But before you read on, please know that WE ALL ARE DIFFERENT. My body has different requirements than yours. In fact, now, a long time after this was posted initially, my body might respond differently than what I share here. Our bodies are FEARFULLY and WONDERFULLY made!
The reason I share this is because many of us think our bodies need a lot more food than they really might need. So just prayerfully consider this, ok? 🙂 You might want to evaluate if the amounts of food you think you need is based on truth or not. If not, then renew your mind about that! 🙂
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Hubby has been observing my eating and releasing of weight for over a year. He mentioned last night that had he not seen it, he never would have imagined that someone could survive on so little food. But he sees me doing precisely that. He suggested I take before and after pictures…but of FOOD portions!
So for fun :-), I am chronicling that today–what I am eating and what I would have prepared for myself in the past to show the differences. He is helping me to serve up the “before” servings so I don’t fail to include as MUCH as I used to eat. This is what we have so far:
In October of 2006, I would have easily chowed down what we have in the photo above–three donuts and at least one tall glass of 2% milk (if not two glasses!).
There is nothing at all wrong with donuts. Donuts are good, they are our friend :-), but I would have eaten THREE easily and been stuffed to the gills…and not given a flying fig! It takes a lot of food to sustain 250 pounds. So, this would have been the ticket to start the day.
This morning, what I actually served myself is seen in this photo above. I love love love winter wheat bread, slathered in peanut butter, sprinkled generously with granola complete with almonds in it. This is chased with a small half mug of milk. YUM! This is a whole body pleaser for me. I find that if I start the day with a donut now, I crash and burn quickly. I *can* do that if I want, but I don’t feel it is the best thing. “Permissible” yes, but not beneficial. In fact, sometimes I have a donut for “second breakfast” but that is another story! I didn’t eat for the first time until 9am this morning…which would typically be about the time I get to a 0 for “second breakfast!”
LOL! So…when I was all done eating breakfast, the photo above shows what was left after I ate.
Presto! I went from 0–totally empty, to a “I am not hungry any more” and I call that a 5 or satisfied. I used to have a really hard time “finding” 5…I discovered that it was a place I would fudge quite a bit…to see how much I could *stuff* in before going too far. Now I generally stop where I am comfortable…and that is marked by not being hungry any more. It makes it much simpler.
My husband pointed out that the amount of food it takes to sustain a healthy person really is not much at all. The problem is we WANT to eat more! We WANT to be able to justify it! But our bodies are SO efficient!
This isn’t about anorexia either.  If I get hungry, I am delighted to go eat whatever I desire. My goal, however, is to stop when I am not hungry any more or move around rigorously (cantering on one of my horses?) without having that erppy, burppy feeling that comes from jostling a stomach that is too full. Does that make sense? 🙂
So lunch in the past would have been at least what is pictured above. This is four pieces of pizza on a dinner plate with a couple of tablespoons of real butter for spreading on the crusts. Each and every bit of food would be gone…and probably a bit more than this. I would have gone back for more! Again, this is what I served myself in the PAST. I would probably read while I ate it, too, and not even “register” in my mind that I was eating. I wouldn’t enjoy my food. I would inhale it instead. I would probably have “dessert” afterwards. After all, eating lunch and dinner always were followed by something sweet–often a heaping bowl of ice cream. Nothing wrong with pizza, donuts, ice cream. But that was a LOT of food!
Above is what I actually served myself today when I was at a 0 at noon. Two pieces of pizza and about one tablespoon of butter (yes, the real thing) on a salad plate. I prefer to serve myself food on a salad plate.
One other note about this pizza. In the past, we would have gotten a Papa Murphy’s pizza. Â I don’t know about you all, but I have noticed how grease pools on it–a LOT. It even grosses my kids out! (You know there is a problem when your child starts blotting grease off the pizza and you never taught her to do that!) So, we use Boboli pizza crusts and each person gets what they want on their pizza and the amount of cheese they want. I feel a lot better about that choice for a pizza than about the oozing goozing liquid orange grease all over the plate kind. Nothing wrong with that, per say. This is a choice we make.
My son pointed out that the Papa Murphy’s pizzas are so much bigger, too. I had forgotten about that. So, anyhow, while this may not be on anyone’s “wholesome food” list, it is definitely a step upwards from Papa Murphy’s or Round Table. My family even agrees!
Above shows what was left of my lunch today after I was through. As you can see, I didn’t eat all that I served myself. There is almost one full piece of the two I served myself left. (Bits from both pieces as I had to have the crust…my favorite part. Gosh! I even left some of the butter! LOL!)
I have a policy of leaving some food on my plate no matter how little I serve myself. It keeps me from a sense of entitlement eating at other times and it diminishes the likelihood of greed. Besides that, the dogs like the results of Mom eating this way!
 In fact, I recently put my dogs on a “diet” so they could still enjoy the table scraps they get. I figure dog food meal after meal can’t give them all the nutrients they need. It has to be far better for them to get a bit of cheese, bread, granola and peanut butter on occasion, ya think? They agree!!!
So, I hope this little food log of sorts helps show some of the differences that I have made in my eating.
What do you think…are there changes to your portions that you might be able to make? Do you need to renew your mind about how much food you think it takes to satisfy your body? What IF you were to give yourself less food? What IF you were to leave some of it on your plate each time? What do you think?
Second breakfast if both wonderful and frustrating. While I cam eat what I want when I want it is very inconvenient at work. If I eat 0-5 at breakfast I am ready to eat lunch 1to 1 1/2 hours prior to lunch. I usually take a cut up apple,grapes or cheese stick with me. It is easy to grab a bite or two to tide me over.
I am still struggling with the time between home from work and dinner. I graze until I am satisfied. Then I ‘have to eat dinner’ to appear in control of my eating . I am not satisfying my heart hunger with food. Why is this a lesson so hard to learn? This is the lesson if I learned it I would be my God given size. The lie is ‘Food will fill up that God shaped place in my heart’. The truth is:
Matthew 11:28
New International Version (NIV)
28 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.
Matthew 6:26
New International Version (NIV)
26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?
The truth is : Come to God when I am weary, I am valuable and God cares for me. That it the TRUTH with a capital T.
Blessings, Joyce
this is helpful Joyce. I struggle in the evening , too. I can eat 0-5 during the day but dinner time and after is the time I need an action plan. I think it is being tired, overwhelmed, procrastinating, and habit! I like the verses you picked…am writing them down!
Yes, I’m coming to the conclusion that I need less food than I thought. Now, I need to be happy about that. I’m still working on “figuring out” my body though. I felt God tell me to “submit and trust” when I did the study the other day. I also felt that I was supposed to do some “mini fasts” to “sit with the hunger” and kind of “tune back into/ readjust my body signals.” I believe it’s working, and helping me to better control portions, but I did go a little too far yesterday, I was faint, headachy, and shaking by the time I got to eat. It’s a learning process. Thanks for sharing; it helps to put things into perspective.
The pictures really helped and were a super idea. I am really right there, knowing that I would be satisfied with much less, but stomping my foot like a little kid because I WANT to eat more! It tastes good and it feels good . . . in the moment. so far I have not stopped at five and if I’m honest I’d say it’s because I am rebellious and I want to eat more. Ugh, I have some work to do.
That is the heart of it, Becky. We WANT to eat more. God wants us to thrill to not *needing* as much as we think! LOL! We have it backwards! We really could be “cheap dates!”
Thanks Heidi. This was very eye opening for me. When you say a few bites can fill you up to a 5 you were not kidding! The pictures really helped. Thanks for sharing.
wow, we are all in the same boat! I want to find myself delighting in the Lord so much that eating until satisfied would be second nature. It is going to take some work….we can do this! thanks for the visuals Heidi..that is helpful
My thanks, Heidi, to you and your husband for those great photos. They’re very helpful. The pizza spoke to me loud and clear. We sometimes order in a small pizza (ham, pineapple and veggies) to share. I always take the three smallest slices and clean my plate knowing I’ve had sufficient after the second slice. My excuse is that I don’t want my husband to overdo it. Duh! Lights are coming on. I am not responsible for his choice to take or leave the last slice. I also have the option to refrigerate it for my lunch the next day. Also, we’ve been going out for supper every night this week and I’ve been eating all my food, still trying to feed the grief (that hole in my heart) over our kitty’s death. It’s my birthday and tonight we’re dining at a Greek restaurant with our son and daughter-in-law. Please, pray for me, that I will remember to ask for a take-out box to be delivered with my meal, something I haven’t been doing this week. Lunch through to supper is my challenging time of day. For the past two to three weeks, neither my husband nor I have had the desire to snack at night – just not hungry.
Sheila, I am so glad! Isn’t it amazing how clever we are about justifying what we want to do. I am so sorry to hear about your continued grieving over your kitty. I still am sad about any of the animals I have lost. It feels so fresh. Did you have a good birthday? How was the dinner at the Greek restaurant???
Thanks, Heidi. The God of all comfort is definitely with me in a special way during these difficult days. I really enjoyed my dinner. Had souvlaki and salad with a half pita and birthday cake which were provided by my son. I definitely ate well past 5; but, asked our server to leave the rice and potato off my plate. I did put my cutlery down and enjoyed visiting with my family. I did, however, feel bloated afterwards and realized I hate that feeling. I ate 0 – 5 on the weekend and weighed in this morning with 2.2 pounds released after one week, making my two weeks total 3.6 pounds released. I’m going in the right direction. At the birthday dinner, I ate half of what I would have before this Spirit-directed journey with Thin Within.
“The problem is we WANT to eat more! We WANT to be able to justify it! But our bodies are SO efficient!” That right there hit home with me. I think waiting until 0 is easier than stopping at 5. I have to keep reminding myself that I can eat more later when I’m hungry again, that I don’t have to go hog-wild at that one meal. I so want to justify eating more…eating that one more bite.
Once last week the Holy Spirit asked if I would leave 2 bites in my bowl. I obeyed. Victory! Last night we had pizza for dinner. Normally I would have eaten 1 1/2 to 2 pieces, but I stopped at 1 because I was totally satisfied. Victory! Praise God!
Thanks for sharing the photos about portion sizes. This is such a great visual!
This was so helpful. I am on day 6 and feeling a glimpse of the freedom I’m seeking. God is good! Finding 5 has definitely been a challenge for me and the visuals were helpful. I’ve been consuming much less food than I normally would, but I’m still realizing its too much.
For example, I ordered a cheeseburger happy meal from McDonalds while at the airport today (Not the healthiest choice, but I really need the “everything is permissible….” for now). I ate all the burger and left about half the fries. This is true victory for me because before I could have eaten all of an adult combo…..followed up by tremendous guilt of course. However, after about 10 minutes I realized I was probably close to a 7 on my internal hunger scale. I couldn’t believe it! A 7 after less than a full happy meal!
I’m renewing my mind to my needs as we speak and I hope that I will continue to seek the Lord’s guidance as to where MY 5 is at each sitting. Thank you so much for all the great information and lessons. These are what is carrying me through.
Having a hard time knowing my 0-5 hunger . I can go 12 hrs with no stomach cues but my head and body say its time but then 3-4 bites I’m at a 5 in my mind is that normal? I lost my best friend last August and her bday would be on July 3. I never realized how much I had turned to food for comfort but I did. I’m on day 17 of the thin within book and its taking me time but I am learning to walk with The Lord and trust in him through my journey. I have also realized I’m a fast eater and I need to slow down. Thank you for your post I know I can release the weight for my God-given size only through Gods Grace.
Hi, Christine. It really doesn’t take much food. Yes it is normal, but to be honest, most of us *aren’t* that honest about it! I am so sorry to hear of the passing of your best friend. It sounds like you are on an invaluable journey right now. I hope you will keep us posted. Yes…God is doing a new thing. You *CAN* experience the freedom you long for. 🙂 You WILL!
I thought I saw a comment somewhere…and now I can’t find it…asking me about portions and if they changed as I released the weight. Yes. There were times when I ate just a couple of times in a day and times when I ate just a few bites 5-7 times a day. I just tried to go with what my body indicated…though I must admit that I have to ask God to be sure I don’t deceive myself. Hope whoever asked the question finds this answer! 🙂
Absolutely!!! In answer to your question “are there changes………..to make?”
I love those pictures!! Thank your husband for his insightful observations!!
Second breakfast if both wonderful and frustrating. While I cam eat what I want when I want it is very inconvenient at work. If I eat 0-5 at breakfast I am ready to eat lunch 1to 1 1/2 hours prior to lunch. I usually take a cut up apple,grapes or cheese stick with me. It is easy to grab a bite or two to tide me over.
I am still struggling with the time between home from work and dinner. I graze until I am satisfied. Then I ‘have to eat dinner’ to appear in control of my eating . I am not satisfying my heart hunger with food. Why is this a lesson so hard to learn? This is the lesson if I learned it I would be my God given size. The lie is ‘Food will fill up that God shaped place in my heart’. The truth is:
Matthew 11:28
New International Version (NIV)
28 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.
Matthew 6:26
New International Version (NIV)
26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?
The truth is : Come to God when I am weary, I am valuable and God cares for me. That it the TRUTH with a capital T.
Blessings, Joyce
this is helpful Joyce. I struggle in the evening , too. I can eat 0-5 during the day but dinner time and after is the time I need an action plan. I think it is being tired, overwhelmed, procrastinating, and habit! I like the verses you picked…am writing them down!
Be looking for an audio next week about night-time eating. I have it recorded, I just have to figure out when to post it!
Yes, I’m coming to the conclusion that I need less food than I thought. Now, I need to be happy about that. I’m still working on “figuring out” my body though. I felt God tell me to “submit and trust” when I did the study the other day. I also felt that I was supposed to do some “mini fasts” to “sit with the hunger” and kind of “tune back into/ readjust my body signals.” I believe it’s working, and helping me to better control portions, but I did go a little too far yesterday, I was faint, headachy, and shaking by the time I got to eat. It’s a learning process. Thanks for sharing; it helps to put things into perspective.
The pictures really helped and were a super idea. I am really right there, knowing that I would be satisfied with much less, but stomping my foot like a little kid because I WANT to eat more! It tastes good and it feels good . . . in the moment. so far I have not stopped at five and if I’m honest I’d say it’s because I am rebellious and I want to eat more. Ugh, I have some work to do.
That is the heart of it, Becky. We WANT to eat more. God wants us to thrill to not *needing* as much as we think! LOL! We have it backwards! We really could be “cheap dates!”
Thanks Heidi. This was very eye opening for me. When you say a few bites can fill you up to a 5 you were not kidding! The pictures really helped. Thanks for sharing.
Sure thing, Lynn!
wow, we are all in the same boat! I want to find myself delighting in the Lord so much that eating until satisfied would be second nature. It is going to take some work….we can do this! thanks for the visuals Heidi..that is helpful
Me, too, Marie!
My thanks, Heidi, to you and your husband for those great photos. They’re very helpful. The pizza spoke to me loud and clear. We sometimes order in a small pizza (ham, pineapple and veggies) to share. I always take the three smallest slices and clean my plate knowing I’ve had sufficient after the second slice. My excuse is that I don’t want my husband to overdo it. Duh! Lights are coming on. I am not responsible for his choice to take or leave the last slice. I also have the option to refrigerate it for my lunch the next day. Also, we’ve been going out for supper every night this week and I’ve been eating all my food, still trying to feed the grief (that hole in my heart) over our kitty’s death. It’s my birthday and tonight we’re dining at a Greek restaurant with our son and daughter-in-law. Please, pray for me, that I will remember to ask for a take-out box to be delivered with my meal, something I haven’t been doing this week. Lunch through to supper is my challenging time of day. For the past two to three weeks, neither my husband nor I have had the desire to snack at night – just not hungry.
Sheila, I am so glad! Isn’t it amazing how clever we are about justifying what we want to do. I am so sorry to hear about your continued grieving over your kitty. I still am sad about any of the animals I have lost. It feels so fresh. Did you have a good birthday? How was the dinner at the Greek restaurant???
Thanks, Heidi. The God of all comfort is definitely with me in a special way during these difficult days. I really enjoyed my dinner. Had souvlaki and salad with a half pita and birthday cake which were provided by my son. I definitely ate well past 5; but, asked our server to leave the rice and potato off my plate. I did put my cutlery down and enjoyed visiting with my family. I did, however, feel bloated afterwards and realized I hate that feeling. I ate 0 – 5 on the weekend and weighed in this morning with 2.2 pounds released after one week, making my two weeks total 3.6 pounds released. I’m going in the right direction. At the birthday dinner, I ate half of what I would have before this Spirit-directed journey with Thin Within.
That is AWESOME, SHeila!!!!
“The problem is we WANT to eat more! We WANT to be able to justify it! But our bodies are SO efficient!” That right there hit home with me. I think waiting until 0 is easier than stopping at 5. I have to keep reminding myself that I can eat more later when I’m hungry again, that I don’t have to go hog-wild at that one meal. I so want to justify eating more…eating that one more bite.
Once last week the Holy Spirit asked if I would leave 2 bites in my bowl. I obeyed. Victory! Last night we had pizza for dinner. Normally I would have eaten 1 1/2 to 2 pieces, but I stopped at 1 because I was totally satisfied. Victory! Praise God!
Thanks for sharing the photos about portion sizes. This is such a great visual!
WOW, Christina! VICTORY indeed!!!! Praises to God!
This was so helpful. I am on day 6 and feeling a glimpse of the freedom I’m seeking. God is good! Finding 5 has definitely been a challenge for me and the visuals were helpful. I’ve been consuming much less food than I normally would, but I’m still realizing its too much.
For example, I ordered a cheeseburger happy meal from McDonalds while at the airport today (Not the healthiest choice, but I really need the “everything is permissible….” for now). I ate all the burger and left about half the fries. This is true victory for me because before I could have eaten all of an adult combo…..followed up by tremendous guilt of course. However, after about 10 minutes I realized I was probably close to a 7 on my internal hunger scale. I couldn’t believe it! A 7 after less than a full happy meal!
I’m renewing my mind to my needs as we speak and I hope that I will continue to seek the Lord’s guidance as to where MY 5 is at each sitting. Thank you so much for all the great information and lessons. These are what is carrying me through.
Blessings,
Lauren
Hi, Lauren. WOW! Great news to have stopped eating when you did. The rest will come in time. Just keep fostering, nurturing, cherishing a soft heart!
Having a hard time knowing my 0-5 hunger . I can go 12 hrs with no stomach cues but my head and body say its time but then 3-4 bites I’m at a 5 in my mind is that normal? I lost my best friend last August and her bday would be on July 3. I never realized how much I had turned to food for comfort but I did. I’m on day 17 of the thin within book and its taking me time but I am learning to walk with The Lord and trust in him through my journey. I have also realized I’m a fast eater and I need to slow down. Thank you for your post I know I can release the weight for my God-given size only through Gods Grace.
Hi, Christine. It really doesn’t take much food. Yes it is normal, but to be honest, most of us *aren’t* that honest about it! I am so sorry to hear of the passing of your best friend. It sounds like you are on an invaluable journey right now. I hope you will keep us posted. Yes…God is doing a new thing. You *CAN* experience the freedom you long for. 🙂 You WILL!
I thought I saw a comment somewhere…and now I can’t find it…asking me about portions and if they changed as I released the weight. Yes. There were times when I ate just a couple of times in a day and times when I ate just a few bites 5-7 times a day. I just tried to go with what my body indicated…though I must admit that I have to ask God to be sure I don’t deceive myself. Hope whoever asked the question finds this answer! 🙂