My credo for a balanced life.

[Tanie]

I have a new found understanding about my issues with food. This comes after being extremely focused, and reading a few books about how the mind plays such a huge role in weight loss. Below is a comparison of two parts of me. I almost feel like I have a personality disorder when I view the comparison, but I'm sure I'm not the only one who feels this way. It's like a Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde scenario. I call these two facets of my life, "Satisfied girl" and "Hungry girl". After the comparison is a credo for my life.

The Balanced Girl........................................................................The Hungry Girl
*Is satisfied & balanced with enough food............................................*Is hungry for food, always
*cares about taking care of herself and her body..................................*hates her body
*thinks about life in between meals.....................................................*thinks about the next meal in between meals
*doesn’t care how photos of self look..................................................*judges the size of her body in photos
*likes others.....................................................................................*wants to be alone
*points out the positives in others, always...........................................*wants others to fail too
*desires to eat enough......................................................................*rewards and punishes herself with food
*wants a balance between exercise, eating, and life.............................*is obsessed with numbers on a scale
*wants to explore life- canoe, hang glide, swim, climb mountains...........*likes routine and the couch
*knows her feelings, shares them.......................................................*hides & can't distinguish feelings
*very strong, peaceful, and patient......................................................*loud, and gets louder when in between meals
*likes herself and her accomplishments...............................................*disgusted with attempts at life
*becomes stronger with healthy food and balance................................*becomes louder with bad food and stress
*wears clothes to carry out life’s tasks................................................*hides, will dress differently is she loses weight
*swims because she wants to............................................................*swims only when she’s lost enough weight
*The person, not the number on a scale..............................................*A 300 pound and climbing woman (highest)



My life’s Credo
Every day is a battle. Every meal is a battle. The 300 lb. woman is hungry and wants to eat. She will be loud and obnoxious. Though eating balanced meals and exercise will help quiet her, the only true way to take care of her is with commitment and determination drowning the hungry b**ch daily with God’s help.

Just because I won one battle, does not guarantee the next. Just because I won a whole day, does not guarantee the next victory. Each decision she must die. (Violent, right?). Just because people complement me on weight loss, does not mean my powers in battle have increased. Every day. Every battle. Just because my pants get smaller and a scale shows I weigh less, I cannot ever let my guard down. The hungry girl might get quiet; I may even think she’s gone. But she’s not. She’s hiding in the shadows. in secret. watching. every. meal…. waiting.

If I start to feel so accomplished because I’m getting “skinny”, or people complement me, or I think I’m okay with food, or I think “I have this under control”…….. hungry girl will come back slowly. She will come back even stronger showing me that I don’t have control. Hungry girl will always want control.

So, even though balanced girl wants to live and think about food in a “normal” way, she can’t unless I drown hungry girl every day. So, I will push hungry girl’s thoughts aside. I will bring her skewed reasoning to light and beat it down. If she wins a battle, she will not win the war. Every day. Every battle. I choose to live balanced. Every day.

[Sexy Parrothead]

Go Balanced Girl Go!!! We cannot let the Hungry Girl win because Balanced Girl is a much happier person!!! One day at a time!

[Mrs. Ballou]

I hope Balanced Girl kicks Hungry Girl in the pants! :) I think all of us with food issues have this internal battle going on everyday. The difference is made when we recognize it and make the choice to live a balanced life and to forever silence the eveil Hungry Girl. :) You're doing great!

[Cynder]

Balanced Girl can beat Hungry Girl in any fight !

[Erin P.]

Great blog! Honest and inspirational! You totally made me envision my hungry girl watching from the dark corner. I must admit, I hate that chick. I'm so over her.
STAY STRONG! You've got the right ideas!
(Have you read Mindless Eating?)

[Carrie]

What a great post! You have really made me think deeply, your comments about "hungry girl" really hit home. You are truly winning the war!!!!

[Arlene]

You're right ... what a great way to look at things. I need to keep it in mind: I got complacent a couple of weekends ago, ate whatever I wanted and posted a 7.2-pound GAIN at that next Monday's WI.

Thanks for the inspirational post!

[Christy]

Go Balanced Girl! I feel the same way so often.

[Hannah]

What a great post! I could really resonate with some of these things. I am going to really study the relationship I have with food, and why I always seem to let my hungry girl instincts take over. I'm tired of the battle with emotional eating. I think I'll check out some books now:-)
Also, I wanted to thank you so much for the information you sent me about diet pop/sugar cravings. It made complete sense. I KNOW I will feel better in the long run.

[HungryHippos]

I have the same struggle. I am either on plan perfectly or off the plan crazily. Let's get that other side in control!

[Emily Lieser]

Wow. What a great post! It's like me...only it's you! As much as it sucks, its great to know that there is someone else out there who really understands what I go through every day, every meal, every time I think I want something to eat. I guess I never realized how much of an issue I had with food until these past few months.

Go Balanced Girl!