What is "Act as If?"
I usually tell a depressed client that "act as if" mean act as if you're not depressed. I tell a food abuse client that "act as if" means act as if you didn't just eat 3 desserts and half a bag of chips.
In other words, act like someone who doesn't have the problem you have, in the ways that are within your power to choose.
Another way to define it is this: Best Practices
What are best practices?
How about "make your bed?" Isn't not making your bed something you're tempted to do when you don't feel good about yourself? And don't you just feel better about life when your bed is made?
Another best practice is "take a shower" or "wash your hair." People who are disappointed with themselves, or who feel like they've failed, sometimes find it hard to do this. Do it anyway.
Here are some other great Best Practices:
Walk for 10 minutes after a meal -- even if it was a binge-- to help drive that blood glucose down.
Read a chapter in your Bible
Wear something attractive.
Sing along to a worship song and put your heart into it (even if you don't feel like it).
Meet a friend for coffee.
Cheer someone else up.
Have an "Exercise Snack" (do some form of exercise or stretching for 5 minutes or for 1-2 worship songs).
Take your vitamins or other supplements.
Enjoy a treat outside your "trigger environment."
"Swim out to a craving" when it's a 2 or 3, instead of an 8 or 9.
Abstain. Remember, sometimes one is too many and a thousand isn't enough.
Complete a chore.
Keep your appointment or commitment.
Do something you enjoy for 30 minutes.
Perform a Random Act of Kindness.
Get 15 minutes of sunshine, preferably on your skin.
Try a new recipe that is good for you and is likely to taste amazing.
Play with your dog or pet your cat.
Put on favorite jewelry.
Use the King David method: journal your lament, and then encourage yourself with God's Word and His past faithfulness.
Try "earthing" (i.e. walk bear foot in dirt or sand, wade in water, lay in the grass).
Do 5 minutes of slow breathing and meditate on the Lord.
Go on a prayer walk, even if it's only around the block or if you have to take your umbrella.
Put something on your calendar to look forward to.
Count your blessings. Write them down. Thank God for them.
The idea is that when you've overeaten, engaged an addictive behavior, caved to a bad habit, woke up on the wrong side of the bed, when you feel depressed, or are otherwise disappointed or mad at yourself, rather than listen to the voice of condemnation and the "lies, lies, lies" in your head, pick a couple of best practices and go do them instead.
Act as if it's a good day and you're victorious. Plant the seeds for a better tomorrow.
So whether you eat or drink, whatever you do, do it all to the glory of God!
1 Corinthians 10:31