January 10, 2011

Stuff Fat People Like

Acting as if every meal will be your last.

It's T-7 days till you begin your diet. Now is the time to eat anything and everything you want since you are about to give it all up until you get skinny. In this week you will gain about 7 pounds which will be the same 7 pounds you lose in the first week of your diet, thus setting you up for major disappointment the second or third week when you only lose 1 pound. (Which is a normal and respectable amount to lose in one week). But the good thing is you ate all that food because you certainly can't have it now!

You are at a top notch restaurant on vacation or for a special occasion. The outrageous portion of amazingly prepared food is served and you immediately rationalize that you will need to eat everything on your plate (and possibly your kids' and/or spouse's plate) because this is a once in a lifetime opportunity. You will order your own dessert and sample some from the rest of the table also. After all, you will never be able to eat this food again. By the end of the meal you need to be rolled out of the restaurant, fed Rolaids, have your pants unbuttoned and the car seat reclined so you can breathe. But it's a good thing you ate all that, because you will never have an opportunity like that again!

At your work there is a cafeteria. You loathe cafeteria food but every once in a while they offer a taco salad that is out of this world. Even though you know the meat is really not meat and the nacho cheese sauce is really not cheese, it just tastes so good. It only costs $2.00 so you can purchase two salads and enjoy eating them both because after all, this doesn't come up on the menu very often. In fact, you have heard that they might remove it from the menu all together. Better eat up while you can.

Your Grammy makes the WORLD'S best chocolate pie. Everyone knows it. The thing is, Grammy is getting on up in years and you just don't know how long she will be around. You know that one day, Grammy's chocolate pie will be a thing of the past so while she's still here and that heavenly pie is still being cranked out, you really need to keep eating it....

Does food really have this much power over us? Do we really take on the mentality of a hoarder as we sit down to eat what was never meant for anything other than fuel and nourishment? When any food becomes something that we are so emotionally connected to that we begin to fear life without it--well that's just silly. And dangerous. It has a name: Idolatry.

Here are some truths that we need to begin telling ourselves:

  • There will be another opportunity to eat
  • More food does NOT = More satisfaction
  • Misery due to overeating often ruins the enjoyment of a meal
  • Food is not entertainment
  • Food is just FOOD


And here are some questions to ask ourselves:

  • Will I be devastated if I never get to eat ______ again?
  • Will I look back in regret if I stop eating before my plate is clean?
  • Is it normal/healthy to "miss" a certain food?
  • Do I have a closer relationship with some foods than I do with some people?

Curious to see if I'm the only one who often behaves like my current meal might be my last?

For the initial explanation of "Stuff Fat People Like," read this.
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23 comments:

Unknown said...

LOVEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE this post!!!

I really hate it when people do the whole...i'll start my diet monday etc. Such a great post and very true!

We're in this for the long run. A life changing long run.

See you at the finish line....and the many finish lines after that ;)

-Molly
www.mollymariegetshealthy.com

Breathing In Grace said...

Oh, I can so relate to every single scenario...especially Grammy's chocolate pie!!! :)

Kimberly said...

I have been guilty of all of the above! The band has really shown me how silly those thought are. I enjoy eating out MORE now than before because I don't have the repercussions of overeating but still get to enjoy fabulous foods.

jesseybell said...

What a great post! I can totally relate to it all. How many times I've gone to Whole Foods and spent $100 so I could sample all the amazing foods I love so I could start my diet on Monday. That is why I think, I really hope, that this is the last time because I don't let myself get deprived like I used to - that this truely is a way of life from now on.

Mom to the Fourth Power said...

Wow... Sure does hit home! I have done a TON of such rationalizing.

Funny thing is... when I do finally let go my "need" for that particular food, I end up not really missing it in the long run.

Like, have you ever been addicted to a certain TV show and looked forward to it and you life an conversations revolved around it. But then when it was over you moved on and didn't miss it as much as you thought. Truth is, we got over things when we ALLOW ourselves to. We really aren't so deprived. It's about re-focussing our perspective.

Thanks for the great post.

~Margene

Keelie said...

Margene--so identify with the tv show example!! I have done the same thing. It is the exact same principle, yes!

99ToGo said...

The head on that nail? You just hit it soundly. I have a new name for my disordered inclinations: food hoarding.

Shannie (akaSolidice242) said...

LOL cool post! This is exactly how I feel when I am on vacation.(and during my binge moments) I enjoy the food three times more than I normally do.

Kara said...

Great post! I can so relate to any and all of your statements. It's almost like I'm afraid to be hungry. So stupid.

I've been really praying to God to release me from this addiction. Our pastor challenged us to Think Big this year with our prayers. I'm working on thinking/praying big so I can be smaller! :)

Chubby McGee said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Chubby McGee said...

I've admitted that I'm a food addict. I'm just as bad as (if not worse than) a drug addict. I make excuses all the time (like the ones you posted). I'll always be a food addict. I just plan on making a recovery for good this time and not relapsing (again). Food is my idol. I HATE it. I hate it even more that I need it in order to survive. I just need to learn how to eat it properly and break my desire for it...and stop thinking about it all day and all night!

Kate said...

You got me on the cafeteria. At first it was "Only when they have szcheuzan chicken." And then, "Only when the Phat Burritos are on special." And of course, "But grilled cheese and tomato soup day is every Friday. And it's so cozy in the winter." Yeah. That is something I'm grateful not to have to battle anymore with my new job. I had breakfast at home this morning, took a 1/2 hour lunch break and ate a little something and then had an afternoon snack. And for the first time in FOREVER, I was conscious of actually being HUNGRY. Was a huge thing for me today.

~ Jury said...

As I was reading your post as I was nodding from beginning to end! WOW!!! This is so dead on and TRUE!! why do we behave like this? and let´s starting changing this!! Great post Keelie.

Kelly @ turned UP to ELEVEN! said...

I do this a lot. Especially on vacation. Usually the reason is because I visit home and home is where my favorite food is. Thankfully this only happens about 2 times a year but I am totally like this in other instances as well and I'm trying my best to break the cycle. Thank you for posting this! ox

Julie said...

This me...all of it! GRRRRR!!

Kerri O said...

LOVE this. I am constantly telling myself, hello, you get to eat again! This isn't your last meal.

LeFebvre Momma said...

I have quoted you in my blog...

http://forgiven-notperfect.blogspot.com/

Thank you so much for your insight. You are a real testimony ot me that this can happen.

I know that my overeating is sin, and I am convinced that with the Lord help I can conquer it!

Thank you again!

Victoria said...

All is too true!

Anonymous said...

Hi, Keelie. Thanks for stopping by my blog and leaving that Scripture verse. It really struck my heart. :} I read it a couple of times.

Not like I wasn't familiar with it, of course, but you know how the Word can somehow seem brand new when it's targeted at a certain situation.

I appreciate it. I won't explain what that verse brought to mind sicne I don't want to hijack your comment section--but thanks!

Deb

Kristen said...

What a great post! It had me laughing during the first paragraph because it described me SO WELL. This mentality is something I've been riding from my life over the past 2 years, but it still takes control every once in awhile. Nice to know I'm not alone, and how CRAZY it is. Thanks for sharing!

Tiff said...

Um craziness- I just wrote a post yesterday (on my other blog) about idolatry and included food as one of the most common forms of idolatry among Christians. A local pastor defined idolatry in a recent sermon and he said it is: "Anything that we seek satisfaction from apart from God." Such a good post- I love reading your blog as it always keeps me thinking. Here's to freedom!

Anonymous said...

All of those reasons and more. Another thought I find myself having is that if I just hurry up and eat it all, it'll be all gone and won't tempt me any more. (As if I'm not going to go buy more of whatever at the grocery store for the next week, and the next week.) Ugh.
Dana

Anonymous said...

Oh my gosh - I feel like I just found some people here who have the same secret as I do.

Does Weight Watchers really work to help change the emotional part of eating? I would love to believe that food is really just food!

becali9@yahoo.com