Are there practical tools that you use to help you be focused, to really put into action your intentions to change your eating, thinking, and living?
The Thin Within “Observations and Corrections” chart is one of the tools that many Thin Within participants use.
If any of you would like to, you can download this pdf file of an Observation and Correction chart and print it out any day you choose to use it. Since we will take longer to go through the Thin Within book than the 30 days intended, it might be helpful to have copies of this page to record the Keys to Conscious Eating that you apply. (This chart is in the book at the end of each chapter, too.)
Something that is important before we get rolling though…I want to be sure to say now and I will say it again and again…charts and graphs are NOT things you NEED to do unless GOD says! Some of us find ourselves getting caught back in a legalistic dieting mentality when we try things like this…If that is the case for you, this might be a season that you don’t want to use these charts…it is ok!
But for those of you who want to get a jump start or have them ready, here they are! 🙂
I recommend praying about what God would have you to do.
As we prepare for this study together, what are you willing to do to make new discoveries and to make changes in your thinking and in your living? How far are you willing to go? What typically holds you back? How can you be sure that nothing holds you back this time from learning all that the Lord has for you in the weeks ahead? 🙂
My own greed holds me back.
My own greed holds me back.
I get held back from legalistic lists and charts….pretty sure. I tend to want everything to be perfectly lined up and I love filling out graphs and making checklists. Ugh, it's been to my demise, however. I get so hung up on the "legalities" that I ruin what God wants to do…I miss the point. So, as much as I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE nice clean journals and crisp new graphs and charts, I feel the Lord telling me this time to just "be". I'm trying to be more "go with the flow"!! I want to be in-tune to what the Holy Spirit wants from me at a moments notice. Hope that makes sense!Bless you, Heidi!
I get held back from legalistic lists and charts….pretty sure. I tend to want everything to be perfectly lined up and I love filling out graphs and making checklists. Ugh, it's been to my demise, however. I get so hung up on the "legalities" that I ruin what God wants to do…I miss the point. So, as much as I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE nice clean journals and crisp new graphs and charts, I feel the Lord telling me this time to just "be". I'm trying to be more "go with the flow"!! I want to be in-tune to what the Holy Spirit wants from me at a moments notice. Hope that makes sense!Bless you, Heidi!
Thanks Heidi!
Thanks Heidi!
A desire to gratify my flesh with food and discouragement when I don't lose weight after really working hard at doing so are two of the things that hold me back. I get tired of self-denial if I am not going to see the results. I know, that sounds childish and i hate to even confess to those feelings, but I know that if I am ever going to gain mastery over my eating, it will be by the grace of God and the help of friends…and friends can only help when I am honest about my struggles. I am honestly not sure what I will do differently during this study that I haven't done in the past, but I am completely open to the Lord opening my eyes to a new way of looking at things.
A desire to gratify my flesh with food and discouragement when I don't lose weight after really working hard at doing so are two of the things that hold me back. I get tired of self-denial if I am not going to see the results. I know, that sounds childish and i hate to even confess to those feelings, but I know that if I am ever going to gain mastery over my eating, it will be by the grace of God and the help of friends…and friends can only help when I am honest about my struggles. I am honestly not sure what I will do differently during this study that I haven't done in the past, but I am completely open to the Lord opening my eyes to a new way of looking at things.
Hi, Kim. Oh, yes, I know that feeling. Greed is insidious, isn't it?Diahn, I am so glad you have been visiting more frequently. I have missed you. 🙂 I know the feeling about the charts. You know what? Don't use them. Nope…don't do it. I have seasons where I can and where I can't. I may try the O and C chart again as I find the structure helpful for accountability without sending me over the edge like the food log does. You absolutely make sense. I can totally relate. I don't think I could use *any* chart for most of the 10 years I have tried this approach! Listen to what GOD says to you! FOR SURE! :-)Hi, Katie. You are most welcome. I hope it is helpful.Hi, Peggy. It sure has been a blessing to get to know you a bit in the past month. Thanks for blessing my life! 🙂 You are right…we have to spill the beans about what we are feeling. I believe that is when healing has a chance to happen. If we let shame (or pride, or whatever) keep us from sharing with those we trust in a safe relationship, we will continue with more of the same behavior. Or at least that has been my experience! Thanks so much for sharing–your vulnerability ministers to my heart.
Hi, Kim. Oh, yes, I know that feeling. Greed is insidious, isn't it?Diahn, I am so glad you have been visiting more frequently. I have missed you. 🙂 I know the feeling about the charts. You know what? Don't use them. Nope…don't do it. I have seasons where I can and where I can't. I may try the O and C chart again as I find the structure helpful for accountability without sending me over the edge like the food log does. You absolutely make sense. I can totally relate. I don't think I could use *any* chart for most of the 10 years I have tried this approach! Listen to what GOD says to you! FOR SURE! :-)Hi, Katie. You are most welcome. I hope it is helpful.Hi, Peggy. It sure has been a blessing to get to know you a bit in the past month. Thanks for blessing my life! 🙂 You are right…we have to spill the beans about what we are feeling. I believe that is when healing has a chance to happen. If we let shame (or pride, or whatever) keep us from sharing with those we trust in a safe relationship, we will continue with more of the same behavior. Or at least that has been my experience! Thanks so much for sharing–your vulnerability ministers to my heart.
Isn't it wonderful with Thin Within's grace-based approach we can choose to use the charts or not. It is about being in tune with His Spirit and how He will individually lead us on our summertime journey. Right now for me the charts have become like a prayer journal (I made my own copies with blank space)where I can pour out my feelings to God along with observing my eating patterns. I tend to repress my feelings with food and I feel God is leading me to use this optional tool to get in touch with those feelings with Him as I wait for the O-hunger rather than run to the refridgerator.
Isn't it wonderful with Thin Within's grace-based approach we can choose to use the charts or not. It is about being in tune with His Spirit and how He will individually lead us on our summertime journey. Right now for me the charts have become like a prayer journal (I made my own copies with blank space)where I can pour out my feelings to God along with observing my eating patterns. I tend to repress my feelings with food and I feel God is leading me to use this optional tool to get in touch with those feelings with Him as I wait for the O-hunger rather than run to the refridgerator.
@Kim – Amen, girl! Last summer I was so blessed to go through the Thin Within study that Heidi facilitated. I learned a ton about why I choose to focus on food instead of the Lord in so many situations. Praise Him that He taught me to go to Him instead of food. What I'm left with is greed. I want what I want when I want it. I justify that by thinking that it doesn't hurt anyone else. I rarely consider how much it hurts ME by distracting me from my Lord! How would God want to relate to me if I'd just put down the fork and commune with Him?Heidi,a s always, thank you for this forum!Yvonne
@Kim – Amen, girl! Last summer I was so blessed to go through the Thin Within study that Heidi facilitated. I learned a ton about why I choose to focus on food instead of the Lord in so many situations. Praise Him that He taught me to go to Him instead of food. What I'm left with is greed. I want what I want when I want it. I justify that by thinking that it doesn't hurt anyone else. I rarely consider how much it hurts ME by distracting me from my Lord! How would God want to relate to me if I'd just put down the fork and commune with Him?Heidi,a s always, thank you for this forum!Yvonne
Peggy, You hit the nail on the head,"I get tired of self-denial if I am not going to see the results."That's it. We get tired of self-denial. Sometimes, I feel like I'm the only one who has to practice self denial. That's a lie from the pit. Jesus tells us ALL to deny ourselves. We are all unique in what we are called to deny ourselves. I need to get over my pity parties. "Poor me. I can't eat all I want for whatever reason I want. Boo-hoo." I really feel like the Lord is calling me to give up childish ways and to truly grow up and be an adult who can choose by His Spirit to deny myself for His glory. Bottom line…I need to grow up in Him.
Peggy, You hit the nail on the head,"I get tired of self-denial if I am not going to see the results."That's it. We get tired of self-denial. Sometimes, I feel like I'm the only one who has to practice self denial. That's a lie from the pit. Jesus tells us ALL to deny ourselves. We are all unique in what we are called to deny ourselves. I need to get over my pity parties. "Poor me. I can't eat all I want for whatever reason I want. Boo-hoo." I really feel like the Lord is calling me to give up childish ways and to truly grow up and be an adult who can choose by His Spirit to deny myself for His glory. Bottom line…I need to grow up in Him.
Hi, Shelly. Yes! I love that with TW, I can use the charts or not, now or later or not at all, any or all or some. It is like DUH! Before, I didn't think about having a choice. I just felt forced into the mold of doing what I was told…and resented every bit of it! What a GREAT idea using the charts for a prayer journal. I LOVE that idea and think I will borrow it! THanks so much for sharing your thoughts.Hi, Yvonne. I accidentally deleted a former comment of yours…I tried to message you at your blog. Don't know if you got the message. Anyhow, I entered your name in the drawing when I saw I did that! I am so glad you are back here with us this year. I hope you will join us for the study this time. God is doing a new thing! :-)Hi, Kim. I agree with you and your response to Peggy. I hear you so much. The boundaries again. We sure have learned to live WITHOUT them in our culture. We act like protective godly boundaries are some sort of rule to resist. Go figure. God is teaching me, too, like you mentioned with you…to give up childish ways. I am slow learning. I can't believe that we are peeling away yet another layer…and I found this is here to be dealt with for me! Yikes! yes, I, too, need to grow up in Him!
Hi, Shelly. Yes! I love that with TW, I can use the charts or not, now or later or not at all, any or all or some. It is like DUH! Before, I didn't think about having a choice. I just felt forced into the mold of doing what I was told…and resented every bit of it! What a GREAT idea using the charts for a prayer journal. I LOVE that idea and think I will borrow it! THanks so much for sharing your thoughts.Hi, Yvonne. I accidentally deleted a former comment of yours…I tried to message you at your blog. Don't know if you got the message. Anyhow, I entered your name in the drawing when I saw I did that! I am so glad you are back here with us this year. I hope you will join us for the study this time. God is doing a new thing! :-)Hi, Kim. I agree with you and your response to Peggy. I hear you so much. The boundaries again. We sure have learned to live WITHOUT them in our culture. We act like protective godly boundaries are some sort of rule to resist. Go figure. God is teaching me, too, like you mentioned with you…to give up childish ways. I am slow learning. I can't believe that we are peeling away yet another layer…and I found this is here to be dealt with for me! Yikes! yes, I, too, need to grow up in Him!
:)Thanks, Heidi, no problem!Yvonne
:)Thanks, Heidi, no problem!Yvonne