09/29/2025
Indulging vs Overindulging
Whether it is a stressful day at work, a disagreement with a loved one, or a social engagement, we have all had days where we over do it.
We all have those moments of excess, whether it’s eating out of stress or to suppress an emotion, or simply to participate in a social event. From time to time everyone indulges in something less ideal. For some people it is food, for others they trade their food for an excess of exercise or business. Whatever your habit is, becoming aware of when you are indulging and when you are overindulging can be the difference between health and disease.
"Overeating is a common and universal enervating habit; eating too much fat - cream, butter, fat meats oils, rich pastries sweets; eating too often; eating between meals and checking digestion with water-drinking between meals.
Food-inebriety is more common than alcohol-inebriety. The subconscious is as busy as a hive of bees substituting, antidoting, and in reparation work; substituting one stimulating excess for another- demanding whisky, to***co, o***m, etc., for gluttonous eating; thrills shocks, sensual excesses for food-poisoning. Ungratified sense demands are appeased by food excesses or other stimulants; and when nature is balked in her demands the victim runs amuck. " Dr. H. Shelton
As we learn, grow, and the body gets less toxic, we can become more adept at spotting when we are eating for hunger vs. when we are eating to stimulate or meet a demand of our senses.
If you happen to overindulge or even indulge in some less ideal foods just take a moment to recognize, think about the situation and what is driving the choice to overeat, and you may be able to find ways to address the underlying issue so it doesn't happen again next time the same situation arises. Even if you cannot go back and undo it, you can lighten the load over the next 24 hours by pushing back your first meal of the next day and keeping things light to allow the body some rest and to catch up on the prior days damage.
If you are feeling the need or desire to indulge, go for the smallest portion you can and simply learn from the aftereffects which makes it that much easier to not repeat the habit again next time.
One of the best ways to avoid overindulging is to learn what true hunger feels like, vs the discomfort that most people feel which drives their eating habits, so I will leave you with the words of Dr. Claunch:
“The difference between true hunger and false craving may be determined as follows: when hungry and comfortable, it is true hunger. When hungry and uncomfortable, it is false craving. When a sick person misses a customary meal, he gets weak before he gets hungry. When a healthy person misses a customary meal, he gets hungry before he gets weak.”
Ever wondered what your body’s wisdom is trying to tell you? Join me at “Learn the Self-Healing Path” to find out.
The Self-Healing Path: discover how presence, stillness, and lifestyle can awaken your natural vitality and create a life long health.
