Purim is a supposed to be a time of happiness, charity, closeness to G-d, appreciating miracles, and appreciating our daily small miracles. They say that its a day of holiness where the gates of heaven are open to us and we can ask for anything we want.
Yet- we don't usually have time to be devout, pour our hearts out, or even feel like a normal human being- and really- how can we make requests from G-d when our mouths are so darn stuffed with food the whole day.
People who have food issues feel fear in their hearts when Purim comes along. There is just so many food decisions to be made. There is just so many people eating junk food everywhere we look. Its also hard because it's almost like we've been programmed to think that a part of Purim is eating the junk food.
This is a good time to talk about two things- one is about planning ahead, and the other is paying attention to why you're compelled to eat.
Number One, I've talked about ad nauseam on this blog, but it's worth repeating: Make a plan!!!!
This can and should include:
-Writing out ahead of time what you will be eating for breakfast lunch and dinner plus fruit snacks throughout the day
-Making sure you eat those meals and snacks and don't let yourself get too hungry
-Close your eyes and see yourself eating your omelet in the morning, your whole wheat tuna wrap with extra lettuce for lunch, or whatever you're eating- and smiling while saying "no thank you" to all of the shaloch Manos that come swarming into your house.
-Decide ahead of time to eat one or two "treats" Maybe one at lunchtime and one at the end of the night after you've surveyed all the bounty that has accumulated.
-Promise yourself a reward (non-food) of some kind the next day if you can stick to that plan.
-Give yourself credit, it's amazing that you can do what you are able to do.
Number Two: Why are you eating junk food when you don't want to be?
-Eating is very often about more than just "bad habits". You're eating because you're feeling something and food will calm it, distract from it, and help you escape from it.
-If Purim is going to be overwhelming for you and you usually eat when you feel flooded- then your game plan needs to be more extensive than what's listed above. You need something else to do to cope with the craziness.
-If you're eating because you're sad, or feeling rejected, or stressed- same thing- lets find something else to help you with that.
Try the following:
-Breathing exercises (more helpful than you might think) - identify that you're feeling one of the things listed above, and then try some 'belly breathing'
-Imagery- Last week when I was away for the week one of the things I had to do was pick a 'safe place' in my head, a place I can go when I feel overwhelmed to just be, and feel safe, and then come back when I was ready. I forgot how useful this technique is, and I recommend you try it.
-A pre-prepared buddy: Tell someone you're worried about Purim and that you may need to text or call them to vent instead of eating
-Take a early morning, mid-day or early evening walk outside. Whether its a 3 mile run or a walk around the block to get some air. Fresh air and physical movement can re-center you in a way that's different yet as effective as food.
-Write a responses card to help you- a card that could remind you that food doesn't help you feel better- it often makes it worse. Or a response card that reminds you that whatever comes your way that you can handle it.
We can do this. We can get through Purim in a healthy way, picking a few treats, feeling proud of ourselves that we can say no to bad food choices, and being kind to ourselves.
Purim is an excellent opportunity for us to build up, as Dr Judith Beck calls it, "our resistance muscle"
Happy, Healthy, and Holy Purim everyone!
No comments:
Post a Comment