LA Weight Loss - Intuitive Eating #2

For those following the intuitiuve eating program.

Eating when your hungry, Eating til Your satisfied.

Thanks for the new thread!

Well I had a taste for Corn Beef Hash, there is nothing good nurtionally I can say about it, but I wanted it.

And of course since I was having corn beef hash, I had 3 eggs and 4 busicuits...Typing it even sucks. About half way thorugh it I thought all I wanted was corn beef hash, but I thought I might as well finish it...BLAH :(


So I ate till I couldn't eat anymore....Only good thing, no more corn beef hash for a good long while. :dizzy:

Hope everyone else is doing better.

Hey gals. Still trying to get over my cold.

You know I said before that it was easier to stay with IE when sick than WW. I think that's true, and yet, it's not. Yes, I don't have to count points in soup or OJ or anything. BUT I never realized that hunger goes away when you're sick. So this week I've been all messed up trying to "regain my hunger" and I don't think I've been doing too well. Hopefully I won't have a gain this week. We shall see tomorrow!

I went out for lunch yesterday to a new mexican restaurant--one of those little hole-in-the-wall places where you aren't really guaranteed of getting what you think you are ordering unless you can actually speak spanish.

I LOVE mexican food, and this place was great. Homemade tortillas, lots of different homemade salsas, and really really fresh ingredients. I ordered shrimp in Diablo sauce. I ended up boxing most of it and taking it home. Still wasn't hungry enough to heat it up at dinnertime, so I just had a piece of watermelon for dinner. Heated it up for brunch this morning and still couldn't eat it all. I ended up picking the shrimp out of it and throwing the rest away.

But there was a time when I would have eaten it all without a second thought.

With all my stewing about vacation eating I actually didn't gain any weight. Hope I can say that in a week, a month , a year from now!!! Sabrina, I know what you mean. I havn't been feeling well lately and the automatic thought is, "If I eat something, maybe I'll feel better". Now, where did I ever get that? So many situations, so many reasons to eat. I think of eating especially when I'm tired because I think it will pick me up.

Carol,

That's great that you didn't gain any weight on vacation. Good for you!

ok...Ive been doing pretty good monitoring my full levels....tonite, we had a treat for dinner...tortellini Ala Nonna (dont even ask...we dont have it often but my teenaged son LOVES it and begged) I managed to behave (stuff is GOOD) and was full (maybe a little much...but it was only like 1 cup of the stuff and I used to put away a plateful)...went upstairs to put my plate away and spotted my hubbys plate with one shrimp left. I thought "oh one shrimp, whats the harm" so I popped it in my mouth....20 minutes later...I was actually uncomfortable...one lousy shrimp was the difference between being full, and being STUFFED...who knew? Well now I guess I do!! I think my stomach is getting smaller.

Good evening ladies!
I can't remember who posted about eating a hamburger just to show that it was okay, but I used to do that a lot. Test myself by going out to eat this or that.
Isn't interesting now how just having a couple of bites of ice cream will suffice, when it used to take a whole bowl to get satifaction??? I think it is funny how lots of us have had that experience. I think it really pertains to food that used be used for emotional reasons. I used to say that I could actually feel the brain chemicals go to work and provide relief when I ate chocolate. I don't get that "buzz" anymore. Now I am realizing that it must have been psychological. I trully thought that I was addicted to chocolate.

Obi, I think you posted about watching your parents dieting and I totally related. It is so funny now to watch people suffer through whatever diet plan they are trying to adhere to. I love going to the table with only the desire to eat consciously and only foods I really want. I see myself eating less than my mom who is next to me agonizing over each bite and the number of calories she is consuming etc. She is always talking about how tomorrow will be a better day with her diet. I tell her a little bit about what I am doing, but she isn't really ready to do it.

Hey well I guess there is a wagon to fall off of. I was ok the rest of the day yesterday. Ate better and stuck to listening to my body.

I know with IE you are supposed to accept your body but how can you when you have this huge belly? I know everyone has a different trouble spot but when you have to wear a swimsuit or something like that you just feel so conspicuous. I try to tell myself there are better days ahead but it's just hard. Any ideas on this?

Hey Carol
I kinda of struggled with low self esteem a few years ago (more like no self esteem) and I was actually much smaller than I am now.Not saying you have it, just a point of reference of where I am coming from.

I don't think the whole body acceptance thing means you have to love seeing yourself in swim wear. I think it is more, you are not a bad person because you look a certain way. You are beautiful at whatever size you are (love the Christina Aguilara song). Your size does not define you as a person. If someone has a problem with the way you look then f*ck them. It is their problem. (sorry for the profanity, but there it is)

With me I noticed I couldn't accept compliments because I didn't think they could be talking about me and I couldn't find anything good about myself.

Now I am over 350 lbs and I walk down the street feeling pretty good about myself. I don't think if I meet my goal my social life will change, men will chase me down the street (they do that now actually), or I will some how tranform into miss popularity. I do think I will be healthier, live longer and fit into the sexy boots I have been lusting after.

About the swimming outfit. Wear what makes you feel comfortable. Even if it is shorts and a t-shirt. I still have trouble walking around in shorts, so I am a work in progress.

Ok, no idea if that helped at all, but there it is

-Obie

Well I had a taste for Corn Beef Hash, there is nothing good nurtionally I can say about it, but I wanted it.

And of course since I was having corn beef hash, I had 3 eggs and 4 busicuits...Typing it even sucks. About half way thorugh it I thought all I wanted was corn beef hash, but I thought I might as well finish it...BLAH :(


So I ate till I couldn't eat anymore....Only good thing, no more corn beef hash for a good long while. :dizzy:

Hope everyone else is doing better.

I love corned beef hash. It is hard not to focus on the calories though.

Carol, Your post came at a good time. I woke up this morning and was just ticked off!!! Nothing I put on felt decent. I was just angry at being heavy and wanted to say phooey on the whole thing and crash diet. Of course then I remembered that I have never lost weight on any of those diets, so that was out of the question. :) Recently I have been so accepting of myself. This morning I was a "@itch" with a capital B!!! (Luckily just to myself and not to others.) ARGHHHHH!!!!! I don't know what the problem was, but I am still feeling sort of crappy.
At lunch I almost bought a candy bar. I actually wanted some mints but the vending machine didn't have any. I wanted something crunchy and my dollar bill was burning a hole in my pocket. I would have bought a heath bar, but the vending machine was out of change. I must not have wanted the candy bar too bad because I didn't hunt anyone down for any change.
This afternoon we had a faculty meeting after school. THey had mini candy bars and little bags of goldfish on the table. I was so hungry, I ate my share of the mini candy bars and 2 bags of goldfish (and I really don't like goldfish). I was hungry, and usually would go home and eat. I didn't eat carefully or consciously though. I shoved it down as fast as possible.
I am happy to say I came home and had a reasonable dinner. I will go to bed early and kick this mood of mine out the window.
Not every day will be perfect, but with reflection my food today was totally horrible. In the past I would have said, "I blew my diet with the snacks. I might as well go out and stuff myself at dinner." Today I was able look into my eating and let it go.

I think it means stop hating yourself and beating yourself up....I know that Im alot closer to goal than alot of you guys so it may sound like its coming from an idiot who has no idea...but I do know what binge eating is about, and I do know what its like to be obsessesed with food, lack of food, how much food, how many calories, carbs and fats...blah blah blah. Food obsession is a sign of an eating disorder...anorexics look in the mirror and see themselves as fat, they think of little else other than food and their weight, bulemics look in the mirror and see themselves as fat, and also think of little other than their eating and their weight, many of the people people who are at their goals still see themselves as imperfect and overweight (i.e. my butt is too big, i have fat on my back etc), and are obsessed with eating and weight. Dont we have better things to think of? Maybe we should make a list of things we would like to learn to do in out lifetimes and do those instead of thinking about "I look like crud in a swimsuit". I look terrible in a bathing suit too....redundant skin and stretch marks all over my stomach to the tops of my thighs....I still throw it on...who the **** cares anyhow? Perhaps we need to start thinking of ourselves as healthy fit people...and treating ourselves and our fuel intake accordingly. Patience...none of us put on weight overnight...its not gonna come off overnight. Learning how to fuel the body properly by making intelligent, non-emotional choices, and eating only until we are full...excercising...there are lots of reasons to excercise other than to be skinny and lose weight. Excercise releases natural endorphines, improves your stamina and energy, keeps your blood pumping and circulation going, burns up excess seratonin and fights depression and lethargy. It makes you stronger so you can do other things you like to do like dancing, 4 wheeling, canoeing, camping. It makes you stronger so that you can do the things you HATE to do easier...like take out the trash, mow the lawn, mop the floor.

To me IE dosnt mean stop caring, or taking care of yourself, its more stop hating yourself over fuel.....do you hate your car because you have to fill it with gas? Would you hate it if you were running it on empty and it left you on the side of the road? What about if you filled it up with dirt mixed with oil instead of fuel and it clogged up the engine and needed thousands of dollars of work to run again...would you hate the car? What about filling the gas tank until it was pouring over the paint job and blistered the paint? None of us (myself included) think twice over emotional self abuse over fuel for our bodies...that is something that has been learned...moderation is really the key to a happy healthy body....and life as well. Food is just what we feed our bodies to keep them running....better the fuel, the better the mileage.... we all have foods that are "good" for you that we love...I LOVE peppers on the grill, I love chicken breasts, I really like salad, and prefer salsa over dressing anyhow, I was eating whole wheat bread LONG before it was fashionable, I love oranges, apples, any kind of nuts, especially peanut butter....there is nothing wrong with making choices from better fuels, but if a little dirt and oil get into the mix here and there we need to recognize that it isnt gonna kill the engine.

What a great post, Button!

Hi,
I've been lurking on 3FC off and on for several months. I'm so glad I found this thread.

I've owned "Intuitive Eating" for 10 years and have read it several times, but I've only actually had success with it once. I lost 10 lbs. by eating intuitively, I felt great, and then I went on vacation, and while I was able to keep eating intuitively on vacation, it all went out the window when I got back. Now I weigh about 50 lbs more, and I feel awful.

So, I'm going to pull out "Intuitive Eating" again, and give it another try. I really feel it is the most sensible and natural way to eat.

Does anyone have any recommendations of other books I should read?

Thanks,
Nickole

Question: When was the moment that you FIRST started getting concerned about your weight?

Mine was:

3 months after I had my second child, I went to vist my mother. She looked at me and said "Wow you really have gotten fat, you need to do something about that", I told her "I just had a baby and Im nursing", her response was "Yes, but you look terrible and really need to do something about your weight, your rear-end is HUGE, and you really look awful".

Now understand, my mom has always been about how things look. I had a facial deformity as a child that was corrected in my teens, and until it was corrected, she was embarassed of me. At the time she said this, I had only had her approval for a few short years. I won the Young Authors Conference in my state when I was 12 (hard to believe with all my run-on sentances huh) and she refused to have her picture taken with me for the newspaper...for fear that someone she knew would know that I was her child. When she said this, I hadnt been too concerned about my weight, Id gained about the same with my first child, and it had come off for the most part after a few months (my boobs were bigger, and I had hips, but I still looked good and felt good in my clothes). This time the weight never came off on its own, and I started hating how i looked all the time. I started the whole "im not going eat anything but salad for a month" mentality, and then hating myself because my body just wanted more nutrients than that, then just stuffing it in because I was a fat cow anyway.

I was just thinking about this this morning, and it really pinpoints the exact moment that I started unhealthy abnormal behaviors about food.

So heres to my mom and how I should have responded "Mom, gaining weight after having a child is normal, and even if it never comes off...so what, Im still in a very healthy weight range. You on the other hand drink a quart of vodka a week, and look like crap for your age. You look like crap because you are a mean, bitter woman, and as you have gotten older, it has come out on your face and you LOOK like a mean and bitter woman. Id rather have a few lbs, than frown and scowl lines. Id rather treat my children with respect and love regardless of what they look like, than sit around pissed off because they are not "perfect" and be embarrassed because of something so superficial as their looks. I want my children to want to talk to me and spend time with me, instead of dreading it. Shame on you for failing to build your child up and succeeding so well in tearing her down. I would rather have a flawed body, than a flawed soul."

Enjoying reading all the posts so much but I was hoping that we could all refrain from using %@# words when posting. It's just kind of hard on the soul. Still working on hunger and fullness here. I finally finished Intuitive Eating by Evelyn Triboble and Elyse ???? I thought it was a good book but you could see that the nutritionist angle comes out kind of strong.

Nickole, The Overfed Head is the best book I have read on the subject of IE.

Okay no more potty mouth:(

:o me too :o

Well at least you can say we're passionate about what we believe in:D

Well yesterday was ok. I think I was trying to over compensate for Hash-Gate O6 so I ended up with 3 meals and 1 snack. Still did ok, and way more conscious about the good and bad foods. Find myself eating more vegetables and fruit.

One other sort of upside...I used to go to buffets and darn (see I can be good) near drool over all the food I could have.

So Yesterday afternoon I went to the buffet and just kinda really took a look at everything and just wasn't as excited. Then for my later meal (I was doing the late shift) I went to the wholefood supermarket which also has a buffet and just wasn't interested in much of it. I also have developed and aversion for things that look like lots of oily saucy stuff with bits of meat in it. I just think it is a big vat of badness.

Anyway, A question I was wondering. What other threads do people belong to? I do a walk away the pounds thread, a weekly challenge, and a walk challenge (100 miles in 4 months). Most of it is for accountability and a way to track my progress with the excercise.

There are some others I subscribe to, but I only lurk in those.

-Obie

Thanks, girls, I appreciate it. I just read here and don't get anything on email. I do that with all the sites I visit. I usually press "new posts" and see what they are saying. Aussie chicks is interesting and Summer Sass Plan though I don't often post. As for exercise, I have walked as much as 6mi a day and not lost anything. I think exercise is great for fitness but not for weight loss. I find Lilybelle's posts very encouraging even though she is on modified Atkins. She has lost over 90lb and takes prednisone!!!!!!! Now that is QUITE and accomplishment.

This was on the old thread..posting it over here

Hi everyone!

Hope you are all doing well.

I"m not doing to bad - I have hit a little speed bump in my progress - I found myself starting to over eat again. So, I figured I need a little bit of hand holding until I get the process down.

I'm actually, after I've rated my hunger (that I actually am hungry), trying to choose mostly whole foods like on the WW Core list and trying to get a handle on a decent portion size and to hit the mark that I am comfortable and not slightly full or higher. I'm definately not depriving myself of anything I really truley want - but I'm trying to be more aware of the type of food I'm eating especially since I also have to watch my sodium.

Has anyone else found they needed to use IE with information from another program? And has this helped you?

Would love to hear some feedback/advice on this one.

i starte ie yesterday and feel so good and now notive that i have to eat. but i have a question. how much weight did you lose on the first week of ie? one more q... is diet soda ok?

Hmmm...

I think I've been doing intuitive eating while also keeping track of calories on fitday. Prior to about 5 or 6 days ago, I was eating 3 times per day to satisfaction, only when hungry, and this was an average of 1200 calories per day. Now whether this happened because my computer was in the shop for a few days and I couldn't get online or because I just decided I wanted to increase my calorie intake, I started eating a couple of slices of whole wheat bread with dinner. I think it was probably a combination of both.

I'm not trying to lose weight, and just want to maintain, and I was basically maintaining or rarely unintentionally losing very slowly on around 1200 a day. Since it seems like others eat more and maintain, I've been justifying to myself stuffing the extra bread down with dinner. The thing is, when I eat the bread, it's definitely not intuitive eating...when I wasn't eating the bread, I was perfectly satisfied with the dinner I was eating. I was full and didn't feel a need to eat more.

So, where do you draw the line with intuitive eating? I feel like I'm overeating when I eat the bread (and it does taste good), but is it necessary ignore the signals and overeat a little to take in more calories?

Any advice/suggestions would be appreciated! Thanks!

Tara,
I argue with myself sometimes about proper calorie intake vs IE. Sometimes when you don't take in enough calories, you can't lose weight. On the other hand, IE says that it doesn't matter how much or when you eat, your body will get what it needs. I think it is good to use IE to get control of emotional eating, binging, to try to get away from the extremes. When you have those undercontrol, it will be easier to make food decisions that are based on nutritionality. You can decide to eat that extra piece of bread to get your fiber or whatever. I think it is somewhat of a fine line. Okay, it is really a gray area!!
I have found that now that food is not an obsession, when I plan my meals I am focusing more on nutritional balance because I want to. I don't feel that great pressure of good vs. bad. Like Obie said- I too have started to get grossed out when I see things that look like a sea of grease. It's a nice feeling instead of wanting to eat that stuff! :)

I had an arguement with myself on this same subject, but my issue was that I noticed that my caloric intate was very low for the day. What I decided for myself was that overeating (eating past the sensation of satisfied) was not ok, and if I wasnt hungry dont eat. Toddlers and children self regulate very well....one day they eat you out of house and home, next day they have a glass of milk and 1/4 of a sandwich all day. I really think that IE, like every other eating plan out there, is something that you have to work out yourself and adjust to your own comfort.

I'm not sure who posted it, but there is a thread I was reading what soda can do to you so I am going to say it isn't a good thing, but to each his own.

Today was ok kinda ok day. I am curious how many calories I am eating because it can't be anywhere near what i was doing although carb wise I am probably better than I was, but bad from a low carb point of view.

I have been reading alot of posts about balanced nutrition so decided my morning snack will be yogurt and maybe some wheat toast.

I went to lunch with a girlfriend and she has this habit of eating half of her meal and offering me the rest and I pick out what I want. I knew this was going to be an issue and the first 2 times she offered I said no and then finally I gave in and picked out what I want. I was still a little hungry, but I feel like I should have said no....

But on an up note I managed to resist the cake at my grandmothers house and since I was at grandma's late I managed to avoid the fast food and donuts on the way home and eat what I had intended to eat when I got home.

Still a learning process, but definitely better. Than I was.
-Obie.

Obie, My sister does what your friend does. After my sis got her gastric bypass surgery, she would buy and ice cream cone, take 2 licks and then say, "Here, eat the rest." She does that with everything. It almost feels like she wouldn't be able to stand it if I actually lost my weight.
Button, You talked about how your mom put you down. My nutritionist says that any time some one comments about your weight- even if it seems to be nice like "You look like you've lost weight" it is really about them. They are criticizing themselves while they look at you. She has told me not to get into conversations with anyone about my weight, weight loss, etc. (You guys are all in this with me, so it doesn't count.) She says if they make a comment like that, just blow it off or change the subject. It's funny how that comment that seems nice can also make you start feeling insecure. You start questioning how they feel about you and your weight in the first place.

Obsidian, does your friend know about your eating lifestyle decision? It seems like she may be sabotaging your efforts. Sure, it is your decision in the end about what you eat, but do you think it might help to let her know what you're doing?

Hey everyone!

Found you at the new thread ( thanks button for the heads up on the new thread).

Has anyone already read The overfed head? I ordered the book a few days ago along with the hunger guides. Just anxiously waiting for it to come. If someone has read it - do you have any good information you can give me as a preview?

Thanks!

Stay healthy and possitive!

I was poking around the internet and found an artical about intuitive eating that may inspire some of you. Check it out if you'd like

http://health.dailynewscentral.com/content/view/0001939/41/

Obsidian, does your friend know about your eating lifestyle decision? It seems like she may be sabotaging your efforts. Sure, it is your decision in the end about what you eat, but do you think it might help to let her know what you're doing?

Oh she knows we talk about it for about 20 min, but I have noticed just on general principle I am NOT eating from her plate anymore. I don't think she thought of it as sabotage, jut what we normally do and I guess if I didn't want it I won't eat it. So something else I'll be super conscious of from now one.

Obie, Have you ever thought of splitting a meal with her? Ladybug, You won't believe how that book inspires (The Overfed Head). I have read it 3 times. There is a good review on Amazon. Giovanni, Rob Stevens of The Overfed Head lost over 140lb in a year and a half. He wasn't sure of his highest weight but it was over 300. He was shocked when he got down to 160lb because with WW his goal was 185. There are so many theories about diet pop but I know Gwen Shamblin of Weighdown fame (another IE book) says it's all right. Tara, maybe if you found you were gaining eating certain things like the bread you might not want to eat it but I don't think it would really matter. I think most of us are still learning IE and it sometimes is tricky after years of dieting.

Well today I went back to the soup spot before I went to work and also subway so I had a 6 in sub (tuna on wheat) and a small clam chowder and an orange juice.

By the time I had finished the orange juice and most of the sandwich and soup, I didn't really want anymore. I ended up eating the last bite of sandwich and throwing away the soup and feeling pretty full which is unusual since even last week I could have eaten a foot long 2 drinks and the soup and felt nothing?


I don't think I really want to share food I am too territorial :dizzy: I want my food and they can eat theirs. I will finish this later as someone needs to use my machine.

Thanks for the advice carolr. I'm just concerned about doing damage to my body like going into early menopause because I'm not eating enough food. (I'm almost 30, no husband/no kids). I guess even though I don't need more food based on intuitive feelings of hunger/fullness, perhaps I should still make an effort to eat more to allow myself to get more nutrients.

Tara, sounds like you are doing fine. I was always thin until I started having kids. I used to weigh 115 and I am 5ft 4in. I look back and think, what was I doing different then? I gained about 5 lb per child so that puts me 50lb over. Then I have been on prednisone 3 different times and gained about 30lb each time. I did mangage to lose some of that at times so right now I am about 60lb over my lowest. Most of my weight is in my belly and that is annoyingly uncomfortable. I was really sick last summer and now some better so I feel pretty good most of the time. But there is still that nagging question that I posed above. Never thought twice about my weight when I was a teenager.

blach...IE dosnt work when Martha visits (TOM)....Ive eaten terrible today, gross food that gave me heartburn (didnt totally binge tho...had reasonable portions) and finished off with about a cup of cake batter...I think im gonna puke. Ill get back on track tomorrow...dont like feeling like this. :(

Well, I don't have TOM to deal with anymore but seems there is always something to through a person off.....vacations, heartbreaks, holidays, etc. I think the general trend with ie is down even if it is slow. I took my picture using a mirror last night like I have seen some do on 3fc and I was encouraged. It does help to look at a picture.

I really am doing well today. I had scrambled eggs and ham with a slice of toast and coffee for breakfast. Then when lunch rolled around I was ready to go on auto pilot and start eating when I actually stopped myself and check to see if I really was hungry or just eating because it was lunchtime. Well I wasn't hungry instead I made a cup of tea and was really satisfied. When I'm hungry I'll eat but not before then. I really felt good about it.
I think this reteaching myself to IE again is a day to day process (sometimes minute by minute). My daughter is almost 2 and I've noticed she does this Intuitive eating automaticly. I never try to make her eat more then she wants (don't want her to learn about the clean plate club lol) Some meals she'll eat alot and some times just a little bit but she knows when she's hungry and she knows when she full. She loves veggies - she'll go for them before anything else. And boy is she active! So for such a little girl she really is teaching and inspiring me too.

Thanks Carol about the info on the book. I can't wait until it comes in . I did read the reviews on Amazon which is one of the reasons why I got it. I can hardly wait until it comes.

I have noticed I am more interested in fruits and vegetables, but I can't seem to make myself want a salad. I think its because will all the dieting it was the one thing I knew I could eat, but now that I'm not limited I just can't seem to want it.


Anyway else going through this?

Obi, I can't eat salad everyday either but I LOVE fresh tomatoes. We only get them about 2 mo a year because it feezes here in early Oct. My hubby always kids me that come Nov. 1st I'll be buying cukes and tomatoes at the store. Well, at least he doesn't have to pay for them for 2 mo. Ladybug, you really are going to enjoy that book. There is hardly and angle he doesn't cover and how did we all eat at one time in our lives? IE, right?

Now salad is something I'm loving now. I never use to eat it and with Blue Cheese Dressing too. I never liked that kind. I love it now. I just made a chicken cutlet sandwich with lots of lettus and a smear of Blue Cheese dressing on a nice fresh roll. I had chips on the side too. Ok, here comes the amazement part....I only ate half the sandwich and a few chips then I was done. I wrapped the rest of the sandwich up for tomorrow if I want it. I felt my hunger was gone and I stopped eating. WHAT A VICTORY! I think I'm getting the hang of this now.

blach...IE dosnt work when Martha visits (TOM)....Ive eaten terrible today, gross food that gave me heartburn (didnt totally binge tho...had reasonable portions) and finished off with about a cup of cake batter...I think im gonna puke. Ill get back on track tomorrow...dont like feeling like this. :(

Button- when I overeat like like that and feel terrible, I try to remeber that feeling the next time I am tempted to overeat. I know it is easier said than done. The problem I have with IE is that I can eat foods that I really enjoy, because of that I have a hard time stopping when the food tastes so good.

Thanks Carol about the info on the book. I can't wait until it comes in . I did read the reviews on Amazon which is one of the reasons why I got it. I can hardly wait until it comes.

Captain Ladybug - the book Intuitive Eating is also a great book to read

I have noticed I am more interested in fruits and vegetables, but I can't seem to make myself want a salad. I think its because will all the dieting it was the one thing I knew I could eat, but now that I'm not limited I just can't seem to want it.


Anyway else going through this?

I have always failed on diets becasue I don't care for vegetables and generally hate salad. Probably because you are eating exactly what you savor, your hunger is satisfied more easily. Who can think of salad when there are so many other wonderful things to eat. LOL

Thansk Lisainchicago I'll definately put that one on my list too.

Has anyone else discoverd things they use to love when dieting or doing another program that now doing IE you can't stand?

There is hardly a food I don't like!!!! Sorry. When I was a kid I hated Chinese food but Mom made me eat it. ha!

I think every day with IE is learning because there are a lot of nuances and rituals to eating that you don't think of when you are relearning to eat.
For example: Old ritual- When you go off campus for training, eat out, eat junk food. Today I went to training at another campus. I thought about getting junk food, but I didn't feel like it. I thought about going out to eat and pigging out, but it was fine to stay on campus and get a sandwich in the cafeteria. When I got home this afternoon, I really wanted to go out to eat to relieve the stress from the day. I wanted to comfort myself with food. Then I asked myself, do you really want to do that? The answer was no, and I fixed dinner at home. There are so many ways I used to reward myself with food that I am unlearning. And it is getting easier!
One thing that happens that isn't so wonderful is when I introduce a once "forbidden" food back into my diet. Usually I overeat that food the first time I let it back in my life. I try to eat it again shortly after the overeating session so that the second time I allow myself to have it, the memory of the overeating is still present in my mind and I don't want to repeat it. The "second" eating is always much more controlled. I might even be able to realize at that point that that food isn't quite as wonderful as I once thought. I guess I wanted to tell everyone that it is normal to have a little over eating during food reintroduction, but it won't continue with that food.

I love reading all your posts. It gives me such hope that I can do this.

Anyway, I've been reading Intuitive Eating again, and I ordered the Overfed Head.

It's been easy for me to eat intuitively these past few days because I haven't been feeling well (a cold), so I mostly haven't even felt like eating.

I am hungry tonight, though, and my husband suggested stir fry. Now, I really like stir fry, but it's something I ate a lot when I was trying to lose weight. So, to me, it's like a "diet food". I thought about what I really wanted to eat, and what I never would have eaten during a diet, and that's what we're eating!!

Since everyone is talking about the overfed head, I went and read part of the first chapter last night... Now I'll HAVE to buy it :) I started thinking about how I am doing well at meal time but I started wondering whether I am really waiting until I am hungry to eat. My mom happened to give me a copy of "Weigh Down" ages ago and I never read it. I started glancing through it, and it is a form of IE. It talks a lot about waiting for the feeling of hunger before you eat. My goal over the next few days is really going to be learning to listen and feel true hunger. I have to laugh... my old goals used to be lose x number of pounds. This goal is so much more attainable and realistic. My self esteem isn't on the line!

Anyone want to add to the list?---
Foods that used to be wonderful that aren't so wonderful now since working through IE... (for me)
Breakfast sausage
brownies
chicken nuggets from McDonalds
cheap cookies ($1 pack with chocolate and vanilla)

McDonalds anything...had an emergency food shortage on the way to work with my Trainer the other day... was starving, but didnt want to eat too close to working out, so I had to pick something that I could have in my hand in just a few minutes...got a kids meal...ate 1/2 the "hamburger" and was just repulsed...had heartburn later....and honestly I think I ate more later in the day trying to get rid of the heartburn...i.e. my tummy hurts, Ill try to put some more food on it to settle it....needless to say it didnt work, but made me wonder how often I had done this in the past...ate because my stomach was upset...and how much sense does that make??? doh.

How long has everyone been doing IE, and what got you interested?

I've only been doing it since Tuesday, but I've known about it for a long time. About 10 years ago I read a review about the book Intuitive Eating, and as I was living out of the country (also before Amazon) I had my sister send it to me. It all made so much sense; unfortunately, I didn't stick with it. I did lose about 10lbs while using the principles of IE about 7 years ago, but it didn't stick. I think back then I wanted faster weight loss, and couldn't get out of the diet mentality. I think I'm ready this time.

Anyone want to add to the list?---
Foods that used to be wonderful that aren't so wonderful now since working through IE... (for me)


Any kind of meat (I was a low carb person, and now I have a freezer full of meat and no desire to cook it.

Salads

Fast Food

Cookies and sweets

Pasta (because I couldn't have it low carbing)

Thats all that comes to mind now.

Kinda of funny. I haven't had more than 4 or 5 hours sleep each night between working late and trying to get ready to go visit my BF this weekend (he lives 2 hours a way.) So Last night I had a taste for something that wasn't in my house. Meaning I knew I wanted something, but I knew whatever it was wasn't in my house. So I thought about all the fast food spots and wasn't interested. Then when I decided I was going to stop and and go to dunkin donuts. It was closed. Went to McDonalds and it was closed (i was kinda of focused at this point) but the drive through was open. So I get up to the speaker and all I ordered was an ice coffee. I ran through everything else (ice cream, pie...you get the idea) and just wasn't interested. I think my body knew I was tired, but since I still had stuff to do I needed some kind of boost.

It was kinda of nice to know that I could have a desire for sugar and not go overboard, and also that it is ok to trust myself.

I've really been more serious about it since I read The Overfed Head. That must have been about a month or 2 ago. I kind of laugh when I see the posts for loosing so much by a certain date here. That's how I ALWAYS used to think. Now I don't think like that anymore. I think that kind of thinking is contrary to IE. Years ago I read Jean Antonello's book Naturally Thin by Eating More but she limits what she calls pleasure foods so that one never worked for me. Then about 8 yr ago I read Weigh Down but was always stuck on eating half of what I would normally eat which is what she suggested. Praying is part of life for me so that wasn't the problem. The idea of eating between hunger and fulness is just so sensible and Rob Stevens covers just about every question you might have on it. (The Overfed Head) I've seen a few other books but haven't purchased them yet. Yahoo has several IE groups that are interesting, too.

Oh, I have read Intuitive Eating by Tribole and Resch. It's not quiet so concise as the The Overfed Head but it is good. You can tell she's a nutritionist. That was one of the neat things about Weigh Down. Gwen Shamblin is a nutritionist, too, but she has rejected lot of that type of mentality.

I've been doing IE for I guess about a week. It's funny some days I feel myself slipping into that diet mentatlity of (I have to count everything) but then I think ok, I did "X" plan and lost X amount of weight then what happened when I stopped being so stricked? I gained it all back plus. It's almost like you're addicted to dieting and just have to go cold turkey with that mentatlity. I actually found a tape set that I bought YEARS and YEARS ago called Beyond Dieting The Bonius Plan. I don't know if anyone has ever heard of that one. But it's a whole tape set about stopping dieting and re-learning how to eat like a naturally thin person. Same concept as IE. When I tried to follow it all that time ago I think I wasn't ready to trust myself and tryed to make it a diet and of course I failed at it. But now doing this I feel like it is achievable and I can be successful at it.

You really have to be mentally ready to take this challenge on and give up dieting to relearn how your body works. So, I've made a commitment to myself to see this through until it's second nature and not go back to dieting.

It's definately worth it.

Yowza! Gone for a few days and ya'll have been posting away!

I have this fancy wedding tomorrow evening and have been shopping like a nut for the last few days. It has been very frustrating and exhausting. I don't know about ya'll, but I have a large chest and trying to find shirts to fit it is irritating to say the least. I have made a decision to lose my weight and next year get a reduction. I am done with these things! :)
I think my outfit will work. Black jacket, black skirt, silk sparkly chartreusse tank underneath...oh, and I have to wear heels. Haven't had heels on in 10 yrs. woohoo!

I have not read all the posts, but I really do hope everyone is doing well. I have been so busy that food has not been on my mind that much, but when I sit down to relax in front of the tv I find myself thinking about wandering around in the pantry. I need to realize I am just tired and go on to bed.

I think I will weigh in the morning and see if I can move the pig.

Take care all! I will try to keep up with everyone next week. I am having surgery Monday so I will have time to sit and read.

:dizzy:

I started some of the basics of IE in April after I started going to a nutritionist. She didn't say it was IE, in fact I didn't know what IE was until I read a people magazine in July about that American Idol girl and I was like, "Hey, that's what I'm doing!" I got excited to have a name, ran back to this forum, and Carol had put in the first post about IE that day!!! Since then I bought the book and have really taken on the lifestyle.
When I first started going to the nutritionist my thinking was so warped. Once I told her that I had a tuna sandwich for lunch even though I don't really like tuna. I ate it because it is healthy. When said asked me what I would really like, I said peanut butter and jelly. She said, "Then eat it." I almost fainted! I can't eat that crap! It actually took several weeks for me to be willing to allow myself to eat food I wanted without the guilt. I still sometimes wonder, "Shouldn't I feel guilty?" I see how forcing myself to eat food I hated led to my secret binges. I have to say that had I just picked up the book and read it without any help before hand, I might not have been ready to do this. It is such a huge difference from my old lifestyle.

Isn't it funny what we'll do to lose weight. I cringe when I think about how many rice cakes, etc. I've eaten, all in the name of losing weight.

I imagine it will take a while to get rid of the feelings that something I'm eating is "wrong". But I just keep telling myself that nothing is wrong anymore. I can eat whatever I want and not feel guilty. I can't wait until that is a natural instinct for me.

Anyway, I've been eating oatmeal for breakfast this week. I put brown sugar and butter in it, and it's delicious. I've been enjoying a fairly large bowl every day. Yesterday, I only ate about half of it, cause I didn't want anymore. And then I didn't feel hungry for lunch until about 2 p.m., which is weird. For dinner we made pizza, and I ate more than I was hungry for, but I was aware that I was eating it and enjoying it. I wasn't just eating it because it was there.

I love this!!

It is so good to hear everyone's experiences. Kay, have you read The Overfed Head or is the book you are talking about Intuitive Eating? The first book is my favorite. I still find myself eating for reasons other than hunger but they are getting less. I still have a hang up about the scale, too. I am so afraid I will gain and not realize it. Really, I'd like to never weigh again. There have been times when I have avoided it but then regretted it when I got on months later and had gained. Recently (in the last year) most of my weight gain coincided with taking prednisone. I had lost a lot of weight before that due to illness. Now my dose is low so I don't think it is causing me to be over hungry. But when I was on 40mg the hunger was unbelievable.

I can relate with eating "bad/yummy" foods and thinking there is no way you can lose wt that way. It is alot to take in because we have been told for so long that anything that tastes good has got to be bad for us. That is why losing weight is so difficult. Too much information!!!!! When I first got turned onto IE I tried it for a bit and it was working. I lost my focus and then kept hearing about other diets and thought, hey, those might work better. Well, they didn't. IE is definitely the most simple plan I could follow and I really like simple.

Gotta run get my nails done for the wedding, but I did step on the scale and lost 2 more pounds, so that is 4 total...I will take it!

See ya later!

Since I have been doing IE I decided to only weigh myself once a month since I just get too emotional with the fluctuations in weight from day to day. I know when I am eating badly and I know when I am eating correctly.

I also work out and this week has been down the drain because of work and coming to visit the BF, but the IE seems to be going ok. One thing I realize is not to let the hunger go to long, so now I carry around low fat string cheese in my bag with me. So this morning I wasn't hungry. When I finally wanted something I ate the string cheese and I should be ok for later. We're going to a BBQ at his fathers house (who I am meeting for the first time and may be my FIL).

I am assuming there will be lots of food so I am trying to balance things out so I am not ravenous when I get there, but I still have some room for the yummy stuff.

Ah something that happened at work this week. I was talking to my co-workers daughter (she's 15 I think) who I think is absolutely gorgeous (think beyonce) and she was telling me how she was going to go on a diet of about 1200 calories and try and eat just toast for breakfast and so on.....I told her before she tried that to try and add more excercise, more fruit and more vegetables and get back to me in 2 weeks.

So we'll see how it goes.

Hello everyone! It's so fun to come on here and read all of the posts. You are all doing very well. I'm proud of you! We are all learning through this process of intuitive eating. We have our ups and downs, but throughout it all, we are learning and becoming more whole.

Well, I weighed myself yesterday and today (just to make sure this was for real) and I've gained 4-5 pounds. :( I know I have been doing extremely better in eating when I'm hungry and stopping when I'm satisfied. I've had a few gliches here and there, but for the most part I feel I have been successful in my progression toward IE. I'm again at my highest weight, but it's in the healthy weight range for me. This is the weight I seem to keep on going back to. So I'm not sure if I should just accept it and move on, or if I should change things a bit. This week, Linda Moran's blog addressed this issue and I'm thinking about what to do. http://www.lindamoran.net/blog_archives/2006/09/normal_weight_l.html

I've noticed that I've been eating a lot of fat, so maybe it would be wise to cut back on that. I've been working on exercising consistently and in the past 8-9 days I have exercised on my stationary bike 30 minutes each day. :ebike: Not because I have to, but because I want to and I really enjoy it. I've also been doing strength training at least twice a week. So maybe the added weight is from more muscle and my body trying to figure it all out. I'm not sure. My clothes don't feel looser either. :?:

I'm not really sure how to answer the question of how long I have been doing IE...but I would say I've been more consistent with it for a few weeks now and definitely more determined with it in the last 2 weeks.

Foods I thought I liked when dieting but I really don't???

Donuts
Ice cream (not all, but I always thought I liked ALL ice cream, but really, it's only a few kinds)

Those aren't even diet foods, but those are foods I thought I felt deprived of and now that I can have them it's not such a big deal anymore. Isn't it interesting that it becomes that way? I know there are more foods, but I cannot think of them right now.

You all have me scared about McD's now. I live in a place with no McD's (I know...kinda unusual these days), but in less than a week I will be bombarded with the yellow arches and I'm looking forward to it! I'm looking forward to sinking my teeth into a double cheeseburger and fries. Now I'm wondering if I'll truly still like that taste and feeling afterwards or not. :^: My husband thinks I'm crazy for liking McD's so much. It's actually one of the few fast food places that don't upset my stomach. We'll see...

Hey, I love McDonalds. You always know what you are getting!!! After 10 kids .........well McDonalds is kind of like an old friend. I like the big and tasty no mayo or cheese, fries and ice tea. I love ice tea but caffeine seems to bother me.

McDonalds Wow I haven't had that in years. And to be honest I don't really miss it. I had Wendy's the other day now that's a good hamburger.

I love Wendy's and Burger King Burgers and the fries from McDonalds. Since I've been on IE though not so excited about eating it as I once was.

I've been gone awhile. In that time, unfortunately, I've fallen off the IE wagon. All due to the stress of having my hours at work cut from F/T to P/T. With that comes the financial worries, etc. I'm a stress eater, anyway, and guess what? I'm pouring the food in!

How do you guys deal with stress and eating?

Lillybet, one thing I have been trying to do when I want to eat, but I'm not hungry is ask myself "What do I really need right now? How am I feeling?" If I'm feeling stressed, I think of things I can do besides eating. If we are eating for another reason besides hunger, then we are overeating. I tend to want to eat when I'm tired. Lately I've just been going to bed earlier or taking a nap and taking care of myself that way. With IE, we learn how to take care of ourselves. If we are hungry, we eat; if we are tired, we sleep; if we are lonely, we call a friend, etc.

I hope this helps! I'm sorry it's been stressful lately.

My husband and I went out last night for our anniversary. Oh boy - I'm defninatley not use to eating like that anymore. Let's just say on a hunger chart level I crossed the line of buffet full and went straight for food coma lol. The food was outstanding but we definately ate too much. This morning I woke up and boy did I feel awful. I think I finally felt like eating something small a little while ago and I did. I realized how much more I enjoy my food when I follow IE instead of going hog wild. I definately didn't beat myself up for it becuase it's not something that happens all the time - but I'll remember next time not to overload like that. Lesson learned!

Hope you're all doing well !!

I decided to only weigh myself once a month since I just get too emotional with the fluctuations in weight from day to day. I know when I am eating badly and I know when I am eating correctly.




I really like that idea. I usually weigh myself every day but I think by doing it once a month like you are - I'll have to focus on other things to measure my progress or good and bad days and not the number on the scale.

My new philosphy....." SCALES FOR FISH!"

:carrot:

Usually when I'm stessed I lose my appetite but now looking for something to do.......that's my problem. Sometimes I just get these cravings to eat for no reason. Maybe it's because there is something I need to do that I don't feel like doing right then. There are plenty of reasons to eat other than hunger. Seems like we are a food driven society.....eat for fun, to celebrate, etc.....any excuse to eat. Sun. are hard because I usually don't have time to eat much before church as I am preparing dinner then. Then when we get home I have to finish the preparation and we don't eat until 1pm by which time I am starving. I might eat some raw potato to hold me off or a little bite of something else. Then dinner doesn't taste as good because I've toned down hunger. Lots of situations to consider.

WOW, this IE thing sounds perfect for me. i think I do this anyways. I've been known to turn down the appetizers or snacks before dinner because I wanted the meal and knew it would fill me up.

I can't count points or calories because I get truly obsessed. So now I'm focusing on trying to be more active and exercising, but eating wise. i eat what I want, when i'm hungry and eat til I'm full. Granted, I overeat sometimes, but this is mostly how I do it.

I have never heard of IE and now I'll have to get the books and read up on it.

I do LOVE food and flavors and tastes though so you'll never hear me saying I don't like anything. I appreciate food and it's a big part of my life as an enjoyment, not an obsession. In fact, my and my man have talked about becoming restaurant critics, we're always critiquing the dishes at the restaurants!

I hope this IE stuff will work for me, coupled with my newfound exercising.

When I'm stressed, unfortunately, I eat. And anything can set me off; particularly bad traffic, a client with an attitude, problems with my business partner, Tuesdays (you get the idea). I'm trying to learn how to comfort myself in other ways. Sometimes just a cup of tea will do. It's warm and reminds me of nicer times. Or I'll try to go out and play with the dogs. My first instinct is still always food (breads, chocolate, etc.), but I know that doesn't help. I need to spend more time figuring out why I'm mad, frustrated, sad, etc. and deal with it. There's not much I can do about the traffic, but I can confront my business partner. For me personally, I think if I could learn to be more assertive, I wouldn't always feel like stuffing my feelings down with food.

With that said, yesterday was an ok day, eating-wise. I just had toast for breakfast, I had a big lunch (we went out for Vietnamese food-so good), I did have a big cookie from the bakery, but I saved it until later when I wasn't so full. Usually I would eat it as soon as I got in the car. Dinner was bean soup.

On Sunday mornings my husband and I usually make a large breakfast, and I have always enjoyed it. But this morning, I realized that I wasn't really hungry for a huge breakfast, or any breakfast for that matter. I don't think I'm ever really that hungry on Sunday mornings; I think we make it more out of habit or tradition, than anything. So, another thing I've learned. Anyway, we made sandwiches for lunch (I had two-they were big too!) and probably soup for dinner.

I'm realizing that not only do I eat because of stress or other emotional reasons, I also eat many of my meals out of habit, whether I'm hungry or not.

So much to learn! I ordered the Overfed Head last week, and I really hope I get it this week! Has anyone else ordered it from the thintuition site? Did you get it pretty quickly?

How do I attempt to eat healthfully without making rigid rules?

How do I eat healthy foods and not feel deprived?

How do I attempt to eat healthfully without making rigid rules?

How do I eat healthy foods and not feel deprived?

Well I am not sure if this is a rigid rule, as part of a weekly challenge I said I would have one serving of fruit OR vegetables a day. I know it doesn't seem like a lot but considering I wasn't really eating any before it is a step up. I don't buy any junk, when I want something to snack on I eat grapes (this way I can have as little or as much as I want) If I want something "bad" I eat it, but since I have been doing IE I try and stick to whatever the smallest size is (the bf and I went to coldstone (and ice cream store) and I got the smallest size (like it) and was ok.

I try and stay away from sodas and juices that do not occur natually in nature (ie. snapple, gatorade and the like) during the week I try and make sure I drink at least 32oz of water a day. (I bought a bottle from target that measures) I don't think I need 64 since I am getting hydrated from other places as well. Also saves on trips to the bathroom.

I try and cook vegetables I actually like to eat like collard green, broccoli and mixed vegetables in a big pot at the beginning of the week so I just need to reheat. I find that if I have something at home I want to eat, even look forward to eating, I am less likely to eat junk food or buy something on the way home.

I never seem to find fruit filling so I never eat it as a meal alone because it seems pointless to me, but I can snack on it during the day when I am little hungry, but not ready for a full meal.

Right now I am eating yogurt and toast for breakfast since I don't think I get enough dairy and don't do well with milk. I buy dannon with fruit in it.

I try and stay away from low fat, no sugar things. I would rather have the high fat version (and usually tastier version) in moderation than the low fat.

No white food generally. I noticed with baked potatoes I needed to cover them with all kinds of crap to eat, but with a sweet potatoe I just need a little butter and maybe some cinnamon. When I have a choice I eat brown rice. I am starting to realize a preference for wheat bread versus white.


I mentioned before that since I have been doing IE I am more concious about things dunked in vats of oily sauce and spread over rice. Now I lean towards chicken breasts.

I don't fry anything. If I want fried I eat it somewhere else and don't bring it home. Same with most junk. People are very disappointed when they come to my house.

Having said all that...it is a process for me, and overtime we'll see what happens. I think the key is finding things that you actually like to eat rather than are forced to eat because of whatever diet restrictions.

Some of the IE authors suggest eating only say chocolate for 3 meals and see how you will crave healthy food if you do something like that. I have a garden so that really makes a difference. There is nothing like home grown vegetables. I could eat fresh tomatoes 3 times a day. But I eat a little chocolate or some other sweet every day. Isn't that how most naturally thin people live? I read of a study where they let little children choose what they wanted to eat and over time it balanced out. I think Rob Stevens said something about how did humanity get along for thousands of years without all the healthy eating experts around. On Sun. we usually have a big meal around 1:30pm so we don't get hungry again until 9pm. Last night I fixed myself a sandwich on thin ww toast with a little ham, a big slice of tomato, onion and a little butter and mayo. Just what I wanted!!! I thought about it for a long time, too, because I really didn't want to fix anything. I used to love slimfast because it was so easy but now I can't have too much calcium. I also had a brownie and a small spoon of ice cream.

Yeah it came it came!!! My Overfed head book. I can't wait to start reading it.

How do I attempt to eat healthfully without making rigid rules?

How do I eat healthy foods and not feel deprived?

When I first started IE I tried not to think of food in terms of "healthy". I tried to focus on what I really wanted to eat. As soon as I got over the feeding frenzy, I naturally gravitated back toward more healthy food choices. Soon you will choose to eat healthier foods without a need for rules. Some days I eat more fruits than others. Some days I eat more veggies. I don't fuss counting the servings because that just makes me want to rebel.

Once you really let yourself eat what you want, you won't feel deprived because you won't be. You'll know you can have your cake and your veggies too! Not one or the other.

How do I attempt to eat healthfully without making rigid rules?

How do I eat healthy foods and not feel deprived?

It's about balance and listening to your body. I think when you start you tend to overdo it on the not-so-healthy foods, but that's ok. Maybe you've been denying yourself foods you love, for a long time. It's a huge mental shift. I think eventually it all balances out and you'll crave healthy foods more than less healthy foods.

If you're on some sort of a time schedule to lose weight, this may not work. My goal has been to lose 50 lbs. by my 40th birthday, which is in February. I know now that I may not get there by then. It may take me until then to grasp the concept of intuitive eating. You really have to give yourself time to get out of the diet mentality, and if that means eating a chocolate shake for each meal for a week, so be it. Eventually that chocolate shake is going to have all the allure of eating a Lean Cuisine.

I hope that helps.

On that note, today was pretty good for me. A full serving of oatmeal, bean soup for lunch. I was starving when I got home, so I ate two tortillas filled with seitan and veggies. Then for dinner I ate half a bowl of pasta. I feel like I ate past my fullness level, but that's ok. I laid awake tossing and turning for about two hours last night, and then had school all day today, so I think the overeating was just a way to comfort myself. I should have taken a short nap, or taken a walk instead.

I need to remember that BEFORE I eat.

Thank you so much for your help! I feel like I'm back on track! Yeah! You know, it's not really that I fell off the track, but that I think I needed a bit of a breather. I'm learning! This is a process, and that's ok.

Ladybug, Let us know what you think of the book. I know you will. Darby, I always thought that I had to lose weight by a certain date but now I have just done away with that idea. I'm down another 2 lb for a total of 8. I still get down about feeling fat some days but hopefully those days will be fewer and fewer. We had company for dessert last night and I turned down apple pie and ice cream. I just couldn't have eaten it. My dh made it (he loves to cook and I do to but I'm not big on making pie) and I know he felt bad that I didn't eat it but there were 6 adults eating and know one said a word to me. I was so glad for that.

Kay, sounds like you have a handle on IE, good for you. Christy, I know what you mean by needing a break. Basically I use Rob's book as a motivatior and read a few pages a day but what I really want it to get back to the way it was when I was thin..... not thinking much about eating.

I wonder if one more post will turn this over to 7 pages. Isn't that hilarious!! Hope everyone is having a great day!

Didn't work. ha!

Carol, you are cracking me up! LOL! Maybe this will turn it to page 7. We'll see... Also, I'm proud of you for not eating because you weren't hungry. I realized that I never ate anything else after dinner. I usually do, but I just wasn't hungry.

Good evening all! Carol.. I am making a pledge to get the overfed head. You always talk about it in a positive way, and I just haven't gotten around to do it. I have the Intuitive Eating book.
Christy, I noticed that one of my big changes is that I am not snacking after dinner like I used to. Occasionally I will have a little something- a baggy of cereal or granola bar, but it used to be much more than that.
Carol, congrats on the weight loss. I am still scared to death to weigh. I don't feel like I have lost anything, but on the positive side, I know I am not gaining either.
The book always talks about how you will go to your "natural weight" when you are doing IE. How long do you think it will take to start losing any weight? I am getting a little impatient. I keep wondering if I am doing something wrong. I know my running has been sporadic. It seems like a I have a meeting every day after school. Then I have graduate school. I have to take time to be a mom. I am having trouble finding time in my schedule to add exercise. I used to get up at 3:45 am to go workout. But now when I get up that early, I tend to start working on school stuff. I find 500 things that are more urgant than taking care of my needs. I would love a little support to get myself back in the habit. Does anyone want join with me on a one week quest to exercise every day? (That could include running, videos, walking, or riding a bike under a tree in the yard! Anything you enjoy that is physical.) The time spent could be a personal decision. Maybe the incentive of forcing myself to spend 15, 20, 45.. whatever minutes a day taking care of myself for one week might help me get refocused in that area. We could start on Thursday, just in case some people don't check the boards until the evening. Anybody want to play?

I'll play, runnin'momma! I have a hard time fitting in exercise too. I'm going to school full time, and working.

I will try to walk every day. I have a 2.5 mile loop that I can do after work or school. Usually I come home, have a snack and start doing some homework or house stuff, or one of the million and one things that need to be done. Well, for one full week I will make exercise a priority, and hopefully it will become a habit.

Ok, my eating was pretty good today. I didn't finish all my oatmeal cause I was full. I did eat my lunch about an hour earlier than I had planned to. I had a little meltdown at work because of a scheduling problem and I felt like I HAD to eat something. I had a doctor's appointment later and had planned to stop off and get myself a treat, but decided to go back to work and eat my banana, instead. I was happy about that. We tried an Indian recipe for dinner, which was really tasty, but only made a very small serving, so I had some leftover pasta. Overall I feel pretty good about today.

I hope you all had a good day too!

Runnin' Mama I was doing 4 times a week, but fell off last week. I have a challenge to complete 100 miles in 120. I know it isn't alot but got me to work towards somethingl. Let me know if you're interested.

I do the WATP DVDs.

Tomorrow I close on my condo so after that I should be ok.

I've also noticed I have more pep in my step when I work out and some other stuff. So I'm in.....

I have a lot of company right now so won't probably have time to post much. Everybody keep up the good work!!!!

OK, so I started reading the Overfed Head and I love it. I'm already halfway through and I'll tell ya it's straight to the point. I'm hoping to finish it today.

I don't know if anyone else has discovered this. I noticed when I get stressed now I'm not stuffing it down with food because I really want to keep following IE. I like it. But now I've discovered I need another outlet for my stress so I've started doing fun activities (like a kid) playing walking outside or on the treadmill. whatever. I've found that you can't take something away without replacing it with something else. In other words I took out eating my stress away as an option but now I've replaced it with movement and activity.

ANy thoughts or ideas on this?

Captain Ladybug, that's so neat that you found a different way to cope with stress. Whoohoo! You go girl! I have found that taking my stress out on things other than food is a much better option. I think what I've turned it around to is cleaning. Ha!

Guess what? I've lost those 4-5 pounds that I gained last week. I think what happened is that I had muscle gain, which means that water was being retained around my muscles to protect them. Whew! It's a HUGE relief to me. I felt like I was doing so well with IE that I wanted my weight to reflect it. Yeah!

Let's keep on keeping on!!

THanks Christy.

I actually discovered making the switch by accident. I had a really bad day last week and the first thing I did out of habit was go for the ice-cream. Well I took two mouthfulls and asked myself "Do I feel better?" and the answer was NO! I realized the food wasn't cutting it anymore as far as dealing with my stress or emotions or what have you. I got on the treadmill and did about 1- 1/2 miles and I finally felt better so I chose to do that instead.

You really learn how little of a roll food can start to play in your life when you learn to put it in it's place. Foods new job? To nurish, energize and stop my hunger. Not to comfort me any more.

Amazing isn't it?

Way to go Ladybug!!! It's amazing isn't it, when you realize food doesn't have the power it once had???
Christy, I wish my replacement was cleaning!! Maid needed at my house!!

I already have my excerise planned for tomorrow. Our teacher volleyball team has a double-header tomorrow evening! I look forward to reporting back on our domination... hee hee We haven't even practiced yet!

Well I have been dealing with the whole closing thing (very anti-climatic) and I kinda felt myself drifting away from the you guys, but I realized I NEED to post here...it just makes it so much easier not doing it alone.

So anyway. I did my 2 mile walk this morning and I am going to try and do 1 more mile tonight. I haven't been overeating, but I haven't been eating what I really should be eating. I have been sticking to my ordering smaller sizes of things and even those I haven't been finishing. I almost feel like a waste of money but there is a little bit of a thrill knowing I don't WANT to finish it so I throw it away.

I'm moving so we'll see how everything goes. Hope everyone else is doing ok.

Also got my copy of the overfed head, but I started another book already so I'll start that in a few weeks.

-Obie (hanging onto the wagon with dear life) :carrot:
Also I noticed I am not as grumpy lately, particularly when I workout. I am alot more relaxed. Didn't even notice this till you mentioned it ladybug.
In other words I took out eating my stress away as an option but now I've replaced it with movement and activity.

ANy thoughts or ideas on this?

Also as to weighing yourself, funny thing happened. Was visiting my parents and my father was telling me how he weighed himself and he was 240 then again in the same week and up 243, and various changes in the week. I wanted to tell him, why not do it once a week, every other week or once a month, but I don't think he's ready for that. He's never really cared about his weight before.

Also my mother doesn't believe you can eat what you want and lose weight. So while I know there isn't an official challenge I REALLY want to prove her wrong.


-Obie (hanging onto the wagon for dear life) :carrot:

Obie, Does your mom have a weight problem? My mom was pretty much always thin but used to complain about her weight. She could just give up a thing or two and her weight would always drop. She lost quite a bit the year before she died but she still had a great appetite and ate sweets every day. My dad was always heavy after he married but lost weght when dementia set in 2 yr before he died. Did that me he was intuitively eating in those 2 yr.? I have always wondered that.

So I finished the Overfed Head book and you all were right on your recommendations. The book was great. I actually already started picking it up before bed and reading random chapters. I kinda wish I had gotten it on CD/Tape.

I was amazed today - I stepped on the scale this morning and I've lost a total of 7lbs in about two weeks ( I think that's how long I've been doing this.) I said to my DH, that I couldn't believe all the struggling I did following programs and counting everything to loose the weight I did and this 7 lbs came off so effortlessly (sp?). I love eating this way. I feel great - food is no longer an issue for me. Now, I'm sure I'm going to have that speedbump where it is - but I think if I keep pressing forward and trust my body to do what's right I'll get through it.

If anyone hasn't read the overfed head and your looking for a good book on this subject that's the one - loved it. Two thumbs up! LOL

Stay well!

I totally agree about The Overfed Head.......so sensible. Good work Ladybug on your IE! Even though I have a houseful of kids and grandkids for a few days things have been going pretty good.

Just curious. Do you eat differently if you edd excercise?

I usually eat about the same whether exercising or not. At least that's what I think....guess I never really thought about it. I do a lot of gardening in the summer......tilling, planting, weeding,......flowers and vegetables. I get really sore at times but don't notice my eating changing. I noticed when it first cooled off that I was hungrier. But now that seems to have abated. One time when I really lose my appetite is when I am sad or worried. I could go all day without eating then, though I usually don't. Eight of the kids are still here plus 5 spouses and 5 grandkids. This morning I got a nice break when I went with my daughter to watch her 4 yr old run a race at Apple Fest. His daddy is Mexican and he is so cute. We walked about 4 mi. ourselves and I didn't notice that I was particularly hungry.

Something cool happened. I got my copy of the overfed head this week and started it yesterday. So I have been wanting applebees I ordered my normal, but got the smaller size. I ordered an appatizer I usually order, but when it came I realized I didn't really want it. I ordered a salad ate that and boxed the other appetizer up to go home. I ate what I wanted of the email and left the rest.

At this point I would be sitting her plotting when I could eat the rest, but its in the bad...and I am not particularly obsessed about it.

My dh and I argued this week and my old binging desires hit me hard. I did go binge shopping, but I didn't eat it!! It makes me so mad that that is such a big trigger! I haven't binge shopped in at least a month. My old thinking came back too- what is the biggest bag of chocolate I can get for the least amount of money, hide it so no one else can have some. ARGH! It also affects my desire to exercise when I am mad. I am happy to say that I pushed past it and went for a six mile run this afternoon. As far as meals go, things have been fine. I've been eating some different foods this week. My biggest goal for next week is eating only when hungry, not just because it is dinner time. Teaching, I don't have time to just eat whenever I want, so I am sort of forced to eat lunch at the same time. If I don't eat, I'll have to wait four more hours. But there are a lot of times where I feel like I eat out of habit.

Just curious. Do you eat differently if you edd excercise?


It's funny Obsi - I noticed I do eat differentyly since I've started excercising. Some days I don't have much of an appitite and other days I eat more then usual. Like yesturday I found myself eating something ever 3 or 4 hours because I was actually hungry. No, I didn't eat alot each time because I'm really trying to stick too once my hunger is gone I stop eating.

Now today I had a really good breakfast and I'm still not hungry and that was at 8am this morning and it's almost 2pm now. I said to my husband that I could really go for a piece of cake so I went down to the bakery and got something small that I really thought looked good - I will probably share with him. I'm still not hungry but when I am I'll probably have that when I'm ready. I'm not stressing about it - it's not "calling me from the kitchen" it's just a food that I wanted and when I'm ready for it I'll have it - even if only two bites satisfy me that's fine. (I'm trusting my body).

I really love living this way. I fine that I enjoy food more then I did before - It's about what I really want instead of what I should have. And the excercise is more enjoyable because I want to do it because it's fun and feels great - not because I'm trying to burn up a donut that I had.


:carrot:

I had a thought last night that this might be the time I will actually get thin. We went swimming with the family at a really nice indoor pool in a town about 30mi from home. I have a ways to go but I felt good about my body for the first time in a long time. We went to Pizza Hut after ..........about 20 of us and nothing tasted very good so I wasn't tempted to overeat at all. I also had the thought that in the past I associated getting thin with illness and even dying because that is the only way I lost weight before. Years ago, when I was first ill, I lost a lot of weight and began to worry about it because of the wife of my husbands employer........she had cancer, got really thin and looked awful. That was a silly thought because as soon as they put me on prednisone I gained weight quickly and years later I wondered why I had ever had the thought of getting too thin. But I think those kind of thoughts have been hanging around in my mind for a long time. I am kind of amazed how food takes a back seat now so to speak. I mean, you can enjoy it but it doesn't have to have such a hold on a person.

Since reading the overfed head I think I am much more concious about what level of hunger I'm at and the signals that come along with it. Something that surprised me. I ate yesterday at about 3 or 4 and wasn't hungry until about 3 or 4 in the morning ( I had an accident so i went to bed at 8 and was up in the middle of the night)not very hungry but enough to nibble on something and then go to bed. Then I wasn't hungry again till about 2pm in the afternoon. Just found it interesting.

I also think while I love the idea of eating what I want...I will probably stick to more healthy stuff. I also like the distinction of thin does not necessarily equal healthy and I enjoy working out now because it makes me feel better.

Hey runnin' momma I used to have a shopping problem (and occasionally I still have to talk myself out of buying some stuff) For some reason Target seems to be a problem for me. I can easily pile in $100-$200 worth of stufft. What I started doing was putting in what i want, but when I got ready to leave made myself add up what it cost and put some stuff away until I got down to a reasonable number. I think it was sort of like the eating. Rather than try and ration myself If I bought what I actually needed I was ok. Eventually I am ok going into a store buying what I actually want or need and and didn't fill up the cart.

If this offends you sorry, only good intentions.

Obie, I don't mind suggestions at all!!
I actually wanted to put some of the junk food back. My mind wanted to but there was that little voice whispering in my ear, "What if you need that junk food?" It was like the old me and the new me were having an arguement and the new me didn't win at the check out line. The new me was able to say "no" at home though! I just hate spending money on junk I don't really need.

Nobody is writing today so better add my 2 cents. Today wasn't a real good day eating wise ........over ate right away in the morning and felt bad. But it was learning experience. Hope to learn how it feels to over eat.......not a pleasant thing. Otherwise I still have my daughter and kids here from Portland so that keeps me busy........better run.

Well today was kinda ok, The lunch thing at work seems to be my biggest sticking point. If I don't eat during lunch because I'm not hungry, by the time I am off of work I am very hungry. So today I went ahead and ate. I didn't eat much since I wasn't really into it. We'll see what happens I doubt I eat the rest of the day.

Also my monthly weigh in is coming up and I am nervous since I really have no idea if I am losing or not. I know I feel better so really as long as I haven't gained anything I'll be happy. I really hate the scale.

I am having a slight obsession with peas and carrots lately no idea why. I guess there is something my body isn't getting enough of. Anyway else had any weird cravings that weren't necessary fast food or sweets?

Obie,That is funny. My obsession for carrots just ended! I ate carrots every day for about the last 5 weeks!!! In the last 2 weeks I've started eating a peach every day.
Obie, I weighed the other day and was up 1 pound. It totally ruined my psyche. I think I need to throw all weighing out the window. It gets me thinking in diet mode and I've binged twice since I weighed after being binge free for so long! I feel like my whole self esteem went out the window.

Runnin' Momma While I want to lose weight I try not to let the scale be the only way I measure success. How do you feel? How is your overall health? I know you're runnin' momma, but are you excercising?

I read the overfed head, but I think you still should exercise, however often you feel you can do it..and build. Not that maniac 7 days a week for 2 hours, but something you can enjoy.

For me my knees are doing much better, a little creaky but better, my energy is up. Besides the IE I am still trying to do the walking. I am in the middle of moving and working so it is sort of on pause until I am done moving.


Another questions at the end of the overfed head he mentions keeping a journals of your levels of hunger during the day has anyone been doing that?

Off the soapbox and loving my peas and carrots
-Obie.

Hey gals. I haven't been around much lately. I'm down total of 10 pounds. Not sure if I'm going to make my mini-goal though. We'll see. How's everyone else doing?

I blew it again this morning....not bad but felt yucky because I really don't need much breakfast. I'm ok now.......ate lunch and feel ok. My daughter and 2 boys left so a little sad today. They are so far away and this is the first time they have been home in 3 yr. The dad is from Mexico and even with them both working money is tight. The boys are 4 and 2mo......so cute... totaly Spanish looking.....my daughter is fair. She cooked Mexican for us one night and my son cooked Chinese last night. Except for breakfast, I haven't been overfull. Yes, Obi, I crave strange things too, like stuffed peppers.

Good to see you again, Sabrina.

I think I seem to have a handle of the eating when I am hungry part, hard doing the eating till I am full particularly if the food is really good. I haven't been stuffed, but I know I have eaten more than I as supposed to, still less than I would have normally. I think part of it is sticking smaller portions. We'll see tomorrow through saturday is moving so limited posting.

may i ask you kind folks a question?

i have been wanting to try intutive eating, but i am worried about giving up dieting....it sounds nutty, but dieting is my hobbie...it occupies more of my time and attention. i am beginning to think that if i was not thinking of dieting, i would not know what to do with myself. But.....i need to lose weight...bad...for health reasons that i won't go into here now, I am scared by trying intutive eating my weight will only get worse.

what is your experience? did you gain weight by giving up dieting? were you scared?

thanks!

kat..

Ckatgo I think you should read the overfed head and intuituve eating. Those are the books that helped me withe IE. There are differing opinoins on how IE works for some people, but I think with any diet you have to make it work for you.

Also it is pretty simple to try out. You don't have to buy the books....Try to only to eat when you're actually hungry and only till your satisfied. Pay attention to why you eating if it isn't because your hungry. Most of us have found we eat because or stress or boredom or something else we never realized. I myself do what I call preventive eating. I figure I won't be able to eat later so I eat now which is NOT eating intuitvely.

Just like with any other "diet" you'll have good weeks and bad weeks and it really is a long term learning process. The thing that really got me into was reading the overfed head....who can tell me what MY body needs?

For me when I do eat I try to stick to balanced meals (more fruits and veggies), drinking water through out the day and regular excercise. I have less cravings and slowly foods I was focused on because I couldn't have them have lost their allure.

I still have says where I feel I should be counting something (old habits die hard) so I made my ticker reflect how much I have been walking and during the day I monitor what level of hunger I'm at.

Below is the first chapter of the book (go to the bottom of the page)
http://www.thintuition.com/thintuition.php?section_id=10

This is the link to the hunger guide from the overfed head. It helped me guage how hungry I was.

Hope that helps.

Ok. I am off the soap box for now.

ckatgo, I say amen to all that Obi says. The guy in that book lost 140lb in a year and a half. A long time ago I read Naturally Thin by Eating More by Jean Antenello. That is also a very good book but she limits what she calls pleasure foods and that isn't really how IE (intuitive eating) works. It's such a great concept and so foreign to what you hear most of the time although other authors (Geneen Roth, Gwen Shamblin, etc) have written about it. Today I remembered to eat light at breakfast and feel MUCH better. This really IS a learning process.

Obi, I know what you mean by not being able to stop when the food is good. I have gotten to the place where I don't like to eat out much because I think home cooked food is better. I like to cook and several of my kids are great cooks. I'm still enjoying the leftovers from my son's Chinese dinner on Mon. night. There's one thing Jean Antenello said in her book that I think bears repeating. She said that after she quit dieting she could eat a lot more because her metabolism raised. Our bodies were designed to survive starvatioin......so they slow down when we are dieting.

hey guys, im losing weight like crazy and happy but the thing i am wondering if is i am losing it healthy. i know i have to eat when im hungry but im new hungry at brekafast time. i eat 2 small meals cuz thats when i know im hungry and i usually eat cuz im bored or tired or just stressed. is this healthy?

What do you mean by "like crazy"? How many lb per week? Rob Stevens of The Overfed Head fame lost 140lb in a year and a half. If you have a lot to lose you usually lose fast at first so I don't think you have to worry about it. His whole point is to listen to your thintuition which you seem to be doing.

I have the Intutive eating book...I have not read it though. I bought it very skeptical about it, I just don't know what I will do with my time if I don't consentrate on dieting all the time! I think that is why I don't just give dieting up. I know in the back of the book they suggest a low fat eating plan....doesn't that run counter to the premise of the book? I am not trying to slam the book, just curious :)....

I have the Intutive eating book...I have not read it though. I bought it very skeptical about it, I just don't know what I will do with my time if I don't consentrate on dieting all the time! I think that is why I don't just give dieting up. I know in the back of the book they suggest a low fat eating plan....doesn't that run counter to the premise of the book? I am not trying to slam the book, just curious :)....


Crawl before you walk. How about this...IF you feel you MUST count something count calories AND only eat when you're hungry AND only eat till your satisfied. DO NOT limit any types of food. If you feel like a hambuger have it, chinese food have it. Try it for one day or one week. There is a post some where about me having a hamburger just because I could. LOL I think others can agree they went through something similar. For me food lost power when I wasn't obssessing over it. Conversely foods I didn't like because I HAD to eat them I am starting to enjoy again (even salad)

Also in the end you have to do whats right for you and also something you can do long term. If that is counting calories, IE, Atkins, WW or anything then woo hoo, as long as it is right for you.

At the end of the overfed head he talks about not having a FAQ section because he can't tell someone what THEIR body needs. So I can tell you what works for me, but in the end you have to do whats right for you.

Ok, off the soapbox for now
-Obie :dizzy:

Ah I forgot to talk about my day...I phase 1 of operation get out of dodge (moving from NY to NJ) happened today. Definitely got in some cardio, LOL

Ate breakfast (no longer feel obligated to eat egg white anymore) was kind fo carb heavy. Then managed to resist when my brother and I went to subway to grab him a sandwich before the drive. Then pizza (one slice had salad on it, which was pretty good) before we headed home.

I think I am pretty much a 2 meal a day person when I am not at work.....hmmmmm

Ok off to relax. sore and stiff.. blah... :dizzy:

ckatgo,

What about using your spare time to learn to cook new things? There are lots of kinds of food out there that are interesting and healthy that you will never see listed in a diet book. Generally, home cooking is healthier for you, and if you eat a wider variety of foods you tend to feel less deprived, and can be satisfied with eating less. That has been my experience, anyhow.

Fiddler, Good to see you again. kcatgo, I was just like you and still kind of am. I have read almost every diet book out since about 1980. Pathetic, isn't it. I usually tried to hide the books from my dh because he made fun of me. Now I am really serious about this........The Overfed Head by Rob Stevens explains things so cleary and succinctly that you will wonder why you never thought of it before. It is the best IE book I have read. It makes me want to NEVER think about dieting again. So give it a try. You'll be glad you did.

Yesterday I had a few new situations to tackle. I have decided if I eat when not really hungry (maybe just a little bit) I can at least take really small portions and that seemed to work for me yesterday at least and I ended up not full. No one even noticed. We were invited out after supper to a birthday party for a 80 yr. old friend so again I just took a really small portion of what was offered. If I really was FULL like sometimes happens at home, I would skip the meal. That happens sometimes if I eat late lunch or snack in the afternoon.

Has anyone ever had the experience where you were craving something, ate it and thought it not substantial enough so you ate something else and it didn't taste good? I have been craving sweet and sour sauce with crab ragout (sp) since my son made it the other night. So I dipped some cheetos in the sauce and that's just what I wanted but thought it wasn't very balanced. Still learning.

I actually have to track my sodium intake because of prior health problems. So, what I do is incorporate my sodium tracking with the IE theory. In other words. I do write down what I'm eating ( to track my sodium intake ) and I use the hunger guide to decide if I'm hungry. The sodium tracking only helps me choose wiser foods. If I have a day where I'm eating too much sodium foods I'll just adjust my choices the next day or the next meal and it all balances out. I'm definately not depriving myself and I enjoy everything I eat.

I do agree about your weight fluctuating but you have to take into account that some days you are really hungry and will eat more and other days when you are not too hungry you'll eat less. You really have to think like a little kid - If you watch a little kid through their day - they eat when they are hungry refuse food when they are not and they are so active and happy.

Hope that helps

Ladybug, I like the idea of thinking like a little kid. I think I can do that. ha!

I just realized that ever since I started IE I made a point of eating all meals, because I could. Now I am realizing, hey, I'm not hungry. I'm not going to eat. They always pushed that "Breakfast is the most important meal of the day," so it is hard to skip breakfast; but I'm finding that I am not hungry every morning! I gave myself permission several times this week not to eat breakfast, and it didn't kill me!!!

I've also been in a few situations lately where I would normally have eaten, because it is expected. It is hard to know what to do with myself when I know that I don't want to eat but I don't know what to do with myself instead. You know what I mean?? You know how you go to a sporting event and when you win everyone goes out for ice cream? Those are the kind events I don't know how to handle. I used to LIVE for the ice cream afterward. In fact, I used to not care about the game at all because I was fantisizing about the excuse to eat junk food afterward. Now I don't associate food with rewards or celebrations anymore. Like someone else said also, going out to eat just isn't as magical as it once was. I am actually getting quite sick of thinking about food!

Thanks everyone for your wonderful replies. I have started reading the book and BOY! is that me! It described my life exactly....always dieting (I think I have been on one kind of diet or another for about 20 years...really...and I am 37 years old....NO JOKE! I don't know what it is like to "just eat normal" I want to experiment with this, see what happens...I kind of started yesterday by eating dinner on a small plate...not the huge plate I use to get, but a small one to gage my hunger better (because it forces me to stop more and think..) I was satisfied and not full. I went to bed not stuffed and woke up much more clear headed than I had in along time....WOW.....

:bravo:

Thanks everyone for your wonderful replies. I have started reading the book and BOY! is that me! It described my life exactly....always dieting (I think I have been on one kind of diet or another for about 20 years...really...and I am 37 years old....NO JOKE! I don't know what it is like to "just eat normal" I want to experiment with this, see what happens...I kind of started yesterday by eating dinner on a small plate...not the huge plate I use to get, but a small one to gage my hunger better (because it forces me to stop more and think..) I was satisfied and not full. I went to bed not stuffed and woke up much more clear headed than I had in along time....WOW.....

Isn't that something, Kay? We get to think about something besides food and life takes on a whole new perspective. ckatgo, I thought this would work for you, too. I have another observation. Last night I went to bed hungry but woke up not hungry. Anyone have any ideas of why that would be? Ladybug, I'm still trying to think like a kid. Haven't done that in years, maybe because I am 57!!!

Think like a kid???? NO PROB......

I normally don't wake up hungry. I can be up for a couple of hours before I get an appetite for anything but coffee, really. I have gone to bed hungry before and woke up not hungry, something about glucose and your liver when you sleep I think I heard once...but don't quote me on that...

Today went ok so far...over ate at lunch though. I went out with some office buddies and had a hard time focusing on my fullness and ate too much....way too much.....but I didn't count the calories on my plate and that is a first for me. My hubby is bring home McDonalds...I ordered fries and a shake. I know he was thinking I had gone mad when I said that....

this is kind of fun....

carolr,
I don't know why that happens, but happens to me sometimes. Some days I wake up hungry, some days I don't. I usually eat my last food 5-6 hours before bed. I don't like the feeling of food in my stomach when I'm going to sleep.

I've also always noticed it when I'm really hungry...There seems to be a period of time where you're hungry if you haven't eaten recently, but if you don't eat, it eventually goes away. Not sure why this is, but I there's probably some rational explanation.

Hi everyone,

I am new here, so far I've only posted in the intro section.

I've read Overcoming Overeating and have been "doing that" for about a year now. I don't weigh myself but I would guess that I gained about 30 pounds and have been the same size for what seems like forever.

I feel that I have really made some breakthroughs recently (although time is hard to track these days since I don't weigh myself or count anything).

I'm almost 42 and I have always had a battle, even when I was "normal" because I always had very thin friends (like size 0 and 2). So after so many years of yoyo dieting, NOT getting anything I really wanted, and then going hogwild during my binges, I expected that it would take a while to make headway. Especially with ice cream, cheeses, salad dressings, etc.

So I am at a point where I may actually be getting smaller, although I try very hard not to make that the goal. I'd like to hang out with some people who actually understand this so that I can share small victories. Like for example in spite of my size going out and getting a really good haircut instead of putting it off forever because of the money... buying ice cream that I like even though no one else likes it... ordering a piece of pie with a walnut crust even though my husband won't be able to help me eat it (allergic).

A lot of my food hangups seem to revolve around money, like food = money, so buy/order the biggest portion for the money instead of what I really want. There are different ways of denying onesself, it can be money or food, or other things and sometimes it isn't real clearcut.

I don't mean to ramble on forever, I've been reading this thread but wow - it is long - I also wanted to say something! I'll be reading more this evening, hoping to participate because it is exciting to find others who know what I am talking about and striving for.

Tara amd ckatgo, thanks for the input. I wish I could find out the scientific explanation for that. I know a nutritionist I miight be able to email. Maybe she would know. I once called Judy Halliday who co-wrote Thin Within to ask her about prednisone and how a persons deals with that kind of abnormal hunger. She was very nice, talked to me about a half hr. but didn't really have an answer. I appreciated her taking the time to speak with me nonethe less. Welcome Wiffle!!!! We like long posts here!!!!

Wiffle, Thanks for posting! I understand all that you are saying. Please hang out with us.
I understand about not doing nice things for myself- like buying a nice outfit because I don't deserve it because I am overweight. Or somehow by buying something the right size might mean that I want to stay this size forever.

Really just learning to like myself for who I am has been a great struggle. Then I started watching some of the "larger" women that I admire. They all have the same things in common. They love themselves for who they are. They dress themselves nicely and groom themselves. They aren't always apologizing for their size. They do the things they enjoy. They are happy! While some may desire to be smaller, it isn't the all consuming obsession, "I can't be happy if I am not thin."

I guess we need to get real- Even those women that we see with "perfect" bodies don't have "perfect" lives. Being the "perfect" weight is not going to bring us ultimate happiness. It certainly isn't going to make our spouse turn into the kind of man we would hope of him or keep our bosses from being jerks. Instead of saying that I have to get to a certain weight to be happy, I want my goal to be to achieve a size where I will be healthy and comfortable participating in all of the activities that I love. That may not necessarily be getting back down to a size 8!

Not sure where all those thoughts came from, but I am really working on loving myself and giving myself permission to be happy with being me. It definately is going to be a long process of getting rid of the critical, hateful voice that has haunted me for so long (even when I was thin because I wasn't thin enough!).

...I understand about not doing nice things for myself- like buying a nice outfit because I don't deserve it because I am overweight. Or somehow by buying something the right size might mean that I want to stay this size forever...

...Being the "perfect" weight is not going to bring us ultimate happiness. It certainly isn't going to make our spouse turn into the kind of man we would hope of him or keep our bosses from being jerks...

I have a very hard time buying clothes. None of them seem to fit right at all. I think that makes it worse for me because even if I went to the stores for the larger women, I don't look right in the clothes. My butt sticks out in the back and looks horrible in almost anything. When I was smaller (size Medium, size 6 or 8) I used to be so excited to get nice clothes - and the smaller sizes cost less too. Now my clothes feel more like physical restraints than just clothes.


I know what you mean about not bringing ultimate happiness but it would be so nice to get clothes that fit, be able to go out and rollerblade without the fear of a massive injury, etc. I really do have a good life, a good husband (more on him in a minute) and maybe I'll get around to getting a job soon (I temp right now).

Re: husband. How would anyone try to work out these eating issues without a very understanding husband. I don't know many who would drive their overweight wife to the store to make sure she has plenty of ice cream.

I was on the verge of weight loss surgery when I found "Overcoming Overeating" over a year ago, and my husband urged me to try this instead of the surgery, knowing I would gain. In that year I have had an opportunity to meet quite a few people who have had WLS, and some of them (1/3 - 1/2?) have not had the success they expected. I'm glad I didn't do it.

We are trying to incorporate more "normal" exercise in our routine rather than obsessive "all or nothing" exercise. Today, as a family, we are going to "play tennis" at our local courts. We aren't very good, but it is good exercise to chase the balls around at a minimum! :dizzy: We also have the Turbo Jam CDs to do a little workout at home. I figure these are things that people of normal weight do.

I had a couple of really hungry days but I am going to try to stay off the scale because it can be really discouraging. My clothes have been looser and I am wearing things I haven't worn for awhile so that is always encouraging. I do bodyflex everyday. It just makes me feel better overall. I like to walk but my nephrologist told me I shouldn't be in the sun so I try to to that. I have gotten to the place where I don't think I could diet again. Going by hunger and fullness just seems to be so natural.

There is another good website www.undieting.com and I want to share one of the free posts they sent.

Many attempts at dieting have taught us to try and
adhere to rigid rules. The last thing we want to do is
put ourselves into diet-mode by creating a whole new
set of rules. Diets themselves have proven that
perfection, rigidity, and undereating are not
successful.

Undieting works best if you allow yourself to fail a
lot. It's a process of experimentation.

The paradox is that failure leads to success.

Failure enables you to discover what works best for
your body. Learning is most effective when you allow
yourself the freedom to make "mistakes".

You get to try lots of different things with
absolutely no guilt and no judgment.

Think of this process as a time to objectively notice
what you do...
~ Test different levels of hunger and satisfaction.
~ Decide what foods make you feel best.
~ Become aware of which favorite foods you may not
even actually like.
~ Notice which foods make you feel horrible after you
eat them.

You won't always eat the perfect food in the perfect
amount at the perfect time. NO ONE DOES. That's okay.
It's how real life works.

Accepting that you sometimes eat the wrong thing, or
the wrong amount, is part of how this program leads to
a normal relationship with food.

People who eat normally sometimes eat too much. They
eat from mouth hunger. They eat a wide variety of
foods including some junk.

Former dieters tend to want to ban all such behaviors
100%. That is diet thinking and it's too rigid to be a
way of life. Give up the need to be perfect and allow
yourself to be human.

Undieting is based on moderation. It is making choices
based on self-love. Take good care of yourself, learn
from your mistakes, and you will succeed.

Allow yourself to fail without guilt or punishment.
Letting go of toxic "diet thinking" is an essential
part of success. Undieting will guide you every step
of the way with a simple 11-step roadmap.

Here is another post from the above site.

Trust your body

There is a dark cave of food worries, weight obsession,
self-criticism, and self-loathing that we inadvertently
stumbled into through dieting. It's time to step out of
that cave. The door is right here.

Walking out is easier than you think. It's not difficult.
It's just different.

You deserve to step into the sunshine. To stand in your
personal power completely free of deprivation and fear.

This is a permanent solution.

This is not another diet that you will suffer through
and then gratefully end as soon as possible. This is a
wonderful way of life that you will enjoy.

As you live in peace and harmony with the beautiful
body you have you will think and act like the naturally
healthy, strong person you are. Your weight will
finally stabilize at your natural ideal and you'll stay
there permanently. It will happen effortlessly and
easily.

Feel comfortable and at home in your body, accept it
unconditionally and love it completely. Instead of
fighting your body, honor its needs and give it what it
wants. Choose to be kind to yourself. You then easily
live every day at your personal peak of health and
vitality.

Your body is wise. It knows exactly what it needs. And
as you learn to listen and honor those needs you
naturally stand in your own knowing, in your power, and
make the choices that best serve YOUR body.

Leave your old habits and that comfort zone behind. Be
brave and adventurous enough to actually trust yourself.

Your body knows exactly what it needs to be healthy and
vibrant. Set yourself free.

Step out of that cave and into the warm sun. There is
so much more to life than food and weight worries.
Leave the diet mentality behind.

Get off the diet bandwagon and return to a life worth
living. Relearn how to trust yourself and then you can
focus all that dieting energy on creating an amazing
life. Undieting will guide you every step of the
way with a simple 11-step roadmap.

One final post.......these are actually in reverse order. Author Nancy Hill

Never diet again

If diets worked, we'd all be slim and trim right now.
As you know, there are hundreds and hundreds of diets
in existence. But dieting to lose weight or live
longer is like taking a drug that causes the very
disease it is intended to cure.

Essentially, dieting is a way to train the body to
store fat. Each diet teaches the body to protect
against future famines. It's the perfect weight-
gaining technique.

In fact, a four-year study of 700 high school girls
discovered that those who dieted regularly ended up
gaining more weight than the girls who didn't restrict
their eating.

95% of dieters regain what they lost. Many of those
gain back more than what they originally lost. The
utter failure of dieting proves how strong and amazing
our bodies are. They want to survive. They will work
to stay alive no matter how much we try to starve them.

It's not that we don't have enough willpower to get
thin. When the body senses it is threatened by lack of
food, it kicks into survival mode by slowing the
metabolism to conserve energy. It sends you urgent,
overpowering messages...cravings...to eat high calorie
foods NOW.

We've been fighting against our own biological drive
to stay alive. There isn't a way to win that battle.

Yet each new diet is so tempting. They promise so much.

Millions are desperate to lose "excess" weight and be
slender. Every day we are brainwashed to desire the
media version of the perfect body. We'll do almost
anything to get it.

Ironically, the best available prescription for gaining
weight is...GO ON A DIET.

Gym owner Bob Schwartz tells how he helped thin members
of his workout gym who were desperate to gain weight...
he put them on a diet.

No matter how much they tried to put on pounds prior to
dieting, they had not been successful. But after
restricting their caloric intake for even short amounts
of time, every single thin person was finally able to
gain weight.

When you diet:

~ You frequently feel guilty or shameful about what
you've eaten.

~ You desperately want to be thinner.

~ You starve yourself and feel saintly or eat and feel
bad.

~ You think about food all the time: how much to eat,
what to eat, when to eat.

~ You spend a large amount of time and energy on menus
and rules and knowing which foods are okay to eat and
which ones are "bad".

~ You often rebel and eat to a point of feeling sick
and miserable.

~ You eat mindlessly and often don't even really taste
your food.

~ You are always on the lookout for the next diet cure.


With Undieting:

~ You take excellent, loving care of yourself.

~ All foods are equal. There are NO banned foods. You
exercise your right to choose whatever food you want
to eat.

~ You savor your food and get full enjoyment from
eating.

~ You make conscious, thoughtful choices rather than
rebelling or eating out of habit.

~ You feel energized and light.

~ You stop eating when you've had enough.

~ You love your body as it is right now.

~ You are happy and free.

~ You focus your attention on having a great life.

The first step in Undieting is to simply decide that
you will never diet again. Make it a firm, 100%
commitment.

Once you completely let go of dieting, your natural
instincts begin to surface again. Life gets easier.

Get off the diet bandwagon and return to a life worth
living. You CAN get out of the vicious diet cycle with
ease and grace.

Undieting will guide you every step of the way with
a simple 11-step roadmap.

This course is a small sample of the full "Undieting"
experience that will heal and transform your relationship
to your body and to food.

Thanks Carol!!

...Accepting that you sometimes eat the wrong thing, or
the wrong amount, is part of how this program leads to
a normal relationship with food.

People who eat normally sometimes eat too much. They
eat from mouth hunger. They eat a wide variety of
foods including some junk.

Former dieters tend to want to ban all such behaviors
100%. That is diet thinking and it's too rigid to be a
way of life. Give up the need to be perfect and allow
yourself to be human...

Carol, thank you very much for the posts, and especially the above portion which applies to the pizza and ice cream I ate late last night and was feeling bad about.

I didn't even feel like eating, I made myself! I only mention that because it was a rather new behavior to eat when I didn't crave it, and I was in a situation where I would normally have a craving. Not having the craving was really nice, even though I ignored my body and ate regardless.

If I had to sum up what I thought, it was "You're going to eat some pizza and some ice cream and even though you don't want it, eating it will bring pleasure because it has in the past."

So I did eat the pizza, ins spite of really just wanting to lay down and sleep (late night alone time) and then I ate some ice cream, which I really didn't want and nothing great happened. No thrill at all. Just discomfort.

But, it was different because it was more of a pure habit than a craving or a hunger of any sort (mouth or stomach).

Hello everyone...

I have been gone this weekend, it seems these bulletin boards can become adicive all by themselves! So I took a break.

Great post everyone. I have been having fun with this...I ate indian food this weekend for the first time in a long time. I ate macroni and cheese too. I ate too much. My problem is remembering to stop when satisfied in social situations. I did yoga this weekend for the first time in a while, it felt good to get back to that.

The doctor told me I am in menopause. That threw me for a loop. I wasn't expecting that so early. All the women in my family go through menopause early, but no one talks about it. Weird......

Anywho..good to see everyone doing well...

IE is really different from other programs, isn't it wiffle? Catkgo, I started menopause at 43. Is that early? All done now at age 57 (been done for a few years but can't remember when that was). Here is another thought from the undieting website:

Try a little tenderness

Work it, sculpt it, starve it, push it, train it,
discipline it. We're taught a lot of things to do to
our bodies. Most of them are not pleasant.

What about loving it?

What if we treated our bodies with love and tenderness?

Okay, it sounds a little sappy, I know. But really
think about the idea for a moment. WHAT IF you made a
decision to treat your body with the ultimate in
kindness?

How would your body feel if you...
~ Fed it the best, most delicious, most nutritious
foods
~ Gave it just the right amounts of food to feel light
and full of energy
~ Pampered it with fun movement
~ Let it nap or rest when it was tired
~ Treated it to healing massages and long soaks in
warm water
~ Noticed all the wonderful, beautiful things about
it and overlooked its flaws

Your body would LOVE YOU for LOVING IT. You would
naturally live at your own perfect weight without
effort or strain.

By treating yourself well and loving your body, you
will effortlessly live at the peak of health.
Undieting will guide you every step of the way with a
simple 11-step roadmap.

Was really tempted today....by dieting. I was reading about a girl here who has lost about 70lb on LA weight loss. I was going to just ask how much it cost and then didn't. Sooooooo tempting.

Carol, I too was tempted to diet not too long ago. It was a diet plan that came with an exercise DVD. I even bought some of the food items. This brought on a binge of epic proportions! Ha ha - I decided to not try the diet again, after I calmed my eating down.

Hey ladies finally moved into the condo...moving sucks...

I did pretty well with the IE, but ate out alot while moving last week. So going grocery shopping today. I am doing about 2 meals a day...and seem to be ok....The BF and I went out to eat yesterday and I ordered more than I wanted because I was really hungry, but ended up giving him my appetiver to take home and ignoring the french fries....I grabbed something from the salad bar and was much happier. definitely a difference from the olden days. Me liking choosing salad over fried...who would have thought it.


Anyway, glad to see the thread is staying active and hi wiffle and glad to see you're on board ckatgo.

Way to go Obi!!!!

I had a strange day eating wise yesterday. I had soy milk in the morning and then had a craving for crab ragoon. So my daughter showed me how to make it and that is about all I ate all day except for some fruit at supper. I'm not sure I like how I felt.... kind of sluggish. Is that the fat doing that? I'm glad I read the above article aboue forgiveness and learning from mistakes. It makes such a difference. How is everyone doing?

Finally did ask about LAWL. Pretty expensive and I live in the country far from large cities. Sometimes that is good.

Obsidianbbw, congratulations on moving. It is such a stressor! We moved a few months ago and I am still not over it. I don't know if you just went through the whole sell/buy process, but we did and it was horrible. And then, of course, the actual moving of stuff. Ugh!

Carol, was crab ragoon something you felt bad for eating before?

Sometimes I go through days of just eating the one thing. Right now I have some french onion soup. I made a large pot over the weekend and I really love it. I don't think that is bad as long as we eat when hungry and stop when we aren't.

Is LAWL L.A. Weight Loss?

How do you all do at feeding your families while incorporating this change into your life? Sometimes I sit and just eat some green beans or other vegetable with some bleu cheese dressing. Sometimes I don't eat at all if I am not hungry and just busy myself in the kitchen or sit and drink some water with lemon.

We've always been an eat-together kind of family so to just have everyone come and go at will is not real workable at the moment, especially with kids.

One thing everyone likes is that we use small plates much more often, and we are far more likely to eat something pricier.

Any input on the above?

Wiffle, I guess all fried food is in my memory bank as not the best choice. Yes, that is LA weight loss. I'm the same with family eating. Last night I ate only the fruit but sometimes I don't eat. My dh likes to eat together. I am learning what works. I don't think it hurts to just sit and visit and not eat. If their are a lot of people no one will notice that you aren't eating. I have 10 kids but only one at home now so it is quite different. Lots of times the older ones families come over so we keep busy.

I thought it might be good to repost one of the first posts on Intuitive Eating for those who have never read about it.

"This study will evaluate the effectiveness of an innovative weight loss program, called thintuition®, that Lakeshore Athletic Club believes is the future of weight loss. The thintuition® weight loss program involves natural eating and weight loss and is built on the foundation of six basic principles:

1. Distinguish appetite from hunger: An appetite is thoughts about food, while hunger is an actual physical sensation in your body telling you to eat.

2. Eat to satisfy physical hunger: The goal of eating is purely to satisfy those physical sensations of hunger and not for any other reason. And other reason for eating is consider overeating, which contributes to weight gain.

3. Eat the foods you desire: Before sitting down to eat, you determine what food(s) will satisfy your hunger, and those are the foods you eat.

4. Savor each and every bite: Take time to enjoy the food you are eating. This means tasting the flavors, smelling the aromas, experiencing the textures, and appreciating how great the food looks.

5. Regard food as fuel: Understanding that food is not comfort or love is an important step toward following your thintuition®. Food is what you put in your body to keep it running.

6. Stop eating when hunger disappears: There is a moment when your hunger disappears. The feeling is like that of no longer being thirsty. It is a place where you feel most comfortable and when you should flip the “off switch” and stop eating.


In addition to the on-line program, daily emails and other materials, there is an optional exercise component that will begin in the second month of this study. At that time, you will receive two free passes each week to use at the Lakeshore Athletic Club you registered for. We will give you more information about the exercise component and when you can begin using your passes a little further into the study."

And his name is Rob Stevens and his book is called Thintuition. I'll let you know how the program looks, I'm a bit disappointed because I thought we would be having meetings but from this it doesn't appear that way. Now my problem is that before I heard about this program starting, I signed up for weight watchers at work and gave them a check (which hasn't cleared yet) so I may have to do both? I'm not sure if that's entirely possible. What to do?!

Linda

I have found that since doing IE at home. My 10 year old boy has become more of an IE eater. He will notice that he isn't really hungry or ask himself what he really wants. Whenever my dh tries to force our 3 year old to eat, I try to step in. My dh hasn't noticed, but he is eating better. As a wrestler growing up, he did a lot of starving, binging and purging, so he has had a lot of food issues as an adult- food restriction etc. Now he actually allowing himself to eat some foods! We used to sit down for dinner and all four eat different food! Now we are actually eating the same food a lot of the time.
It is a nice change.

Obsidianbbw, congratulations on moving. It is such a stressor! We moved a few months ago and I am still not over it. I don't know if you just went through the whole sell/buy process, but we did and it was horrible. And then, of course, the actual moving of stuff. Ugh!



I only did the buying part and I can't imagine doing selling and buying at the time same time. My realtor said my deal was pretty simple but it just seemed horrible to me. Really wanted to give up in the middle, but happy I didn't. I closed a month later than I was supposed to which meant I had only 4 days to move. I had planned on 30. Anyway I'm here now and very happy.

Eating today was a little wacky, at a cinnamon role because I wanted something in my mouth not out of hunger...Then had a nice size lunch (we were celebrating my moving into the condo and I got a lil tipsy so was more concerned with sobering up for work than how satisfied I was. I manager to be ok at work...lots and lots of glasses of water LOL).

Also I was in starbucks when I grabbed the cinnamon role and I grabbed a carton of milk as well. I said it was organic milk so I figured all the better....they added vanilla flavoring to it and all I could think was it was the worst stuff I ever tasted. I don't have a big sweet tooth...blah all I could think was give me the processed stuff.
No desire for dinner

I hope you all don't mind that I post a lot. I am online a lot and so I switch between sites several times a day.

Obsidian, there is a list somewhere of life events that cause stress. Moving is a major one, near the top of the list.

I was wondering if you finished the nasty milk from Starbucks or if you threw it away. I get a certain amount of "intentional" joy from throwing things away if I don't like them but I don't think I have fully gotten over the feeling of wastefulness. Also, I haven't yet gotten over the "rejecting food is rejecting who made it" dumb thinking.

Wiffle, we don't mind you posting at all! Kay, my hubby was a wrestler in college, too, and he did the same.......starving to cut weight. We were just talking about it last night. He once had to cut 13lb in 2 days so he didn't eat or drink for those 2 days. After wrestling was over in the spring he gained 30lb. He has never been more than about 30lb overweight in his 58 yr but he is a semiinutitive eater. He eats what he wants when he is hungry but has the diet mindset in the back of his mind so I think that's why he is not thin. I, on the other hand have been dieting ever since the birth of my first child 35 yr. ago.

I get a certain amount of "intentional" joy from throwing things away if I don't like them but I don't think I have fully gotten over the feeling of wastefulness.

I have finally realized that the wastefulness occurs at the point in time that I bought/prepared the product, not when I make the decision whether to eat it or throw it away. I never eat something just to keep from "wasting" it. My body isn't a garbage disposal. :carrot:

Here is another interesting article, author Nancy Hill.

Stop dieting and start living

According the National Eating Disorders Association,
the annual amount spent on dieting is over $40 billion
per year. Other sources put the figure at more than
$50 billion.

The diet industry obviously has very good reasons to
keep us hopeful and desperate to lose weight. Much of
what is reported as "scientific research" is actually
bought and paid for by diet companies and the
pharmaceutical industry.

These days there are two distinct groups within the
obesity research field:

~ Traditionalists
Those who favor the old ways of cutting intake with
restrictive dieting, diet pills, or surgery.
Researchers in this camp openly acknowledge that diets
do not work in the long-term. They acknowledge that
diets cause many side effects including weight gain.
However, they are funded by the diet industry. These
researchers' salaries are dependent on promoting
dieting or drugs.

~ Anti-diet
Independent anti-diet researchers have come to the
conclusion that diets do more harm than good. They are
the leading edge of studying how, and why, to get out
of the vicious diet cycle we've ended up in.

As Benjamin Franklin put it, "The definition of insanity
is doing the same thing over and over and expecting
different results."

As dieters, we've been brainwashed
~ We've trusted authority.
~ We've blamed ourselves for failing.
~ We've worked hard.
~ But we haven't been working on good information.

Our pockets have been thoroughly picked. And we've been
lied to.

It's time to return to childhood. When we were children
we knew how to eat. We knew how to stop. We knew how to
move our bodies and have fun. All that wisdom lives
within us still...it's just been distorted by the
effects of dieting.

If you're reading this email, you're on the cutting
edge of a growing movement in America. Clearly diets
don't work. It has taken us a lot of experimenting to
reach that conclusion.

As you return to your natural state of normal eating
you will be leading the way for others to heal as well.
Spread the word.

Every one of us has so much potential. It's time to
redirect all that wasted dieting energy and money to
endeavors that have real meaning and true worth in the
world.

Hey everyone ! Just wanted to check in with you all to see how you were doing. I'm doing well. It's funny my body seems to be maintaining at around 135 lb. I guess that's where I'm suppose to be. I'm still using the IE method of things even though I have to track stuff for my health. I finally finish The Overfed head (TWICE) and I recommend it to anyone on the board. It's great.

Ok, got to run just wanted to say hi and hope everyone is doing well.

Lots of love to you all!

I was wondering if you finished the nasty milk from Starbucks or if you threw it away. I get a certain amount of "intentional" joy from throwing things away if I don't like them but I don't think I have fully gotten over the feeling of wastefulness. Also, I haven't yet gotten over the "rejecting food is rejecting who made it" dumb thinking.

I took a few more sips I really wanted some milk, but ended up throwing it away. I try and stick to the only take/cook/buy what I am going to eat so I tend not to throw away much and figure I can always go back.

I don't like throwing stuff out...I am also a clean plate person so it is a little hard, but I am happier in terms of food than I have been in a long while and it has only been a month.....

Ladybug, I noticed you lost 75lb on WW. You must think pretty highly of that program.

Hi All,

I am new to this site. I have read IE thread #1 and now #2. I am so proud of all of you!!! You girls have done a great job. I read the Overfed head about 3 weeks ago and decided to ditch my diet and start IE. I have been doing pretty good so far, I've lost about 5 lbs in 3 weeks!

It is a learning process, but so far so good!

I hope to participate in the discussions and get to know all of you better!

Ladybug, I noticed you lost 75lb on WW. You must think pretty highly of that program.


I do like that program alot, and yes I did loose 75 lbs. on it. I have about 10 more to go until I'm back at my goal weight. I've been doing it for so long that it has become second nature but after a while you just need something else to shake things up. That's where IE came in for me. I love the whole idea of it and it's help kick start my weigh loss again. I realize now that if I have a day that I ate more then usual - I was probably hungry for that much and the next day will balance itself out. I don't beat myself up any more over it and I've become a much happier and less stressed out person as far as food goes. I always have and idea of what I"m eating and how much is a portion - that I learned from weight watchers - but eating when I'm hungry and stopping when hunger disapears and truely being able to recognize those things is something IE re-taught me. I do still sometimes track what I'm eating but I incorporate IE with it. and it's working for me.

:welcome3: Ditchyoudiet, Glad to have you here. We are all very much still learning as we have been dieting for years (me personally it has been 30+yr.... I am 57) and that is sometimes hard to get out of your system. Recently I came up with the idea of having the things I like handy so as not to eat things I don't like or that are not what I need. Some of my favorites that I just made yesterday are fruit smoothies that are 100% fruit and homemade vegetable soup. Had a good day yesterday except that I made pizza for company and rather than make something extra for myself, I ate it and I know I shouldn't be eating calcium (I have trouble with high blood calcium). I have been surprised that there is so much info on the net on IE. Thanks for your story, Ladybug.

Suppose I should report in even though things are slow. Yesterday was a trying day eating wise. We went shopping and ate out and then to top it off I ordered a coffee chiller in the afternoon that didn't even taste good. You think at $3.85 for a small I would throw it out? Not me! My daughter always gets those but her's tasted better. Maybe it was just the camarderie of the thing. So for supper I ate mostly fruits and vegetables because we had company and I didn't want to sit down and not eat. My 16 yr. old daughter (the youngest of 10) ALWAYS wants so go shopping and I just sort of lost my zeal for shopping after all those kids. Hey, when you can get it on line why spend all that time running around? But she is a sweetie and I do like doing things with her so am torn. Hope someone starts posting again.

Maybe this thread will be coming to an end. I have been really discouraged myself and very hungry lately. Last night my dh was making cookies and the smell was so inticing. I ate 2 and had a stomach ache in the middle of the night. Makes me wonder if I should have eaten them. Was I hungry? I suppose not.

Hope you don't end the thread.
Today just sucked.....I just ate whenever. Will re-group tomorrow and monday back to my excercisng. Now that the moving and everything has settled down I am going to refocus. Hope everyone else is doing well.

Remember not to beat yourself up if you have an off day (I've been reading alot of posts like that). It's not the end of the world (although sometimes it can feel like it). If you overeat on one meal you can just get back on track at that moment and choose not to eat until you are hungry for you next meal. That's the beauty of IE. Even if you have a total day that is off - don't worry. When I have an off day instead of beating myself up (I did enough of that while dieting..) before I fall asleep at night I read something to inspire me or listen to an inspiring tape to help put me back in the right mind set.

Remember also it's all progress not perfection. You can't be perfect and eat the perfect foods or the perfect amount all the time - it is a learning process (I am still learning myself).

So, instead of beating yourself up on a bad day - do something loving for yourself - possitve reinforcement is much more effective the negative.

Hope this inspires you!

Carol, I haven't posted in a couple of days because my internet was acting up. Not deserting you!!!

This week hasn't been horrible food wise, but work wise it hasn't been the best. The full moon made the kids crazy. I know a lot of people don't believe in the whole full moon thing, but I do.

I had a nice 8 mi run yesterday. I don't feel quite 100% today, but am hoping I'll feel better this afternoon and can go for a run when my husband gets home from work.

I have just been tired of eating. Nothing sounds good, and I don't want to have to make a decision about food. I have been eating meals more out of habit than hunger. Trying to find my hunger here!!

Thanks everyone for those inspiring messages. I needed that!!!!

This hasn't been a very good weekend at all here. I feel discouraged in so many areas. The eating, upset with my husband and kid, etc. I feel like running away and my attitude has spilled over into my eating too. Kind of like no matter what I do everything ends up a miserable failure, so why not just eat whatever, whenever, and plenty.

I think I'm back on track though. At least with the food. At least for now.

I've been feeling like that too, Wiffle. I think I was the only one to post for 3 days and was getting really discouraged but then the posts came in and I felt like I could keep going with intuitive eating. I have been really hungry lately and craving sweets. Someone suggested extra protein so I will try that. So many here are on low carb but I am not a big fan of meat and I can't have calcium so no milk which I love. I have found that there are plenty of other things like soy milk which is very low in calcium if you don't get the fortiifed kind.

Hi Carol,

Do you like eggs? Sometimes the mere thought makes me gag, but other times I really enjoy them and they sure are quick protein.

Right now I have my timer set for 15 minutes. I am not sure if I am really hungry or just feel like eating. I just had my breakfast, and it seemed like plenty, so I really don't trust that I am hungry.

I went for a walk this morning, a couple of miles. I'm so miserable here at home that I stayed in my own world and didn't wave at the people I saw while I was out. Also, I just feel gross, like why would they want to talk to me anyway?

When I got home from my walk I decided to try my "Turbo Jam" cardio workout. Normally I do the 20 minute cardio and I really sweat. Today, I tried the 40 minute routine and decided that I'm really not ready for 40 minutes of cardio. That's scary because I used to be able to do 40 minutes of intense cardio, even within the last year. This tells me that regardless of my weight, I must exercise more. Otherwise I am going to die, especially with this stress.

It is so tempting to give up and diet again but I am not going to do it. NOT!

I realize I do better when I post here (accountability) and it has beenmy TOM so I am going to chalk up my eating badly to that.. Had too much of a subway sandwich today. Sticking to water...been VERY thirsty lately, again, think it is due to TOM. Hoping to have my DVD player setup tonight so I can get back to walking. On a good note, my new commute involves LOTS AND LOTS of stairs, :dizzy: and they haven't been a real problem.

Hi ladies,
We all seem a little down, but the neat thing I am reading or NOT reading is that isn't revolving around "Falling off" the diet wagon. Really, we are struggling with issues in our lives and dealing with them! It sounds like we are all in a "funk" right now. I stayed home from school in bed today. I felt really crappy. I slept most of the day, and feel ready to join the world again tomorrow. I guess I just needed to step back and take a break. Anyway, I am sending hugs to everyone! Hang in there!!!

Thanks, Kay. Way to go on the stairs, Obi!! Sorry, Wiffle, I never did like eggs too much even when I was a kid. We are just having leftovers tonight and that is always helpful in more ways than one. I usually don't eat too much then and not too much clean up either. Worked in the garden today. It is supposed to get really cold here in WI..... might even snow.

Well, I'm back. I've spent the last few months trying to count calories and fat grams. I've hit diet bottom. Tonight I'll read more of Intuitive Eating. Hopefully, Overfed Head will get here soon. I thank everyone for posting even if the going is tough, and for sticking with it. I gathered ALL my diet books, materials, tapes, programs, and magazine articles and carried them to the dumpster yesterday. They must have weighed 40 pounds. What a load off my mind.

Stubborn-Time for a bonfire! :) If we all brought our diet books we'd probably have one big enough to be seen in space!

Well the subway sandwich lasted the whole day. When I got home had egg white omlet. I think until I get a better handle on the stopping when I am satisfied I'll try and stick to smaller portions.

My husband and I went out to eat tonight, a "date night" of sorts. We took our textbooks (we are in class together) and did some studying, had coffee, talked. It was nice, much nicer than the arguing!

There was a really good looking dessert in the case, something pumpkin and cranberry for the Thanksgiving season, but I was full. I will go back later this week and get that dessert, maybe for lunch.

I am going to order some clothes from LandsEnd.com. I need to get some winter pants. I'm not happy with my size, but no matter what I am going to need pants especially if I am going to work temp which I do at the end of the year. I guess that is some sort of acceptance, that I will buy pants that big... last year I refused and I was cold!

On a positive note, the clothes I did wear last winter still seem to fit, and I've eaten whatever I please and then some all year, but I didn't have enough of them and they weren't warm enough. Especially in our government offices, where I temp, good grief, I needed gloves indoors!

Anyway, feeling a little better tonight. Glad to see all of us here on the boards for each other. Excuse my blathering.

Well, I'm back. I've spent the last few months trying to count calories and fat grams. I've hit diet bottom. Tonight I'll read more of Intuitive Eating. Hopefully, Overfed Head will get here soon. I thank everyone for posting even if the going is tough, and for sticking with it. I gathered ALL my diet books, materials, tapes, programs, and magazine articles and carried them to the dumpster yesterday. They must have weighed 40 pounds. What a load off my mind.

Good for you for dumping the diet stuff. :cp:

While I am not thrilled with my body, I am rather surprised that I've eaten whatever I've wanted to in the last year and seem to have not gained. When I think back to the diets and purging (through exercise) and the broken promises to self of never gaining any of it back after every short-lived "success" and then promptly doing so, I think this is better.

What are some things you will be allowed to eat now?

I have a huge love affair with ice cream, cheese, and premium bleu cheese dressing. I am to the point of moderation with all of those.

A new love of mine is balsamic vinegar with a little "good" bread or drizzled over tomatoes. That's a good dinner right there.

I'm telling myself that I can eat anything I really want; the key is that I have to be physically hungry and I have to pay attention and stop eating when I'm comfortably full. I can be a Champion Mindless Eater, so this is big step for me.
A nice lettuce/greens/veggie salad and fresh bread sounds like a great meal. I'd have to ease into balsamic vinegar or olive oil; way too exotic for my white food tastes at this point.

Well the commute to work seems to be getting better. I can take the bus in and walk up and I am there, no more 3 trains and up and down the steps nonsense. I think I want to be more active, but I am never going to like using stairs.....blah...

Yogurt and Toast for breakfast.....life seems to be settling down nicely.


Hope everyone has a good day. :carrot:

I had a great day yesterday.........ate when hungry, stopped when satisfied. That was a first in quite awhile and boy does it feel good today!!! As for cravings, it's crab ragoon for me. ha! Actually, I have been trying to remember all the things I like. It is funny how you can go for a long time and forget some of those. Awhile back I was eating sandwiches with thing ww bread, tomatoes, onions, lettuce and a little meat. I just remembered how good they were. I need to make a list like homemade veggie soup, fruit smoothes, etc.

That should have been thin ww bread!!!

I've been eating frozen taquitos lately. (After defrostin in the microwave first!) Four of those make a decent meal for me. I have noticed that I don't eat as much as I used to. I eat a small portion and I am satisfied. That is nice.
Carol, I thing I like thing ww bread better! hee hee

I haven't been posting here lately because I didn't feel like I had anything of value to add.

Just wanted to say "hi" to everyone.

Hi Fiddler! I'm sure whatever you add will be of value to someone here. Probably me!

Runnin Momma, taquitos and crab rangoon are sounding pretty good, thanks to this forum. Glad you are defrosting the taquitos first though, or they might be hard on the teeth!

Today I woke up with horrid backache. I couldn't figure it out. It came on overnight. By the end of the day it was just excruciating. I realized it was from my Turbo Jam workout that I did yesterday. I watched the DVD again, and realized it was from the "wheels" that I did with such vigor. OMG! At least I know it is just sore muscles and not a real injury. I'm looking forward to more "wheels"!

On a sad and serious note, there is a news item here in Texas of a middle school boy who died during PE exercises. He was 5'7" and 240 pounds and he died during some indoor sprinting.

People are talking about how fat he was and I think to myself that I was 5'1" and weighed slightly more than that at one time in my life. When I am doing this program that takes a huge leap of faith as far as food (and I have gained since starting the program), I know I have to continue to think of my cardiovascular health. As one who used to binge via exercise, I refuse to exercise compulsively anymore, but I will walk my pretty neighborhood, and I will go to the tennis courts, and I will do my Turbo Jam DVDs. I also need to get my bike out because the weather is beautiful.

These are things that normal people do, so I will do them too.

Feel a little silly but what are taquitos? I'm with Wiffel, Fiddler, just post what you've been doing. I had another good day probably because I didn't cook much again. My daughter wanted to order pizza which I don't eat so I did. We had been shopping and I didn't feel much like cooking anyway. I have to take the car in for alignment soon so better stop now. Keep posting, everyone!!!!

Carol,

These are taquitos: http://www.hormel.com/kitchen/glossary.asp?id=37423&catitemid=

Today wasn't the greatest day so far, but I doubt I each much the rest of the day. Now that I have moved i am going to try and head back to the swimming. If I can unpack I should be able to find my stuff. no walk yet.

Small problem. When I want something "in my mouth" but not hungry I suck on my water bottle. Problem being I seem to be constantly going to the bath room.

Well home now, hungry so I am eating.....lol...just wanted to post and hope everyone had a good day...

Obi, good to see your eating when you are hungry!! My day was so so. I know I ate a donut that I didn't really want. But I did realize that some foods have lost their power, like brownies and ice cream. I think it is true that if you eat lot of something you get tired of it no matter what some people say. I may not get to check in for a few days so have a good weekend. Praying for you all.

Well a few nice things have happened. I haven't done my monthly weigh in so no idea if I have lost weight, but some good things have happened.


Went out a few times to dinner and came back with a nice size of left overs both times.

Smeone at work gave away 2 big choclate bars (the kind they sell to raise money for schools) and I wasn't interested in either. Funny thing, they were on a diet.

:carrot:

Way to go Obi!!!!

I've been doing well. Today is my DH's b-day I made an ice-cream cake that he loves but in cupcake style. I'll tell ya it was just the right amount and not over the top. Yum. The recipe is Oreo dessert cups (I used his favorite ice-cream. They worked out great. The recipe is on cooks.com. If you try it enjoy!

Talk to you all soon

As some of you may remember, I don't weigh myself. The lady at Curves does, but I don't let her tell me my weight. However, she asked me on Friday if she could tell me what my average weight loss per week is, so I said OK. And my average loss has been 4 pounds per week. I was pretty surprised. I figured it was maybe 2 pounds per week.

Fiddler, I don't weigh myself either and I don't allow the doctor to tell me when I go in. I stand on the scale backwards. Regardless, I would be thrilled to have the kind of loss that you are having. Hooray!

We went to the State Fair today, and had a great time. Of course this is Texas so fried foods are a badge of honor around here. I thought for sure my husband would cave and get some fried oreos or fried twinkies, and he did not. He has been upset about his weight and so has cut back and I think he is actually depressed about his middle.

Anyway, we went the whole day without buying any food at the fair. There are samples of little things (like a tablespoon or two of soup, a 1" square biscuit, tiny things) and that was all we had for 10 hours, some samples.

Plus, loads of walking!

It is so encouraging to see you all doing well. I'm at my sons and all I can say is vacations are difficult...........food everywhere. But I'll be home toninght, Lord willing, and back to normal. Fiddler, that is so exciting about your loss. Keep us posted.

Back home now. I haven't weighed yet. Think I'll wait a few days. Ha! This is the latest from the Thintuition newsletter by Rob Stevens.

Anne Battershell has been following her thintuition since February and says,

"Thintuition is it for me. It makes perfect sense and it works. I've lost 58.5 pounds. When I began the program in mid-January I was very unhappy with how I looked, my low energy level, and restricted flexibility. I had worked with a personal trainer for a year 2-3 times per week trying, unsuccessfully, to shift the weight with exercise. I was not and am not a person to be told what or when to eat by ANYONE. Food is pleasure; food is life. I won't be deprived. Using thintuition I can have my cake and be thinner."


A thintuition online member, Barb reports,

"If anyone had told me two months ago that I would be able to eat anything I wanted to eat and still lose weight, I would have laughed at them.

Likewise, if you had told me I could have an opened a partially eaten bag of potato chips on my shelf or a partially eaten container of Cherries Garcia in my freezer without “needing” to devour all of them, I would have thought you were rather odd.

But in the last two months, I have eaten Giordano’s stuffed pizza, gyros, bratwurst, potato chips and Cherries Garcia, along with “normal” food, and I have lost 15 pounds!

I had already figured out that diets don’t work, but with Rob’s thintuition® I learned how to change my thought patterns, recognize when I was really hungry, eat what I wanted to eat and to then stop eating when I was not hungry."
Thanks,
Barb

Additionally, Barb's son-in-law sent me a very inspiring note, that Barb did not know he wrote.

Hello,
I am Barb's son-in-law, and my wife and I live with her.

You have an excellent program, and I'm so thankful for how you've helped my mother-in-law. My wife and I have been encouraging her to see herself as beautiful for years, but she just couldn't see herself that way. Thanks to your program, she's starting to. It isn't just the weight loss either. Yes, she lost weight, but the real change was in her mind. You helped her see that she didn't have to change who she was to be who she wanted to be.

Most every other program I've heard of is so extreme. They require the willpower of a Buddhist monk, or the metabolism of a pro athlete. Yours is so reasonable and sensible. There's no reason that anyone couldn't follow your program and loose weight. Maybe it wouldn't be the enormous amounts promised by the "miracle programs," but realistically, most people don't need that, and those who do would be better served by going to a doctor than going on some fad diet or insane regiment.

Eat what you want when you're hungry, stop when you're not. How lovely! Engage in some sensible exercise, but don't get crazy about it.

Thank you again for giving Barb this gift of herself! I hope many more people will follow your program and similarly find themselves.

Hey Ladies. Life has been a little hectic, but not bad.

Thursday is weigh in day. I have to deal with the evil post office people Tomorrow. OT-I just moved from NY to new jersey and I have to get a mailbox fom the post office rather than the condo association. I put in the change of address form as well as a form to have them hold my mail. Also I can't check the mailbox until they give me a key. They haven't been holding the mail. Some mail has been returned to sender and I don't have a key..... So no mail anywhere in 3 weeks. Most of my correspondnce and bill paying is online so it isn't horrible, but still...blah....ok needed to get that out.


Eating is pretty ok. Rarely overeat now, although I am still going smaller and smaller on my portions. Amazed that I used to super size and biggie size everything, couldn't imagine doing that now.

I've decided to stop with the water. Tired of the constant going to the bathroom. How is everyone else doing.

After thought...

Something else that has happened. I have started to ignore appetizers and filler food because I want to eat what I orderer rather than something to stop being hungry.

Oh boy I needed that extra boost today. - Thanksfor the inspiration. I started to slip back into diet mode freaking out about all the calories etc. Well I know you all can guess what happend. I ended up over eating and KNEW I wasn't hungry and KNEW I was eating for reasons other then hunger but I did it anyway. So, will my belly nice and "over full" I take a deep breath - shake it off and start again. So, they say if you say it out loud or to someone you'll keep to your goal. Mine is a simple one. Eat when I'm hungry - stop when the hunger disapears.

Wish me luck all - I've skidded off track and now I'm getting back.

Oh, to be as close to goal as you, Ladybug! Obi, let us know how the weigh in goes. I sort of keep a water glass near as I have dealt with a lot of kidney problems.

Here's an excerpt from an interesting article I found:

Studies show that there are about 1,000 Calories between being satisfied and feeling full. Even more frightening is that there are between 2,000 and 3,000 calories between feeling full and feeling stuffed. If you go out to an all-you-can-eat food bar and leave feeling stuffed, you may have consumed as many as 4,000 unneeded calories.

Here's a link to the article if you want to read the rest of it: http://www.mikementzer.com/bodyfat.html

I'm taking it with a grain of salt, because he didn't cite which studies he was talking about. If anyone knows of studies that arrived at these conclusions, I would be interested in looking at them.

Did you order the book, Fiddler? I printed off the article because it is 6 pages. Looks interesting.

Hey all,

I havnt posted in awhile but wanted to share what was going on with me and intuitive eating.

I still overeat sometimes, but I dont really care anymore...most of the time I eat when hungry, and stop when full...I eat crud sometimes, and sometimes I dont. I eat fast food 3 days a week (i work 3 X week and only have 1/2 hr for lunch so I usually have about 1/2 a chicken burrito from taco bell)...Ive only been "stuffed" once recently. The good news.....im 3 lbs from goal. Im down to 122 now, wearing a size 4 (baggy). I thought with only having 10-15 lbs left to lose, maybe intuitive eating wasnt going to work for me...but im pretty consistantly losing 1/2 to 1 lb a week and feeling fine. Im not worrying about water, calories, fiber, nutrition etc. What I have noticed is that I'll eat lightly for 3 days or so, and eat more on the 4th...on and on....just not sweating it. Im working out still..mostly because I love how my back dosnt hurt when im keeping up with it....and hate how my back and neck start killing me when im not. I just wanted to share :). Hope everyone is doing great.

Carol,

Which book did you mean?

The Mike Mentzer book on the site you posted. Wow! Button Ewe, that is quite encouraging. Any extra tips for us to get the scale moving again?

Fiddler, Here is some similar info from another thread here at 3fc.

The Wendie Plan is very simple. You follow a simple plan of eating. You eat your regular foods that you have on WW. You work within your point range. You drink the water, get some exercise, etc., etc., etc. What is different? You alternate the amount of points you use each day. What could be more simple?

Let us assume for a moment that your point range falls between 22-29 points per day. (This is based on the original 123 plan, not the "Winning Points" plan) WW says that you can eat up to 29 points every day, and still lose weight. Do you? Maybe. Maybe not. Ever notice that on some days you aren't very hungry and on other days you feel you could eat all the points in the universe? After doing extensive research, I have discovered several things that don't always ring true.

At this point, if you are someone who has been doing the program and losing a steady 2+ pounds per week, you don't have to read on any further. Your body is doing what it needs to for you to lose weight. If you are struggling to drop a pound, and no matter how hard you have tried the pounds won't shake loose? Read on...this is for you.

First of all, just because you eat within the points you have been assigned, drink all of your water, exercise at least 20 minutes every day, journal till the cows come home... does not mean that you will lose weight. I don't mean to depress you, but it is the truth. We have countless people here, myself included, who can attest to this. They try really hard, but week after week they are struggling to even lose part of a pound. I see it all the time. So... what are they doing wrong?

Oddly enough, they are doing one tiny little thing wrong. It is one tiny, insignificant thing, but it is keeping them from losing weight faster and at a steady rate. The secret to The Wendie Plan is simple. Alternate your points daily. At the start of your week, alternate the number of points you eat daily. Your rhythm of your week should look like this: low/high/low/very high/very low/high/med. high.

For example. If your range allows you to eat between 22-29 points per day:

Day 1 - 22 points
Day 2 - 28 points
Day 3 - 23 points
Day 4 - 36-39 points
Day 5 - 22 points
Day 6 - 29 points
Day 7 - 27 points

On the WW plan, 22-29 points per day, you will eat between 154 points (low end) 203 points (high end) during the course of the week. On the Wendie Plan, you will eat 190 points during the course of the week. Which falls towards the high end of the range, but not the highest. (Adjust the points to fit your current range).

We have already seen some amazing results using the Wendie Plan. I developed this plan out of sheer frustration. After being on WW for 17 months, and having lost no weight in the last 9 months of program, but being too stubborn to actually quit, I found myself pouring over 17 months of anally kept journals, trying to find the one key which would unlock my door to success. In the first 8 months I was successful. I lost 40 pounds. What happened then to impede my progress? I was still following the program in every way. I was doing everything right, but experiencing no weight loss. Why?

Why, indeed? The most interesting aspect of my journey came at the end of May, 2000. I weighed in on WW and had reached a 40 pound loss. I decided I was close enough to a 50 pound loss and I wanted to reach it by the 4th of July. That was a reachable goal. So I worked even harder. I dropped my points down to 25 per day, and began exercising more. Everyday I was outside walking through parks or in the fitness center hitting the treadmill. At the end of 5 weeks, I had a net gain of 1.2 pounds! Muscle? To some degree, yes. But, as I never began to look like Arnold Schwarztenager, I realized that something had gone terribly wrong. I had "shrunk" a bit, which was to be expected, but still, at the end of 5 weeks, I was heavier. I continued. I worked out everyday, and kept my points down. This has got to work, right? Not necessarily. At the end of the next 5 weeks, I was down exactly 1.2 pounds. So my net loss for the 10 weeks after Memorial Day was zero!

I continued to work very hard, and by September, I had played around with the same 3 pounds all summer. Up, down, up, down but never gone for good. In October, I celebrated 1 year of WW, by maintaining my 40 pound loss for four months! What was up with this?

I stopped attending WW meetings in October, because first, I was making no headway, and I became so depressed at Monday's weigh-ins that it took until Tuesday afternoon to snap back out of it; and second, I did not get the support I needed through WW. They simply had no answers as to why I was not losing weight even though I was working the program very conscientiously. At the last couple of weigh-ins, when I was going up a pound each week, I got the general impression that my leader felt that I was not really working the program. At that point, I walked out for good.

I tried several things between Halloween and Christmas to shake some pounds loose, but to no avail. I then went back to WW the day after Christmas. It is interesting to note what happened. First, I didn't start the program that first week. I weighed in on Tuesday, and then rather half-heartedly began the program on Friday. When I weighed in on Tuesday, I was down 3.5 pounds! I buckled down and worked very hard on program the next week. I measured everything, exercised, drank my water, and journaled every bite. The following Monday I weighed in and I had GAINED 2 pounds! What is up with that?

It didn't take very long for me to see that going to WW was not going to help me. My body was being incredibly stubborn and was not going to let me lose this weight. Do you see a pattern forming here?

In addition to having 17 months of journals, I also have kept a spreadsheet of my weight losses. I began pouring over my journals and comparing what I did on certain weeks to the amount of weight I lost at the end of that particular week. I made an astonishing discovery.

I have always been a moderate loser. Meaning, I usually lost about a pound a week. Other people may lose 3 pounds a week, but I usually lost a pound, sometimes a little more, sometimes a little less. But I was very consistent in losing. There were some weeks, however, when I did lose more than a pound per week. Interestingly, the weeks I had my biggest losses were weeks when I overate! The weeks were Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years! Christmas Day I ate 43 points! I lost 4.75 pounds that week! Upon further studies, I discovered something else. Every week that I overate one day, I had larger than average losses! How can that be?

It has long been thought that you have use 3500 calories less than you need in order to lose one pound. I simply don't believe it. I know it is mathematical, and mathematics was never my strongest subject, but science has always been an area in which I have excelled. I believe that our bodies are far more complicated than a simple mathematical formula can describe. The body is like a fireplace. If you build a fire, at first it takes awhile to warm up. You add more fuel and it burns more efficiently. The more fuel you add to it, the hotter it burns. Add less fuel, and it begins to cool down.

Our bodies were built for survival. If you go on a "diet" the body can become uncomfortable. This is especially true if you take so much food away from it that it feels as if it is going to starve. There is a lot of talk about not eating too little. Your body will go into "starvation mode" and you won't lose any weight. Well, to a point, this is true. Your body will lose weight if you starve it, but it won't want to, and it will take the weight from places you don't necessarily want to lose it from. That is why some people who lose a lot of weight look "gaunt", and is far more likely to hear comments like "have you been sick"? as opposed to "You look good!"

Why does "The Wendie Plan" work?
Your body has this wonderful little thermostat inside of it. It regulates everything you do. If you feed it lots of food, it turns the thermostat up and burns it as efficiently as possible. This is why you have been able to eat as much fast food before WW and didn't gain the amount of weight that you should have. Your body became more efficient and was able to burn off much of the excess amount of calories. Otherwise, with the amount of food we porked in pre-WW, we should have been gaining 2-3 pounds per day!

When you go on a "diet" where you dramatically decrease the amount of calories that you consume, your body thinks "Oh-oh, we're going to starve to death here" and immediately turns the thermostat down to conserve energy. After all, your body will do whatever it has to do to ensure that you stay alive. It doesn't know that you don't want to carry those extra pounds around. Unfortunately, I haven't been able to convince my body that I really do want to shed those extra pounds through talking to it.

That is where The Wendie Plan comes in. If I can't get my body to shed the extra pounds by talking to it, then I have to trick it in to letting them go! The Wendie Plan is the trick.

If you are on WW, or even just counting calories, and you stick with a set amount of calories per day, such as 1400 or say, 27 points per day, your body will adjust to that. It will become extremely efficient at using just the amount of calories (energy) that you are giving it. You may lose fairly well at first, but after the first week or so, you will find that your losses may slow ... way... down, and even stop. Isn't it nice to have such an energy efficient body? However, the body isn't extremely fast. If you give it the same amount of food every day, it will adjust itself. But if you change the amount of food it gets every day, it doesn't have time to adjust itself! Which means on that day that you eat 10 points over your highest, it tries to adjust by turning up your thermostat, but it is unable to turn it down for the low points the next day. What you are doing, in essence, is keeping your body guessing. It doesn't have time to adjust the thermostat down, before it needs to turn it back up. What eventually happens is your body will never again feel as though it is going to starve to death, and it will never again try to shut down the thermostat, so you will continue to lose at a more rapid loss. This also means fewer plateaus.

Some people are aghast at the thought of actually eating 10 points over their maximum. I know, its the hardest part for me, too. Again, I just have to plan higher point meals for those days and make sure I actually follow through. If the huge point day isn't done, then the body will not turn the thermostat up high enough. It is all a formula which has to be adhered to high points, as well as low point days.

What about exercise points? What about them? I never use them. I just know that I don't plan any big exercise on my low points days. If I am going on an 8 mile hike, I will probably do it on my high or super-high day, so that I can take advantage of the extra fuel to get me through the exercise. I think WW was using the activity points as a carrot to get people to exercise. More activity, more food. I don't believe in that. Eat what your body needs. Exercise plays a good role in this plan, because exercising increases your metabolic rate. (Which turns up the thermostat even more!) So does increased muscle. Arrange your high point days on the days that you exercise. Or better yet, arrange your exercise around your high point days. My high point days usually fall mid-week. But why? It makes more sense to me to have my highest point day fall on Saturday. That is the most likely day that I will be doing an 8 mile hike. Fit this plan into your lifestyle.

Forgot to say, Fiddler, I thought that article was very interesting.

Regarding the water....

I have decided to ease off. I drink when I have a meal and when I am actually thirsty and I stop when I'm not....basically including liquids in the IE. I tend towards water a fruit juice.

I didn't have to fix supper last night and that always helps me. My dh and dd werer working in the barn getting ready to work all the new calves before winter. He didn't want a long dinner so I warmed up leftovers for him. That only works about once a week unless he's really busy. I am hungriest at noon. Years ago my family always had the big meal at noon but then somewhere along the line it got changed. When I say family I mean my mom and dad and brother. I woke in the night really hungry again so came down stairs to the kitchen and had some soy milk. I just can't sleep when my tummy hurts like that. I'm glad I did because I went right back to sleep instead of tossing and turning otherwise. I don't count my water either, Obi, but that's about all I dirink except for soy milk.

Carol,

No, I didn't buy any of his books, although they did look intriguing.

The article on the Wendie plan was very interesting. I've been doing basically the same thing. Even though I don't actually count point or calories, I have a pretty good idea of how many calories are in most things I eat. I make an effort not to eat the same things every day, and if I'm busy and don't have time to eat a meal, or if I'm just not hungry at mealtime, I skip it. Conversely, I don't stress out about eating out. I've been eating out a couple times a week the whole time I've been on my plan, and I'm still maintaining a good rate of weightloss. (I don't generally order rabbit food when I eat out either; one of my favorite meals is a huge wet burrito referred to on the menu as a "Beached Whale", LOL. Of course I do manage to stretch it into two or three meals.) So basically I have naturally fallen into a pattern of calorie-cycling, which is what the Wendie plan is.

On a more depressing note, I found out today my job is going away in a few months. This is one more piece of bad news I really didn't need on top of everything else that has happened in the last few months. :(

I gained some weight while we were on a trip last week and feeling pretty down about it. I noticed when we were driving.......10hr.......that there is something about that........I just feel like eating. But then you also are at the mercy of other people's eating schedules when you are visiting people so that's another aspect. I just seem to do better at home.

Carol,

Generally people tend to retain fluid when they travel too, so some of it could be water retention.

Try not to be discouraged about it.

I got a little bit of good news--it looks like my job going away isn't a certainty. Just a maybe.

Hello! Just wanted to pop in and say hello. I am currently reading Intuitive Eating and am finding it amazing. While I am excited about letting go of all the diet mentality, I gotta tell you girls, I am scared to death!!! I have dieted my entire life, from the age of 12. So the idea behind not holding back on those "forbidden foods" is so foreign to me. However, I realize now that I just cannot go on like this. I cannot even fathom the idea of yet another diet. No way. No how.

On a positive note, yesterday I started practicing listening to my real hunger. I was utterly amazed at just how often I am NOT hungry! I also took alot of comfort in knowing that the food in the cupboard was mine if I wanted it. The key being, that I really had to be hungry to have it. What a freeing experience it was and I'll tell you, I think I slept better last night than I have ever. Feels like a giant weight's been lifted off my shoulders!

While I understand that I have a very long way to go in grasping this concept completely, I am truly thrilled that I can finally live without a diet. I know there will be ups and downs along the way in understanding my self and body, but to know that its okay to "just be" excites me. For the first time ever I think I am looking forward to discovering myself, now at this weight. Feels like I've been waiting my whole life to feel like it's okay to matter. Does that make sense?

Anywho, didnt mean to get so wordy here. It's great to see there is a thread for this, for us to meet and bounce ideas off eachother & get a chance to chat. You all seem like you're doing wonderfully!!! I look forward to getting to know you ladies!

BTW, do you guys still weigh yourselves? I am contemplating throwing out my scale. To me it would seem that I would still be in that "diet mentality" if I still have it? What are your thoughts?

♥ danielle

:welcome3: Danielle, You might want to read The Overfed Head by Rob Stevens. He lost 140lb in a yr and a half and his book is short and sweet. Oh! How I would love to throw out the scale. But I don't. It's probably better not to weigh. Obi, good to hear about the job and thanks for the encouragment.

BTW, do you guys still weigh yourselves? I am contemplating throwing out my scale. To me it would seem that I would still be in that "diet mentality" if I still have it? What are your thoughts?


Danielle, welcome!

That's my feeling too--that the scale is part of the diet mentality. It's just a number that means--what? Not how much fat you've lost, since it can't differentiate between weight lost from fat, muscle, bone, nerve tissue, water, etc. I rely on periodic tape measurements, how my clothes fit, how I feel, and body fat measurements taken via an electrical impedance body fat monitor. And one thing that I have discovered is that having to pay attention to how my body looks and feels instead of just relying on a number on the scale has helped with a lot of my body image issues.

Fiddler, Sorry I got messed up on the job thing. Thanks again for the encouragement.

Another good day yesterday......no supper!!! When I make something high in calcium like pizza, I don't eat and I'm not usually hungry at supper time. I would like to get it worked out so that I was but my dh likes to eat late.....he's a workaholic......and I grew up eating supper at 5:30pm. Never did get used to late eating.......still hungry around 5pm. I have read about "pacing".......eating a little to hold yourself off.......but it doesn't work for me. I always eat too much even doing that and then I'm not hungry for supper. Any ideas?

Carol,

I used to have a problem time of the day like that when I was always hungry. I just made sure I planned activities to do during that period and once I got out of the habit of being able to eat then, I gradually stopped being hungry at that time.

FIddler. that sounds like a great idea!!!

I've lost the weight I gained on vacation so maybe that's just something I can expect sometimes. I just get so tired of the gain, lose, gain, lose, thing. Here's another question. How do you keep from eating while preparing supper when you are really hungry? I think that has been a problem for me since I was married 37 yr ago. By the time supper roles around you aren't even hungry anymore but you wish you would have waiited. I've tried the gum chewing trick but that doesn't always work, especailly when you are having company (which we do a lot) and it takes quite awhile to get everything ready.

Hope someone keeps this going besides me. I was really hungry today. Ate reasonably well. I was gone most of the day so at the mercy of other peoples food. That's oik. I took a little bad of cereal for emergencies.

That should have been bag of cereal!

I've lost the weight I gained on vacation so maybe that's just something I can expect sometimes. I just get so tired of the gain, lose, gain, lose, thing. Here's another question. How do you keep from eating while preparing supper when you are really hungry? I think that has been a problem for me since I was married 37 yr ago. By the time supper roles around you aren't even hungry anymore but you wish you would have waiited. I've tried the gum chewing trick but that doesn't always work, especailly when you are having company (which we do a lot) and it takes quite awhile to get everything ready.

I keep a big glass of ice water with lemon beside me while I am preparing dinner. I make it a point to enjoy the preparation process and the cooking smells. I think about how good it will taste when it's finished. I don't nibble, and I only taste if it's absolutely necessary. I clean up as I go along because I like the kitchen to be completely clean by the time dinner is ready. When the meal is ready, I find that usually a very small amount of food will satisfy me.

can i join in. i am going to start tomorrow. i need to lose a good 18 pounds. how much do you lose an average a week with inituitive eating?

can i join in. i am going to start tomorrow. i need to lose a good 18 pounds. how much do you lose an average a week with inituitive eating?

Sure you can join in!

It's impossible to give an average weekly loss, just like it would be for any weightloss plan. There are just too many variables. People have different body chemistry, some exercise more, and the amount and types of food people eat varies. Some of us also combine intuitive eating with other eating strategies, like eating only whole (unprocessed) foods.

But I've been really happy with the results I've gotten. I've been doing it for a little under 4 months and have dropped several clothing sizes.

Thanks, Fiddler for the inspiring me to keep at it in the midst of normal everyday life. I think I'll print your last post and put in on the fridge!

Happy Monday ladies! I hope you all had fabulous weekends. I had a great one, got lots done around the house and did very well with food. I gotta tell you though, it's so weird to me still to know that "it's ok" to eat what ever I want. Obviously I've always been allowed, what a brainwashing we take with the diet mentality. Makes me so angry!!!

On Friday we took the kids to Dairy Queen for ice cream. Now, normally I'd go whole hog and get a Reese's blizzard and suck that thing down before we even sat down.lol This time I went in there truly thinking about my hunger and fullness. I opted for a small chocolate dipped cone and you know what, I couldn't even finish it!! I got the top all gone and when I got down to the cone part I discovered that I really just couldn't eat anymore. What a liberating experience!!

I have struggled with binge eating for as long as I can remember, starting before my teen years. I've gone to therapy where basically I was told to "just stop doing it", with no other help whatsoever. I've beaten myself up mentally, emotionally and obviously physically with the bingeing, for the fact that I felt like I could never stop doing this. I realize that I am fairly new to this whole concept, but boy has it really clicked with me. I was very leary of trying this for fear of gaining anymore unneccessary weight, but told myself that I had to be true to the process and give 110%. If I don't get anything else from it, just the thought that food doesn't have to be my enemy anymore is enough I think. I've discovered that already I am making better food choices (not all the time yet! lol) and portions are where they should be and often times alot less. I am starting to crave good-for-me stuff like lots more veggies & fruits. Who knew! lol

Ladies, I hope you have a fabulous Monday. Having this place has truly helped me keep at this, knowing that there are others out there doing it with me. Thanks for listening!

♥ Danielle

Hi All. It has been a while since I don't post, but I have been keeping up with the reading. I am happy all of us are getting better and learning more about IE as we go alone.

Carol,
I do a lot of cooking and I find myself nibbling and hungry while I am at it. Sometimes I eat a few mixed nuts and that seems to calm me down until dinner time. I don't eat much of it, just a little so that my hunger will not disapear for dinner!

I am doing good with IE. I can identify when I am truly hungry must of the time, but I have trouble at finding when I am confortable :( If you girls know of a good website where I can get some tips from, please let me know.

BTW, I came across this site: http://www.hood-meddac.army.mil/default.asp?page=nutrition_weight2&vi=n&mnu=0 and it has valuable info. Check it out!

About the scale... I have tried to stay away from the scale but I can't :( It feels like I need to know for reassurance, I know that sounds crazy, but it is the truth. In the past two weeks or so I have managed to lose 5 lbs, so I think I am doing pretty good at it. I do excersise 3-4 times a week, so I think that helps a lot. The best thing about IE is that I don't find myself going up and down like before. I used to lose 2 lbs during the week, just to gained it back on the weekends and that was driving me nuts. With IE, I either stay the same or lose some weight as I go alone.

Hi everyone! Good to see some new people here (like I am not - ha).

Things have been "okay" here food-wise. I've been so busy but also I have been trying to get stuff done around the house like painting, and I have school, and now we are planning a trip for Thanksgiving week, and I will see my parents for the first time in several years.

The last time they saw me I was quite a bit smaller, maybe 30 -35 pounds. But they have seen me much larger too. My mother is very judgmental so I can only imagine the "look" I will get.

My husband had a sudden death in the family so we have spent a lot of time in the car the past few days, and will do another roound trip again tomorrow. There is something about the car where eating helps. We bought candy to munch on and I suppose normal people do eat too much candy from time to time.

Scale vs. no scale: we put our scale in our closet and don't bother with it anymore. The one time I pulled it out I was disappointed and binged again. :(

Anyway, hope everyone is doing well...

I am kinda back into a routine since moving and my eating has gone back to the way I was before moving. I think our bodies are thrown out of wack when our routine changes...be it vacation or stress or whatever....anyway that is my completely non scientific opinion based on some random thoughts.

As for the scale. I get on once a month, I am too emotionally attached to the numbers to do it more often, but I do want to know where I am at in terms of weight. Also I think it is a reality check when I am not holding myself accountable.

Hope everyone else is doing ok?


One Question, when do we start a new thread?:carrot:

Hey girls! I hope everyone's having a great week so far. It sure's gotten slow here, I hope everyone's doing alright.

I have a question. Anybody here with kids, or someone else they have to cook for? My problem is that dinner time is becoming sort of a nuisance. While I've been doing super great with IE, dinner time is some what chaotic for me, in my mind anyways. lol Many times I am discovering, I am not even hungry when it's time for dinner to start. I have a 13,12 & 10 y/o and a dh. While dh isn't really a concern, it's the kids and a schedule that we keep in order to fit everything in, ie. homework, showers, music lessons, etc... I've been having dinner the last few days when I'm just not hungry, no where in that 0-5 range at all. While I'm not bingeing or anything like that, I am finding that I'm eating but then I am hungry again an hour or two later. Anybody have any suggestions how to fix this? I would like to be part of the family at dinner time and some how it just feels weird to not be eating when they are. Maybe it's all that ingrained thinking that all those diet books have given me??

Looking forward to hearing how everyone's been doing this week!

Danielle

Hi,
I'd like to join in or re-join as the case may be. I posted on the first IE thread but then started low carbing and stopped posting. I've been away on vacation where I didn't LC. I followed IE and only gained 1 or 2 lbs. rather than the usual 5. :D I have come to the conclusion that I have had enough of dieting and want to continue with IE. I've been dieting since I was 12 and dieting has only made me fatter. I am still trying to figure out the hunger scale.
All of you seem to be doing well with IE. I look forward to getting to know all of you.

Ali

Welcome Aleka....hope you stay awhile

Sugar-n-Spice. I don't have kids or a husband and I live along....but....
I was noticing I would eat breakfast and then when it came time to go out to lunch with my girlfriend I wouldn't be hungry. So rather than have regular breakfast I had about half or really just took the edge off so I could keep going. I also used fruit and small snacks to hold me over. Fruit isn't very filling to me and about a hour after I eat I piece I am hungry again.

For me, carbs are filling (bread, potatoe rice....) so if I have 2 pieces of wheat toast with my yogurt (at about 9am) by 12 I am wondering about luncha and by 1 I am focused. On the other hand if I know i am not going out to lunch with someone I may have a bagel and juice which will hold me till about 2 then I have a salad or something and then regular dinner.

I don't think this is eating completely intuitively, but I like to eat with other people so this is what I have worked out. Basically the amount of starches I eat will decide when I get hungry next. Meat, vegetables, fruit don't really factor because unless I stuff myself they aren't going to keep me satisfied. This might be a side effect of low carbing...not sure. With IE I am no longer tied to having to eat something so I can pick and choose what works and not feel tied down.

Ok, that was kinda long, but there it is.

-Obie

I would like to be part of the family at dinner time and some how it just feels weird to not be eating when they are. Maybe it's all that ingrained thinking that all those diet books have given me??

Hi Danielle,

I also have this situation. Most of the time I will sit with the family and just have something to drink or nibble on some vegetables with some bleu cheese dressing, something like that.

Eating together is very important in our household, but our relationship with food should also be important. It is hard though, especially with kids. You expect them to try new things and how many of us got in this mess because we had wacky input from our parents when it came to what to eat and how much?

Hi Aleka, I never tried the whole LC thing but have been tempted in the past. I have a friend who had been doing it for quite a while and now she is onto WW. Anyway, I look forward to your postings!