Enygirl--Great job. I think when you start IE it is easy to be distrustful of yourself because we are so conditioned to restrict ourselves.

Forever--I think it comes with time. Who knows when it will subside you may never be able to get past it but you may have to learn to cope with it.

Carol--Another fantastic article. I am working on not obsessing about food. I know I can turn any conversation to one about food. I am trying to make it so my entire day does not revolve around when I am going to eat and what I am going to eat. IE has definitely made that less of a struggle.

Thanks for the help! The Almond Joy example particularly helps, as I've been concerned about putting things in my mouth when I wasn't hungry, and then feeling overwhelming guilt, but I see that it can be a learning experience rather than a hindrance.

After two and a half days of really paying attention to my eating and enjoyment, I'm absolutely FLOORED. I'm eating so much less and satisfied with what I'm eating - I feel like there's a thin person inside of me trying to get out! My body has effortlessly let go of about 1.5 lbs in the last couple days that it's been hanging onto for a month.

Forever--I know isn't it amazing? I'm always fighting my mind rather than my body. Meaning my body tells me when I'm done but my mind is like "you used to eat way more than this how could this be enough food? You don't know what you are doing!" A work in progress. One moment at a time.

gentle footprints girls....

I actually fell SO much better now that I'm not obsessing about everything! I'm still losing weight - I'm getting exercise as part of my daily routine, like showering or brushing my teeth. I wouldn't skip those - why do i feel I can skip the 1/2 hr+ of working out?

I don't feel guilty when I eat something that was "off limits" before - and because of that I don't eat NEARLY as much of it!

I'm completely with you on the amazement of how much actually satisfies you! This morning I had the fight w/ myself when I realized that 2/3rd of a bagel was enough - when generally I'd eat that plus a bowl of cereal! IT WAS CRAZY!!!

I'm going to incorporate more Super foods into my household. BF wants to lose weight too - but he's a muncher. The good thing is - he'll munch anything - so if I buy carrot sticks instead of potato chips he'll be just as happy ;) Monday is pay/grocery day! I'm happy about that!

:hug: and :dust: to everyone - enjoy your Friday!

Okay so I have been to Trader Joe's and Whole Foods so I am all set. The thing is now that I have finally gotten to Stage Four--"The Intuitive Eater Awakens" I am eating less. So I need to be careful. I buy alot of food. I like to have a lot of choices. I don't want food going bad because I'm not hungry for it or bought too much. Today is Day 5 of being binge free again and being in Stage Four. I feel really good.

Hi everyone,

I was on IE awhile back but got too scared having any food I wanted and quick jumped back on another diet, then another. I dieted my way up 15 pounds and have just been having such a rotten time lately. I decided to give IE another go as I cannot diet anymore.

So this morning on my way back from the dmv and getting my license renewed I picked up some breakfast from dunkin donuts for myself and my family.

I have to say it was very freeing to know I would have a BAGEL! (which I havent allowed myself in about 6 months) and I was thankful. I took half and wrapped it up right away to save for later. I savored my 1/2 bagel and had 1 munchkin afterwards. I felt satisfied and all was right with the world. Then, I dont know if it was habit or mouth hunger, but that other half of the bagel was calling my name until I finally gave in and had it. Then topped it off with more munchkins! It being my first day Im trying not to be hard on myself, at least I'm aware of what Im doing. I will go back and re-read my IE book and just keep practicing. :dizzy:

:welcome2: Tigerseye (Nancy)! I think it is natural when you go from restrictive eating to IE to go a little crazy at first. No worries you will get back on track soon. My IE book has been extremely helpful for me. I will always use it as a resource.

Hi Everybody,

I have been MIA around here. Saw some of you on other boards. Welcome Tigerseye (love the name). Shay is right. We all go a little crazy at first on IE, but it does settle down after a few weeks. I have actually begun to settle down and I'm not gaining weight any more. Plus I am eating more fruits and veggies and healthier. I'm learning there isn't that many foods that I really like so that will be good on my food bill. I have also learned that I don't have to eat everything on my plate. I love springtime with all the fresh fruits and veggies. I had roasted chicken and mixed (version of my likes) healthy veggies for dinner. We only eat one meal a day and snack the rest of the day. I didn't eat all the meat and veggies so I put them in a container together and I'll make a soup out of it one day when DH doesn't want a meal.

I went to the Paul McKenna website and it is FREE so I joined. Got a lot info I downloaded to read. I did the technique on line for getting rid of cravings. I've never been much of a sweet eater but lately found my hands going into DH Heath bars too much and too often & the crazy thing is I don't even really like them. I think it was the fact that I could have them. Any way after doing his technique, I'm not sure I will be able to eat anything chocolate without feeling nauseous or sick. I just need to get to where I am eating more IE lifestyle... eat when hungry and learn when I'm hungry and when I'm not and also get rid of cravings. I expect it to be a great addition to IE and Whole Foods as I learn to eat a more healthy lifestyle.

Thank you for the welcome :)

I ended up not doing too badly for the rest of the day, tho when I got home from work just now I had left over chinese when i really wasnt hungry...Im jst exhausted and wanted to feel better. I shouldnt be eatting at 1130 pm anyways.

I do have a quick question for you ladies in the know:)....I notice in reading back that some try to eat 6 meals a day or graze...does that mean they are eatting even if they're not hungry? I know its better for the metabolism but then I think its not IE then. Im just a bit confused. I ate around noon then again at 630 and I remember thinking my metabolism must be slowing down, but I didnt feel hungry. Any thoughts?

Hi, i am a diabetic and i have to eat like that. so i jsut watch it. but feel better. have a good week to all. LaDean

Tigerseye--It may have been me that said that in the beginning. I no longer worry if I eat 3 meals and 3 snacks. I eat when I'm hungry and stop when satisfied. So some days that may be 3 meals and 3 snacks or it may be 3 meals and 1 snack like it was on Tuesday. I really don't pay attention to the time. I am able to do this at work also because I have a really flexible schedule. When I said that I was still holding onto the diet mentality. If I'm not hungry I don't eat. I better go now because I am hungry. I will check back in later.

Edited to add--Whew I was really hungry I can't let that happen again but I whipped up a quick smoothie.

I don't really keep up with meals and snacks any more. I eat when I am hungry and I don't eat when I'm not. I think I am a grazer any way. Some days I eat more often than others. I do try to manage one good meal a day as my DH only eats one meal a day usually around 3 pm. That is the only "planned" meal we eat. I have learned recently that I don't really care that much for as many foods as I've always eaten. I ate them either because I thought I had to or because people around me ate it or it was cheaper. I've learned that I really like fresj fruit and veggies so I eat a lot of it. I used to drink a lot of coffee, but I realized that I really don't care for it as much as I thought I did. I mostly drink water, green tea and other herb teas. I really love IE. I am slowly learning to eat the way I did when I was a child and teenager when I was thin. On days I want breakfast, lunch and dinner and snacks, I can eat them. On days I don't want one or all of them and I don't need to eat them, I don't. I'm learning to listen to my body and I feel better when I do that. However, I still have that diet voice that yells at me from time to time and that gets me into trouble. When it doesn't yell at me, my DH will remind me... "you know you really shouldn't eat that". He has that "diet" mentality as well. You don't have to be fat to have it.
Have a good day.

We've had a busy weekend with our yearly Bible reading conference and I found myself not doing what that last articles said....always comparing myself to others and bemoaning the fact that I'm not thinner.....belittling myself, etc. It's just hard to change years of thinking and doing.

Carol--We all know we should not compare ourselves to others but we do. It happens but please don't let those thoughts linger. Move on.

On another note I was thinking about this thread and the fact that tomorrow is the last day of the month. This thread is actually manageable but it does say it is the March 08 thread. So I was thinking of doing a quarterly thread for April/May/June beginning on the April 1st. What do you think?

I'm watching a repeat episode of "I Can Make You Thin" and will watch the new one right afterwards. I will come back with my thoughts.

I Can Make You Thin--Episode 2: Overcoming Emotional Eating
A lot of things he said really resonated with me because I'm an emotional eater. He talks about asking yourself if you are really hungry and that has helped on many occasions. What's interesting is I had to fight myself in the past when I went to the fridge and I usually lost but now that I've been doing IE I no longer have that fight. I was skeptical about the the tapping but as he was teaching everyone I tried it and it was calming. So I will see if it works when I need it. So far I'm enjoying the show.