For Lent, I’m giving up…DIETING.
Actually, I’m giving it up for good.
Let me explain.
Almost a year ago I wrote a blog post titled “Imperfect Progress,” where I shared about my crazy weight loss teeter totter ride. I felt quite vulnerable in doing so. (Much like I feel now.) In case you missed it, I’ll summarize. It went something like this:
Gain. Lose. Gain. Lose. Gain. Lose.
Gain.
That’s right. The teeter totter went back up, as teeter totters are prone to do. And feelings of self-worth and acceptance went down. Way down.
Imperfect Progress? More like Perfect Regress.
At a friend’s recommendation I recently picked up a book called Intuitive Eating. To my surprise, authors and nutritionists Evelyn Tribole and Elyse Resch were familiar with life on a teeter totter. Only they called it “The Seesaw Syndrome.” On one end sits Deprivation (the essence of dieting) and on the other end, Guilt (the result of overeating). Chronic dieters know this maddening and merciless cycle all too well.
The solution, according to the authors?
JUMP OFF.
Stop Dieting.
For Real.
“…just as when one kid decides to get off the seesaw, the other is forced to stop playing. When you give yourself permission to not be deprived, you simultaneously let go of the guilt! By giving yourself permission to eat, you stop playing the futile seesaw game.”
The initial leap off of the teeter totter is both terrifying and exhilarating. But rather than continue to perpetuate this self-defeating cycle, I am now turning my energies towards developing a long-term, healthy relationship with food. I am learning to be patient with myself in this process, resisting the temptation to go for the temporary “quick fix.” God has given me “new eyes” through which to view myself and food.
It feels a lot like…Grace.
The following caught my eye on Facebook yesterday, because it captures, in a nutshell, what the Lord has been so patiently teaching me:
I need to
be skinnierlove myself.
I am thrilled to be off the teeter totter and onto a new path. There is much still to be discovered. I hope to share more as I continue on this journey with Him.
Anyone care to join me?
The godly eat to their hearts’ content, but the belly of the wicked goes hungry. (Proverbs 13:25, NLT)
I’m heartened by your post…I too have been on that see saw forever..so tell me more (privately) about the book and the emphasis…Thanks for your vulnerability friend!!
Hey Martha, I will gladly tell you more! I know so many women can relate! There has to be a better way!
I can totally relate…going to check into this book. Thanks friend.
You are so welcome, Rhonda! It was such good news that I just had to share with my friends! Let me know what you think of the book!
Always impressed with the way you tie God’s lessons, to your challenges!! I am still reveling in your last blog piece…and I hope Beau is too, now. Thank you, Shelley XO.
Just bought the book off of eBay! I will read it and pass it along!
Pattie, thanks for your encouragement, as always! And I am happy to report that Beau is doing MUCH better since the surgery! There’s hope!
Good job, Gurl! I’ll be eager to hear what you think of it!