YOU TOO CAN HAVE VICTORY OVER THE CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIE GOD

Since taking the New Beginnings with Food program in January, 2011, Patty has lost 25 pounds. Symptoms of Multiple Sclerosis have reduced. She has more energy, endurance for walking, and less knee pain.

Patty is the “poster girl” for the New Beginnings with Food (NBF) program, and has given me permission to write some of her story.

We were gathering at Patty’s house for our monthly mindful eating pot luck reunion and support circle. Patty greeted us at the door in her new body and baggy clothes. Her shirt was tucked in (not the norm for her) and her tightly-cinched belt was barely holding up her pants. She was excited about the prospect of purchasing a new wardrobe.

Patty is a physical therapist with an active practice in Woodland Park, Colorado, but had just been on a business trip to fill in for a colleague in California who was on maternity leave. Patty went to California armed with all the tools she had learned during the NBF program. She had many stress and food challenges during her trip that were easily overcome. When she told about her victory over the chocolate chip cookie god I just knew I had to relay her story. I am sure anyone who worships this false god (or any other food god) as I do will appreciate it.

On her return trip, Patty had time to eat lunch at one of the airports during a layover. She chose the healthiest of the offerings, a Thai chicken wrap. The vendor was so generous – he gave her a free chocolate chip cookie. (Do you think there was an ulterior motive on the part of the vendor?) While eating her wrap, Patty kept eyeing the cookie. When finished with the wrap, she held the cookie in her hands, turned it over and kept examining it. Then . . . she threw it in the trash. Could you have done this? Patty said it was easy, and all the work she had been doing for herself since January was easy and fruitful. There wasn’t any strain or pain – just the joy of loving and caring for herself, and celebrating that she had changed on a cellular level because she had found a way to tie together body, mind and Spirit.

NOW, THIS HAS TO BE THE ULTIMATE TEST . . . TEMPTATION BY, AND VICTORY OVER THE CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIE GOD!

The fall, 2011 and winter, 2012 New Beginnings with Food workshops sponsored by Woodland Park Parks & Recreation Department are open for registration. Go to the Workshop page on this site for more information.