Image Courtesy Barbara Marshall
Are you interested in starting Thin Within, but don’t have a clue where to begin? Do you want to jump in but aren’t sure when and how?
Thin Within is pretty simple, really. Easy? No, not really. But simple, yes.
If I could boil it all down into a few simple thoughts and an answer about “how to get started” (or restarted) on this journey, it would be this:
- Eat when you are hungry.
- Stop when you are not.
- Go to God for all the other things that would otherwise draw you to food!
Part 1: Eat when you are hungry. This means physically hungry. (We call this a “0” or zero.) This is in your stomach, not your abdomen. See this post/video for an explanation about stomach hunger.
Part 2: Stop when you are no longer hungry. (We call this a “5,”) This might be a bit trickier for many people as most of us are used to just eating whatever portion is in front of us and possibly going back for seconds, too, eating until we are uncomfortably full or the food is gone–whichever comes last! 🙂 In Thin Within, the best way to get started is to give yourself no more than a fist-sized portion of food.If that seems impossible, then give yourself half as much food as you normally would. If you eat it twice as slowly as you typically, do, you will be surprised at how satisfying it is! Over time, you will begin to sense what it feels like to no longer be hungry and to be “full enough.”
Part 3: Go to God for all the other things that would otherwise draw you to food! The Bible Study we have been doing has helped us to evaluate all the many reasons we tend to eat when we aren’t hungry. When we are drawn to food, it may be our hearts are yearning for (hungry for) intimacy with God. We may be hungry, but it may not be physically hungry. It may be “heart hunger.” God has placed a God-shaped hole in each of us so that we might be drawn to him. He longs for closeness with us. So very often, however, we jam a “food-shaped” peg in a God-shaped hole! As we learn to go to Him instead of to food, we not only eat less and find that we release excess weight, but our relationship with God deepens. It is a win-win!
Where are you in your willingness to give this a try? Will you eat only when hungry today? Will you explore what it feels like to stop when your body no longer needs food? We call this “eating 0 to 5.” Will you go to the Lord in prayer or bible study when you are tempted to go to food outside of this boundary? Let us know if you are just starting this journey or are restarting this journey. There are a bunch of great people here who will encourage you!
Yes!! Yes!! Absolutely!!! I am ready to re-start, as if this is the first time. I’ve been familiar with TW for 2 years now and I have released 30 #’s, which I’m so grateful to God for! I lead a Thin Within Bible study, which has been such a blessing to me. I started last fall, have just finished up the 2nd one this winter and now, Monday, April 8th, am starting the 3rd one. What wonderful timing this is for me. During this past session I only “released” another 3 #’s. I have another 20 to release, I think. (we’ll see, when I get there, if that is God’s ideal weight for me.) I want to be very faithful in following the TW boundaries over these next 12 weeks and see a good “dent” put in this ole body. What a glorious opportunity this TW study has opened up for me to be a witness to God and Jesus. And I’ve met the most wonderful Christian women in this new community for me.
How glorious to have this special opportunity with these wonderful women. I’l be praying for each of you. Thank you, Heidi! And may God bless all of us on this journey.
Way to go, Dalena! God is definitely doing a new thing. 🙂
The “New Thing” Train left the station six days ago! I’ve been on it before quite a few times in the past 3 years but this time, I can picture myself riding it with purpose and excitement that I’ve never had before……instead of looking for a place to jump off ….I’m enjoying the scenery… God is good!!! …Thank you Heidi for all you do!
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It is so good to see you here again, my friend! God IS good! Let me know how I can support you. I don’t know if you know it, but each time a person posts, they get their name entered in a drawing (on Friday). The winner gets a Thin Within book, or a Hunger Within book, or a complimentary week of coaching. Not only that, but perhaps the most important thing…by posting…well, we support one another! I LOVE IT! 😀 Thanks for letting us know you are here!
Thanks for posting. I found the link from the thin within wall post on my facebook news feed. I have 15 pounds to lose but they are the same 15 I’ve struggled with for over 15 years; 1 step forward, 2 steps back. I am a former WDW participant/leader and am thankful for the freedom in Christ where there is no condenmation, ever. I look forward to reading your blog.
Hey, Emily. So good to see you. There is a link for the Weight Loss Bible Study. Barb Raveling has provided us with great material that has given many of us breakthroughs. You might want to consider diving in! It is really transformative! Thanks for being here and for posting! God IS doing a new thing!
I started this past Tuesday and I have literally been surrounding myself with this material and checking out Barb’s study. I feel happy and at peace and praying that I fully commit to this!! On a side note I have released 5 lbs since Tuesday. All the glory goes to God!! Oh and I downloaded Barb’s app for I deserve a donut and I love it!! Feeling super excited about being on this journey with you all!!
Hi, Adriane. WOOT! I am so thrilled to hear all that God is doing in your heart and life! And BODY, too! That is awesome! I am so glad that you have joined us!
Yes, it is time to begin “again”. I’m tired of the on again off again approach! I have released 30 lbs, and in my opinion, have at least 150 more to release. I am ready to give it to God and let him have it for good! I have the old TW workbooks and hope to purchase the new ones soon. I’ve also printed off a lot of Barb’s materials and I am beginning her renewing the mind Bible study. Heidi, you are a blessing to so many people. Thank you for your willingness to help us along on this journey.
Oh Sara…thank you for your kind, encouraging words…I am so blessed by the people who participate here. God is doing a beautiful new thing and allowing me to just participate. I love having this opportunity! He is so kind!
Well said, Sara!
Like Emily, I have also just started looking at this blog via the ThinWithin Facebook page. I lost 50lbs through Weigh Down about 10 years ago, then slowly gained half of it back. Two years ago, after much frustration, God lead me to ThinWithin and I released 20 of those pounds. I’ve been through this study a couple of times and I am currently leading the Book 1 material at a women’s prison in my area. Though I know that the truth of grace is freedom and life for me, I still struggle with a life-long “performance mentality” and I am stuck… I know that I have at least 15-20lbs left to reach my natural healthy size, but I have been spinning my wheels and falling back into old patterns. I could use some prayer and I will check back to this sight often for encouragement. Thanks for listening…
Hi, Nikki. So glad to have you. We have been using entirely different material to look at how we think, but while maintaining the philosophy of the Thin Within ministry. I think a number of people have been experiencing breakthroughs using this material which comes from Barb Raveling’s website, http://www.barbraveling.com We have all the links available here at: http://www.thinwithin.org/weight-loss-bible-study/ If you are interested in having a look. 🙂 Hang with us a bit and I bet you will get not only prayer support but some new ideas for how to approach this so that you will see God Is Doing a New Thing!
Thanks Heidi! I looked at Day 1 of the Bible study this afternoon and I’m seeking God’s leading on where my boundaries should be as well as specific areas I need to renew my mind. Looking forward to good things!
Oh, yay! I will be eager to hear what you think. 🙂
I have just completed my first week of eating 0-5. I wanted to comment on step 2 of the 3 steps Heidi outlined at the beginning of this post. When I first started 0-5 eating I had no trouble waiting on, or finding 0…BUT 5 was much harder to find and acknowledge. Heidi listed 3 steps: •Eat when you are hungry. •Stop when you are not. Go to God for all the other things that would otherwise draw you to food! My first few days of 0-5 went well and I was surprised at how “full” I was after each meal. God didn’t leave me there for long, on day 3 I felt a strong prompt to revisit the “5” boundary I had committed to. I must admit I was ready to “do battle” with the Lord on this prompt because after all I had been eating half what I usually ate, and was even leaving food on my plate – WHAT! So, I revisited the Setting a Boundary in the study, and voila I “got it” … 5 = stop when I am no longer hungry, 5 does not mean stop when I am full instead of stuffed. I’m probably the last one in the group to “get” this truth, but just in case that’s not a real truth I thought I would share it!
Wow…Lesley…this is SO wow! Thank you for ministering to me! And others!
Yes Lesley it finally has clicked for me too that 5 means not being hungry. I guess I thought that 5 was the beginning of feeling full. For me, this means a lot less food, and believe me I am struggling with this. It is not that I am hungry, but that I have to break this pattern and habit of overeating. Thanks to all.
Oh, yes, back again. A little discouraged, but I feel the prompting of the Holy Spirit, saying come child, come back where my peace is. I pray against condemnation and reach for grace.
Hi, Michelle. The best thing is Barb’s Bible Study we have been doing! I know you will LOVE it. Give it a try and go at your pace! It is so refreshing and transformative. 🙂 http://www.www.thinwithin.org/weight-loss-bible-study
Good Morning, seeing this, “How to start from Scratch” has is an answer to my prayers. I’ve been trying to implement things that I had learned about stopping when I’m full and only eating when I’m hungry from WDW, (back in the 90’s.) I have gained the 30 lbs back that I had lost back then and had kept off for so many years, but discouragement and eating like a truck driver (no offense to truck drivers) have put them all back on plus a few. Looking forward to this bible study, for in the word of God and with believer’s no better encouragement can be found. I’m in!
Hi, Mary. You may want to enjoy the study we have been doing. Go at your pace. This has been a “game changer” for many of us and we will be using this approach during the study of HEAL, too! Go to http://www.www.thinwithin.org/weight-loss-bible-study/ and go at your own pace! I am so glad you are with us!
Alrighty then…I’m on the TW train. Anyway…above all else I need a support group of Christian women to help me along this journey. I know the concepts and all…but I need to find alternative ways to cope when a wave of depression hits me…something I do struggle with while working a highly intense job in pediatric palliative care, and the after hour burdens of my son with severe autism, my mother in her 13th year of Alzheimers, and a daughter struggling in a verbally abusive marriage. Looking up!! Denise
Hi, Denise. So glad to see you along with us for what is next. Barb’s bible study…well, I think that is THE best for dealing with these things. Better than anything else I have ever done. Better than anything else I have seen offered anywhere. Truly! 🙂 If anyone is reading this comment and wants to just start at the beginning, you can go to http://www.GodIsDoingANewThing.com/weight-loss-bible-study/ page and start from the beginning. No need to skip it! 🙂
So happy to have found ThinWithin. I need this teaching. The WDW teachings really messed me up. I hope to get back on track with hunger/fullness. Thanks you, judy
Hi, Judy. Welcome! So glad you are with us. I love the fact that it is God’s *kindness* that leads us to repentance. Romans 8:1 is encouraging as is John 3:17 that tells us the God did not send his son into the world to condemn the world! I love that Ephesians 1 tells me that he chose me (and you) before the foundation of the world (before we did anything godly!) to be holy and blameless in his sight! In LOVE he predestined us! And I love that Romans 5 tells me that God demonstrates his own love for me in this that while I was still a sinner, Christ died for me. Of course we want a balanced view…and we don’t want to overlook that Titus 2 reminds us that the same grace that brings us so wonderful a salvation also teaches us to say no to ungodliness, but we do not stand condemned! We stand as those loved, invited up into something so much better. Thanks for joining us!
I took a day off from work to prepare for out of town company. I spent a good portion of that time searching for weight loss tools. I have read TW and have participated in the forum in the past. In my search I found your blog and this study. Can I just jump on board? Where should I start. I love your video postings. Blessings, Joyce
Hi, Joyce. I can’t see that I responded to your question yet! So sorry to leave you hanging, if I did. You absolutely can jump on board. I recommend doing day 1 and 2 first. You can find the links to “Week 1” blog post at this page: http://www.www.thinwithin.org/weight-loss-bible-study and you can do Barb’s study at your own pace if you like. We are starting a new study on the book co-authored by Judy Halliday, called HEAL. I hope you will join us for that as well. We are using these materials to both renew our minds and to support us in our Thin Within journeys!