Are You Procrastinating?

What are you waiting for?

Isn’t it true that unless something fun and exciting is about to happen, it takes a little more to get us moving.  When something seems more fearful and arouses other like emotions, we take a different approach.  We take our time, find other things that are seemingly more important, and just procrastinate.

Think about all of the things you have procrastinated on in your life.  I’m just as guilty of this.  Procrastination could be my middle name.  It could be something as small as going to the grocery store – after all, you can always go out to eat or order in, or something as big as not finishing up on a project by my deadline.  In fact, I still need to change my frequent flyer miles to my new married name because I haven’t gotten credit for the past two trips I’ve gone on…  See what I mean!

But, I want to talk about what it is you are waiting for when it comes to stopping binge eating disorder.

Does it just seem too hard? 
Do you feel too overwhelmed and don’t even know where to start?
Do you feel like you don’t have what it takes to be successful at overcoming it? 
Are you scared?
Do you wonder what your life will be like when you don’t binge? 
What will you do instead?

Of course these are all very valid concerns.  I asked myself all of these questions when I decided to stop binge eating too.  In fact, I was at the point where I wished that I hadn’t told Rob anything so that I could just go and binge.  (And not to mention, the laundry was looking way more important at that moment than the big task of learning to stop bingeing.)

Procrastination on some things is fine.  When it comes to other, more important things, like binge eating, it’s not so fine.  It’s your health we are talking about.  It’s being able to play with your children.  It’s giving yourself completely to your husband or wife because you feel good enough inside.  It’s loving yourself.  It’s being able to travel.  It’s going to dinner with friends.  It’s SO much more than an eating disorder…  and it’s taking away your whole life.

Here’s a little exercise I want you to do… 

Make a list of everything you want to do or wish you would do but don’t because of this eating disorder.  Write down the small things that really don’t matter, and be sure to capture the bigger ones that do.  You know, the ones that are making you sit back and not have control over your own life. 

When you are done, take a long, hard look at your list and see how your life is 100% affected by your eating disorder. 

Now, make another list.

On this list, let’s pretend that you don’t have binge eating disorder.  Let’s say that you have a week off from work and you can do whatever it is that you want.  You don’t have to worry about making sure your kids did their homework.  You don’t have to worry about paying bills.  You don’t even have to worry about having dinner on the table.  Your biggest “worry” is how you will spend the next 7-days.

What will you do?  How will you spend these days?

Now, for the biggest question there is…  Why are you letting binge eating disorder hold you back? 

I understand that there are many factors that can get in our way and cause stress and frustration.  I get that it’s not as easy as being on a vacation for a week…  but, don’t you think that you should allow yourself the freedom to do the activities you want to do?  Don’t you think it’s time to stop letting binge eating disorder control you?  Don’t you want to enjoy life?

When you come to realize and accept that binge eating disorder is not going to control you anymore, you will start branching out more.  You will find yourself saying “yes” to invitations.  When you start to do new things, you will develop a new confidence.  You will start pushing binge eating disorder to the back of your mind, instead of always being at the forefront.  You will realize that you have the courage to stop this ongoing and exhausting battle with your eating disorder.

It’s all up to you.

What are you going to decide to do with your life?

I believe in you!

P.S. - Please don’t procrastinate on doing this exercise.  It won’t take long and you owe it to yourself.  It will build your awareness, provide you with a new commitment to yourself, and help you on your journey.