I have struggled with this problem in private for over 20 years. With the help of the Lord, I have been empowered to overcome this problem even though I still pray daily for strength to control my eating. The following have helped me:
Pray each morning. Pray for strength to resist temptation to over-eat. Pray also for inspiration for things you can specifically do to overcome this problem.- Read the scriptures each morning. This will strengthen your spirit. End each day with prayer to be accountable for your eating that day.
Observe Fast Sunday. Fast and pray to overcome your compulsive eating.
Plan your eating. It may even help to write it down.
Keep your blood sugar level high or at least constant. No matter how much self-control you have, if your blood sugar level is too low, your body will crave food so strongly that it will be difficult to control.
Make some type of exercise a part of your daily schedule. Just walking out your front door and around the block will relieve stress and anxiety and give you a chance to meditate and think through your problems. Exercise will also give you an increase in energy and help you to relax.
Write in a journal each day. Writing in a journal will help you to release feelings and emotions of depression, anxiety, stress, etc., that might be causing you to overeat.
Become more people-oriented. Call a friend, write a letter, perform an act of service instead of eating.
Keep busy. Develop a new hobby or interest. Limit time watching television.
Remember, the Lord wants you to succeed. Overeating is not in keeping with the Word of Wisdom. - Name withheld, Arizona
What we did:
Address root cause
Diets don't work to overcome compulsive eating because they address the symptoms instead of the root cause of the problem. We eat when we are not hungry. Food or compulsive eating can become a substitute for love, unexpressed anger, protection from getting hurt, etc. But it is only a substitute.
Regularly scheduled individual or group therapy sessions can assist with discovering and addressing the root cause of the compulsive eating. - Sheree Tanner, Roseville, Calif.
Have to want to
When someone is compulsively eating, it's not always because they like to eat. Many times the eating is a symptom of something deeper. Some things that have helped me are the following:
Learning what is a proper portion.
Learning new coping skills. When the trials come, I can deal with them differently. I take advantage of resources available to me so I can deal appropriately with issues that I used to eat about. I seek counsel of priesthood leaders, professionals and others who have overcome this successfully.
Remembering my self-image is not based on a number on a scale or a dress size.
Forgiving myself when I slip; promising to do better, then doing better.
Writing in my journal when something bothers me and I can't identify it.
Remembering that all of Heavenly Father's creations deserve to be treated with respect, including me and my body.
Enlisting the support of friends and family in a way that I am comfortable with, making my needs known.
Finding a diversion to stop the habit of eating out of boredom.
I have to do this because I want to. All the suggestions and advice are worthless unless I really feel I am worth it and want to make changes. - Laura Medeiros, Albuquerque, N.M.
Outward manifestation
A few years ago, I let an eating disorder control my life. With the help of the Lord, Church leaders and counseling, I was able to heal the emotional problems I had tried to avoid by focusing on food. Many times compulsive eating is an outward manifestation of inner distress. To stop this behavior, one must address the real issues. Here are some ways:
Pray for help. Turn to the Lord and not to food. Seek peace through His comfort. If necessary, see your bishop or leaders for guidance.
Understand that this is one of Satan's ways to blind us. He will use any distraction he can to lead us away from the strait and narrow path. Keep yourself busy with your family, Church calling and other service.
Keep a food record for a few days. Write down how much, when, where, and how you feel before and after. This will help you be aware of what circumstances to avoid.
Don't diet. The more you try to restrict food intake and think about your weight, the more you will obsess over what you eat. Learn to obey your body's natural signals of hunger and satiety. - Jennifer Cardall, Walnut Creek, Calif.
Don't numb senses
Determine whether you are trying to feed emotional or physical hunger with food. Many people are trying to numb their senses with either food, drugs, tobacco or alcohol.
We need to recognize that pain and frustration do exist and find a healthier way to deal with them. - Fredora Fullerkite, Houston, Texas
Fast, pray
Fifteen years ago, I could have eaten anyone under the table - a whole cheesecake might have satisfied my compulsion for sweets for a single day. But after living with that disorder for 15 years, I chose reform through Christ. The process of overcoming food addiction - with its symptom being eating but which root malady (in my case) is fear of letting go of control - is the same as overcoming any other spiritual malady. It lies in coming to Christ. I decided to fast and pray for the needed change in my heart and desires for my body and for my life.
The Lord changed my desires and my compulsive need to control my life and seek fulfillment through eating. Eventually, I set aside the emotional crutch and found true feasting through service, love and engaging more fully in life. - Name withheld, Utah
Live Word of Wisdom
Recently, I received counsel on the matter from my bishop: Gain the "spirit" of the Word of Wisdom through thoughtful reading and study. I have a greater desire to eat healthfully when I read this revelation daily.
In addition, family members can offer much needed encouragement and love during periods of struggle. When my heart is full of love, I have less of a desire to overindulge. - Name withheld, Utah
How to checklist:
1 Seek Lord's help; fast and pray; seek counsel.
2 Address root cause, rather than symptoms of problem.
3 Plan your eating, keep record; learn new coping skills.
4 Keep busy, exercise; find a diversion to eating.
Write to us:
Sept. 5 "How to cope with the sudden loss of employment."
Sept. 12 "How to care for your children when they misbehave in public."
Sept. 19 "How to help young people emotionally prepare for missions."
Sept. 26 "How to make prayer more meaningful."
Oct. 3 "How to strengthen your marriage when your spouse is less-active or non-LDS."
Oct. 17 "How to make a will that will foster love, not jealousy, between children."
Oct. 24 "How to cope with multiple personal tragedies at one time."
Also interested in letters on these topics: "How to avoid greed," "How to make transition from being newly married to becoming new parents," "How to plan ahead for the different stages of life," "How to avoid the gambling trap."
Had any good experiences or practical success in any of the above subjects? Share them with our readers in about 100-150 words. Write the "How-to" editor, Church News, P.O. Box 1257, Salt Lake City, Utah 84110, send fax to (801) 237-2524 or use internet E-mail: forum@desnews.com. Please include a name and phone number. Contributions may be edited or excerpted and will not be returned. Due to limited space, some contributions may not be used; those used should not be regarded as official Church doctrine or policy. Material must be received at least 12 days before publication date.
