Do you use food as an escape? I have done this for far too long and am working hard on finding us all a way out.
One month ago, I pledged to take 3 steps to help stop this detrimental habit of Turning to Food:
- Forgiveness and Acceptance
- Choose real, God-given foods, not man-made, highly processed franken-food.
- Turn to God instead of food.
So far, I’m making great strides in #1, even sharing some recent pictures of myself. This was an extremely difficult step for me, but a necessity for moving forward. I can’t say I’m at peace with this body I find myself in today. However, I’ve come to grips with the fact it’s not going to change overnight.
Step #2 is also a work in progress. I’m 2 weeks into an amazing 21 day program to repair gut health. I’ve always been a believer that so much of our physical and even emotional well being is tied to the state of our gut.
As He always does, God sent this program to me at the perfect time. Next week, I’ll reveal much more about this nutritional healing plan and even give away the book to one of you lucky friends.
The main takeaway for now is I’ve been following my new catchphrase: Less factory created, more farm raised. This is truly the way to healthier bodies and minds.
This month I want to continue trying to forgive myself for the incredible amount of weight I’ve gained, while coming to grips with my current body. I also plan to keep lots of fruits and vegetables in my life, even long after these 21 days are over. It has been a rough road the last couple of weeks detoxing from my highly processed and sugar-filled diet, and I don’t want to go through that unnecessary self-inflicted pain again.
This leads me to step #3: Turning to God instead of food.
My recent sugar withdrawal left me spacey, tired, cranky, and a bit overwhelmed at times. I wish I could tell you I made the intelligent choice to turn to God in this time of not being able to use food for meeting my needs. I didn’t. I turned to TV, losing hours in my DVR trying to find out if the lovely people on HGTV were going to Love It or… List It.
So this month, my focus will be on this final and most important step. Choosing God to fulfill me in those dark moments food always soothed me. He is so much better than any sweet treat that only brings us up for a brief period, only to make us crash down shortly after. His immense love is far more life giving than food can ever be.
If God had a refrigerator, your picture would be on it. If He had a wallet, your photo would be in it. He sends you flowers every spring and a sunrise every morning.
Face it, friend.
He is crazy about you!
~Max Lucado
As always, I so appreciate you being a part of this journey with me. Please come back next week to learn more about healing our bellies and enter to win an awesome new program.
If you have time today, check out the rest of this series:
I’m so proud of you! I also believe our gut hold the key to our wellness, both emotional and physical. I can’t wait to hear more about your 21 day detox! Great job doing that!! I love your honesty too. I get lost in HGTV Love it or List it marathons too. I find I’m better if I don’t even turn the TV on.
Thanks, Veronica! The marathons are what got me addicted to that show and now I DVR it which is a mistake. I need to leave my TV off more. I’ve done better the last couple of days with it. I have about 1000 books waiting for me to read them, but TV is so much easier and brainless. I should be posting the 21 day review next week. If you have any questions about it, feel free to call or email me :).
This is so fabulous, what a great plan! It’s so true that the state of our gut affects us emotionally, mentally and physically! Keep up the good work 🙂
Thank you, Jen! Things are definitely greatly improving. My sugar cravings have even disappeared which is shocking and crazy for me.
Thank you for your continuous inspiration! I like the slogan you are adopting…I don’t like fruits and veggies, so I need to be more intentional about eating them…ugh…one step at a time : ) Hugs
I really have to force myself to eat fruits and veggies too, Gisela. I always just grab something processed. This 21 day program has helped me by telling me what to eat everyday. After it’s over, I will have to be very intentional about including these things in my day too. Definitely one step at a time! Maybe try just adding a fruit every morning and a veggie with dinner. We can do this!
I think sounds great! Keep giving yourself lots and lots of grace! So thankful for his grace when I mess up.
Oh that beautiful grace, Kortney :). I use it daily. Thanks so much for your encouragement!
Dear Candace … it’s so COOL to see you again! And I’m touched … and more than a bit motivated … by what you have shared. I love what God is doing in your life. That you’re sharing your learnings is a huge encouragement to us all.
It’s great to see you too, Linda! I have been so focused on my health and house lately, my blog has been neglected. I’m hoping now that my head is clearing, I will be back more consistently. There were a few days I couldn’t even link 3 words together! God is definitely putting me back together :).
Yes, I turn to food way too often-when I’m tired, emotional, stressed- you name it! Your journey is motivational to me as I try to go gluten-free. The trick for me still is to let go of sugar which I love. I know your three steps are so important and even after reading “Made to Crave” several times-letting go and letting God in this situation still tends to be very difficult. I will continue to pray for you in your journey and will walk along with you as we both learn not only acceptance but the power of God to carry us through. Hugs friend!
I’m really thinking I have gluten issues too, Mary. Every time I have avoided them, I feel so much better. We will have to share some recipe ideas :). I’m praying for you as well, my friend. I read Made to Crave a few times too. I love it, but haven’t been able to get it to stick for me either. Hugs to you!
Look at YOU! You are taking those courageous and faithful steps into healthy eating and managing through those really hard transitions. I love that you have embraced your first two goals so intentionally and that you are seeking to find God in your coming steps…
How about a fellowship of friends- to lift you, encourage you, pray for you, share in this with you side by side? Do you have that? I think this is when you need God’s faithful support that can shine through the strength of others to help you endure and transform into your new way of life. I will pray for God to provide specific women that will walk alongside you, hold you and carry you if necessary, and stand by you as you continue this new and difficult road.
I’m sure you have loads of support- but a tribe of true friends that can offer you sustenance when you feel ’empty’ is a powerful thing. I hope and pray you have a prayer circle around you and a constant stream of voices encouraging you each day, my friend.
Thanks for the prayers, Chris! I so agree with you about having a tribe of support. I have a few friends fighting this battle alongside me, but I don’t get to see them as much as I would like. Maybe I should start a support group :). I tend to close myself off more than I should, especially in times like this where we need close connections the most. It’s definitely something I will put on my list of goals.
Yep, I am an emotional eater. I haven’t been able to get a handle on my weight for over 10 years. I have lots to lose, but can’t get my life to where I can stop feeding the emotions.
I’m so with you on this, Barbie! I “feed my emotions” to such an extreme. My weight has been the worst over the last 12 years since my son was born. I have lost and gained the same 80 pounds far too many times. Praying for you! We can conquer this demon!
Thank you, Candace. I’m looking forward to hearing more of this plan. I have a hard time with all three steps. Sometimes I can do well for days with #2 but then I give into temptation. I need to forgive myself for those times and move on to healthier eating again instead of beating myself up. I can tell I feel bloated and uncomfortable when I eat sweets, and I just feel all-around better when I eat healthy.
I’m the same way, Trudy! Every word of what you said. Once I give in to temptations, I give up and get so upset with myself. Clearing all the junk out of my system helps immensely, but as soon as I start back with sugar, I can’t stop eating it! My food addiction is too powerful. Forgiving yourself is key to moving on. Don’t give up, my friend!
Candace, such a transparent post on breaking our need for foods and particularly sugar. So hard to do. And you are so right – once you start on HGTV, it is so hard to break away as the next program starts before you can even grab the remote to click “off”. May you find the perseverance needed to press on. And thanks for motivating me to stick to trying to lose some weight myself!
It is amazing how quickly the next show starts, Joanne! I keep saying this is the last one then I’m going to do something productive, but the next one starts and I’m hooked. So glad you found some motivation here :)! Losing weight is such a struggle. Our online community helps me a great deal.
Congratulations on your progress. I’ve used both extremes when it comes to food. Not eating and over-eating . . . I wish I could say it’s not an issue anymore, but it’s a daily walk in grace. God’s blessings on your efforts. An unhappy gut is a good motivator. I hope you start to feel better soon.
Thanks so much, Deb. I’m starting to feel better already. I’ve done both extremes as well, but mainly over-eating. It is definitely “a daily walk in grace.” I can completely relate. Blessings to you!
Great post! I need to keep surrounding myself with these kind of encouragements, too. I’ve been on a journey to get healthier, eat better and lose weight too. It’s become more of an exercise in trusting God, though. While I’ve been getting healthier and even dropping a size in a clothes, that darn number on the scale just won’t budge. It’s like God’s telling me to keep trusting in Him, not that scale – to keep praying for the willpower and desire to eat better and then the transformation will happen. Good luck with your journey!!!
I’m trying not to focus on that number too, Kathryn. It is so hard though! That’s great your clothes size is decreasing. I think that is a better indicator than the scale anyway. I’m feeling better mood-wise which is huge for me. I have a lot of issues with depression and anxiety that are greatly decreased with healthy eating. Good luck with your journey as well! We can support each other :).
What a great quote from Max Lucado! Best of luck as you continue your journey.
Cindy
I love that quote too, Cindy! I was so happy to find it while writing this. I had never heard it before. It just puts a big smile on your face, doesn’t it :).
Oh my! Thanks for being so honest. As I read tis I’m chomping on some goldfish because I felt I needed a snack! I’m gonna go get an apple instead! Thanks for sharing and it’s a great simple way to conquer the food wars!
I truly believe cutting out processed food is the greatest thing we can do for our bodies, Wendy. It is so difficult though! They are everywhere and incredibly convenient. I’m making great strides, but I can’t promise myself I’m done with them. I hope you enjoyed your apple!
I’m always trying something to help me heal my gut. Most of the time I can stick to my grain-free and no processed sugar diet, but I still fall off the wagon more than I would like. I feel like my health is getting better as I figure out all the pieces to the puzzle of what I need more of vs. what I need less of. I hope that your 21-day journey is a success and I look forward to reading about it.
I’m really thinking I need to stay away from grains too, Sonya. I always feel so much better when I omit them, mainly emotionally, oddly enough. It really is a puzzle, like you said. Once you know what you need to leave out of your diet, you just have to implement it. Of course, that can be the most difficult part sometimes, especially with us sugar lovers :).
Good for you, and good luck! I know you can do it 🙂
It’s hard sometimes to not give into food, we’ve trained ourselves that food will make us feel better, and some food just ins’t good for you, it’s not better.
Even though I know this, I falter….
I try to stay gluten-free, but it’s hard, especially when my husband makes such amazing breads. Lately, he’s been good about making a Paleo version for me.
All the best~
XOXO
It sounds like you have a fabulous husband, Mrs. AOK! I think I’m going to try to stay as gluten-free as possible even after this program. I’m at the point where I will be reintroducing gluten tomorrow, but I already know it’s going to be ugly :). I’m actually looking forward to seeing how it affects me though with it finally being cleaned out of my body for a little while. Thanks so much for your sweet encouragement!!
I hope you had a successful weekend 🙂 I know you did!
Me, not so much. I did good almost all weekend, but I had a bagel on our road trip back home…. IT WAS SO GOOD!
This is tough, but we did stir away from the conventional road trip foods. We packed: cucumbers, lunch meats, popcorn, bell peppers, and water. I’m thankful the kids don’t complain about our options.
All the best~
XOXO
You did so good packing your healthy goodies! I’m impressed, especially about the non-complaining kids ;). I went to a food show saturday which was absolutely crazy for me to attempt at this stage, but I did pretty good overall. My mom bought tickets a while ago and I had already promised to go. I stayed away from anything sugary which is huge for me, but I went a little crazy with the cheeses :). Glad you made it home safe to your sweet puppy!!
I love your honesty thank you my sweet friend. I’m right there with you on turning to food and trying to change that. Can’t wait to hear more about what your doing. Love you friend thanks for always sharing.
I’m hoping to post more about the program in the next couple of days. Feel free to contact me if you have any questions about it. You know how to find me, my friend ;)! Love you and hope you are having a safe and fabulous trip!
Thanks for your comment on my blog. This is awesome that you are so committed. I have always turned to food for comfort, and there so many diabetics in my family. After a recent family crisis I became much closer to god and much more in tune with my body. I love how I feel when I eat right, its definitely a daily struggle to remind myself. Its great that you posted this. Thanks
I love how I feel when I’m staying on the wagon with nutritious foods, but I completely agree, it is a daily struggle. I’m sorry to hear of your recent family crisis, but so glad it brought you closer to God. He can heal us like nothing else can. Thanks for your visit, Becky!