Healing Awareness

Hi All...a large part of my healing from obesity resulted from understanding...reading researched truth about this challenge around food and obesity.  Below you'll find articles that were most beneficial for me:


http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/04/26/AR2009042602711.html

'Kessler was on a mission to understand a problem that has vexed him since childhood: why he can't resist certain foods.

His resulting theory, described in his new book, "The End of Overeating," is startling. Foods high in fat, salt and sugar alter the brain's chemistry in ways that compel people to overeat. "Much of the scientific research around overeating has been physiology -- what's going on in our body," he said. "The real question is what's going on in our brain." '

http://articles.latimes.com/2007/nov/10/science/sci-sweet10

'In the experiment, 43 rats were placed in cages with two levers, one of which delivered an intravenous dose of cocaine and the other a sip of highly sweetened water. At the end of the 15-day trial, 40 of the rats consistently chose saccharin instead of cocaine.
When sugar water was substituted for the saccharin solution, the results were the same, researchers said.
Further testing the rat sweet tooth, scientists subjected 24 cocaine-addicted rats to a similar trial. At the end of 10 days, the majority of them preferred saccharin.
"Intense sweetness is more rewarding to the rats than cocaine," said coauthor Magalie Lenoir of the University of Bordeaux in France.'

http://psychcentral.com/lib/2010/distressed-mothers-linked-to-child-obesity/
(* if this is your story, there are free programs to help you heal emotionally:  Emotions Anonymous, Adult Children of Alcoholism and Dysfunctional Families.  There are telephone and face-to-face meetings.)

However, he added, “Childhood obesity has been described as a ‘global epidemic’ by the World Health Organization. With this is mind, it is clear that more needs to be done to investigate the many factors that contribute to childhood obesity. Further studies are needed to address factors that may be modifiable to be able to address the rising trend in childhood obesity.”

Findings were presented at the annual meeting of the Royal College of Psychiatrists’ Faculty of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Dublin, September 9-11, 2009.

A similar link was found by researchers at Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts. Dr. Pamela J. Surkan and her team looked at whether maternal depression is related to overweight in infants aged six to 24 months. They gathered data from 589 mother-child pairs living in low-income urban communities in Brazil.

They found that children of mothers with “high depressive symptoms” had around twice the risk of being above World Health Organization weight/height recommendations. A longer duration of breastfeeding (more than six months) reduced the risk, but it was increased when the mother had fewer than eight years of education.

“There is ample evidence of impairments in interactions between depressed parents and their children,” the team writes. In some deprived areas, the link with weight moves in the opposite direction. They report on a study of low-income families in Santiago, Chile, where “anxious mother-infant attachment was related to lower weight-for-age in young childhood.”

This is consistent with the failure to thrive literature, which documents the role of food-related interactions in growth delays, they believe. “Depressed caregivers may be less likely to perceive that a child is sick or respond to his or her needs, and they may be less able to coax the child to eat. Likewise, mothers with depressive symptoms may be less likely to engage in healthy feeding or sleep practices with their infant, less likely to breastfeed, and less likely to provide tactile stimulation.”

The authors suggest that caregiving behaviors such as sensitive interactions and positive engagement with a child, could affect the child’s growth. They conclude that programs focusing on mothers’ mental health, including prevention and treatment of depression, may result in collateral benefits for their children.'

Are you willing to seek the information needed to help in your healing process from obesity? 

"God, grant me serenity to accept the things I cannot change.  The courage to change the things I can.  And the wisdom to know the difference.  Thy Will not my will be done.  Amen."

Triumph over anxiety

Yesterday, I felt such anxiety. It had been mounting for several days. Anxiety resulting from obsessive thoughts of several situations in my life. Career, relationship with family, romantic relationship, new project...round and round the thoughts went as I tried, in self-suffiency, to solve the equations on my own without the aid of God.

I was angry with God and I vocalized my anger with him. "Why am I on hold in life in these areas? I'm ready to move forward...to move through pauses to a better life!". I reached out to fellow travelers and a family member. I went on a nature walk and took pictures. I read a devotional which reminded me of God's timing and that God loves me; but was still feeling resistance...self willed internal drama.

Last night, I felt the immense blessing of round the clock 12 step phone bridge calls. I must have listened to a trillion (ok, big time hyperbole here) meetings. I went on line and "googled" 12 step phone meetings starting at 11pm est and God lead me to just what I needed to hear!! I received healing messages on anxiety from an Overeaters Anonymous meetings; messages of healing in relationship from Alnon meetings; and a hodge-podge of hope from shares on a general recovery line...a place where all recovery messages are welcomed from 1am-6:30am daily: The Parking Lot telephone meeting.

Despite thoughts to take a medication to make me sleep and thoughts to eat outside of my scheduled eating plan, I did not...I sat with the discomfort ("face everything and recover")...I saw how easily addiction transference could happen. Today, I'm thankful for balance. I asked God to help remove anxiety connected with the reoccurring thoughts...and this morning it is gone...but there is still work to be done. I will write each of the thoughts down...evaluated the "danger" I felt in connection with each; and ask God to help me accept and move on in areas where I can do nothing or where there is no real danger to my well being; and take healthy action (trust God is always an action for me). Each anxiety ridden thought must be addressed if I am to get up totally, dust off and keep it moving.
Do you have anxiety provoking, obsessive, reoccurring thoughts about situations with people, what you want and haven't received, etc? Are you willing to reach out and get help from God and others? If "yes" what healthy step forward are you willing to take first?

Awareness

It's been a while since I planned my entire day of food on paper.  I usually clock it mentally.  Yesterday I wrote out my plan. It was like a warm fuzzy blanket of security...knowing what I would have...knowing that I had what I needed in my home.  What works best for me is alternation between sweet snacks and meals...and tracking fat intake.

A few weeks ago, the wonderful folks over at my gym offered to help me thru the gift of nutritional coaching.  This had been on my mental dash for a while.  Even though I am a healthy body size, it's still important for me to have my food evaluated by a professional to make sure that I'm getting proper nutrients. 

The nutritional evaluation revealed a roster of nutrients I needed.  My coach sat with me as we plugged into a website (http://www.healthaliciousness.com/) that helped with identifying foods I could eat to balance nutritionally.  And this was an included service!!! What a blessing from God!!!

I then became willing to take the roster of foods to the grocery store....I bought the ingredients and have been preparing meals that are specifically crafted with purpose of fortifying my body with what it needs...feels good to engage in such a level of self care.

If you are just starting this weight loss journey, keeping a journal of every item place in your mouth is beneficial...this is where I started.  I found that I was eating far more than I thought cause I would check out mentally as I randomly tossed foods into my mouth.  This is an excellent awareness exercise...and remember...no condemnation...this is just about awareness.

Then, decide on a eating plan...some folks go to weight loss clubs to learn portion size (or you can go online for this like I did initially)...again...this is about awareness...

So, are you willing to start a food journal today? Are you willing to give your self the gift of awareness?  Remember, tiny steps equate to huge positive benefits...one day at a time...

Benefits of Discipline in Weightloss

Discipline popped up on my mental dashboard today...and that only with discipline are goals reached; discipline is not easy, but it gets easier as the practices become my norm. There are times when I tire...grow weary in doing what works (a learned definition for discipline that works for me); but, as the God of my understanding (the God of the Bible) says...discipline is challenging, but in the end, it yields great benefit...spectacular outcome (in Proverbs someplace).

The following website was beneficial in helping me to further absorb core understanding of discipline and how it works:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Discipline

I really connected with:

"Virtuous behavior is when one's motivations are aligned with one's reasoned aims: to do what one knows is best and to do it gladly. Continent behavior, on the other hand, is when one does what one knows is best, but must do it by opposing one's motivations.^[1] Moving from continent to virtuous behavior requires training and some self-discipline."

Questions I posed to myself: "What does training mean? Define self-discipline. What goals would God like you to reach? What specific training do you need to reach those goals? Are you willing to Ask God for insight and willingness to practice self-discipline in acquiring the training needed to reach the goals God has for me in this life?

(If you have a goal of reaching a healthy body size this year, know that you are not alone and that God can help you...can and will strengthen you in a multitude of ways (prayer, medition, wisdom, other's experiences{support groups have been a life line for me})...remember to be gentle and patience with yourself...take tiny steps...even if today you try drinking an extra glass of water today...that is progress towards your goal :)

Trusting God as foundation to freedom

One of the most powerfully beneficial actions I have ever taken has been the starting of a "Trust Journal"; a totally divinely motivated action that has revolutionized my relationship with God...and has ushered me into such peace.

About seven years ago, when I first set foot in recovery rooms (Overeater's Anonymous), I found that I was agnostic...that I had a concept of God in my head, but didn't have a relationship in heart with God. I felt the presence of God, but did not allow God to be God...I controlled my life out of lack of trust that God could or would care for me; protect and provide for me.

One day, intuitive thought inspired me to start a "Trust Journal"...a place where I chronicled a story of God's love and protection and provision over the span of my life to that point. Starting with childhood, I recalled miracles that had LITERALLY saved my life...happenings for which I could not take credit. When I realized that there had been a Power greater than myself working on my behalf throughout my life, I was then willing to surrender...to get off the throne of my life, situation by situation feeling anxiety, beckoning courage as I sat in a front row seat to God's vast benefits and miracles and wisdoms that have set me free from soooo much.

There have been many, many more occurrences and God inspired actions taken that have placed me in the cozy comfort of peace....a place where I am wrapped in the loving, protective arms of God...in a high place where I see a sea of irrational anxieties that I allowed to suck the life out of my life. I no longer feel the need to swim in or to be overtaken by the waves of mental malady of anxiety....I'm trusting God and experiencing freedom on many levels, one day at a time.

How has your God, your Higher Power been there for you throughout your life? How do you need God today? Are you willing to surrender your way of doing and ask God for help...then follow intuitive thought guidance of God?

Fear as catalyst for overeating

For many years, I allowed the boogie man fear to lead me around by the nose into chaos. When I make decisions based on fear...these decisions are always damaging to myself and to others. Using food to numb the fear resulted in obesity for me. 

In summer of 2012, I was introduced to the concept of fear as "non-existent"...that only love existed. At the time, I was not able to receive that message...couldn't wrap my brain around it. Years before that, in 12 step program it was presented in another way...different wording, same bottom line: Fear as "False Evidence Appearing Real". I took action of researching, online, the origins of fear and found that it was indeed a "conditioning" of the mind for means of control. 

Yesterday, I saw a movie trailer that addressed the issue of fear once again; and on Sunday at church...again, my spiritual leader made mention of fear as illusion. I heard this message in the depths of my soul yesterday. The movie trailer said that fear is non-existent; that it is indeed a conditioning of the mind; but danger is very real. So, yesterday, I started study of 'danger' and what it is, so that I may learn to determine true threats, true danger from fictitious threats or fear( that which is conditioned threat and not real).

This study was started not with purpose of recoiling from danger, but with purpose of learning how to overcome dangers in the moment as well as how to prepare for danger (spiritually, emotionally, physically, financially, etc), thus decreasing the chance for fearful reaction. "Thank you God for differentiation between 'fear' and 'danger'; as well as for understanding that I can depend on you to help me overcome danger that appears on my life's doorstep and to side step it with trust and preparation as you share your wisdom with me and help me to take courageous, faithful, trusting actions according to your guidance".

Today, I must ask God's help to overcome the illusion of fear and replace it with the concept of danger; and to evaluate whether or not the danger is truly a threat to my well-being; if it is a true threat, I can ask God for help with walking thru and once I'm through the danger, by the Grace of God, I can allow God to strengthen me in the area which will decrease the threat to well being associated with that danger....The process of strengthening from God can take many forms for me: I may need affirmation which I can look to God for (for me I recall scriptures of God's love and protection; I go to evidence in my life when God took care of me..when my hands were totally tied in a situation and God jumped in to rescue me with intuitive thought of what to do next or thru a miracle when I have done all I can;) I may go to trusted friends who will not criticize me for feeling the "threat" or  have themselfves walked thru the same danger triuphantly; I may need professional counseling or I may need spiritually focused support groups of people who are also overcoming food challenges, or other challenges  (there are many; most are free...ask God to guide you to support); sometimes I may need God to help me to find development in a certain area of life like conflict management skills, etc (there are also lots of free support groups for help here if counseling is not an option now) ; God is a way out of a perceived no way for me today....trust, take action...God honors earnest willingness...this I know for sure!!

So, learning to differentiate difference between fear and danger; and taking healthy actions shared above have increase trust in God as hightower as refuge from dangers so that I don't feel it necessary or beneficial to overeat...this only adds to the problem for me.  Face Everything And Recover from the illusion of fear.

Are you willing to do research to totally give yourself the gift of understanding around the illusion of fear and it's controlling nature? Are you willing to research the concept of danger as well and ask God for help with understanding that God is your protector and guide out of all danger (this is why daily development of a trusting relationship with God thru Bible Study and practice of surrender so that God may show us that he will never leave or forsake...even in times of danger...we are loved and protected under the wings of God alone)...

Eating Plan/Emotional Eating

Today, I'm am focused on getting back into balance with my meals.   I have learned that what works best for me is eating 6-7 small meals (varying between sweet (ie. fruit) and non-sweet (all else).  A mentor said that every couple of hours it's great to put a "log on the fire"...to eat something...a small meal that's between 250-300 calories.  When I do this in conjunction with replacing foods that trigger cravings for me (i.e. white sugar, white flour, white potatoes) with those that don't (i.e. agave sweetener, gluten-free products, sweet potatoes), life is most peaceful around food consumption.

My first eating schedule was three meals, which included a piece of fresh fruit, and journaling of feelings in-between.  I learned this technique in a healing program around food addiction.  I learned that sometimes the urge to eat was triggered by emotion vs genuine "tummy" hunger.  A major part of my healing journey has included identification and acknowledgement of my emotions.

Do you have a plan for eating? Can you tell the difference between emotional hunger and tummy hunger?