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beenwashed
Guest
I want to know about gluttony. Where is that line. I’m not calling anyone a glutton but sometimes I think about people who are obese and wonder where that line is. What do you think?
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brigid12
Guest
Eating/drinking more than is good for your health (I’m probably not the best person to say, since I’m not good at that and am dieting due to it 
) or are picky in a way that is very difficult for others.
) or are picky in a way that is very difficult for others.
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Trishie
Guest
Hi! There isn’t a specific line that any of us can judge others by! I understand that you don’t wish to judge, but that the question bothers you at times.
People who are obese may have several reasons for being so. Firstly, there are medical conditions where obesity naturally follows. Just to mention a couple…a person who unknowingly has very unteated low thyroid function will increasingly put on weight; someone on medication like Prednazone for auto-immune illnesses will naturally put on excess weight, but there are other health conditions that also cause overweight issues. There are also people who have mineral or vitamin deficiencies but can’t p(name removed by moderator)oint them, and crave food.
Aside from physical causes for obeseity…aside from the natural consequence of over-eating, there are people whose psychological condition causes them to crave food. There are those life-injuries are so painful that they seek comfort in what gave them comfort as tiny children, babies…and this was food.
I myself maintain a slim figure…but I walk wherever I go, to Mass each day, and wherever. I never know what it is I feel I lack but I do crave food. I control it, but do know it’s there every day. I’m Coeliac (Celiac) so there is a range of foods, all grains except rice, that are poison to me…so even though I often have compliments on my appearance, I understand what it is to crave…something…and be tempted to eat. It’s not easy not to…and if you’re sad, or lonely, or you carry some terrible hurt or injustice inside, then…maybe you eat too much.
When I see obese people I feel such compassion…and frustration because I wish I could help
…but you see, I don’t think any of us can pin gluttony on anyone. It’s between them and God if their issue is simple gulttony…or something else
People who are obese may have several reasons for being so. Firstly, there are medical conditions where obesity naturally follows. Just to mention a couple…a person who unknowingly has very unteated low thyroid function will increasingly put on weight; someone on medication like Prednazone for auto-immune illnesses will naturally put on excess weight, but there are other health conditions that also cause overweight issues. There are also people who have mineral or vitamin deficiencies but can’t p(name removed by moderator)oint them, and crave food.
Aside from physical causes for obeseity…aside from the natural consequence of over-eating, there are people whose psychological condition causes them to crave food. There are those life-injuries are so painful that they seek comfort in what gave them comfort as tiny children, babies…and this was food.
I myself maintain a slim figure…but I walk wherever I go, to Mass each day, and wherever. I never know what it is I feel I lack but I do crave food. I control it, but do know it’s there every day. I’m Coeliac (Celiac) so there is a range of foods, all grains except rice, that are poison to me…so even though I often have compliments on my appearance, I understand what it is to crave…something…and be tempted to eat. It’s not easy not to…and if you’re sad, or lonely, or you carry some terrible hurt or injustice inside, then…maybe you eat too much.
When I see obese people I feel such compassion…and frustration because I wish I could help
…but you see, I don’t think any of us can pin gluttony on anyone. It’s between them and God if their issue is simple gulttony…or something else
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beenwashed
Guest
Oh no no. This post was not meant to be a judgemental post whatsoever. But the last post brings me to another question. I’ve read in several threads that many times people want to blame a mental illness for their sins, such as transgendered, self mutilation, etc. However, you could also say that Hitler had a mental illness and was not an evil man, he just was a poor mixed up soul, who killed millions of people. I almost feel like as a society we are making excuses for peopel doing wrong. Like saying the man who raped the little girl only did so because he was beaten as a child, and now inturn has no respect for children. It’s unfortunate that he was beaten as a child but that’s no reason to do harm to a child.
And i understand that all sin is really between God and the individual. I guess I was just wondering what people thought.
I almost wonder if sometimes people may have a slight tendency towards overeating, then they blame it on a mental condition, then they just slip further and further into overeating (or whatever their vice is) becuase finding a reason that they do it enables them more and more. Almost gives them justification for doing it. It may be that once you do realize there is a problem you have an obligation to get help?
And i understand that all sin is really between God and the individual. I guess I was just wondering what people thought.
I almost wonder if sometimes people may have a slight tendency towards overeating, then they blame it on a mental condition, then they just slip further and further into overeating (or whatever their vice is) becuase finding a reason that they do it enables them more and more. Almost gives them justification for doing it. It may be that once you do realize there is a problem you have an obligation to get help?
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LilyM
Guest
I think one of the simplest defining characteristics of gluttony is CONSISTENTLY, day-in and day-out, eating significantly more than is good for you.
For example, most of us may overindulge around Christmas or other special times of year, or what have you, but then most of us also tend to get sick of it after a day or three and revert to relatively normal eating habits. Others, like myself, tend to keep the party going a lot longer
- that is when I know I need to take my eating habits to the Lord in confession.
I know St Thomas Aquinas was reputed to be quite heavy, for example, so I don’t hold with the ‘eating a single carrot stick more than you need to maintain life and health is gluttony’ kinda severe definition. Eating for enjoyment is not sinful, but eating so much that you are jeopardising your health is, or making ‘a god of your belly’ as scripture puts it, which also covers being extremely fussy or only wanting the best of everything food-wise.
For example, most of us may overindulge around Christmas or other special times of year, or what have you, but then most of us also tend to get sick of it after a day or three and revert to relatively normal eating habits. Others, like myself, tend to keep the party going a lot longer
- that is when I know I need to take my eating habits to the Lord in confession.I know St Thomas Aquinas was reputed to be quite heavy, for example, so I don’t hold with the ‘eating a single carrot stick more than you need to maintain life and health is gluttony’ kinda severe definition. Eating for enjoyment is not sinful, but eating so much that you are jeopardising your health is, or making ‘a god of your belly’ as scripture puts it, which also covers being extremely fussy or only wanting the best of everything food-wise.
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Trishie
Guest
Hi, I realized that you didn’t intend judgement as is evident in the first sentence of my post. 
The reflective nature of your post was quite clear!
And you do make good points about the fact that people can use their problems and disadvantages as excuse…and there is culpability there, but the degree only known to God. Crimes against others cannot be excused by crying ‘victim’. At times these criminals even get away with their crimes legally because they plead their ‘victim’ status. Some seek to escape punishment when the crimes are a consequence of alcohol or drugs…no excuse, because they chose to take the substance and and to abrogate their freedom of will and judgement. There is never any justification for harming or abusing others. People can be sinned against and abused without ever choosing to harm another human being in return, as many of our generous hearted members know.
I was dealing with some causes of obeisity so that any of us can more easily retain an open mind…but I’m not unaware that any persistent self-indulgent overeating does also carry another kind of possible culpability, that of ruining the gift of health God gave them or shortening their lives to the grief of their families, and even perhaps curtailing good they might have done if they had been healthier because their energy and mobility is compromised.
I do freely concede these provisos even as I stand by my first post. As usual this on this wonderful Forum, this thread is rather like a jigsaw puzzle where each person and each post produces and places yet another piece of the puzzle so that in the end the picture is complete!
The reflective nature of your post was quite clear!And you do make good points about the fact that people can use their problems and disadvantages as excuse…and there is culpability there, but the degree only known to God. Crimes against others cannot be excused by crying ‘victim’. At times these criminals even get away with their crimes legally because they plead their ‘victim’ status. Some seek to escape punishment when the crimes are a consequence of alcohol or drugs…no excuse, because they chose to take the substance and and to abrogate their freedom of will and judgement. There is never any justification for harming or abusing others. People can be sinned against and abused without ever choosing to harm another human being in return, as many of our generous hearted members know.
I was dealing with some causes of obeisity so that any of us can more easily retain an open mind…but I’m not unaware that any persistent self-indulgent overeating does also carry another kind of possible culpability, that of ruining the gift of health God gave them or shortening their lives to the grief of their families, and even perhaps curtailing good they might have done if they had been healthier because their energy and mobility is compromised.
I do freely concede these provisos even as I stand by my first post. As usual this on this wonderful Forum, this thread is rather like a jigsaw puzzle where each person and each post produces and places yet another piece of the puzzle so that in the end the picture is complete!
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turtle18
Guest
Honestly, I don’t know. I tend to think for myself it is whenever I get that too full feeling or about to explode feeling. And I do believe we celebrate a lot of major holidays by commiting the sin of gluttony.
Personally, I look at really beautful people and wonder how much they commit the sin of vanity.
Personally, I look at really beautful people and wonder how much they commit the sin of vanity.
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Jea9
Guest
Well, in my opinion (for me anyway), I think that gluttony is that feeling of ‘wow, I’m sooo full but man I really want dessert anyway,’ or ‘I’m not that hungry, but I put all this food on my plate so I better eat it all’. I’m overweight, medically speaking by my BMI I fall into the ‘obese’ category, and I think that this is my biggest hurdle. In fact, it’s what is helping me to push food away during this ‘diet’. I LOVE food, I just need to realize that it’ll still be there tomorrow if I stop eating tonight So, I’m praying to overcome this like I would any other sin.
However, I don’t think that this is the case for every person who is overweight, or even people that aren’t. This is just my own opinion on why I am overweight.
So, I’m praying to overcome this like I would any other sin.However, I don’t think that this is the case for every person who is overweight, or even people that aren’t. This is just my own opinion on why I am overweight.
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Trishie
Guest
Keeping all overweight persons in my prayers. And you specifically, Jea. It’s not easy, but I hope you make it! Maybe if you keep us informed it might help you to stay focussed on your goal!
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Island_Oak
Guest
Aside from one’s physical size and volume of food consumed, I think we have to consider the resources we spend on food. Restaurants can be their own form of (very expensive) entertainment. Indulging regularly in highly expensive foods, rare wines and liquors, or establishments with exclusive access can be a form of gluttony. Special occasions of celebration excluded, many people do this weekend after weekend. They have no weight problems, but devote significant resources indulging the sensual pleasures of appetite.
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siamesecat
Guest
It seems to me that way too many people defend obesity because it’s something so many of us struggle with and can relate to (well, I’ve never been obese, but I certainly eat very unhealthily). I see it as similar in some ways to SSA in Catholic teaching - perverting a ‘drive’ for one’s own selfish desires.
Eating and sex are both good things when used appropriately in accordance with Catholic teaching, but both acting on gay desires and desires to overeat are messing up those things to fulfill selfish but understandable desires.
And as many Catholics complain about the gay movement insisting that being gay is good, normal, and acceptable, I feel the same way about SOME obese people saying that being big is ok, normal, beautiful, and sometimes even better than having a healthy body type. I understand there are different reasons for being overweight - but does anyone really think 60% of America has a thyroid condition?
And while I know it is often the result of mental anguish or abuse, that does not make it ok - we don’t excuse drug abuse, homosexuality, or other behaviors sometimes blamed on this. I just see hypocrisy with this because it is something that affects many, unlike SSA.
Eating and sex are both good things when used appropriately in accordance with Catholic teaching, but both acting on gay desires and desires to overeat are messing up those things to fulfill selfish but understandable desires.
And as many Catholics complain about the gay movement insisting that being gay is good, normal, and acceptable, I feel the same way about SOME obese people saying that being big is ok, normal, beautiful, and sometimes even better than having a healthy body type. I understand there are different reasons for being overweight - but does anyone really think 60% of America has a thyroid condition?
And while I know it is often the result of mental anguish or abuse, that does not make it ok - we don’t excuse drug abuse, homosexuality, or other behaviors sometimes blamed on this. I just see hypocrisy with this because it is something that affects many, unlike SSA.
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Jea9
Guest
Thanks Trishie!
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Strategery
Guest
Touchy subject but it’s worth discussing. No doubt it occurs on an individual basis.
Personally … I seek too much pleasure in eating. It has become an earthly treasure that I am very attached to, and I have made it too high a priority in my life. I’ve recently realized that I seek joy through eating, and it is a wordly process that that I am clinging to.
When I realize that happening with anything in my life, I have come to see it as the manifestation of Satan’s temptations.
I’m speaking for myself personally here, not for anyone else.
I also have tremendous work to go. I’ve only come to this realization recently, and I’m very much struggling with breaking the attachment. I request the prayers of anyone reading this.
Personally … I seek too much pleasure in eating. It has become an earthly treasure that I am very attached to, and I have made it too high a priority in my life. I’ve recently realized that I seek joy through eating, and it is a wordly process that that I am clinging to.
When I realize that happening with anything in my life, I have come to see it as the manifestation of Satan’s temptations.
I’m speaking for myself personally here, not for anyone else.
I also have tremendous work to go. I’ve only come to this realization recently, and I’m very much struggling with breaking the attachment. I request the prayers of anyone reading this.
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ericka1701
Guest
Strategery (I LOVE your username, btw) and everyone who struggles with this, I will keep you in my prayers.
I think that for some people with bulimia, it’s a mixture of vanity and gluttony (it was for me, anyways). I wanted to eat everything in sight, but I didn’t want to pay the consequences (the weight gain), so I found ways to make sure I didn’t have to pay that particular consequence. In the process, I did some permanent damage, but I managed to maintain (and even lose) my weight. At that time, though, my personal mantra was “I’d rather be thin and dead that fat and alive”… Quite some time has passed since I actually believed this. It only pops up occasionally, and I usually say a Hail Mary or the St. Michael’s Prayer when it does.
Part of gluttony (and well, any sin) hinges on control. I desperately sought control of my eating, but the more I tried to control things, the more it got out of control, until I got to take a couple of trips to the hospital (one time was on my birthday). I wanted to take control, but it wasn’t until I started giving up some of that control and giving it back to God was I able to regulate my eating. It’s still a struggle for me frequently, and I have to be very aware of my thoughts, but frequent confession helps, too.
This is very difficult to keep in remission, maybe even more so than sexual sins and drug addiction, due to the fact that we do actually need food to survive. Sex and drugs aren’t requirements.
God Bless!
Ericka
I think that for some people with bulimia, it’s a mixture of vanity and gluttony (it was for me, anyways). I wanted to eat everything in sight, but I didn’t want to pay the consequences (the weight gain), so I found ways to make sure I didn’t have to pay that particular consequence
. In the process, I did some permanent damage, but I managed to maintain (and even lose) my weight. At that time, though, my personal mantra was “I’d rather be thin and dead that fat and alive”… Quite some time has passed since I actually believed this. It only pops up occasionally, and I usually say a Hail Mary or the St. Michael’s Prayer when it does.Part of gluttony (and well, any sin) hinges on control. I desperately sought control of my eating, but the more I tried to control things, the more it got out of control, until I got to take a couple of trips to the hospital (one time was on my birthday). I wanted to take control, but it wasn’t until I started giving up some of that control and giving it back to God was I able to regulate my eating. It’s still a struggle for me frequently, and I have to be very aware of my thoughts, but frequent confession helps, too.
This is very difficult to keep in remission, maybe even more so than sexual sins and drug addiction, due to the fact that we do actually need food to survive. Sex and drugs aren’t requirements.
God Bless!
Ericka
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Jea9
Guest
Bolding mine. Ericka, this is so interesting to me. I have never been thin in my entire life and I have used the exact opposite as an excuse “I’d rather be fat and happy than thin and hungry”. I think that might be making an excuse for us to be how we are you know? Like I said in my earlier post, I think we need to address this like we do any other sin in our lives…prayer, frequent confession, and frequent Communion.I think that for some people with bulimia, it’s a mixture of vanity and gluttony (it was for me, anyways). I wanted to eat everything in sight, but I didn’t want to pay the consequences (the weight gain), so I found ways to make sure I didn’t have to pay that particular consequence
For both of us, it seems, we struggled with the sin of pride; we should have known that we were loveable enough for God right?
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Viki63
Guest
Part of the problem is that right now there is much controversy on a healthy diet.
People have been eating high carbs (bagels, cereals, rice) since the 70s, and we are gaining weight as a nation. Nobody can seem to agree on what a healthy diet really is, everyone is confused, nutritionists are giving all different messages, and everyone is gaining weight.
Some say eat less calories, some say carbs are the culprits, some say cut down on red meat, some say low fat. … I talked with a poor teenager who was trying to follow all this conflicting advice, and couldn’t figure out what was healthy to eat. He ended up just eating junk food since it was all too confusing!
I have lost weight following Dr Steven Gundry’s Diet Evolution, which makes a lot of sense to me.
At this point, I wouldn’t point a finger at any overweight person. They may just be following a diet plan, recommended by their doctor or nutritionist, which is no good.
People have been eating high carbs (bagels, cereals, rice) since the 70s, and we are gaining weight as a nation. Nobody can seem to agree on what a healthy diet really is, everyone is confused, nutritionists are giving all different messages, and everyone is gaining weight.
Some say eat less calories, some say carbs are the culprits, some say cut down on red meat, some say low fat. … I talked with a poor teenager who was trying to follow all this conflicting advice, and couldn’t figure out what was healthy to eat. He ended up just eating junk food since it was all too confusing!
I have lost weight following Dr Steven Gundry’s Diet Evolution, which makes a lot of sense to me.
At this point, I wouldn’t point a finger at any overweight person. They may just be following a diet plan, recommended by their doctor or nutritionist, which is no good.
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ericka1701
Guest
I went to an eating disorder treatment center and I was not the only client there that expressed that sentiment. And I can see both quotes as variations on the same theme… partially it’s so hard to change so I’ll just stay the way I am. Also, it’s saying my will be done (I want to be x at the expense of not doing God’s will).
I wholeheartedly agree that prayer, frequent confession, and frequent Communion are vital in my own recovery. Actually, I’ll tell my priest that I’m on the verge of relapsing before I would a therapist. And, praise the Lord, I have only seen the verges of relapse in the past 6 months, and they usually come when I start thinking that I have this completely under control…
Praise God for his Sacraments! I see the Eucharist and Confession as what I was craving all of those years being bulimic. I needed to be fed, but I also needed to purge myself at the same time. I am being fed Jesus himself, and it’s Jesus himself that’s purging me from my sins in confession.God Bless!
Ericka
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GraceDK
Guest
If you are ever in my country I invite you to come watch me eat. then you will know what glottony looks like. And I am not fat at all… I have great metabolism.I want to know about gluttony. Where is that line. I’m not calling anyone a glutton but sometimes I think about people who are obese and wonder where that line is. What do you think?
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stringbeanduck
Guest
Same here. Although I fear the day it slowa down. The only thing with being so thin, is that I can’t find a pair of jeans to fit my waist size and still come down past my ankles.If you are ever in my country I invite you to come watch me eat. then you will know what glottony looks like. And I am not fat at all… I have great metabolism.
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