It has happened twice since I started eating healthier and exercising. I have lost control while eating only meaning to have a semi-unhealthy snack.

I knew that buying that cheesy popcorn for my son was a bad idea. An addict wouldn’t be wise to stock their home with the very thing they are trying to overcome, would they?  But I imagined i’d be able to stop and one handful. WRONG.

I had that handful plus some chips and salsa, then a bite of ice cream, and some of those olives i’d been thinking about all week.  But then I started hating myself.

‘Why can’t you be stronger?’

I promised to be honest with you about this journey.  I’m going to keep that promise and let you in on each part of this uphill battle. If you’re in this with me then lets at least give each other the truth.

I am doing the very best to lose weight and become healthier. It is hard and I mean REALLY hard and don’t let those before and after pictures fool you.  Those people put in a lot of work.  It did not happen as fast as we blink from one photo to the next.  Though I wish it worked that way…

But having the Almighty God holding me up and strengthening me in this battle is a game-changer.  I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. (Philippians 4:13)

He prompts me, ‘Admit where I fell short, Get up, put on your jeans, drink a glass of water, and talk to me.’

I’m not ready to throw in the towel. I’m just not willing to let satan keep me in bondage when my King gave His life to set me free.

It will happen again.  I will be faced with the temptation to binge because for years I have associated food with comfort or relief from stress.  It takes implementing new habits in place of the old ones.  There is a lot of new things going on and i’m learning.

I sat out on our porch and wrote for awhile about something that affects 7 million people in America.  That’s a lot of people struggling who don’t understand they aren’t alone.

Binge eating is embarrassing but let me grab your hand and say, hey i’m fighting it too. Lets shine light on it and move ahead.  {Together}

This evening I ate a light dinner, went for a nice run, and didn’t look back. I wrote down some triggers and realized that today I didn’t eat enough and was starving.  This is a good lesson to learn now.  When your body says feed me because I need fuel to keep moving, well feed it something fresh and good! I’ll know for next time.

I am still loving our new meals and tonight made a veggie pizza on whole wheat pita bread.  I normally throw away vegetables but today I told Darren that I would have to run to the store to pick up more for the rest of this week.  I love that!

Okay lets wrap this one up with a few pointers for those of us who do occasionally feel the urge to eat everything in sight within a half-hour!

Battling Binge:

1.Make sure you are eating enough
2.Drink plenty of water throughout the day
3.Have healthy snacks on hand
4.Call a friend, stick a piece of gum in your mouth, drink hot tea, paint your nails, or take a bath.
5.Close your eyes and seek Christ first.  Tell Him exactly what’s going on and fight the temptation to binge

I watch this show called Parks and Recreation and there is one particular scene where two characters have a day that they treat themselves to whatever they want. I laugh each time I watch it as they take another friend out who is struggling with a break up and barely getting by.  They continue to say, ”Treat Yo Self’!’ and eventually he buys what he always wanted, a batman costume! {Watch a clip here}
The point is from time to time it’s okay to have a treat to prevent episodes where you devour everything you were restricting yourself from.  Moderation in everything and especially in this area!  Go ahead, Treat Yo Self.

Fighting right along-side you dear friend!

Until next time,

Laura