Food for Thought: July 9th

Tension or Hunger?

How often have we eaten because of tension, rather than hunger? Accepting our need for three measured meals a day with nothing in between establishes a sensible pattern, which satisfies our need for nourishment. When we are tense, we can find ways of relaxing which do not harm our body by making it fat.

Learning to relax the stomach muscles helps get rid of tension hunger. Often when we have eaten too fast because of tension, our stomach continues to send hunger signals after the meal. There has not been enough time for the digestive process to register satisfaction. We can consciously relax the muscles so that the feeling of emptiness will go away.

The best cure for tension is a growing faith in our Higher Power. If we are willing to trust Him in the little things of each day, as well as the big events of our life, we will be able to relax and cultivate serenity.

Dissolve my tension and feed my hunger, I pray.

From Food for Thought: Daily Meditations for Overeaters by Elisabeth L. ©1980, 1992 by Hazelden Foundation

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Using food for relaxation and stress control made me fat & miserable. Using food for nourishment & fuel purposes helped me get thin & healthy.  

 

Emotional overeating is one of the hardest habits to break.......reaching for a snack to calm down tends to be an automatic reflex which takes a lot of work to change.  Abstinence makes it doable, one day at a time.

 

I tend to wolf my food down without even tasting it; another habit that's been tough to break, unfortunately.  When I do eat too fast, I ALWAYS feel 'hungry' afterward, or in the mood to snack. I haven't allowed my digestive system to register satisfaction when I eat too fast, and it becomes yet another trigger to keep ON eating.

 

For today, I will eat slowly and savor my meals. I will rely on my Higher Power to fill me up, rather than excess food.

For today, my prime goal is to feel the serenity that comes along with following a strict eating routine.  I will rely on God to dissolve my tension, feed my hunger, and restore my right mind.