CONTROL

There are so many things that are out of my control.

I try to keep things together....I try to do all that I can.  But there are just some things that I do not have control over.

When I get stressed and feel things slipping through my fingers, I reach for something that I can control.  Most of my life, I reached for food.  It wasn't the food itself I wanted....it was the feeling it would give me.  Yes, I would be out of control and eat an entire pint of ice cream, but I was the one who decided to do it.  I had control over being out of control.

When I would eat, it gave me a feeling of happiness.  A feeling of relief.  Joining in with the neighbors for a drink or a smore by the fire, gave me a sense of belonging....a feeling of being a part of something.

Control is a tricky thing.

My Health Coach posted a vlog the other day that really spoke to me.  It actually took me a few days to view it because I was avoiding it because I knew it was going to be about me.  No, she did not do the video about me....but I knew it was something that I could really relate to.  You can check it out here.

The vlog is called Food Addiction, Eating Disorder or Just a Lack of Focus.  I can honestly say that I can relate to all three of those.  I am an emotional eater.  I eat things to help me to feel better.  I am also an addict.  I crave the feeling the food gives me more than the food itself.  And lack of focus?  You bet.  Giving in and eating bad (yummy) foods, takes me away from the real issues that I need to or should deal with.  One of those things is feeling out of control.

So, what do you do when you are trying to gain control of what you eat, and you realize that you have a problem?  You still have to eat to survive.  You still have to make food for your children.  You still will be in situations where people are going to give you food.  So what do you do?

Before, I would have just given up.  I would say I didn't care anymore, and I was just going to be happy and eat.

But here's the thing.....I did care.  I wasn't happy.

Dr. A teaches us a strategy called Stop. Challenge. Choose.  He has a free 100 page book you can download (email me to find out how you can get it).  The strategy is simple.  When you are faced with a decision....maybe someone offers you a huge chunk of your favorite cake.....or you order a pizza for your kids and it smells wonderful.....or you find a bag of chips calling your name in the breakroom....you need to STOP what you are doing.  Before you dig into the cake or grab a slice, just stop.  Once you stop, Challenge yourself.  Ask yourself if that food is going to help you to accomplish your goals.  Do you want the food or the feeling??  Then, Choose.  If that food is not going to help you reach your goals or you want the feeling, not the food....then choose what to do.  You could go ahead and eat it, or you can choose to do something else. If it is something I feel I absolutely need to have, even if it is a bad choice, I choose to wait.  I say to myself that I will wait for an hour or two...or even the next day.  If I still want it, I say I can have it.  While I am waiting, I drink a big glass of water and move to do something else.  I go into another room.  I go outside.  I bring my dog outside for a walk.  Most likely, I will "forget" that I wanted something, and not eat it.  Also, it gives my body time to stop the craving and make a choice with my head, not my stomach or emotions!

Is this successful for me all the time?  Do I always make the best choice?

That answer would be no.  However, I am changing the way that I think.  I am not making a choice for just the feeling the food gives me for a few minutes.  Changing your habits into healthy habits is not an easy thing.  When I do make a good choice, I feel like a superhero!  I feel as though I accomplished something great (which I did!).  I try to remember that feeling so the next time, I can feel that success again.  Over time, I will crave the good feelings of success of making good healthy choices instead of the few minute pleasure of the food.

What are some of the ways you help yourself be in control and make good choices??


***Are you interested in reaching Optimal Health?  I am a free Health Coach and can help you reach your goals!  Message me if you are interested in learning more!  You can also visit healthcoacheva.tsfl.com.