Since I have used this Bible passage as an example of how the Lord God has positively influenced my overeating, this doesn't necessarily reflect the whole meaning of the verse. Debbie

COE Support Note:

If you REALLY want to read how Christ helped me throughout this weight loss and even when I was tempted, you should read some of the 100's of previous posts on https://christianovereaterssupport.blogspot.com/

Enjoying Our Walks

When we were first faced with being home bound while they were trying to reduce the cases of COVID-19, I was prayerful about how to get the exercise we needed. The idea was to use the garage sale treadmill purchased several years ago. That has worked out well.

 I think with being home bound for so long, it's easy to want some type of change, so that we don't feel so constrained. We recently started walking around our neighborhood. We've seen others doing it for the last couple of months, but stuck with only using the treadmill.

 We have been enjoying our daily walks. I realize that we may not be able to go on the walks during rainy or overly hot weather, but it's just nice to get outside and have some fresh air when we can. We can always go back to the treadmill when it's either too hot or too rainy to go for a walk.

 Because these posts are examples of how I've applied these Bible verses to my life, they don't necessarily reflect the whole meaning of the Bible verse. Debbie

Some of the Benefits for Us

I told you in a prior post about how I stressed when reports of sheltering in place would cross the News screen some months ago. I was prayerful about what we would eat if we couldn't go to the store very often. The idea I was given is to have a crock pot of beans which lasts us two nights and a pot of soup later in the week, which lasts us two nights, as well. That only leaves us three other nights where we have regular foods

 Since we started implementing this plan, not only has my stress gone down, but that my husband and I have both been losing weight. I wasn't particularly wasn't trying to lose weight, although I was about 20 pounds over my ideal weight. 

 Years ago, Christ showed me that eating food and planning about food had become a false god to me. I was turning to food to comfort me when I was stressed and not turning to Christ to comfort me. When He drew this to my attention and I turned my eating and my stress over to His capable hands, He allowed me to lose 80+ pounds and to keep the vast majority of it off for over 30 years. Part of this blessing was becoming comfortable with my body, however it is and not obsessing about food. I was surprised to find that the eating plan during COVID-19 that I had prayed about, has helped us get down to a healthier weight without really trying.  

 Because these posts are examples of how I've applied these Bible verses to my life, they don't necessarily reflect the whole meaning of the Bible verse. Debbie

The Treadmill Keeps Us Moving

Prior to COVID-19 and Social Distancing, my husband and I used to go to an exercise class two times a week where we got to see our friends. We also would walk a mile most days around the inside walls of local grocery stores. It was ideal, because it doesn't get too hot or too cold inside a grocery story. Besides, you can always pick up anything you needed at home on the last lap around.

 Then, things changed, as you already know! We didn't know what we would do for exercise or socializing with others. I prayed about this, because the side effects of having no social interactions can also be harmful. Well, the idea that I was given was to dust off the used treadmill that we had bought at a garage sale about two or three years ago. 

 This has worked out very well for us. Fortunately, my step-son and son-in-law fixed the wall TV that we had in the room where the treadmill is. This keeps us moving, but doesn't take care of socialization. A younger family member had the insight to leave an older iPad of theirs over here, in case we had to be housebound for any length of time, as per what was suggested as there were outbreaks across our country. This has worked out really well. We are really blessed and feel very thankful that we are able to stay in contact by way of iPad, phone, texts, and emails. 

 Because these posts are examples of how I've applied these Bible verses to my life, they don't necessarily reflect the whole meaning of the Bible verse. Debbie

Soup and Beans

When COVID-19 came to the states, I started being prayerful about what we should do in case we ever were quarantined to our house like the people in China were. After much prayerful contemplation, the idea that came to me was that we could have rice and beans.

 We decided that my husband would make a batch of his yummy beans in the large crock pot each week, which usually lasts for two dinners. If I make a batch of cornbread, it makes it a complete protein. I usually make a batch big enough that I can freeze the rest to use for the next couple of weeks bean meals.

 Also, I would make a batch soup during the week, which also lasts us for two dinners. Of course, sometimes we have some left over that we use for lunches. I fill in with regular types of food the remaining three days of the week. Jesus gave us an idea that has worked out really well for us and it's taken a lot of stress away. Fortunately, the beans are easy to store. I currently have the dry beans in a large casserole pot that I was given as a gift, so it really doesn't take up any extra shelf space. I feel so grateful for this wonderful plan I was given, because it works really well for us.

Because these posts are examples of how I've applied these Bible verses to my life, they don't necessarily reflect the whole meaning of the Bible verse. Debbie

Responding to a Snarky Comment

2 Timothy 2:23: But avoid foolish and ignorant disputes, knowing that they generate strife.

I was recently by someone who made a snarky remark saying something about me being piggy, because I was getting some food. I had recently lost around 10 or so pounds, but it wasn't from me, it was from Christ who has given me a sense of peace during COVID-19. Normally, I would have eaten the door knobs off during such a stressful time, but Christ has given me a sense of peace and I've turned to Him instead of to food.

 This person had previously said some other things, but not as snide as this. I didn't say it in anger, but tried to help that person know that it's important that they "don't mess with my food." Although, I was frustrated, I tried to calmly explain that Christ has taken care of any urge to overeat during this time and had allowed me to lose 10 pounds.  I debated whether or not to say something to the person. I remembered that I responded in negative ways when people messed with my food may years ago. I remembered someone who would offer snacks to other people and skip me, saying it was because I'm dieting. I remember eating many of the snacks out of spite, like I was saying, "Don't you tell me what I can eat and what I can't!" 

Although I wasn't quite as calm during this point, I told the person that I need them "not to mess with my food!" I further explained that Christ is doing a great job of helping me have balance during this time of COVID-19 and He helps me know when I need to eat and when I don't.  The person tried to justify their comment. Christ gave me the grace not to argue with them. Fortunately so, because things calmed down in short order and probably wouldn't have if I had argued with the person.

Because these posts are examples of how I've applied these Bible verses to my life, they don't necessarily reflect the whole meaning of the Bible verse. Debbie

Explaining to the Doctor

2 Timothy 1:9 Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began.

 I had to go for a physical today. The doctor mentioned that my weight had gone down. He asked me if something had happened to cause the weight loss or if I had been trying to lose the weight. It didn't seem right to just skirt around the whole topic.

I tried to tell him that normally with all the stress with COVID-19, I would have turned to eating, but that's not what happened. Christ had calmed me down and instead of eating over the stress, I have a sense of peace that He's given me. 

 He listened, to what I said, but continued to try to make sure that no negative health issue had caused me to lose the ten or so pounds. I realize that's part of his job, but I don't think he understood what I was saying or he was minimizing it. Either way, it's not my place to prove it to him. I just needed to share the truth with him and what he does with it, is up to him.

 Because these posts are examples of how I've applied these Bible verses to my life, they don't necessarily reflect the whole meaning of the Bible verse. Debbie

I Had to Let the Bulges Go!!!!

Philippians 4: 6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. 7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

 I wrote in the previous post about how I started becoming obsessed with whether the bulges on my arms were returning or not. Christ had allowed me to lose a some of the extra weight I had gained back over the years. I'm not complaining. He has allowed the vast majority of the 80+ pounds that He allowed me to lose to stay off for over 30 years!

Anyway, I was paying far too much attention to whether I was gaining the weight back and the bulges were returning. It had almost become an obsession to look in the mirror to see if they had come back. Once I realized that I was now turning the bulges into a false god, because they had become too important to me, I realized I had to put this all in Christ's very capable hands.

I prayed and asked Christ for Him to take care of my food, body, eating and stress over the potential of the bulges returning. Additionally, I had the feeling that I should weigh (something I rarely do, because it's easy to let the scale to have too much power over you, telling you whether you're good or bad, depending on your weight.) I found I had lost two more pounds, so the bulge I was seeing, either is my being too focused on it or it's result of being so heavy all those years, before I turned my food, body, eating and stress over to Christ's very capable hands, which made all the difference in my focus on food. If He could do this for me, He can do it for you, provided you ask Him and are willing to let Him be in control.

 Because these posts are examples of how I've applied these Bible verses to my life, they don't necessarily reflect the whole meaning of the Bible verse. Debbie

Focused on the Bulge

Mark 9: 23 Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth. 24 And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief.

I recently shared how I have been so blessed during COVID 19, Christ calms me when I get concerned about all the press releases, news, etc. First of all, He helped me know that I need to not watch these all day long. A small dose of it to get a little update is enough for me, so I don't have sleepless nights.

I know this calmness comes from Christ, because I haven't had the urge to overeat. I know that doesn't come from me, because usually when there is a stressful situation, I've turned to food, in the past, for comfort or to ignore the situation, but Christ has freed me from this. He showed me that food had become a false god in my life, because I was turning to food for comfort instead of turning to Him.

Well, I explained in a recent post how Christ had allowed me to lose some weight, something I wouldn't have expected to happen. I was especially pleased when I saw that the bulges on my arms disappear. Then, I thought I started seeing the bulges start to form again. Every day, I would find myself focused on the bulge, was it starting or was I imagining it? I was making the bulge a false god, not that I was turning to it for comfort like I did with food, but I was making it too important. Once Christ had this on my heart, it seemed to loose it's importance. I had to turn that obsession over to Christ's very capable hands!

 Because these posts are examples of how I've applied these Bible verses to my life, they don't necessarily reflect the whole meaning of the Bible verse. Debbie

I Had Really Lost Weight!

2 Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

It had been kind of stressful watching all the News programs and special press releases each day giving updates about the COVID 19 Pandemic. I was awake late at night, not because I was afraid of the virus or the possibility that I might die. I believe that Christ won't take me one minute before He intends for me to join Him, so there is no reason to worry about that. 

Actually, I was up in the night trying to figure out what I needed to do next. What types of things did I need to do to be prepared. Which food items and products did I need to get to be prepared for a long stay at home. Fortunately, Christ was watching over me! He gave me the feeling that I should stop watching every News report and press release throughout the day on the COVID 19 Pandemic. Now, we tend to primarily watch the Lester Holt and PBS News, which gives us enough info to stay updated, but not so much that it keeps me up at nights.

In addition to doing that, I realized that Christ had given me the Peace Which Passes All Understanding. Under normal situations, something like this could have sent me in an eating frenzy. I realize that I haven't done anything like that in a long time, but every now and then, I start to slip back into old patterns. Fortunately for me, Christ has a way of reminding me that I was slip-sliding done a slippery slope. During this Social Distancing, it's been different. At first, I thought the bulge on my upper arms were not as predominate. Then, I realized that my underwear seems loose. After that, I found out that PJ's that used to cut into my side, because the elastic was too tight, were no longer cutting in. I rarely get on the scale, because it's easy to get caught up in letting the scale tell you who you are depending on whether your weight went up or down. I prayed about it first and weighed and it showed I had lost some weight. I prayed again in the morning before getting on the scale again to verify this. I feel Christ's having me loose an appropriate amount of weight in the midst of Social Distancing is His way of showing me that He will be there with me through thick and thin. He's there for you, too. Just turn to Him in all things and pray for Him to help you have the willingness even when it's difficult to turn to Him.

Because these posts are examples of how I've applied these Bible verses to my life, they don't necessarily reflect the whole meaning of the Bible verse. Debbie
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