Hello Everybody,

No Carol, I haven't read it. I have bought so many books lately and still reading IE book Shay just got. Do you think it is worth purchasing? I buy so many that I know DH thinks I'm nuts.

After reading, that article you posted at the beginning of the thread by Stephen Hawks, I have revised some things on my way of eating. I still do IE with the idea of I eat what I want, when I want, but moderately. I always hated counting calories. I loved WW old way of doing it, because it gave you more of a guide on the starches which I feel the pts system doesn't do. I bought Richard Simmons "Sweatin' to the Oldies" DVD and ordered his FoodMover while I was at it. I love that exercise routine and have ordered another one to buil up to 45 minutes a day of exercise eventually as and when my knee allows me. Any way, I suddenly realized counting calories is so easy these days because everything is on labels. I also would love to have a flat tummy when I get down to my goal weight. I have finally designed my own Food Plan. I counting calories with the principles of both IE and the Flat Belly Diet. I didn't buy the book and didn't have the jumpstart, but I do eat small meals throughout the day and am learning to use some kind of MUFA foods in them as much as possible. I have been doing this 100% for the last 3 days of this week and at myWI this morning I have lost 4.5 lbs of the 6.5 lbs I had gained last week at WI. I am down .5" in my waist since my last measurements taken 2 weeks ago. The interesting thing is that I weight what I did two weeks ago.

Have a great day.

Way to go Patty. Keep ups posted on your progress. I think the Flat Belly Diet sounds very interesting and I have noticed that a lot of the experts are incorporating hunger and fullness into their plans.

Forgot to say that I've probably read the same amount of books on dieting as you and my DH is the same way.

I thought this article from ivillage.com was good.

Ten food fibs that will make you fat
When Pinocchio lied, his nose grew. When you lie to yourself about your diet, it won't be your nose growing, warns Sophie Pachella, founder of Eat Strong

1. I deserve it
This is a classic example of self-sabotage. Exactly what do you deserve? Blown progress? Thicker thighs? Self-medicating with food is a learned behaviour, which invariably leaves us feeling miserable. Instead, establish a food-free reward system such as indulging in a good workout, or new pair of running socks. Work on progressively altering the feeling that food soothes. The numbing effect is fleeting at best but the consequences sadly linger.

2. I've saved calories by missing breakfast
Not so. In fact, nothing could be further from the truth. Skipping breakfast lowers your metabolism meaning that the next meal you eat is far more likely to be stored as saddle bags. Skipping a healthy breakfast doesn't give you free license to gorge on crisps and biscuits before lunch. Some starters can run up over 1500 calories. Eat regularly and consistently to keep your blood sugar level and temper temptation.

3. It's free!
Hardly. The free 500-calorie bagel at the office costs you £50 with your personal trainer just to get back to square one. Furthermore, when food is free, we settle for below-par standards. Stale? Picked over? Ask yourself if you'd shell out the money to eat it. While you're at it, pop 50p in a jar each time you refuse free food. At the end of the month treat yourself to a healthy reward.

4. It would be rude to refuse
Never have two issues been as frequently confused as food and love. When a colleague, mother or friend offers us food, we feel compelled to accept even when we're not hungry. If this situation occurs frequently make your case clear. Rather than repeatedly turning down food, state your intention once, firmly and politely and ask for your efforts to be supported. In circumstances which require a little more finesse, graciously accept while insisting you're already full and are only having a bite because 'it looks divine'. If you announce your intention, you're less likely to then polish off of the entire slice of cake.

5. It's not the same without (popcorn, hotdog?)
If an event requires food to distract you, go home. It can't be that entertaining. Our behaviour at the cinema is quasi-Pavlovian. So use this to your advantage. Create a new habit, and work at making it stick. Bring your own air-popped popcorn to the cinema or better yet, take pride in proving to yourself you can survive two hours without food. Once you've established a new habit, you can draw upon that behaviour the next time and repeat it until it becomes the new you.

6. Supersize and save!
Pay £1 extra for a coke and plate of chips...why not? Because your goal isn't to load up on as much food as possible, that's why. Food isn't scarce. If you pay full price for half the portion, enjoy the fact that you're treating yourself right. Pay more for less you. Now that's a bargain.

7. It would be wasteful not to
Call me cheap, but this is my downfall. Throwing food away doesn't come easily; apparently I'd rather use my tummy as a trash can. How many times have you finished what's on your plate in a restaurant because you paid for it, even though it didn't taste particularly good or ate a tasteless protein bar because it cost £1.50? The 'children are starving' mantra haunts us, but we fail to recognise that shoveling in the last few bites won't help anyone. Note to mums: stop this manipulative tactic immediately. It's a terrible precedent to set. Overeating is just as wasteful than throwing leftover food.

8. But it's a party, we've got to celebrate
Is every get-together an excuse to eat? Food is fuel, not a party trick. Focus on the conversation and company, rather than the catering. You might meet someone nice, which beats a pig in a blanket.

9. Just this once won't hurt...
Actually, yes it will. The devil is in the details. A hundred calories a day translates into an additional 10.2lbs a year. Your body is the most accurate computer ever made. While you might choose to pretend that the sneaked bite never occurred, your metabolism won't let a single calorie slip by. Rather than working on excuses, channel your energy into testing whether 'just this once' you can pass the temptation by. The pride you gain is immeasurable.

10. It's too complicated/expensive to eat right
When we're feeling particularly lazy, this little fib sounds plausible until we weigh the cost of an apple or a yoghurt against a bag of crisps. Echoing Fib No.3, think how much you'll save by eliminating the need for another training session to melt away a pound of fat grown as a result of 'cheap decisions'. Inexpensive healthy snacks are abundant. Make a list of your 20 favourites, and refer to it when feeling thrifty.

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Carol--I really like #1. Thanks for the info.

Well I finally got a chance to read the foreward and introduction to the IE book. I hope to read chapter 1 before bed tonight. I'm really tired but would like to get that in.

Didn't make it to Chapter 1 but I got my Geneen Roth stuff so that will push me to read my IE book. I want the basics first then use that to assist me with tackling the binge eating by using the Geneen Roth stuff.

I got this website from another thread under Does It Work and I thought it was interesting.

http://www.fast-5.com/

Carol--Interesting but I know it wouldn't work for me. Its no way I could go that long without eating even if it does include sleeping. By the time the fast was over I would go crazy during those 5 hours. Some similar concepts to IE though.

Well I finally have had a chance to get beyond the forward and introduction in the IE book. I think as I read through the chapters I will post my thoughts and questions.

Chapter 1--Hitting Diet Bottom
That's where I was when I decided to try IE. I was tired of counting, measuring, and restricting. I have Sommercized, done Atkins, WW, counted calories, counted fat grams, made healthy choices, slim fast, etc. I researched the Mediterranean and South Beach but didn't start. I have had the last supper on many occasions. I have also been the one to bring my own food to places or had people say well you can't have this and this or I don't know what to make so you can eat!

Chapter 2--What Kind of Eater Are You?
I have not read the entire chapter but am far enough in to identify that I am an emotional unconscious eater. Something I've known but have recently admitted to. I have self diagnosed myself as a binge eater.

I really like the book so far. It is really easy to read.

I've really never considered myself as a binger or emotional eater unless maybe you coun't eating just for something to do. Mostly I'd say I'm a snacker or picker. I have a big family so do a lot of cooking and tasting, etc. I think there is a lot more to eating and losing weight than most of us understand.....hormones, genetics, basic drive to eat. Our bodies were made to store fat it's just that we don't live in famine land anymore for which we should be thankful. I always tell my kids if you eat when you're hungry and don't overeat, you won't have a weight problem. Out of 10 kids, only 2 have much of a problem although all have tendencies to gain at times. It's kind of amazing because my dad and both grandma's were obese and my Dh's mom and dad are although his dad has had trouble only in later life and when he got cancer he lost a lot. My Dh has a mild problem but diets a when he gets to heavy.

No one in my immediate family(mom, dad, brothers, grandma) is obese except me. Now my extended family that's another story.

Well I am doing better with IE. I have some hits and misses but it basically balances out. I feel good.

Most of my family has weight problems. We all have to watch our weight. I have one sister who is obese like me and our babysister is thin, but has to fight to stay there. I think I am more of a snacker. When growing up I was thin. Only ate lunch and dinner. Seldom ate snacks. I always said I had to learn to eat to gain weight. I gained weight when I started eating 3 meals a day. Now I enjoy breakfast... love oatmeal with raisins and touch of peanut butter and yogurt. DH likes to eat only one meal a day around 2 or 3 in the afternoon. So I eat dinner main meal. Then I snack. I have to admit that althought I am doing IE idea of eat what I want when I want, I have settled into using the guide of WW pts system with it so that I don't overeat. Hopefully this will help me to get into a normal routine so as to eventually lose weight. I just refuse to live another year with all this weight.

Pattygirl--It is scary to me but I am strictly doing IE. For a few weeks I went crazy--yep I'm a binge eater--but now I've settled in and am doing okay. My goal is to develop a healthy relationship with food and if I lose weight along the way that is even better. I am only on Chapter 3 of the IE book but I really like it. It is very easy to understand and follow. I should finish Chapter 3 and maybe 4 and 5 today. I will check in with my thoughts later.

Hi Shay, The book has really helped me a lot. I have seen myself in most of it and I hope it is helping me to see why I do some of the things I do. I used to start eating as soon as my husband would leave for work and I was by myself. I realized that came from when I was a child. Daddy was gone a lot and when Daddy left was fun time with Mama. She would make chocolate fudge and spend time with us. I learned to eat when bored, lonely what ever. Now DH takes a nap or goes into the other room to get on the pc and I catch myself ready to eat. So strange how we get programmed and don't even know it. One thing I love about IE is I'm not on an eating schedule any more. A lot of days I get up and want to eat, but there are days like today that I didn't want breakfast before going to church so I didn't eat it. For one thing I knew I was going out to eat at a new restaurant to check it out and we would be eating main meal earlier than usual. So while I'm using WW to keep my calories in check, I don't have to follow any special rules like "I have to eat breakfast or I can't eat this or that". I hope you are enjoying the book as much as I have.

I've cut down on my rigidity also. I was eating every two hours which consisted of 3 meals and 3 snacks. Now I'm just eating when hungry.

Chapter 3--Principles of Intuitive Eating: Overview

Principle 4: Challenge the food police will be a hard one for me because if I just ate an hour ago eating again because I feel hungry will seem wrong. Something I will need to work on.

Principle 5: Feel your fullness will be another difficult one for me because I tend to eat way beyond fullness.

Principle 7: Cope with your emotions without using food will be the most difficult one for me to tackle that's why I plan to back this up with the Geneen Roth learning packages.

Principle 8: Respect your body may be a toughie but I think I can do it. I may be happy at 150 vs 120 even though at 148 I'm still considered overweight according to the BMI chart.

Principle 9: Exercise feel the difference will come as the second toughest. I really identified with Miranda. I have a mini gym in my apt and still don't exercise.