Food for Thought: May 21st

A Reason to Be Thin

How many times have we been determined to lose weight for a specific occasion or event? A trip, a wedding, a new job, a holiday - there are many such occasions which may have provided inspiration for short term reducing. The problem with losing weight for a specific event is that when it is over there is nothing left to provide an incentive for maintaining the weight loss.

Many of us have spent years losing and gaining the same pounds over and over again. Since the reasons for losing were superficial, the loss was temporary.

What we need is a permanent reason to be rid of fat. When we abstain from compulsive eating and work the OA program, we not only lose weight but we also live better. We have more enthusiasm, satisfaction, and peace of mind, as well as better looks and health. Our reason to be thin is that it gives us a richer, fuller life not just for one occasion but every day. The benefits are worth the price.

May I want to be thin for the right reasons. 

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When my suffering became  unbearable, that is when I became ready to lose weight permanently & give up the temporary diet mentality.

When the pain of having binges outweighed the thought of restricting my food intake, that is when I became ready to lose weight permanently.

Every day I remind myself of the permanent reasons I have to be rid of fat.

I've spent the better part of 40 years on one diet or another, yo yo'ing around and feeling hopeless.  Every time I disappointed myself with another diet failure, I lost a bit more self esteem while putting on a few MORE pounds.  With every diet failure, my disease of compulsive overeating progressed a bit further........the binges became just a bit worse, the hopelessness a bit more devastating, and my sense of failure a bit more complete.

Abstinence is not dieting; abstinence is sanity instead of chaos.  Abstinence provides me with all the nutrition I need on a daily basis, and teaches me that all the other food that tempts me is just a want.

For today, I have no need to fulfill my every want.  When I surrender my life to God, He gives me everything I need to live a life of serenity & satisfaction. For today, I am grateful to not be dieting, but instead, living my life to its full potential.