Mental Strategies Part 4

Make Up Your Mind

“Casting all your cares on Him, for He cares for you.”
- 1 Peter 5:7

From Amy Parham…

My parents divorced when I was ten years old.  I will never forget the wave of pain that washed over me when they delivered the bad news to my siblings and me.  I specifically remember my mother saying that since I was the oldest, I had to be strong for my sister and that she needed my help since my dad wasn’t going to be with us anymore.  In hindsight, I know that my mother was simply trying to make me feel important, but at the same time I felt overwhelmed and overpowered by this huge burden of responsibility.  It was as if I had to grow up at light speed.  I couldn’t afford to let my emotions get the best of me.  I had to ignore my pain and be strong.  I believe this time in my life was when I made my first conscious decision to use food as my comforter.

After the divorce, my mother worked fifteen hours a day at the Dairy Queen restaurant that she owned.  Many days, my sisters and I played all day in the back room or in the parking lot.  I know she felt guilty for having to work as much as she did, so she would make it up to us by feeding us ice cream, burgers and french fries.

As I got older, I got chubbier.  And when someone would make fun of my weight, I would run to my old friend ice cream.  Stress led to eating, eating led to more pounds, more pounds let to more stress, and…well, you get the idea.  Being on national television and exposing myself in front of millions of people was stressful.  Many times I felt like an acrobat falling off a tightrope without a safety net.  Food had always been my safety net before, but it couldn’t be that way anymore.  I had to make my mind more powerful than my emotions.  It was a mental battle that took some time to win, but I did it.  And so can you.

So how did I get there?  First, I had to consciously recognize if I was going to the refrigeratior, the grocery store, the bakery, or the snack basket because I was really hungry or because something was bothering me.  Second, I learned when I was emotional to exchange eating for healthy things such as prayer, exercise, and having heart-to-hearts with Phil.  Usually, I would convince myself that I wasn’t really hungry and that I needed to go for a quick run or walk.  Instead of grabbing the bagel, I put on my iPod and headed out the front door.

In this process, I was training myself to find a different way to handle my emotions.  You need to do the same thing.  Be aware of why you are eating.  If you find yourself turning to food for comfort, recognize that you are doing this and substitute another activity.  Only you can break the cycle.

“A man who is master of himself can end a sorrow as easily as he can
invent a pleasure.  I don’t want to be at the mercy of my emotions.
I want to use them, to enjoy them, to dominate them.”
- Oscar Wilde

Mini-Challenge of the Day

Just as an athlete needs to train his/her body and his/her mind to get into the best shape for a competition, we need to train our minds in the battle of the bulge.  Think about your triggers for eating when you’re not hungry.  Now think of three activities you can do instead, such as going for a walk around the block, calling your best friend for support, getting on your knees and praying, and so on.  Make it a point this week to recognize your triggers and use these substitutes instead.

Tip of the Day

When planning your meals for lunch and dinner, make sure your plate is half full of veggies.

Until tomorrow, be blessed!

Remember to DREAM!

This was from “The 90-Day Fitness Challenge” by Phil and Amy Parham, former contestants on television’s “The Biggest Loser.”