On Monday and Tuesday, I posted parts 1 and 2 in this series. Today is the final installment. Evening eating is one of the things that many of us struggle with–it is that “bewitching hour” between dinner and bed-time. Often the kids head off to bed and we want the reward for a day well done! Or conversely, we are lonely and want to comfort ourselves. Whatever the primary reason is for giving in to eating in the evening when we aren’t hungry, we can FIGHT the lies we believe with truth. I have been sharing my truth cards with you this week. I hope it is helpful. I would love to know what other truths you use to fight the lies that lead to night-time eating. What you share may help one of the people who visits this blog! 🙂
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My enjoyment of my family/husband is NOT dependent on my eating with them when I am not hungry.
If my husband or kids start munching on something in the evening, there is nothing that says I have to join them. I can relish their company even more when I focus on them instead of the food. I wonder what it is that has created the lie that fellowship is equated with eating in our minds? It certainly doesn’t need to be that way. I can absolutely enjoy my family members without eating!
- My enjoyment of movies, games, etc., in the evening does not hinge on eating too!
This is another lie that I tend to believe…that if we watch Netflix or play a game together that it is made all the better by eating. Truthfully, I feel like my conscience kicking into overdrive and the physical misery I end up in diminishes the enjoyment of the food AND the movie or game that I might be enjoying (AND the company of my husband and kids!).
- I can RELISH the precious hours before bed and TOTALLY enjoy them—ALL THE MORE when I don’t blast through my boundaries and eat outside of 0 and 5.
This gets back to yesterday’s truths as well…that it FEELS SO WONDERFUL to be tender hearted to my boundaries. Don’t you think? Those hours before bed when I am not hungry are made so much more rich…so much more of a blessing when I don’t defy my conscience!
How About You?
Do these truths sound like they might work for you? How might you amend them to be more applicable? When do you use your truth cards for the most victory?
“Night eating” seems to be a challenge for a lot of people. I have not watched television since I was about 11 years old, and have only one TV in my house; it’s in one of the spare bedrooms, though it doesn’t work as a TV you can watch DVDs/VHS on it. I would watch a movie or two every now and then; and eat dinner and snacks while viewing. Growing up we were not allowed to eat in front of the TV. As a family we never watched TV together, always played games or something. So eating dinner and watching a movie was a treat that I would indulge in from time to time. However, it seems to me that God has told me to stop watching movies. He referred to this as a “high place”. Another interesting directive from God was that He wanted me to consistently exercise, something I really don’t enjoy doing. Perhaps playing a game instead of TV might be a fun option. So now I am working on the afternoon eating. The Holy Spirit brought to mind Hebrews 10:26-31 when I starting thinking about “eating anyway” this afternoon. This TRUTH is now part of my daily Truth Card reading.
Lisa, that scripture really spoke to me. I think it’s hard to break the habit of eating in front of the tv for so many. I heard someone say that eating along with a movie is like all of our senses combined. I think about that a lot.
Hi Christina, That is an interesting perspective; “eating along with a movie is like all of our senses combined”. It is very true. I heard a preacher who was teaching on honor ask the question “are you allowing sin to entertain you?” I always watched “clean” movies; but then I started asking myself, “clean” by whose standard? I don’t watch movies anymore. 🙂
That makes sense, Christina!
Wow, Lisa. Thanks so much for sharing how God has personally led you. It is always encouraging to hear how God meets with others. He is so personal with each of us.