Food for Thought: August 11th

Sloppy Thinking

If we begin to entertain thoughts of slight deviations from our food plan, thoughts of former binge foods, thoughts that maybe once in a while we could eat "normally," we put ourselves on shaky ground. Our disease is never cured, and sloppy thinking can lead to a weakening or loss of control.

"Normal" eating for us is abstinence. Our food plan is what saves us from bizarre eating behavior. There is no such thing as taking a vacation from abstinence.

The less we think about food, the better off we are. To remember the so-called pleasure we once associated with certain foods may cause us to forget the inevitable pain and anguish which eating them eventually produced. We do not want to ever return to the misery of compulsive overeating.

Giving our minds to our Higher Power ensures positive, healthy thinking.

Take my thoughts, Lord, and straighten them out.

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

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Since I can never be a 'normal eater', I created normal for myself through abstinence.  My food plan provides me with all of the necessary nutrients & calories my body needs to stay alive. If I begin to entertain thoughts of deviating from my food plan, I know I'm on shaky ground!!!  It means I am considering my Wants instead of my Needs.  And, with the Disease of More, there is NO such thing as Enough, so why get started down that road to begin with?  No amount of binge food is going to 'satisfy' me, so there is no point in taking 'just one' bite.

I can be an observer to my thoughts, instead of a slave to my thoughts. When stinkin thinkin first crops up, I can sit back & recognize it for what it IS rather than succumb.  When my Mind is working in overdrive, I must go inside of myself, to my Spirit, to quiet my mind and to find peace. Deep breathing exercises help me find my focus & squash the negative thought processes.

For today, I will stick to my basic & boring food plan, which prevents me from using food for entertainment. I will not obsess about food today, because I KNOW the parameters of my menu and it's all laid out FOR me.  There is no 'guilty pleasure' associated with food-------it is merely fuel to keep my energy up.  For today, I pray that God helps me remember that, so I don't forget the pain & misery that overeating produces.