Wow everyone is just a movin' and a groovin' along here - I've not been posting for several days as I was moving houses!
I did that a year ago at the beginning of P1 and I really can't believe I did that and stayed 100% OP - I have to say I am impressed with my "year ago self"
My work has moved me around a little the last few years but hopefully I am going to be settled in the area I'm in now. Moving, though I am fairly practiced at it, still just is a pain in the butt
and gives me quite a bit of stress and anxiety.
I did read through most of the threads, but it's been so active I can't quite keep up
... and that's awesome.
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I hope all is well, Frawnie I love your new profile pic and a big congrats for your successful trip. I like what Lisa said, that we are learning a new lifestyle where healthy eating is an adjunct to a truly pleasurable time, and it's not the food and drink that need to make it pleasurable.
I will add that for me, what I have realized over these last few years, and esp. doing P1 for a year, is certain foods and drink not only DON'T add to the pleasure, they actually DETRACT from the pleasure. If I am not present in what is happening around me, and escaping in some way by not being present in what I am eating, or eating more or less than I need, I am actually really uncomfortable and not having a good time.
I have also learned that if there is somewhere I am considering going where I don't think I'll have fun or "get through it" without eating or drinking things that aren't good for my particular body and metabolism, then likely it's not actually somewhere I want to go. That was a big one for me to learn.
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Also to another poster having difficulty with how to decline food - I have gotten really good at that over time (nice to know it's OK to be grateful for strengths we have developed in addition to identifying our weaknesses) that I am just really clear and especially simple with people when discussing these areas. With things like "do you want a bite" "do you want a piece" I often just stick with "no thank you" and a genuinely warm smile or gratitude at the offer - because they are offering something as a gift - and that is fine.
With actual bigger gifts, for the most part I just accept them and regift them, and I have a cadre of friends that are thrilled to get sugary goods and bottles of wine and alcohol from me as they know I wouldn't use them. It's likely the person put some time and thought into the gift, and if they don't know me well and don't know my health situation (and for example at work I'm not likely to get another gift from them), I have found the kindest thing is to accept it as a gift that it was meant to be.
Other times, for example pressure when I am at dinner with people, I tell them briefly that my body doesn't produce insulin as well as other people, so there are things I am medically restricted from eating for the most part (I am on P4/maintenance so have a little more wiggle room, but on P1 I made it clear that I didn't do it at all). If someone is preparing dinner for me, I definitely call them ahead of time, because I have found it's really unfair when someone cooks something special for you and are excited for you to eat it, and then you say you can't. I usually explain my medical situation, that it totally works for me to have really plain veg and meat, and I am really fine with bringing my own food if that works for them. My circle of friends is really laid back, so they almost always just told me to bring it.
If you are clear in your own boundaries, most people respond fine. The 10% that don't likely have their own food issues or disorders that they are deailng with, and I just try to to still be warm as I understand and have empathy for their situation, but at the same time their situation doesn't need to derail me or effect me negatively. Sometimes I just had to let them have their feelings or upset without trying to fix them. The members of my family for example that were still active in some form of addiction were the most triggered and the most vocal (for example one implied or even said that I was selfish and rude for not drinking with her), but once I explained my situation, I just sat quietly and let them run their numbers. Over time they grudgingly accepted and at least stopped talking about it for the most part
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As far as the conversation about the different threads, I have noticed it's a little inefficient as many of us are kind of posting all over the place, but I don't have a ready solution. I can definitely see that the threads of when someone started are at times very successful and helpful it seems. Perhaps someone's suggestion of starting them quarterly rather than monthly would be good, but the first month truly is tricky, and I can see that people would be attracted to talking mostly with people that are also in that first month.
Love reading EVERYTHING you guys are writing an up to. Have a good week
. He is the only son of my only brother (who passed on a couple years ago).
