Carolr, Thanks for the prayer. It does sound familiar. It's a really good one to keep going to. It's exactly the prayer we need.
I went shopping with my best friend today. We ate at the Mall and I did real well choosing exactly what I woudl eat and no more. Did well for dinner tonight too and now DH wants to go to the DQ so I'm going and I'm going to enjoy it!
Have a great night all!

OK everybody, where are you all?
I weighed in this morning and have lost 2 more pounds! PTL
I hope you all had a wonderful Easter!

You know what i realized...i dont like the feeling of being stuffed anymore. I used to eat until i had that 'cant eat another bite or else i will blow' feeling. But know, i dread that feeling. I realized that i havent experienced real HUNGER in a long time.
You know, usually when im hungry my stomache will grow, and i will get a discomfort in my stomache. And so i feed it. Well, this past week i have been not feeling well, and so i havent really been eating. My stomache growled but there was no way i wanted to eat cuz i knew i would barf. So, i kind of ignored it and it went away. (Gwen talked about it in her book) Then, two days ago, i was feeling much better, and i didnt have a temperature, but my stomache hurt! And i wasnt sure why. It just hurt. It wasnt growling, it wasnt rumbling. So i ate and it felt better. Ive decided that what i was feeling was REAL hunger. REAL 'you havent eaten hardly anything in 3 days, now give me some food' hunger. i havent felt that in over a year. And now, i dont want to be stuffed. Ive overeaten today, but only a little bit. So, im just a little bit stuffed, and i dont like it. And this is just a little bit.
God is amazing in the way he designed us!
Anyway, just thought id share another epiphany i had. lol i seem to be relizing a lot lately, but it is definatly benefitting me. I feel so much better, even if i havent lost any weight yet. I FEEL better, not overeating.
Have a great day!

Hi 100percentMe, I hope you're feeling better by now. Sometimes being sick helps us get a jump start on eating better. I know what you mean about discovering that actual hunger feeling. I have done really well this past couple weeks, but the last 2 days haven't been so good. No catastraphe, but certainly could have been better. I'm not stuffing myself anymore at least, but when I'm at that nice comfortable full feeling when I know I should stop, I STILL want food. I know it's my devilish appetite rearing it's ugly head.
Best to you all.
One day at a time!

I guess my biggest problem is snacking. I eat when hungry but maybe too often. Right now we are on vacation in Colo. and the altitude has been affecting me and so I have not been as hungry. I can't really get much exercise because I can hardly breath. My family is skiing here.

Peachtea- Way to go on losing 2 pounds! You seem like such an encouraging person. Had a nice Easter with the family, but we are suppossed to have "white christmas" NOT "white easter", so I'm ready for SPRING in Michigan!! I know that when the warm weather gets here I will be outside with the kids and that will increase my activity level.
I am glad that this thread is still going. I really believe in eating based on hunger/ fullness and I'm glad others do to (as well as having encouraging christians here to move us all along together!)

great thread!
 

Hey guys,

I have just joined this forum and I really like what I'm reading on this thread. I just wanted to introduce myself and join in the encouragement.

I am a stay-at-home mom with 5 boys ages 8 to 16. Needless to say, we stay really busy. I have gained 20 pounds in the last two years. It was so gradual that I didn't even realize it was happening. Weight was never a real issue until I hit my 30's (I'm 38). Now I know that I can't eat like I could as a teenager. I have to be careful and mindful or at this rate...

I think the WD would be good for me. Theology aside, I have heard good things about the program. Knowing that I can eat what I want will curb the feelings of guilt when I eat the cookie and not drive me to the "forbidden food". I sometime get this warped idea that I am going to go ahead and eat whatever I want just to prove I don't have an eating disorder. Go figure. I obviously have issues with food besides the fact that I REALLY enjoy it!

Most people would look at me and not think there is an issue, but they haven't seen me with my clothes off! Not many of those clothes fit anymore anyway, unless there is an elastic waistband, and I refuse to go buy more! I am not comfortable where I am and I weigh more now than I ever have, except when pregnant. Things have to change. With WD I don't have to cut out the foods I love, like Mexican:dizzy: , I just have to cut back. Mexican makes great leftovers!

Sorry, I ramble. I am so excited about finding you guys. I hope we can get to know each other and encourage each other, because it ain't going to be easy.

God bless,
Leigh Ann

Welcome to the thread Leigh Ann. You'll be a great addition to this group of 'cheerleaders'!
I haven't been on for a few days but am here now to report that I gained 2 pounds this week. Grrrrrrr..... I knew I was out of control all week and didn't do anything about it. Sorry, Ladies!
I've packed a smart lunch today. A small pita sandwich and lots of raw veggies. I had my regular oatmeal this morning so I'm off to a good start at least.
God bless you all today!
One day at a time!

Alice

Peachtea-I understand about gaining back the weight you have lost. That is the story of my life right now. I am struggling to loose 8 pounds that i recently gained. 8 pounds!!!
Also, i have a question, how important do you guys think vegetables are? I hate veggies. Almost all of them. Unless they are dunked in ranch, celery smothered with peanut butter, stuff like that. I just dont eat veggies. I used to force myself to eat salad EVERY DAY. But i DONT LIKE SALAD. When i read weigh down, i thought i just needed a break from all that salad, but i havent eaten salad in prolly over a month. And i rarely eat veggies. Do you think i should get back into the habit of eating veggies, even if i dont like them?

Hi 100%
I think I've gained another 2 pounds again! The past couple of weeks have been so bad. My appetite is taking over! And I was doing sooooo well. Today is a new day and God's grace and mercies are new everyday so I will begin again. Doing well so far. DH and I went out for breakfast and I had scrambled eggs, homefires, bacon and toast. Sounds like I over did it, but I brought half of it home. It will be tomorrow's breakfast or maybe DH will have it and I'll go back to my oatmeal!
Yes, I do feel veggies are important. But I love veggies so it's not a problem for me! I wouldn't force veggies if you don't like them tho. That would only make you resentful. We need to ENJOY our foods! Maybe you could shred different veggies, add them to other foods while they cook. Like carrots shredded and added to chili, meatloaf, spaghetti sauce, potato salad, etc. I'm sure you get the idea. Frozen peas would fit in any salad practically. You could do the carrot ideas with beets too. I love beets!
Well gals, I wish you the very best today.
God bless you all!
Alice

Hi gals,
Me again. Yesterday could have gone better, but it wasn't as bad as I've done in the past so PTL!
I had my oatmeal today for breakfast. Something I've started putting in my oatmeal is cranberry sauce! The slightly tart taste is soooo good! Do any of you have strange things you absolutely love? I have discovered chessy puff corn. I hope you know what I mean. They are as light as air and you can have 2 whole cups for only 100 calories. They give me the crunch I sometimes really crave.
Oh... one little thing I've started doing for me is to use a nice spoon when making my cup o' chai or hot choc. I use to grab a plastic spoon to save the nicer stuff for the rest of the family. Well, I realized that's wrong. I'm as special as they are!!!! I have to start treating myself the same as I would a special guest. And all of you have to, too!
How about letting the rest of us in on the nice little things you do for yourselves? I'd love to have more ideas of how I can pamper myself. I deserve it! And so do you!
Also, I'd love some ideas on rewards for myself when I lose 5 pounds. OK Ladies, come on! I NEED YOU!!!!!
Please, please, please!!!!
Hugs to all, Alice

New here, did weigh down years ago
 

I am new and thought I would put my 2 cents in about the weigh down program.

Ever since learning the principles I have become a firm believer that the weight will come off very easily if we just listen to our bodies. I lost the weight once before by doing this program However the condemnation was too much to bear. I was left feeling that I had somehow let God down and was loved no longer when I returned to food instead of God. My "disobedience" had a negative effect on my walk w/ God. It took a few years to return that relationship to an understanding that God loves me no matter what. He just wants us to be happy and healthy!

Following the principles w/ support from others is a great idea. God is wise and if we listen to bodies he created, our bodies will be faithful to weight loss.

Hey ladies- this is the first time I've read these threads and I am interested in First Place. Author? I've heard of Weigh Down and the questions that come with it as well. I'm new at all of this except being over weight. I feel that I've been guided to this site! Hope to learn from all of you!

Thanks for the help!
Charise

Just wondering if anyone is still around and would like to keep this thread going.

The weigh down diet changed my life...
 

I have struggled with weight since I was nine years old and always had the mental block that if I ate ONE single morsal that was no considered DIET food..then that was it..I blew and I was off plan. I read the Weigh Down Diet book in June of 04 and to date I have lost 92 pounds. Some of her thoughts are a stretch..but I agree with....Pray..Ask God to help you overcome the powerful pull of food..and eat only when you are truely hungry. This is exactly what I did. I eat ANYTHING I want but I judge my stomach at EVERY meal. I learned by this book to let my inner spiritual voice be my guide. Really..IMO...we should all do this with everything in our life. Sometimes we are double minded with dicisions..when all we need to do is let our spiritual voice answer for us. Our internal knows when we NEED fuel for our bodies.

The main plus for me is the fact that after reading this book...I FEEL FREE FROM FOOD! This was huge for me. I just always felt so overwhelmed by making the right choices. When you follow this plan..that is completely taken away. For me...my mind was my biggest weight loss battle...as it is in most areas of our lives.

I am at the point where I am soooo SLOW in losing..since it has been almost three years...BUT I have NEVER gained!!!!!!! That is so awesome for me. I am 37 yrs old and have NEVER lost weight and been able to keep it off. I now NEED to focus on eating more veggies and fruits and I think I will get on down to my goal weight.

I wish ALL overweight people could read this book.

I like Gwen's first book. She has a lot of good info. After that she got a little carried away. S4baby, Hope you can get back to losing. It is a life long battle. There is another thread here similar to this......IE #4. It is using hunger and fullness just like WD. It is kind of slow right now but at times quite lively.

Hi all,
First time posting... read this entire thread. WD: been there, did that. It worked (for the first time as an adult, I was a NORMAL size... lost 70 #'s with exercising & eating low fat then WD helped me to lose the NEXT 70 #'s... so I was finally "thin" as an adult), yes, but at a spiritual price I feel still effects me today. My voice is somewhere out in her tapeland with my tesitmony. In 2000, when the beginning of the major controversy started, I needed to separat myself from WD and then found out I was pregnant. After daughter # 2, I didn't loose the weight again.

Don't get me wrong, I do think the concepts are proper, I've just not been in the proper mindset to look at the books again. I have Thin Within, but I agree, it seemed a bit cumbersome.

I am finally at a more mature spiritual level that I can look at these types of programs / books without feeling condemation (guilt) b-c I didn't 'measure up'.

Think I found a great support here... ready to begin again.

Thanks... PE

Since you have the same avatar as me I thought no one else had posted. ha! I also post on the intuitive eating thread and it is pretty slow right now and this is basically the same except on a spiritual level. That's too bad you had a bad experience with WD because you would never know from her first book that she had issues. She even had the testimony of a diabetic in the first book that said that we could do nothing to earn our salvation. I was surprised after all the controversy that she allowed that in her first book. Anyway, with God's help and the hunger and fullness guides that He provides it is possible to be our God given size.

If I get a new siamese kitten this week, I'll make that my Avatar!

:)

PE

I updated my profile a little... I hope you all are having a wonderful day!

Just finished planting more flowers. Almost done....but it's supposed to rain so it might be a few days. I didn't eat supper tonight......too busy planting. ha! How are you doing purple eggplant?

Just wanted to post something short to show off the new avatar.. that way Carolr and I won't get mixed up!
Have a wonderful day to all !!!

PE

Cute cat. I picked up one of our cats the other day and immediately my eyes started to itch and did so all day. It seems to only happen some times of the year. If you're not to opposed to Gwen she has an interesting interview with Tyra Banks on her website. Take the good, leave the other.

Hey Gals! Long time no see. I have been doing the "Lords Table" course, and it has been such a blessing to me. Im still struggling with only eating when im hungry, but i have improved so much. I am still working on losing weight that i regained. Slowly but surely its coming off. I hope yall are doing great. God bless.

Looks like you are doing really well, 100%me. Any tips for those of us how aren't? Do you exercise? Does TLT recommend exercise? Weigh Down doesn't at least for weight loss.

TLT says its good to exersice, but not neccessary. Each day when you do the lesson it asks if you have done any exercise. I think that this has really changed the way i look at food. Food isnt the enemy, i am, because of my sin. Im still having trouble with my weight. A couple months ago i started birthcontrol pills, and as a result gained 15-20 pounds. That was really hard for me, because i wanted to give up. I stopped taking the pills and with 5 days had lost 6 pounds. So im sitting at about 160ish. It amazes me how many times i can lose weight, gain weight, lose weight, gain weight, ect ect.

I have a question. Are you guys eating very much food? When i listen to my stomache, i am hardly ever hungry. If you would go by the diet experts (which say that i can eat over 2000 calories to maintain my body weight, yeas right) i am like, starving myself on the amount of food im eating. But the fact is, im just not hungry very much. I just dont want to be harming my body with this lack of food. So, has anyone else taken a HUGE decrease in food intake?
Hope everyone is doing good!

hunger
 

100%me, I am usually quite hungry several times a day and also have a hard time losing but have been on prednisone for almost 2 yr. I am especially hungry first thing in the morning. When I was first on the prednisone I gained 30lb in about 4mo following a nice weight loss due to illness. I hadn't been thin in 20 yr and looked pretty good. I knew the prednisone would do that but I was headed toward dialysis so not much choice. I've been battling it ever since...losing weight, that is. Lately I've been trying to go to bed a little hungry but I have to be really tired or I can't sleep.

Hi Everyone,

I'm new the forums and WD. I'm in week one of Exodus out of Egypt online class. I was seeing a nutritionist for nearly 7 months losing and regaining the same 12 pounds before discovering WD. I was eating more than I have on any weight loss diet before. Now, I'm eating so little and it feels great not having to write down every thing that I eat or eat special foods. I have also seen a therapist to learn new coping skills instead of always eating to deal with my emotions. Again after seven months, we've never discussed coping skills and I've realized that God is the only one that can help me.
I'm glad I found this forum you all sound real supportive of one another!

I'm new to this forum and I've never posted to one before so I hope I'm doing this right...I first read WD Aug 2006 and lost 19 lbs by Jan 2007.... eating whatever I want! Its now July and I have gained 3 lbs back. I have two questions 1) Do you really think I can get to my goal without ANY exercise? I have been at 188 lbs for a month. 2) Can you really eat WHATEVER you want forever? My body never wants vegtables and I'm worried about what I may do to my health. I was shocked when my body asked for fruits because I don't really like those either. Maybe if I give it time my body will call for vegtables....

I'm new too. I just had to answer your questions.

Yes you can lose weight with WD without exercise - all the way to goal.

I did WD when it first came out - about 10 years ago. It was a great program. It worked for me. I did the first program through my church then was a leader of a group once or twice. I started at 170 lbs and went down to 108 - size 16-18 down to a size 4. Losing weight gave me confidence and a new lease on life.
Now, while I still have the confidence, I've started slowly gaining and am up to 138 and a size 8-10. I know I'm not big yet, but I'm a slow gainer and it will be back before I realize it so I've been searching for something to help me get back on track. I eat entirely too much. My problem is that not only did I get away from WD, I got away from GOD and am having a hard time coming back. Looking back over my post, I can see that the WD principles I learned are still in me, I think my deal is in my relationship with GOD.
I really never got into the author of the book or her teaching so much that I believed what she believes about GOD - I only agree with her on the dieting/eating issues. We are too big because we eat too much. Over-indulgence in anything is sin and we need to seek GOD and repent. When I did the program I sought GOD, not Gwen. My bible was the mainstay of the program-I read it without a bible study (outside of my weekly WD) and sought GOD for what he had to say to me. I remember reading through several chapters and praying a LOT. I did listen to the weekly tapes and they were great-there wasn't any weird doctrine in the first things she published. I haven't listened to the new stuff. I still have the old tapes. I only read the first 2 or 3 chapters of the WD book.
I also have read posts asking about how much others are eating. While you are losing you will sometimes eat very little. There were days that I would eat 1/4 of a sandwich for lunch. It's ok. Just take multi-vitamins if you aren't comfortable that you are getting what you need. I know "She" preaches against this, but I am also in healthcare and I believe GOD gave us brains with good common sense. BUT if you eat within the boundaries of hunger, eat what your body is craving, pray and seek GOD you will lose and still be healthy. I can say that while listening to my body I try to chose healthy food. If I crave ice cream sometimes I may eat ice cream, but other times I realize that I may just need the milk that is in it and will drink a glass of milk. It works and satisfies the craving.
One other point. If you are at a standstill and not losing, re-evaluate what you are eating, is it too much? Remember even if it looks small to you, it may be more than you realize. Follow a thin eater for a day or two. Watch a thin co-worker eat, etc.
I'll be glad to answer any other questions.
Can you tell me how the online class goes and how it works. I've thought of doing one, or either starting up a WD group in our town. I just don't know if anyone will come due to the controversy surrounding Gwen's beliefs.

I checked this thread for a long time and there was nothing new. Glad to see the new posts. I still practice intuitive eating with God's help and have lost very slowly. I'll take anything because I'm on prednisone and it's hard. I do exercise and feel better for it. But I think you can lose without it. There is also an intuitive eating thread here where I post a lot.

The online class is alright. I've missed the last two sessions though due to work. The only thing I don't like is that the only time you can watch the video is during your class session (it's online only, you can't purchase). They don't want you to go back and rewatch them...which for me always helps to go back and watch again for motivation or whatnot. You have a workbook and cd to listen to. Personally I would like a local class to go to online classes are too easy to "avoid" I think. The closest one for me is 2 hours away. With all the controversy around Gwen I'm not too eager to try to start a group here on my own. At any rate, I haven't fully committed to the program. I'm afraid of it being too easy or short lived weight loss. I need to lose 100 pounds, though the testimonies are great and inspired me to sign up for the program, I just can't seem to "get into it". Ironically, it was easier for me to do a 17 day juice fast than work this program. I'm not really sure what the hang up is for me. For any of you that experienced this or something similar, how did you move past it? I'm desperate for answers...thanks for listening.

Hi everyone! Here is a little info from a newsletter I get called Beyond Chocolate.

Don't count on it: why calorie counting doesn't work
by Surinder Phull, Head Nutritionist at Eatwell.co.uk

One of my aims as a nutritional therapist is to encourage clients to shift their focus away from weight loss and start to concentrate on good health and enjoyment of food. Yet I am often met with an enormous obstacle; obsession with 'The Calorie'.

When I suggest that a veteran dieter might try butter, Brazil nuts, olive oil, or cashew nut butter (absolutely delicious if you have never tried it!) or even avocados I can almost see the red alert signals flashing on their in-built calorie counter. I try and assure the sceptics that (although calorific) these foods may actually improve metabolism and help long term weight management but all too often the calorie mentality kicks in. Too many calories are bad. Low calorie is good. Simple.

The problem is that our bodies are not simple. The way we deal with foods is complex and calories are just a crude indication of the effect food may have. Granted, if you were to severely restrict your calorie intake you would probably lose weight but that is tantamount to starvation and you don't need to do any clever calorific sums to work that out. Other than that calorie counting is essentially flawed and here are a few reasons why:

A calorie is a unit of heat. Calorie content of food is calculated by the heat it generates in a device called a calorimeter. Well there's the obvious flaw. Our bodies are not calorimeters. The way we digest food particular foods varies enormously between individuals and depends on the quality and type of food we eat not just its calorie content.

The second flaw is that not every unit of food we eat is used for energy. For example certain foods used for repair of muscles, building hair nails or skin. Certain fats in particular are needed to produce hormones that regulate our blood sugar and metabolism and help maintain a regular weight. How much an individual needs to meet these requirements is impossible to measure in numbers.

So when I encourage individuals to focus on their needs, their bodies are supplied with the foods that make them healthier, happier and (if they need to) gradually lose weight. Science aside, experience has shown that me this really works. So if you are a serial calorie counter it is time to stop punishing your body with deprivation and gruelling mental arithmetic and start nourishing your body with the delicious foods it is crying out for.
__________________

Did you gals see the story over in Support thread ...happy news thread...on the people on the Weigh Down diet? Cool!

Anyone home?

Hello Carol
 

I'm here. I've been reading the boards for awhile, but just got around to registering. Wanted to wait until I got off on the right start before I posted.

I picked up Out of Egypt student workshop book at the thrift store and have been working through it and listening to the tapes (tapes came pretty cheap from amazon used. Cheaper then ebay surprisingly enough.) This is a 92 edition and before Gwen started making up her own doctrines. I have to say, I don't agree with her interpretation on scripture part of the time, but the material is inspiring. You would like these tapes. Have you ever tried weigh down?

I have read her books. The first one is good and doesn't bring out her doctrine. I have a friend who has all the tapes and I have listened to them some. Just recently a sentence on the bottom of page 43 really jumped out at me. (from the first Weigh Down Diet book) I said we should welcome getting to empty because that is when your body pulls from your fat storage. I have had this book for 10 yr and this is a first. I always thought of hunger as the enemy and now I see it can be an ally.

wow, i havent been here in a while, and i was suprised and encouraged to see all the posts!
while reading through all of these new posts, i was thinking about my own eating habits, and i realized, i havent really been thinking about food this past week. For me, this is amazing. I cant tell you what i ate everyday this week, but i can tell you things God has taught me. This is such a huge step for me. To not be focused on food.
Im doing slimfast right now. And i really like it. Im still trying to listen to my body, and only eat when im hungry. Its been working wonderfully. And the slimfast shakes are such a great portion size, that i havent overeaten all week. I've needed a little help identifying with hungry and full, and the shakes are giving me some help.
i was doing the Lords Table, but i kind of fell off that wagon. It is hard to find the time to complete the lesson each day, especially now that school is in full swing.
My relationship with God had kind of faultered the past month, but this week has been so awesome....i dont know what it is about this past week, but so much has happened, and its all turning out to be beneficial to me. Im an emotional eater. I was an emotional eater. Though this week has been good, its also been overwhelming with everything that has happened, and guess how many times i ran to food for comfort? Not once. I have filled up countless pages in my journal with prayers for God's guidance in the situations, but God is the one who made me feel better, not food.
Well, now im just kind of rambling, so ill let yall go.
Im gonna have to start coming into this thread again, reading your posts are soo encouraging! And i can relate to a lot of the struggles. It makes me feel like im not alone in these struggles!
God Bless.

I went all Sat. morning without being hungry and finally had some cereal at noon. Then we went to our granddaughters bday and I had a normal supper. Today, Sun. is harder because we nearly always have company. We had a turkey dinner with the works but I didn't eat the dessert someone brought. Now I'm wondering if I won't need to eat the rest of the day. For once in my life I'm looking forward to getting hungry. I've felt really good lately and I have trouble that way since I have sarcoidosis and sometimes just am tired and achey. Hope by God's grace that I can keep it up.