Boundaries are good things. They keep us safe–like on the highway. I sure am glad that most everyone abides by the idea in the US that staying on the right side of the double yellow line is a good idea. 🙂 A BOUNDARY! 🙂 I have a boundary when I go into a store. I see something and I may want it, but I don’t stick it in my backpack and walk out until after I pay for it. That is another boundary that I adhere to routinely. I bet you do, too!
Boundaries
There are moments of weakness when I may struggle with adhering to 0 to 5 eating as a worthy, godly, helpful boundary. For those times, I “whip out” my trusty Blackberry (any device will work for this–in fact, I could use Evernote for it!–but you could just have an index card in your purse or pocket, too) and have a list that I refer to. Sometimes I need to be reminded that 0 to 5 eating is a boundary that I can delight in!
I have written the following in a file on my Blackberry:
REASONS WHY 0 to 5 BOUNDARIES ARE GREAT, GOOD, GODLY and I WANT TO ADHERE TO THEM:
- I end up “naturally” being the size God intends, and being the size God intends, I fit into my clothes more comfortably.
- Being the size God intends, my blood pressure is more manageable, my joints hurt less, I can get around the tennis court easier, and new activities strain my joints and muscles less.
- Eating 0 to 5, I enjoy the variety of foods that God provides without having to obsess about content…this makes it easier to travel, to go out to eat, to do activities, and to generally live the life I enjoy for the glory of God!
- Eating 0 to 5 I am free to make decisions in the moment…I can rely on God to lead me. It keeps me dependent on him in a way I wouldn’t otherwise be. Eating and drinking (and anything “ordinary” for that matter) can all be done for his glory.
- I like not worrying about food and eating. When I have dieted in the past, worry seemed to be a constant companion!
- I want to be healthy, physically *and* mentally–dieting was horrible for my mental and spiritual (and emotional) health!
I have some additional reasons on my list, but they are a bit more personal. I am sure you can come up with some of your own.
The bottom line for me is FREEDOM! Eating 0 to 5, I naturally land on and maintain the weight that is best for me. If I am especially active, my body tells me it needs fuel. If I am sick or less active, my body signals me it needs less. It is so much easier than anything else. I have found that it not only helps me to maintain my closeness with God instead of causing me to bow before a diet god, but it causes me to be closer to God than ever before!
What are some reasons that you think 0 to 5 is a good boundary for you?
Note: “0 to 5” eating is eating between physical stomach hunger empty (0) and physical stomach satisfaction (5). This is the approach endorsed by and taught in Thin Within. For resources and support, please visit the Thin Within website!
Heidi, I used to read your blog several years ago, and gave Thin Within a good try, but never could get the hang of the 0-5. I just never could recognize when I was at 4 or 5. I have been very impressed by what you have achieved with God’s help, and want what you have! I am a group leader in Reformer’s Unanimous, and have over a year of Victory over food and weight loss obsession, praise God. After 30+ years of gaining, losing, self-hate, self abuse (punching myself in the gut for my ugliness), and seeing anything delicious as being “bad”, I am free, free indeed! Now, I’d like to lose some more weight and get where God made me to be. I have been maintaining my weight, but now need to let go of the rest of it. I do my discipleship program in RU, which consists of Bible reading, meditation, journaling, memorizing and have started including your new program on your blog. Do you think it would be helpful to have you coach me? Or am I already doing most of the things you would typically coach someone to do? I really want to release the rest of this weight so I can really be healthy and maybe even eliminate the C-pap! What do you think?
Thanks soooo much for even taking the time to read this!
Hi, Becky. Thanks for your kind words and it is good to have you back again with us! I hope you will continue to visit.
And congratulations for your victory! That is HUGE!
About the hunger scale…I must be honest… I don’t worry about 4 …I just look at “hungry” and “no longer hungry.” That simplifies it for me…I need things to be simple.
And while that makes Thin Within SIMPLE, it is by NO means “easy.”
It is hard for me to know if mentoring would be helpful for you or not to be honest, Becky. It sounds like you have a wonderful support system. To be honest, too, given you have broken free from dieting obsession, I would hate for anything that I would do to send you back in that direction. It is a slippery slope some times to add a new dimension without reverting back to past behaviors.
I will shoot you an email that has the questionnaire in it that I spend time in the free consultation that I am offering. You can decide if it is something that sounds potentially interesting. Or we can do the freebie phone consult…there is no obligation there. That might be the safest bet.
I will shoot you that email! 🙂
Hello Heidi,
I’m currently doing the “Thin Within” book. I am struggling when to know if I’m at “0”. I’ve been drinking a lot of water( I try to at least 3 liters a day), and that seems to keep me full. I feel mime I end up eating because it is breakfast, my lunch break or dinner time, not because I’m hungry.
This is causing me to struggle because I feel like I’m not eating any food. And there are so many things I want to eat and try, so it is starting to feel “legalistic” to me. I must confess it has led me to slightly binge a few times. I have prayed about it but I’m still struggling.
I haven’t worked out since I’ve started this book because I’m afraid I will crash and become ravenous.
I do feel a freedom in one sense, but in another sense I feel as though I’m trapped.
Do you have a y recommendations or suggestions?
Thank you!
Hi, Jamie. It does sound like quite the conundrum. In an ideal world, I would ask you a bunch of questions and have a bit more information before making recommendations or suggestions. It sounds like the struggle is with knowing your hunger signal. So, let me ask you this…what signal are you associating with hunger? Is your doctor concerned that you are obese? Or is that not a concern? These few questions answered might give me a bit more to go on. Thanks, Jamie. I hope to hear from you.