Please know that I no longer recommend this book or study. As the years have gone by, my thoughts have changed and grown. In my opinion, it fuels disordered eating and also stigmatizes people in larger bodies. My paradigm has shifted dramatically around food and body, and I have found freedom in this area through Intuitive Eating and a Health at Every Size approach (from a Christian perspective). You can find out more over at my blog StacieNelson.com
Last Monday if you had been a fly on the wall, you would’ve seen what a wreck I was.
Crumpled over, crying in the shower (I do my best crying then…anyone else?!!), I had decided I should cancel the Made to Crave study I was supposed to hold at my house on Tuesday.
I was literally sick to my stomach.
“What in the world was I thinking when I decided to do this? I don’t want to talk about my food issues.”
The next day was Tuesday. It was absolutely terrible. (Ever read Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day? Yeah…that kind of day.)
I yelled at my daughter. She yelled back. I yelled more.
I ate chocolate.
I hid in my room and cried.
And all I felt was shame.
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I spent the hour before the study on my knees-begging, begging, begging for the Lord to come through. There was absolutely no way I could do this on my own. You probably don’t know this, but I’m pretty quiet by nature–fairly reserved until I get to know you–and definitely not one to put myself out as a leader.
But I’m learning that God pushes us to do the things we think we can’t do, so that His power is made perfect in our weakness.
I definitely felt weak.
But I didn’t cancel it–and amazingly, ten ladies showed up that night!!
I fumbled with words and felt like crying through most of it…but I knew God was moving and speaking through the whole hour-and-a-half we were together. I was completely blessed by these lovely ladies and how they shared their hearts with me.
Even more than that, I felt called to share some of what I’m learning through this six-week study with you.
Honestly, I don’t want to write these posts. I don’t want to talk about food issues. I don’t want to put my thoughts and feelings out on the line. I’ve been known to write about difficult things–my postpartum depression, my dad’s death, my thoughts on homeschooling–but this feels totally different.
I told my husband the other night, “This is the thorn in my flesh. This is my battle.”
It’s raw. It’s not pretty. It definitely doesn’t seem to belong on a frugal living blog.
But somehow, I know it’s what I’m supposed to write about. Somewhere, there is someone struggling with this very issue–and maybe it’s someone you know.
Maybe it’s even you.
Each week, I’ll be sharing a little bit of what I’m learning through this Made to Crave study. As the blog has grown quite a bit over the past few months, I’m kind of hesitant to post this series–realizing that it doesn’t exactly seem like it fits on a frugal living blog. Feel free to skip it and move onto the next deal or kids activity if it isn’t for you! But because part of my mission is to provide “inspiration for the well-spent life” and there are things that get in the way of living well (including various issues like these), I will be broaching some spiritual topics on the blog for as long as God allows me to write here! I’ll continue to write kids posts and the other things you’ve come to expect from my blog, but this will be a weekly post while the study is going on!
Find all the posts in the Made to Crave series:
Made to Crave: Week 1Made to Crave: Week 2Made to Crave: Week 3Made to Crave: Week 4Made to Crave: Week 5
Tara H says
I’m looking forward to reading your posts on this. Thanks for following the Lord’s leading!
Stacie Nelson says
Thanks, Tara! You have been such an encouragement and blessing to me!
Tara H says
I have a question for you. I know you have talked about Practical Paleo on here before. I saw that she has a 21 day sugar detox. Do you know much about it and if so, would you recommend it? $21 is kind of a lot right now so I wanted a second opinion. Thanks!
Stacie Nelson says
Hi, Tara! I’ve just used the cookbook, so I’m not very familiar with her sugar detox! That does seem a little high–you could do something similar if you did a Whole30 or even the book Clean outlines a detox-type program. I need to do one of those again soon!
Tara H says
Thanks, Stacie! 🙂
Laura M says
I’m grateful that you’re willing to share this part of your heart and life! You are certainly not alone. I’ll be praying for you as you write these posts and go on this journey.
Stacie Nelson says
I definitely would love your prayers! Thanks for taking time to comment!
Patricia Raehn says
I too have a love hate realationship with food. It is my comfort when times are good and when times are bad. A good book and a snack is where I go when I want to escape. I also have the Made to Crave book and will read it and apply it as you are doing. Your insights will be valuable to me. Thanks for sharing your heart.
Stacie Nelson says
Yay! So glad you have the book and can join along!
Amy says
You will be blessed for following His call and lead! I am praying for you as one reserved gal to another, I get it! Kudos for you to step out of your comfort zone!
Right now I’m doing a study of Made To Crave as well. It’s my second time and I’m still learning! I want to crave Him more than anyone else’s opinion of me, anyone else’s thoughts about how I should live my life (including my own), any other thing in my life that distracts me from doing His will.
Keep up the great work! I’m looking forward to your perspective as I go through the same study!
Stacie Nelson says
So glad to hear you are doing the study as well. Thank you for your encouragement and prayers…I feel so fortunate to have such a sweet community of friends around me!
Tami says
Hey, friend, I am a shower crier, too! I wish I could be there to give you a break or a pep talk sometimes…aargh. So glad that you didn’t cancel and that you all 11 will be blessed by the study!
Stacie Nelson says
I guess it’s the one place to hide away…when you are surrounded by little ones!
Yes, a pep talk would be helpful. Miss you!
Sarai Bloor says
Stacie,I just bought the devo of this book and it is amazing. I too have told my husband that food is the thorn of my flesh. I wish I could eat like everyone else or even eat gluten in moderation but the truth is I can not. I am even getting to the point that I can only eat certain GF grains, so grain free here I come. I think you are going to encourage so many people with your posts. I will be reading each post!
Please know that you are not alone and I am right there with you as I too am doing the made to crave devo.
Sarai
Stacie Nelson says
Yay! So glad to have you along! I haven’t read the devotional, but I bet it is pretty similar. Thanks for being willing to share with me!
Linda says
I opened you first in my e-mail. I know about cravings – I crave God, but not as much as chocolate I am ashamed to say. Your post and humility ministered to me. I’m glad you took a step out of your comfort zone. I have several comfort zones I need to get out of. God bless your work. I’ll have to put the book on my Amazon wishlist for next payday. Love in the Lord.
Stacie Nelson says
I’m with you on the chocolate thing….
Thank you for your encouragement, too! You will be blessed by the book, I promise! I’m only through the first three chapters, but God has really used it to speak to me.
Erika S says
I love your blog and am so looking forward to these posts. I’ve really been struggling with food and feel like I need to face it head on, Thanks for your courage to share!
Stacie Nelson says
So with you on the “facing it head on” part! We can do it in His strength together!
Allison says
If it helps just one person….then it’s worth it, eh? Like others, you’re mail is the first I look at at the end of a busy day….you say sometimes what I can’t….don’t worry, you’ll do fine. Look forward to reading te next post! Prayers you continue to find strength in what you feel compelled to share. Hugs!
Stacie Nelson says
You are so sweet, Allison!! Thank you for your encouragement!!
Angie says
I just found your blog today and have enjoyed ready through some of it. I struggle with food and hate talking about it with others. I am currently going through the “Made to Crave” Bible study with some ladies from my church. We are on the 2nd week and have about 20 ladies doing it. It has been so helpful to me already and I am ready to face my struggles with food and put them behind me! I am looking forward to reading your posts about the bible study.
Stacie Nelson says
So glad you are here, Angie! How awesome that you are going through it right now!
Before I started the study, I really had these thoughts that maybe I was alone in these struggles, but it’s amazing how many women out there are dealing with these issues. Glad to have you along!
Valerie says
I don’t know what you are going to say in these next few weeks, but I have to believe that God has led me here. I’ve never heard of you and this link showed up in someone else’s tweet. I am in a leadership position at my church. The third one, because every time God has put me in one, I have fought with Him about it–rehearsing my unworthiness and my bondage as some form of prayer. Eventually, I managed to wiggle my way out, only to run right into another opportunity. They are put upon me because I would never volunteer to lead anyone. My cravings have me beyond the point of frustration. I have concluded that I just don’t love God or want Him as badly as I say that I do.
Looking forward to what God has to say through you. Thanks for yielding.
Stacie Nelson says
I feel much the same way as you–and have wanted to quit blogging and various other opportunities because I feel unworthy and inadequate. God has so much more for us though! I am so, so glad you are here!
Kristen says
I subscribe to your newsletter but somehow I have missed this entire series. I saw the last post for week 6 in your newsletter about 5 seconds after I purchased Made to Crave on Amazon. How crazy is that?! I love how the Lord works. I look forward to reading all your posts as I go through the book.
Stacie Nelson says
That is so awesome, Kristen! Love it!! It’s been a really amazing journey for me, and I’m so thankful for the book and the group of ladies I went through the study with.
Blessings to you!