Every time I open up and get raw and real about my #bingeeating past, I receive so many Private messages from women who have lived or are living that same reality… and most every time the same fears pop up – the fear that you’re not strong enough to overcome it , and the fear that you’ll pass it on to your daughters. And then there are also the fears that people will judge us for it, think us weak, broken, feel sorry for us, or worse – downplay it OR downright ignore it because they’re uncomfortable to talk about it.
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For a long time I carried around these fears. More than anything, I hid. I hid my food , I hid the emotions behind my binge eating, and I hid my need for help. I was ashamed. And I think on some level I didn’t want to believe I had a problem with food because food was where I went to cope when life felt out of control or like I wasn’t measuring up. But eventually I had to face my fears and all the emotions I was using food for. I had to do the work – find the real solutions on how to deal and how to heal so I could enjoy food with peace of mind (and health).
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If you’re relating to my story there are 3 things I can share that helped me climb out of that pit of a daily existence:
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1️⃣ PRAY RIGHT AWAY. Search your heart for God’s voice in every moment you’re triggered or tempted to binge. Use His Word to speak LIFE to your soul trust Him to FILL the void you’re trying to fill with food . Act on what you hear right away. Don’t put it off til “next time”. Face the emotions you’re feeling in the moment of wanting to binge. What are you feeling, thinking? Write it down, say it aloud to God, speak His Truth to override it.
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2️⃣ MAKE NEW. Replace the habit of binge eating in response to negative emotion with something else. Create new positive habits to replace the triggered negative habit to binge. Draw a line down the middle of a piece of paper . On one side, list the emotions you named in #1 above. Then make a list of positive things to do instead of binge eating on the right side of the line. “When I feel _ I will _” Face the emotions you’re feeling in the moment of wanting to binge. What are you feeling, thinking? Write it down, say it aloud, speak Truth to override it.
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3️⃣ STAY ACCOUNTABLE. Put a system in place for learning healthful nutrition & eating habits (not a diet), and keep the promise to yourself to follow it. Start a food journal not just for what you eat but how you feel in your soul and body. Have a Coach (maybe me if you prefer or someone else) or faithful friend, nutritionist or counselor who you give permission to keep you honest with yourself, celebrate your progress, help talk you through the process of overcoming binge eating.
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Sister, you are not alone. If I can agree with you in prayer, message me or drop a comment and I will!
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Live Life Fit in Faith,
❤️
Angel
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Angel Ballance 