If you struggle with food addiction, like I did, then please read on. It feels so freeing to say those words…. “did”. ahhhhhh!
When you struggle with something your whole life, and you are able to say “did”, you totally get how freeing that is, right?
If you are struggling with any stronghold today, you know, how desperate you are for that “light-bulb” moment to happen in your own life. For, you, dear sister, to say…. “I use to struggle with that, but the Lord has indeed, cut the chains!”
I say “light-bulb” moment… because that is what I had last week. I wrote a post…
If you missed that post, you might want to go read it when you are done here.
Anyways, that was my “light-bulb” moment with regard to FOOD. (FYI: I’ve actually lost 5 lbs since that post).
Did you know, that when you have food addiction, it is very similar to any other addiction (drugs, alcohol, etc)?
Like a body demanding heroin for its balance, the body will crave sugar, salt and fat. Take candy from a sugar junkie, and look out!
Scientists are discovering that psychological addiction has a common factor. All mood-altering drugs elevate levels of the neurotransmitter in the brain, called dopamine. Tobacco, cocaine, heroin and caffeine elevate dopamine levels and cause a feeling of euphoria.
Food can be used to medicate our feelings. Its pleasure gives a predictable lift. When we feel cranky, tired or lonely, food offers comfort. A comfort on which we can depend. A comfort that brings peace in an emotional storm. However, the reliance on food or any substance to feel better forms dependence.
The pleasure offered by mood-altering drugs and food can easily become our security blanket. An emotional crutch that makes us weaker by leaning on it. Each time we use it, natural emotional responses deteriorate, and the addict becomes emotionally dependent on the pleasure to control mood. Triggers that will activate emotions, becoming powerful urges to repeat that behavior.
As to not bore some of you with biological/scientific facts I will move on…
…back to my “light-bulb” moment last week…
I say “light-bulb”… but what is a light-bulb moment? Isn’t it a culmination of life-events that are all wrapped up into one “Ahhhh Haaaa” moment?
What I’m NOW realizing about food:
– I don’t need it to be happy
– I can choose to have a good day, with or without good food.
– I feel so much better when I don’t feel gorged with food!
– I love to make healthier choices about what I put into my body!
– I love having the God-given “will-power” to say no to that extra bite, that extra plate, that extra heaping pile of chips!
– I love not letting food control me, but allowing myself to control what I put into my mouth.
– I love experiencing the freedom of NOT BEING dependent on food!
I read a post this morning by Angie Smith. She wrote very candidly about Lot’s wife turning back… what happened when she turned back?
She turned to salt! I don’t want to look back anymore! I want to look forward, bathed in grace and mercy… and never be dependent upon food for emotional pleasure again! Do you? I will close this post with a quote from Angie’s post, Pillar. I LOVE IT!
“I want you to know I am praying for you as I write-asking the Lord to remind you tonight that there is a reason you have left that life behind.
It has been swallowed by grace, friend. And you need not miss what He has for you by believing there is something worth going back for. Leave it be. The Lord has told you where to go and it’s time to walk. Eyes straight ahead, tangled in the spectacular love of a Savior who wants nothing less for you than the summit. And as you stare at what might have been, you are immobilized, unable to bring Him the glory He deserves. And also, He might make you salt. Just saying.”
Thanks for visiting!