I wrote the following article soon after losing 100 pounds in 2009. It still applies today.
Abstinence is staying within the picket fence around us called a “boundary.”
The purpose of a boundary is to keep us safe.
There are also many pleasurable perks within the picket fence: a clear mind, newfound energy, clothes that fit, medications tossed, money saved . . . the list goes on.
Seeds of abstinence sown into the soil of our lives will eventually produce a harvest of freedom from the addiction.
We may have imperfect “slip ups” —lapses in judgment—especially in those first few weeks and months of getting rid of toxins that have built up in our bodies throughout the years.
However, the key to success is to recognize and acknowledge the slip up when it happens and quickly continue on the path toward freedom.
If one has sown seeds of compromise for several days, weeks, or even months, now is the time to stop.
Stop immediately--and continue on the path of abstinence.
If you wait until tomorrow, you will have another excuse to put it off for another day.
Forget the past.
The past is the past.
Let it go.
There’s nothing that can be done about it and dwelling on the misery is counterproductive to freedom and optimal health.
Get up.
Dust the dirt off.
Fix the nicks and dents in the picket fence by reviewing articles or books that have helped you in the past.
Establish clear boundary lines again.
Ask for help from like-minded friends so they can support you.
Abstain from making fancy desserts, or going places that entice compromises until the taste buds have readjusted to enjoy the subtle flavors of healthy food again.
Turn off the news and/or Facebook and go outside for a walk.
Embrace the mindset to nurture and gently care for your body--the backbone of superior health.
It may take several weeks or months to get back to living in complete freedom from addiction again, but it will be well worth it!
There is freedom in boundaries.
Abstinence is the key to success.
Let’s all enjoy living within the picket fence today!
The freedom that comes from abstinence is not a “have to” . . . but a “get to!”
Freedom to all!
Emily Boller, artist, mother, and author of Starved to Obesity, lost 100 pounds more than twelve years ago by eating an abundance of high-nutrient, plant-rich food. Today, she’s certified in whole plant food nutrition from the Nutritarian Education Institute. She’s on a mission to combine practical, no-nonsense and cost-effective tips—with easy to understand science—in order to help anyone escape the addictive grip of the Standard American Diet.