Below is a video from the presentation of “Gaining a Healthy Relationship with Food.” For the various counseling options available from this material visit www.summitrdu.com/counseling.
NOTE: Many people have asked how they can get a copy of the seminar notebook referenced in this verbal presentation. You can request a copy from Summit’s admin over counseling at counseling@summitrdu.com (please note this is an administrative account; no individual or family counsel is provided through e-mail).
“From a Balanced Diet to a Balanced Life”
IMPLEMENT the new structure pervasively with humility and flexibility.
Ganing A Healthy Relationship With Food — Step 7 from The Sam James Institute on Vimeo.
Resource: Implementation Evaluation Tool
Memorize: 2 Peter 2:22 (ESV), “What the true proverb says has happened to them: ‘The dog returns to its own vomit, and the sow, after washing herself, returns to wallow in the mire.’” As you memorize this passage reflect upon these key points:
- “True proverb” – This verse does not claim to be pleasant; it is not. But it is true and it is a good warning.
- “Has happened” – The pattern of this verse repeats itself often unless we take intentional steps to prevent it.
- “Dog returns” – How many times have we been absolutely sick of our behaviors yet returned to them for comfort?
- “Returns to wallow” – People, because of sin, have an innate tendency to seek comfort in things that make life worse.
- “The mire” – Without self-loathing, we must remind ourselves that where we want comfort is actually “the mire.”
Teaching Notes
“Most people do experience anxiety when they stop using food to cope with stress because they have to learn new ways to cope. Change, even when desired and positive, can be stressful (p. 17).” Stephen Arterburn and Linda Mintle in Lose It for Life
“An over eating episode is preceded by a process—one that generally involves a predictable progression that gradually moves you farther and farther away from doing what you know worked in the first place until, ultimately, you lose control and you revert to the old patterns (p. 225-226).” Stephen Arterburn and Linda Mintle in Lose It for Life
“It is important to learn the difference between having an inner critic and healthy self-reflection. An inner critic is nasty and mean. An inner critic will cause you to doubt yourself and keep you unhappy, insecure, and stuck. Self-reflection can help keep you humble and help you continue to improve yourself and grow (p. 90).” Carolyn Costin & Gwen Schubert Grabb in 8 Keys to Recovery from an Eating Disorder
“If we remember that humility is the chief virtue—if we look at fitness through the lens of humility and build community that embraces humility—then we can look at this issue through the lens of encouragement instead of judgment, inspiration instead of condemnation (p. 73).” Gary Thomas in Every Body Matters: Strengthening Your Body to Strengthen Your Soul
“Learn something from each relapse (p. 115)… A lapse in behaviors does not mean you are back at square one (p. 191)… That is why it is worth it to never give up—the ability to enjoy silence and not be tormented by what I have eaten today and by what remains in the refrigerator to be eaten (p. 181).” Jenni Schaeffer in Life Without Ed
“Becoming accountable for my own recovery was actually one of the main reasons for using the Ed metaphor. By the way, it is just a metaphor (p. 192)… I eventually stopped using the metaphor of Ed all together. It was just a tool– my training wheels… But eventually it became important for me to stop fighting against Ed so much (p. 193).” Jenni Schaeffer in Life Without Ed