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This week’s drawing winner is: Dawn
CONGRATULATIONS!
I will contact you via email and you can select:
Thin Within book by Arthur and Judy Halliday, donated by the Thin Within ministry
Hunger Within book by Arthur and Judy Halliday, donated by Arthur and Judy Halliday
One week of one-on-one coaching with yours truly (me)
Let me know which you would prefer! 🙂
Remember, each week through April, anyone who comments gets their name placed in a “hat” and a lucky winner is drawn! The more comments you make (relevant and supportive, of course! LOL!) the more chances you have to win.
This week we have had a chance to consider the lies we believe and how this contributes to an attitude of feeling like this is just too hard as well as hopelessness. We sometimes deal with these feelings by eating our way through them! As with all of Barb’s studies it will be really helpful if we nip these in the bud and recognize when they rear their ugly heads. We don’t want to be victims to our run-away thoughts, but, instead, take our thoughts captive.
So here are some lies that you may believe…
- I just can’t do this
- This is too hard.
- God must want me to be fat since he hasn’t delivered me from this.
- That food that I want will make me feel better and it is just one time.
- This is too hard and it is my only vice, after all.
- I have been this way all my life and so I will surely be this way til the day I die.
Can you think of any more lies to add to this list?
Even better…can you think of TRUTHS to refute these lies?
Please share in the comments!
The biggest lie I really struggle with is thinking that to lose weight I have to wait for SUCH a painful hunger that I’m ready to tear someone’s face off!! I think about how you said all of this should be more like breathing than child birth, and that does cause me to slow down and question my thinking. But, I don’t have any experience yet with losing by only waiting for a reasonable hunger, so it is very difficult for me to consistently refute this old way of thinking. I just don’t have much to back it up with yet. It is also one of the biggest reasons I end up eating outside of my boundaries because I feel so frustrated by not being able to wait longer and then fearful that if I do eat sooner I won’t lose any weight so I end up binging. This study is definitely changing me in so many positive ways, and more and more I feel the old breaking away and the new being rebuilt…but this lie is definitely a toughie for me!!
Hi, DoubleJay. I totally get where you are coming from. I think the key is to realize, too, that it is in eating less food that we release the weight. Being miserable doesn’t guarantee weight loss! In fact, I think God loves it when we are NOT miserable! 🙂 When you are hungry, just be sure to have less food. Here is a challenge just for you…how about give this a week. A week where you evaluate when you think you are hungry…see if it is in the stomach area that you feel an emptiness. When you do, serve yourself a fist-sized portion of food and really eat slowly and with gratitude…If you get satisfied physically before you are done with that portion, then stop. Or if you sense a prompting by God to stop…stop. If we eat prayerfully, sometimes that happens…and yes, it may take thinking about it that much as you get started to lay a foundation. Do this each time you are hungry…eat less, stop before you are full. Remember that your stomach and brain don’t connect with the message you are satisfied for 10 minutes or more so eating slowly helps a lot. Then, after a week, see what has happened…if you don’t have an experience that bears this out. It is not easy, but it is simple. Let me know what you think! 🙂
Yes, Heidi, that is a good suggestion! One way I am working on renewing my mind is to remind myself that once I am hungry it is perfectly acceptable to eat. That there is no condemnation, no guilt and no frustration meant to be experienced at that point! If I feel good then I can CHOOSE to continue waiting (because sometimes it is fun or even more convenient to wait a little longer), but that I don’t HAVE to keep waiting. There is no legalism and plenty of grace! I want to be careful to honor God and my body by not eating outside of 0-5, but waiting too long can also be dishonoring and even turn into a stronghold. I want this to be fun (there is joy to be had even in difficult things). It IS fun when I relax and just let my body do the work on the weight while God does the work on my heart and mind. I really do love seeking first His kingdom and righteousness 🙂
My biggest lie I tell myself is “I have too much stress in my life right now. I don’t have the time or energy to worry about eating. ” I eat out of control because I feel out of control. The truth would be that I could begin to take my stresses to God, ask for His help and eat the next meal within a 5. God can help me in the moment I am in. Thank you for this blog. I found it yesterday through Facebook. I had gotten the Thin within workbook several years ago but did not have a support group and found it hard to go it on my own. I really appreciate the encouragement. Lynn
Hi, Lynn. So glad you found us! Great job identifying a lie that can really trip all of us up. And I love the truth that you have there to replace it. So glad you are journeying with us. ~ Heidi
Lately, the biggest lie I struggle with is believing one bite of something will help relieve a stressful situation. In fact, that one bite intensifies my stress because not only is the stressful factor still there but I also feel guilt for taking that bite outside of 0 to 5 eating. During coaching, Heidi gave me the great idea of making post-its with renewing of the mind verses to place in my kitchen area where I experience most of my stress. The first post-it says, “For I am the LORD your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you.” i do believe God will help me much more than the food ever will. Like Heidi says, this will help me change my focus from the stressful situation to God. I will begin this practice today and am hopeful it will work well in times of stress, especially when I can’t just stop and go to a quiet area to renew my mind. Thanks to all for great reflections and suggestions.
Lisa, great insights! You are so right. The stress not only remains, but is exaggerated by us defying our conscience…at least that is what happens with me a lot.I love the verse that you shared with us. That is a great one! How has it been going? 🙂
I’ve read some great stuff. I agree with Lisa that I fall for the lie that food will make me feel better all the time! I have a huge blind spot for the long term consequences of taking that first compulsive bite and/or breaking my boundaries. I realize that at this stage in my recovery, I have to be willing to go to any lengths to protect my eating boundaries, one day at a time.
Hi, Minda. Yes, so often we think that if we are tired, food will make us feel better. Or if we are sick, we think it will make us feel better. Or if we lack energy, that it will make us feel better. The theme here is looking to food. LOL! For me, I have to admit that the problem is I just *want* FOOD!!! Yes, Minda…one day at a time. Sometimes, one moment. I think it is vital for us to know that each moment matters. Moment by moment we build our lives on truth and take captive our thoughts! If you haven’t seen it yet, have a look at the marble jar video. 🙂
Yes, Minda let’s agree to stick to our boundaries and honor God with our obedience. In the end, we will be set free.
Minda victoryinobedience is me, Lisa. I must go to WordPress and change my profile. Thanks.
I’m still fighting the lie that there are good foods/bad foods, that I must include fruits and veggies, all things left over from weight watchers. But I am fighting with the truth that all things are permissible, although all are not beneficial. Looking forward to not being mastered by anything. I also have to fight the lie that this will not change for me – not necessarily the food or mind renewal part of it, but that I won’t release weight. The truth is that God is doing a new thing. There are other scriptures that I need to find pertaining to this truth. Also, I often believe the lie that the one bite will make things better.
Give yourself time, CMK. Just keep speaking truth over yourself. Barb has a lot of great verses in her bible study and the app has TONS! You can email her if you don’t have the app but want to know the verses. I think she may make those available.