Do you feel hopeless that you’ll ever be able to get over your food addiction? Have you had success with weight loss in the past only to find yourself back at the same (or higher) weight again? If either of these describe you, you’ll be encouraged by my interview with Debbie on today’s Taste for Truth Podcast (links below). Through truth journaling and renewing her mind, Debbie went from a size 28 to a size 12 and has been living in victory for over six years!
In this interview, Debbie and I go through many of the lies that she has had to overcome in her journey. I’ve listed some of these below along with their corresponding truths.
Debbie’s List of Lies & Truths
1. You’ll never be good enough.
- Truth: You don’t have to be good enough, Jesus is.
2. You’ll never be accepted.
- Truth: Jesus accepts you as you are, and honestly, most other people also accept you as you are!
3. Food has to taste good.
- Truth: Food has to be good for me and nourish my body.
4. It’s not fair.
- Truth: It’s an opportunity to grow closer to God.
- Truth: Everyone has something that they struggle with.
5. More is better.
- Truth: Less is better for me because I feel better.
6. Truth Journaling won’t work unless I do it perfectly.
- Truth: There is no such thing as perfect.
- Truth: Mistakes are part of learning.
7. You’re a failure.
- Truth: I’m not a failure! Mistakes are part of learning.
8. I can’t do this.
- Truth: God can, and I am depending on His strength to change me.
Debbie’s Before & After Pictures
What We Discussed on the Podcast
- How eating was a numbing drug for Debbie
- How an “all-or-nothing” or perfectionist personality plays into weight loss efforts
- Deep insecurity from years of being overweight
- Learning to forgive culture for not accepting people who are overweight
- How Debbie truth-journaled about body image before actually journaling about food
- “I didn’t know how important the truth was until it set me free.”
- Learning to listen when we bring our lies and our thoughts before God
- Truth journaling to get rid of mental commotion
- Debbie’s four big takeaways from her weight-loss journey
- Grace over guilt
Resources Mentioned on the Podcast
Listen to the Podcast
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Hi Debbie and Barb,
This episode was wonderful and really helpful! You said that you are very strict with your eating. I’m wondering if you could go into more detail about that.
Thank you!
Hi Jenny, when I say I am strict, I refer to taking my boundaries seriously. Basically, I don’t eat what I want when I want to, I stay physically active, and I say no to myself often. I am mindful of my food choices, and I try and avoid eating for emotional reasons.
At the beginning of my journey, I felt God prompting me to be willing to give up certain foods so that he could work on my thinking. I let go of sugar, refined grains, and dairy and turned to him for strength and healing. He has done a miracle in my life. He transformed my thinking and helped me find freedom from my food addiction. My boundaries have changed a little, I now eat some of the above foods, but I still have clear food boundaries, such as I eat three meals and one snack.
One thing that is important to clarify is that I am always on high alert to letting my food restrictions condemn me. I am strict, but I know my boundaries didn’t save me. God did and does. He is where I go for my worth, identity, and salvation, not my weight, not food, not diet, and not exercise. If I feel beat up, guilty, and condemned, that is a good sign I am focusing too much on superficial things and not enough on him. Each day, I choose grace over guilt, and I find my everything in him. He is so so good.
I hope this helps clarify,
Debbie 🙂
I’m so glad you enjoyed the episode, Jenny!
I have listened to this message three times and took quite a few notes today. It was so good to hear a success story, because I have maintained a good amount of weight loss for about 10 years, but I’ve never seen my way past chubby. Debbie, you restored my hope and believe that I can complete this journey with a win! Barb Raveling, I don’t know what I would do without you, you are Up high, on my list of heroes! Thanks, Becky
Thank you for that encouragement, Rebecca! And that’s so great that you’ve maintained a good amount of weight loss for ten years! That’s a huge victory! Often to get the second round off, we need a new motivation because the first round might have taken care of the first motivation such as health or fitting into clothes. I’m glad Debbie’s interview restored your hope that you can do this!
I enjoyed the episode so much and have purchased your books. I can’t wait to get started on Taste for Truth! I am unable to get the I Deserve a Donut app because it is not compatible with the latest version of Android. Any idea when you’ll be able to update it? I did buy the book but it would be great to have it with me on my phone as well. I’m so glad I found you, Barb!
I’m so sorry the I Deserve a Donut app is no longer working with Android, Angela. I’m not sure when I’ll be able to update it but it will likely be 6-8 months. I know it’s much easier to have it on your phone so I’m sorry for the delay!
This podcast was God’s timing for me, Barb and Debbie. It’s given me so much encouragement. I’ll start my truth journal this afternoon. Barb, I bought all of your books but they’ve just been staring at me from the bookshelf, so I’ll also begin reading them this afternoon, as well. Thanks so much, ladies!
Hi Deborah! I’m hoping you’ve started a book by now and also started truth journaling! I’m so glad the episode was encouraging!
Hallelujah for Debbie and her faith! Wow what a podcast! Bless you Debbie from a fellow Canadian.. your perseverance and eye on the prize determination was breathtaking. Soo grateful for God’s power at work in your life – gave me much faith fuel!
I’m so glad it gave you some faith fuel, Lisa! I’m so thankful Debbie’s journey was an encouragement!!!