is in food, and so I can actually smell (yes smell) the salt when I walk in a McDonald’s or equivalent. You will unlikely ever be able to eat McDonalds, KFC or the like ever again beause you’ll find it waaaay too salty!!
I hope at least some of that is helpful. I’m terrible with sugar cravings – I actually can’t get through a day without some chocolate. I had an eating disorder when I was younger though, and lose weight extremely easily (not in a good way) so I have to be very careful to eat regular meals, even when I’m not necessarily ‘feeling’ hungry. If I make a habit of skipping meals, I WILL get ill very quickly. The tough part is making good choices about WHAT I’m putting in my body.
And getting exercise. I SERIOUSLY need to exercise more.
@gritandglory says:
really helpful tips here! thank you!
@kedamak says:
I totally feel you. As someone who has struggled with my weight for a LONGGG time, I had to learn to completely change my eating habits. And unfortunately I can’t ever let up from thinking about how I eat because when I do, I fall back into my old eating habits and then there is no off button. I recently fell off the wagon and I was out of control. Thankfully God reigned me back in by revealing a few startling things to me about why I was letting my eating get out of control. I’m back on track for now but remembering that for me, letting up is not an option. And trusting God for the journey that I am on with my weight and my relationship with food. I will definitely be praying for you.
@danielleH says:
Dang girl.
Way to be honest.
You handled this post SO well.
@gritandglory says:
phew! thank you! ;)
@ginabob says:
Such an honest post! And I know (Cause I can relate) a tough one to hit post on I am sure!
I haven’t read all the comments but wanted to share something.
One of the things I try, with try being the important thing to stress there, to do:
Always check before you eat.
Am I hungry?
Yes – eat!
No – Then am I:
Tired?
Scared?
Bored?
etc.
If I can find the emotion then I can start to find the trigger to what may be causing the overeating. Finding the trigger is the first step to fighting it!
Good for you for going public.
Gina – sometimes successfully fighting the battle too! :O)
@gritandglory says:
oooooh – i like that little checklist idea.
going to start implementing that. thank you so much, gina!
Well, I will note (after my longer, completely unrelated to actually eating comment) that I have discovered that many times when I go looking for food, the reason is actually because I’m thirsty.
Not that I … actually find and drink water all that often.
I’m just sayin.’
Thanks for sharing this friend! You know what I am going through and it is nice to have a friend who is also asking God to help them with this area.
Love ya!
Oh man can I relate. Unfortunately for me, I have the kind of genetic make-up (slow metabolism PLUS laziness…) that makes it impossible to hide the fact that I love to eat. For me and I don’t know if anyone else has suggested this or not but it does help – a lot – to put your fork down while you’re chewing what is in your mouth. Just the simple act of putting down and picking back up my fork has slowed my eating down tremendously. I also don’t cut all of my meat at once. Just a few bites (like they teach you in charm school. hmmmmm…..) and then I put my knife down. Plus my fork down between bites.
Ok…I haven’t been doing those two tricks lately but I have realized I really need to start again.
That and being accountable. If I have to tell someone other than my husband what I’m eating? I eat a LOT less…….. eating less is MUCH easier than lying about what I ate.
Another battlefront to take on? Make sure you get a lot of “away” time and I don’t mean time off from watching what you eat, etc. I mean a lot of quiet, prayer time. You are going to need the rejuvenation that only God can give you because all of these battlefronts at one time are going to weary you fast. Fast.
Been there, too. Done that. It’s not pretty when you fall off a horse. Especially not if you land in a manure pile…
@gritandglory says:
ooooh – good call on not cutting all my food first. i totally need to work on that.
and i LOVE your last line.
mostly because i’ve landed in the manure pile a lot.
like today.
crap.
Well, I believe I can safely reassure you that it has nothing to do with being Italian, since I don’t have a drop of that beautiful blood in me and … I’m exactly the same way.
Although just to pass something off to you that I ‘saw’ recently in the Word … See, I always kind-of have thought that whether or not someone drank alcohol was their own business, since the Bible does not direct abstinence, except in the case of a particular ministry calling. I know you and I generally agree on this subject, per another post of yours. But I also know that a huge chunk of the Body of Christ disagrees with us. So when I found this passage in Colossians “Therefore no one is to act as your judge in regard to food or drink or in respect to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath day—” my eyes bugged out, and I thought, “it’s right there.” In plain speech. No one is to act as your judge regarding food or drink.
But just this past week, I was thinking of … something … I don’t remember … and two pieces connected like electrical cables.
It doesn’t say “alcohol.” It says “food and drink.” Which is, you must admit, a definitely wider category. In fact, it is SO broad … that it includes ordinary, everyday food and drink as well. Like … chips and pop stuff.
And I realized that I had been walking contrary to this verse in how I would get on my husband’s case rather often for how badly he ate. He has had a kind of war with anything associating with the word “healthy.” And it bugged me. So I bugged him. And … I guess I can’t do that anymore.
But at any rate, the reason why I’m mentioning this is because … our society likes to make a habit of doing this to people. SO many things are in our faces, trying to convince us that our diets are wretched, and if we just did things their way, we’d be healthy and gorgeous. And really, their method of convincing goes by the really ugly name of Guilt.
So I just want to hopefully encourage you with that. If you want to eat differently, that’s entirely up to you. If you don’t want to … well, I’m just sayin’ I wouldn’t. :) Wisdom is about finding the best path because it’s what we want. Being guilted into walking down a ‘healthy’ path has nothing to do with wisdom.
I have no idea where you’re at on this subject, or if you’re feeling guilted (or guilty) at all concerning this, but … I thought it interesting that a revelation of mine coincided with your topic here, so I thought I’d share.
:)