iamachristianjesusfreak's Journal, 03 June 2013

I've gone through that too before. You just want something for the taste of it and it's hard to stop once you've started. It could mean that you are lacking something??? Last summer I would come home from work and want salty chips but instead I would eat some green olives or pickles to get my salt fix. I also have a weakness for the Pepperidge Gold Fish crackers but I've been able to stick to a serving size. Sometimes you have to give in to the cravings but just remember to keep it a small taste (if possible!). Good luck, keep going with the healthy eating...! 

agree wholeheartedly! 

I do better if I don't even have a taste. Otherwise my mouth overrides my mind. :) 

I agree! I feel like my eating is not emotional but just that I really love the taste of like, all food! So I try to remind myself that I like the taste of healthy foods so that I'm at laest eating more of that...  

Congrats on going a week strong! I can relate to a lot of what you said, and though you are kind of frustrated/ baffled by this condition, I am glad that you are also prevailing in spite of it! :) 

This also made me think of a few things that I wanted to share. Pertaining to why we face this kind of struggle, I think some answers may be more ordinary while others are more supernatural. Aggie may be on to something about cravings related to dietary deficiencies. In general I know that is possible, but do not know if that is what you are experiencing. (I wonder if salt cravings stem from potassium, calcium, or electrolyte imbalances/ deficiencies, not sure and I'm definitely no expert, but I think I've experienced things like that where drinking water or getting more bananas and leafy greens helped me.) I know I definitely enjoy food for the flavors and textures and will sometimes want food purely for the sensual enjoyment of it rather than the nutritional/ dietary benefit it offers. Where I see the supernatural aspect is that this struggle is more classic "battling the flesh" stuff. Knowing that all temptation falls into three categories- lust of the eyes, lust of the flesh, and pride of life- it's easy for me to see why some foods- or perhaps more accurately "food products"- that I know I don't need have such a strong draw to them. They are right in front of me and available if I choose. This prompts the struggle of internal desire with truth because the truth is that they won't really satisfy me all that much in the long run, and the food that is good is satisfying, but the food that is good doesn't always look as pleasant (lust of the eyes), and I know the taste of the not as good food is immediately rewarding (lust of the flesh), and sometimes I feel like I "need" that instant gratification because it's what I want in that moment (pride of life). I think this is another reminder of how it is not natural for us to do what is right and to seek G-d's will above our own. I know some people can control themselves with limited quantities of certain trigger foods so that they don't feel deprived and give in to the pride of life temptation (That is the "you need this", "you deserve this", "it's just this one time..." rationale that compels us to go until we don't feel compelled anymore- and then we wind up left with shame about losing control.) Sometimes that may work for me, but I think I am more like you and more often than not need to just avoid a taste because I know I won't remain content once I allow myself that exposure. Though the passage deals more specifically with sexual temptation and conduct, this makes me think of Ephesians 5:3 because the sensuality of food is such a slippery slope too. I can also relate to the desire/ question of whether education will make it easier. I think that if it's simply a biological impulse thing- like mineral imbalances- that may be true because we can reprogram our bodies more easily than our minds or our hearts. Though if the supernatural aspect is true as well then education may not do a whole lot except add guilt sometimes. (Similar to the Law teaching awareness of sin and bringing culpability into the equation because we are no longer ignorant of the error we do.) A semi recent message I heard given by R.C. Sproul Jr made the very interesting and profound point that in 2 Timothy 3, in the beginning of the chapter, in the list of offenses that those men and elders spoken of are guilty, no where there is ignorance mentioned. The implication is that the wrong they committed was not due to a lack of education, but a corrupt heart- something only G-d can change. It was really eye opening and neat hearing that articulated because it reminded me of how often our human inclination- secular or otherwise- is to try an rehabilitate or reform behavior through education. Look at the social issues of drug use, health problems, environmental abuse/ lack of proper stewardship, domestic violence, familial disorder/ dysfunction, etc. Our impulse is to educate- which of itself is not a bad thing, but often on its own is horribly ineffective when the root problem is usually a heart issue and not an intellectual one. 

I hear you too, my friend, & also recently have been feeling much of the same. While I love healthy foods, I do eat emotionally & sometimes just fed up with all the time & effort it takes to maintain. But, being at a healthy weight means so much to me, that I keep coming back, continuing on my journey & trying to figure out what works for me. Hoping week 2 goes well! 

It is only my favorites that make me feel that way. Like ice cream, coffee with creamer and buttery popcorn 

My mouth overrides my mind whenever it comes to salty, especially nuts, pretzels and tortilla chips! I wish I could tell you it gets easier to chose healthy foods, but it doesn't. :( It's mind over matter, and you can do it!! Forget week 2, show the rest of the month who is boss!! :D 

I gotta think in baby steps or I might go into panic mode! I am ready to kick everyone's butt at this challenge. I really needed it. I did HIIT Saturday and today. Didn't have have time Sunday with church because that is my first priority and usual hang out with family and friends day. Monday I should have got out of bed 30 minutes earlier. Can't bring myself to do it in front of the kids I am randomly babysitting this summer. But my 21 month old is a monkey who crawls out of his crib and refuses to go to sleep until 1-1:30 am. Regardless of how many times you put him back or shut the door. So that has been my bedtime the past few days and I still have been getting up at 7. IT SUCKS! 

P.S. I have no problems eating healthy foods either. I just want overly large portions of it. There are a few things that really suck about being the size of a pre-teen. My 10 year old son has maybe 6 inches to be as tall as me 

Yeah, I'm teetering on that dangerous line where my tummy is starting to go past my breasts... especially when I sit (grrrr!) I need this challenge too, and I'm hoping to stay good and on the wagon while the family is down. :) 

The Blue Box - I thought I was the only one who used that criteria as a benchmark. When I started losing in January, I kept saying my goal was to have my boobs stick out more than my tummy. Now I can actually suck my gut in enough for it to look flat. Of course when I relax that is a different story but at least now even when relaxed my tummy doesn't enter the room before me. :-) 

I love this journal! Its the question I always ask...why does everything thats SO BAD for you taste SO GOOD? I've been struggling for years to eat healthy stuff---I do alright, but I still crave bad stuff all the time. I figure it will be a life long struggle. And its a vicious cycle. I CRAVE the bad stuff, then Eat it...then feel SO GUILTY about it that I feel awful about myself...then decide the junk food isnt worth making myself feel like this about myself...then the cravings come back...ugh! Its an addiction. I've found I do a LOT better when I just dont buy the junk and have it in my house. Its easier to turn down junk food when you have to go further than the kitchen to get it :) 

I'm w/ you Sarah - If it's not around.. I can't eat it. LOL! But to be honest I try really hard to focus on what I CAN have... always makes me feel empowered.