Self-control with eating is hard sometimes, isn’t it?
Not only must you handle outward circumstances, but conflicts inside of yourself!
Here is an eating conflict I faced once that gave me an eye-opening revelation.
I opened the refrigerator and saw a jar of peanut butter.
Before I even thought about it, I grabbed the jar and opened it, intending to eat some.
I had to laugh at how quickly I did it.
Now the problem wasn’t with the peanut butter. The problem was that I wasn’t even thinking about peanut butter until I saw it!
So I set up a battle for myself that I did not need to fight.
Have you ever been there?
But life is easier when you practice one principle that is based on God’s word.
This will help you not only with self-control in eating but in other areas of your life.
This is a principle that Jesus taught in Luke 16:10:
“He who is faithful in what is least is faithful also in much; and he who is unjust in what is least is unjust also in much.”
“1 Tip to Make Life Easier“
Jesus says that how you handle little things in life indicates how you will handle the bigger things.
The peanut butter temptation was a little thing. However, I did not want to re-ignite a bigger problem I used to have.
When I weighed 240 pounds, I used to eat emotionally and out of impulse.
But God delivered me from that.
Eating the peanut butter would have been the wrong thing for me because I wasn’t hungry at that time. I just wanted to eat out of impulse because I saw the peanut butter.
Here is a principle I live by that Jesus’ teaching inspired:
“Keep the things you want to do close to you; keep the things you don’t want to do far away from you.”
This is how the principle works:
“1 Tip to Make Life Easier“
What to Keep Close
For me and eating, that means keeping healthy foods that do not hijack my brain in my home.
I accept that I must either prepare these foods myself or buy them already prepared.
In the mornings or the night before, I plan our meals for the day and assemble the ingredients. That way, everything is right where I need it when I am ready to cook.
They are close to me.
“1 Tip to Make Life Easier“
What to Push Far Away
To avoid the things I don’t want to do with my eating, I keep brain-hijacking foods out of my house. I avoid the restaurants where those foods live too, or if I must go, then I decide ahead of time what I am going to eat and stick to my plan.
To keep the peanut butter far away from me so that I did not eat it out of impulse, I pushed it to the back of the refrigerator.
That little action worked!
I still eat peanut butter, but I do it according to plan and not out of impulse. I don’t want to re-train myself to be impulsive.
Now you might ask: What if other people are bringing the tempting foods close to you in your home or work area?
Ask them to keep it far away from you, such as in the back of the refrigerator, cabinet or pantry where it is not easy for you to get.
Or you can put a covering over it that you cannot see through, such as foil or an opaque/color plastic wrap.
Be willing to test out which approach works for you.
The good news is that this principle even works for other things besides eating.
For example, to keep exercise close to me (because I want to do it), then I use exercise DVDs or sometimes videos on YouTube or FitnessBlender to work out.
To keep procrastination far from me (because I don’t want to do it) I started using an app that blocked certain websites during my work hours.
I had a problem surfing the internet when I should have been writing. I would go to the same websites during those times and willpower to stay away from them wasn’t working.
Now, if I even try to go to one of those websites during work hours, the app will display a message that reminds me I should be working!
I recommend creating a list for yourself, one list for “I Want to Do” for your day and another for “I Don’t Want to Do” for your day.
Then, ask the Lord for wisdom on how to bring the things you want to do closer to you, plus how to keep the things you don’t want to do far away from you.
I guarantee if you do this and obey what He says, you will make your life much easier.
In the end, life is all about finishing your race well in the Lord. Isn’t life hard enough without creating unnecessary stumbling blocks that stand in the way of your ultimate goal? I’m sure you will agree that this is the wisest way to live!
“1 Tip to Make Life Easier”
Be Blessed with Health, Healing, and Wholeness,
Kimberly Taylor
Author/Christian Life Coach of the Take Back Your Temple Weight Loss Community
P.S. Do you struggle with overeating sugar? If so, you are not alone!
Overcoming sugar addiction was a key factor on my weight loss journey; I lost 85 pounds and dropped from a size 22 to an 8.
In our 14-day Sugar Detox Challenge online course (inside the Take Back Your Temple Community), you’ll get the same success strategies and support to gain peace in your eating habits and achieve lasting weight loss.
Click here to learn more about the Take Back Your Temple Christian Weight Loss Community.
Your article was very helpful. Thanks
Glad to hear that, Debra!
I love these helpful ideas, Kim!
Wonderful, Shana – happy to help!
I used to work with a woman who brought in candy on purpose, and put it out on her desk on purpose. She had a mean streak. These people exist, and we have to face the temptation and also pray for them. .
Indeed, Debbie – while you can’t control what other adults do, you can control your response. As you said, pray for them and ask the Lord for wisdom in your response.
Peanut butter is definitely a brain hijacking food for me. I feel as though this article was written for me. God has used you mightily to help.me. thanks
Glad it was helpful, Susan – may the Lord bless you as you continue your wellness journey 🙂
impulse is the word I have been looking for to describe how I eat or do things. I can just keep doing things out of impulse. This morning when I awake I was tried, because out of impulse I have been eating and drinking a lot of sugar. My husband brought juice for his self as soon as I saw it I wanted it and kept drinking it until my stomach ache, my mom has been baking all kind of dessert for the Thanksgiving, I have been sampling everyday, then chewy candy has hit the list too I trick myself into believing if I brought a few pieces and ate them in the store that would be enough it went from 6 to 10 pieces. I was doing good and then I went back to old habits. I must apply the word daily, stop making excuses and turn away from negative impulse. It would help if I would use the tools you have provided. Thank you
It’s good that you are recognizing this, Nancy! I always say that emotional eating occurs when impulse meets opportunity. If you have been practicing emotional/binge eating for years, then the impulse is already there. Now, until you are able to retrain your brain from impulse to diligence where food is concerned with God’s help, your role is to remove as much opportunity as possible to protect yourself from those old impulses!
I am so bless that god lead me to read this!
Wonderful, Cynthia – all glory to Him!
This is so so good!!!!
Thank you Shana – so much of our behavior is based on our memories and environmental cues. We can avoid many food (and other battles) by simply setting up our environment support what we want to do and remove those things that support what we DON’T what to do!
I started my “want to do” and “don’t want to do” lists today! Love this idea. Simple and productive. I can track my progress and accomplishments this way too. Thank you for these ideas. I just started reading your book and listening to your podcasts. Very helpful! I’m starting to renew my mind. Slow but sure. I’m anchoring myself daily!
Fantastic, Terri – happy to hear that! It makes life SO much easier when you set yourself up to succeed.
Can I eat sugar free sweets & still lose weight?
Hi Judy – thanks for writing! I would recommend you do you own research about that. Personally, I wouldn’t do it because many artificial sweetener contain chemicals that do not play well with your body chemistry. For example, check out articles on Splenda. I prefer sweets that the Lord created that are compatible with the human body.
What a great article! I wrote out your quote.
“Keep the things you want to do close to you; keep the things you donʼt want to do far away from you.”
This will be a great reminder. Not just food as you said. Keep up the Good work my dear.
Excellent, Bice – sometimes it’s the simplest things that are the most powerful. Thank you, Lord!
Good tips. The body images help to put things into perspective. THANKS for sharing!
You are welcome Kecia. As they say, a picture is worth a thousand words!
Thanks so helpful.
You are welcome, Sandra. Sometimes the simplest ideas are the best!
I am definitely going to use this! Thank you for sharing !!
Thanks for all your wisdom and encouragement.
You are welcome, Carol – may our Lord continue to bless you!
Simple and insightful. Thanks
Kim
I am really enjoying your writings. Godspeed my friend. May God be Glorified
Im going to try this. I find that i overschedule and do not use good time management. I run out of time and then grab a bag of chips instead of following my plan. Would you speak to this please..
Thanks
Lori
This is very sensible!
This is so helpful!!! Thank you
Glad to hear that, Vee. It’s always good to start with the simple things )