Since the end of tax season, I’ve been working on getting new (and old) habits in place. I thrive on a routine, so I knew that establishing a good one early was key.
One of my major problems for both healthy living and a healthy budget is the amount of fast food I was eating. Part of that was fueled by the stress and busyness of tax season, and part of that is just my weakness for junk food and ice cream.
So, once tax season was over, I made the plan of not eating out unless:
1.) I’m with a friend.
or
2.) My schedule requires it (usually just on Wednesdays).
It’s not been easy. And I’ve not been perfect, either. If I was graded, I’d probably have just barely squeaked out a C that first week.
But I’m doing much better than I would have been if I hadn’t even tried.
As hard as it is to admit, food is an idol in my life. I really wish it was something that you could quit cold turkey. Progress would be easily measured then. Instead, I’ve been having to work on ways to not let my desire for food rule me.
One thing our pastor said Sunday in his sermon on lust and purity was this: Say “Sex is not my religion. Jesus is my religion,” when temptation comes.
I’ve adapted that for my struggle and now when the temptation hits, I’m telling myself, “Food is not my god. Jesus is my God.”
I might have to say this a dozen times a day, but it’s a great reminder to put food in it’s proper place in my life. It’s a great blessing, but it is not my ultimate comfort.
I’m like a child…I can’t make myself eat something I don’t want to eat. If I try, I seriously gag. So, the key for me is to keep it something that I want to eat, but that is also cheap, easy and healthy. Monday, I’ll post recipes that I currently have in my arsenal that I know make great leftovers and are tasty and decently healthy.
Photo by Tammy Green
I gave up most meat (pig, fowl, cow) in order to curb my going out. I’ve found if you don’t eat meat you have no real reason to stop at ANY of the many fast food places around. I don’t like cooked fish so that cuts that from the FF market. It’s actually quite liberating to be able to drive by all of them and have no need to stop.
Good post. Good encouragement.
I still struggle with this in my life…even though I’ve lost a lot of weight, my thoughts about food have not really changed. I love food. I love the comfort it provides and I love that food often symobolizes love (when I eat with my family, Thanksgiving, Christmas, the Lord’s Supper, etc). Just know that many are in this battle with you and that God is in control!
On a side note, I have found cheap fast food meals that really fill me up, get rid of cravings I might have, and are not bad for me. The salads at most fast food restaurants are great. I often get two yogurt parfaits from McDonald’s and have a tea or water with them and they fill me up. A double cheeseburger and small fry are work withable. Also, if you’re close to a grocery store, the delis usually do have some heatlhy choices! So if it’s about the convenience of eating out, there are definitely healthy choices out there. If I was single, I’d probably eat out a lot. It’s most likely cheaper!
Great post. I actually gave up all desserts and sweets for Lent this year and what kept me sticking to it was because I was doing it for God… whenever I was tempted I just reminded myself of that and it was the single best thing I could do. Now, I’ve completely lost the craving, and I feel like I can keep going just not allowing junk to be part of my life, because God wants me to be healthy :) Good luck!!
Veronica: But that wouldn’t keep me for going out for ice cream! I do not eat a ton of meat, though, because of personal preference.
Liz: Right now I’m cutting it out, because I don’t need it. I do like to get a Happy Meal from McDonald’s as that’s just enough to satisfy, but for right now, I’m not even doing that. I can make a meal at home for $1-2 versus $5-6 eating out, so it’s not cost-effective.
Emily Jane: That’s awesome! The less I eat, the less I crave. I’m *now* getting to that point. Sweets should be a treat every now and then, and not an everyday “need.”
Trying and staying focused on the trying is half the battle. And I’m totes with you in the battle, sister! :)
I was cleaning out my wallet the other day and was appalled at how many fast food reciepts were in there. McDonalds, Wendys, Krispy Kreme, the list goes on. We have to try to come with a better plan in our house as well.
Thanks for getting back to me on the comment luv. I will just wait them out and see if they fix it!
We don’t have much fast food in Sweden, thank goodness, so it’s easy to eat healthily…
Hey Ronnica! Thanks for stopping by my blog! What a great post… I have struggled with food addiction my whole life. I was a fat baby, kid, teen, adult, etc. Because of my illness (MG) I have also been on lots of steroids over the last 10 years which makes me gain weight. SO frustrating. BUT…it is VERY important to eat healthy, and to honor God with our bodies. Thanks for the encouragement!
Susan: I knew that this would resonate with so many women. I heard somewhere that women think about food as often as men think about sex…I believe it! I have to remind myself it’s a DAILY battle, something to focus on in the moment, not the long-term.
Jenny: I prefer to throw mine away immediately to avoid the conviction, but my credit card bill was telling with lots of $5-6 purchases…they add up!
Lady Fi: That’d be helpful. I think it’ll help me when my commute is shortened in a month as the only fast food restaurants I’d pass are ones that don’t tempt me.
Kerri: Exactly: the weight isn’t the issue as much as pleasing God with our bodies. I can do that overweight as well as skinny (though I’d likely lose pounds in the process).
food plays such a part in our lives; I seriously think about what I am going to eat for dinner all afternoon while waiting to get home from work- and then usually end up binge eating. Not good!!!!!
Nice post! We don’t eat fast food very often, but we eat out way more than we should.
UGH I’m doing the same thing… last night when I got home, Dan had made up a nice dinner… but I mentioned that a bar nearby was almost empty (usually it’s packed). So we left the just-made dinner… and ate at the bar.
At least we have each other as a support system :)
I like this sentence: “Food is like an idol in my life.” It’s something that I feel like most people who have never struggled with their weight can’t understand. That’s why it infuriates me when I hear people say “just lose weight and exercise more,” because it’s honestly not that easy. There is an emotional aspect to food and diet that isn’t very easy to move past.
Thank you for this post :)
As a backsliding foodie (I REALLY like to eat well, organic, and healthy but LIFE has happened to me in the last few months) I needed this pep talk. I thank you, Ronnica! I need a tune-up as well!
Carma: Yep, me too. And sometimes I just can’t *wait* (which is where fast food comes in). I’m happy to report that at this moment I’m thinking more about blogging, swimming, and work than I am thinking about food!
Heather: SO get that mentality. I’ll sometimes take the time to make and bring my lunch to work, but then don’t follow through and go out for lunch.
Melissa: I’m a very disciplined person (when I want to be). If there were no emotional ties to food, this would be easy.
Robynn: “backsliding foodie”…love it! You’re welcome!
I’m always looking for quick-and-healthy suppers… I eat out *much* too much.
I definitely like your plan to avoid eating out so much. Perhaps that’s something I should implement both because I’m trying to lose weight/become healthier and cut costs a bit. Not a bad idea.
MinD: Bonus: I *feel* better, too!
Hey there so glad we found eachother’s blogs. I’m dropping by with some comment luv. I especially loved your post. So many americans make food their god and don’t even know it. I’m currently working on a new healty diet cutting out lots of tasty treats. I have way to much baby chubs to loose since birthing my son in Feb.
Thanks for stopping by today! Oh and happy SITS
Rebecca, It’s a hard thing, since it’s all around. Even today I just got back from a yummy, high-calorie celebration breakfast.