Image Source: iStockPhoto
Imagine being prepped as a child to become a dieter later in life. Imagine being taken captive by the dieting world in a way that caused you to be obsessed…feeling like no matter what your success, it just was never good enough!
In the following sound file “Carrie,” also known as CMK in our community here, tells of how she was prepped for being a dieter in her early years, how she took the plunge into dieting, how the diet mentality affected her and her quest to get out. She has been victorious!
Carrie supports others here at God Is Doing A New Thing through her comments as well as in private email. She has made HUGE strides in breaking free from the dieting mentality that plagued her for so long. She is experiencing freedom and joy evident in her testimony shared in this video.
Carrie also shares some practical tools that have enabled her to walk in freedom.
Just so you know, while MY audio sound is AWFUL, Carrie’s is clear without being muffled and too loud (like mine). I don’t say much in this interview, so if you can tolerate the few times where my audio bursts in, I think you will enjoy the audio.
[soundcloud url=”http://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/96647497″ params=”” width=” 100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]In what ways have you discovered the “dieting mentality” affects your thinking? How has this served you? How has this stood in the way of accomplishing your godly goals?
I just finished listening to this audio file. Thanks for sharing, Carrie. I heard several things that I know I should be doing like eating at table. I am a grazer and wander thru my house mindlessly munching. I need to implement this as a standard. I have my God list, scriptures, journal questions on my electronic devices. I am currently evaluating whether this is better than a paper journal. I know you am not a journaler. I am trying to be committed to writing thoughts, prayers, scriptures, study notes, etc. Again thanks for opening your heart to share your life with us. Blessings, Joyce
Joyce, I recently moved to paper journal from my iPad and other electronic devices. There is something more “real” to me about writing it on the page, I guess. I don’t know why.
I guess I should say that this is after using my laptop or iPad for much of my journaling and bible study for the past couple of years. For people who aren’t journalers, maybe the electronic way is better. I know it helped me be more faithful with it. But now that I am faithful with it, I have returned to paper.
Paper or electronic is such a conundrum for me. I have arthritis issues and I try to limit how much I carry with me. That is the reason I decided on an electronic device. i always have my phone with me. Using Evernote it is connected with all my electronic devices. I am using the free app so the functionality is limited. I cannot create files. That being said, I do like the feel of paper. I think your idea of the 3×5 card notebook is wonderful. So do I pay for a more complete service, use paper or stick with the free………….. Thank you for responding to my posts. It does help. God bless you in this ministry. Joyce
I used Evernote–the free version–for a long while. I would say use whatever is most effective for you. if you can swing the cards, too, then that is great. Instead of getting the spiral bound version of the cards, you could get some small binder rings (I have seen them in the 1 inch or even 1/2 inch size), decide how many cards you want with you, and punch holes in them to have something that is just the right size for you without being too heavy. Whatever works in your case, Joyce! 🙂
Oh my goodness!!! I have just spent the last 45 minutes or so listening to Carrie!! AWESOME!! Carrie, I can’t believe how much we have in common, how much I could relate to so many things you said. Just a few comments, to agree with you and to help encourage others.
Yes, journal!! I’ve journaled for most of my life, and yes, it is wonderful to be able to look back and realize just how far you have come!
Just two weeks ago, I gave up the scale! Have given mine away!! And that’s after hearing Heidi for the past 2 years, challenge me to give it up. I just wasn’t ready before, but NOW!! It’s SO FREEING!!! As I release the last weight that I have to release, and people notice, and they ask, “how much have you lost?”. I love the fact that I can say “I don’t know!!!”. Wahoo!!! The freedom of it!!! And me too, realized lately how much of my whole adult life has been around how much I weigh and how much of my thinking time has been spent on that!! By stopping that!! I have freed up my mind and time for more time with God!!
You mentioned the 8 keys. And I know for me, when I FINALLY started using all the 8 keys when I ate, that things started to change!! Like you, I had planned what I’d eat, and then it would change, and what an adventure it is to be totally open to God!!! It took me a long time to break the habit/stronghold of eating while doing something else!! Whether it be reading, on the computer, watching TV, whatever. Seemed such a waste of time to ONLY eat!! But NOW!! That time is time for me to fellowship with God!!!!!!
And, just recently, I too, have been thanking God for this issue in my life!!!!! Because of the “issue”, I’m being used by God, via the Thin Within Bible Study that I’m leading here in Maquoketa, and the women that are coming together and the wonderful sharing that we are having, as our relationship with God grows, oh my, the blessings that are coming from that!!
Yes!! I thank God for this issue in my life!!! And that it is an issue for many other women, because of that, and with the tool of the Thin Within study, God is using me to open doors for other women to have this wonderful relationship with Him!!!!
Oh, Carrie, there is so much more I could say. We could sit down over a cup of coffee or tea and talk and talk and talk!!!!!!!!!!!!
God bless you!!! And Heidi!! dear Heidi!!! Thank you for being such a willing tool for God to use. I’m blessed to know you both!!!
Love and prayers for everyone in this group.
Dalena…tell us how you *REALLY* feel! LOL! I love your enthusiasm! 🙂
Well put. Thank you for stating a fact that I had not identified in myself. I too have the stronghold of eating while I am doing something else. I knew that I was a stress eater. I also discovered that I am also an indulgent eater. Wow I said it. I guess that is eating for no good reason than it really is what I want and I am going to do it whether I am hungry or not. All that being said, I am an eater. :-/. Now on to how to combat the stomp my foot, two year old type tantrum when I am wanting to eat for no good reason.
Joyce, this is common. I get that feeling, too. I think God is really trying to get through to me on this one. I have an “entitlement” mentality. Sigh!
Excellent. Listened to the complete recording. As Carrie spoke I saw my life mirrored here. Got a lot of encouragement from it. Fully committed for the next 12 weeks to journal – not my fave thing to do! Great way to start my day. In the words of Tiny Tim “God bless us everyone”.
Yay, Lesley!
Only 1/4 of the way through this, but loving it. Thanks for sharing your story Carrie. I’ve had an unrelated question rattling around in my brain, and just thought I would share it. So, God Given Size…. Is it possible that some of us are meant to be plus sized? It’s been on my mind lately. I’m feeling good, being active, think I’m listening fairly well, but my weight is bobbing around the same point, which is a good 60 pounds above where the doctor’s chart says is should be. I’ve been observing other beautifyl plus size women and thinking, aybe this is some women are meant to be plus sized…. Don’t know that this is true, and there are diefinitely some areas where I’m working to observe and correct and make sure I’m listening,b ut I thought I would share my thought for whatever it is worth.
Hi, N. I think if one has ruled out 1.) deceiving themselves about what physical hunger is and physical satisfaction and whether or not they are, indeed eating within those boundaries 2.) health concerns that may cause the body to act differently (thyroid, for instance) 3.) the affects of flavored beverages (coffee and tea count and even diet soda count) on the hunger signals 4.) the affect of medications of any kind on the body (both in terms of sensing hunger and satisfaction and in terms of holding what seems like extra body weight) and 5.) something else I may not be remembering to mention! LOL!
The charts based on BMI are certainly not always reliable for “goal” weights and that is typically what physicians use. Some of us are more muscular than average.
But I think we do have to be mindful of our struggle to release extra food. My husband urged me a few years ago to share here at the blog and the Thin Within forums pictures of how much I was eating. To sustain 150 pounds with an active lifestyle, it was surprising to many who saw it just how little food it took. I called it the “pictorial food log” and it may be here still at the blog a search would bring it up if so). Anyhow, I don’t know if it helps, but if you sit with The Lord and ask him about this, about your willingness to eat however small a portion he might lead you to and to be at whatever size he calls you to be, I imagine he will make it clear to you if there is yet work needing to be done.
Short answer: It’s possible!
Hello N,
I have wondered the same thoughts….thyroid, slow metabolism runs in my family. I have it and my son has it my sister’s and brother’s all have it. =/ But I can lose weight if I’m careful about how much I’m eating. It is harder for ME than most people.
God’s PLAN for me is not to eat a whole lotta food! = ) He so fearfully and wonderfully made me! = ) that WAY I CAN focus more on TIME with HIM in prayer. Not the food. He is bringing me back to that first LOVE and passion I had in the beginning. ALL I want is you JESUS…Not the food. Amen. : )
Weight loss is always slow for me as well. I can fall into the pit of excuses easily telling myself that my God given weight/size is bigger than I want or that the world thinks is acceptable. Following the principles of hunger and satisfaction and focusing on worshiping/serving the God who created really takes our preconceived ideas of who we are and should be out the window. I am trying to choose each day to view myself thru God’s eyes. Because of the blood of Jesus I am spotless, blameless, perfect. What more do I need. 🙂 Blessings, Joyce
Amen, Joyce!
Amen Joyce, We need to throw out all our false idea’s. Stinking thinking! : ) Praise God we are covered by the blood of the Lamb. 🙂
Just like the answer to every legal question, It depends. 🙂 Really though, thank you, I suspect there is still a lot of work that I need to do, and in the end I’m pretty certain my God-given size will be larger, but if I’m honest and prayerful, I don’t feel I’m there yet. Thanks again! Carrie, thanks so much for sharing your personal “sucess story.”
Great testimonial Carrie thank you for sharing with us all. : ) I was greatly encouraged.
Oh my…yes…here is one entry…the pictures. Don’t know if it really helps: http://www.thinwithin.org/2007/12/29/pictorial-food-journal/
One of the things that really stands out to me from what Carrie said is about all of the time and energy put into dieting, food thoughts, exercise, etc. and how it can steal from spending time with our family and what’s really important. I have wasted so much time researching about food. I am DONE doing that! It was like my fix. And then one day the Lord told me that if I spent that time encouraging myself about other things that just imagine how wonderful it would be. Wow! So I am done researching the food–unless I’m trying to find a recipe for something. It’s weird where those temptations can pop up, but I have to keep my mind settled on God’s word. This is where having those scriptures written down helps a lot because when we read through them we bathe our mind with God’s truth. So when the temptations come, we have something to combat those lies with. Praise God!
Carrie, thank you for being so willing to share this! It was so encouraging!
I hear you, Christina. When I was interviewing Carrie, I was so convicted about so much of my children’s early childhoods that I wasted with my obsession with dieting and exercise. Then, alternatively, I was modeling gluttony…oh wow…amazing that either of them are near normal relative to food. (One of them is…the other one…that remains to be seen. I can’t quite figure him out!)
Thank you for sharing this…it was very informative and helpful. I was wondering if you had any other pictorial food logs? Would love to see more examples.
Hi, Jenilyn. I don’t know if you can access these or not…let me know, ok? There are two pages that include probably only about 8 photos or so…if you scroll through both pages, you will find them:
http://thinwithin.org/forums/showthread.php?467-Heidi-s-Pictorial-Food-Log/page2&highlight=pictorial+food
Let me know if that works, ok? 🙂
Hi Heidi, I can see the posts, but not the pictures. I had to sign up for the forum, and it said I do not have access yet. I will wait a bit.
Hi, Jenilyn. Scroll through…there aren’t very many pictures. I think you might be able to see them even without forum approval. There just aren’t very many relative to all the posts with just words!
It won’t let me open the attached images…I click on them and it won’t give me access to see them.
Are you going to be posting any more food pictures that are more recent?
Hi Heidi, I tried to access it again, and this is what came up….
Jenilyn, you do not have permission to access this page. This could be due to one of several reasons:
1.Your user account may not have sufficient privileges to access this page. Are you trying to edit someone else’s post, access administrative features or some other privileged system?
2.If you are trying to post, the administrator may have disabled your account, or it may be awaiting activation
I emailed Julie, the TW forum moderator, asking her to be sure to approve you. Check again Monday maybe, ok? 🙂 So sorry about this.
Thank you Heidi. 🙂