I haven't been around much since we've been really busy due to the fact that we are 2 weeks away from leaving on our trip to visit our families in other states. My eating has been really good this week. In fact, I am excited about how well I am doing. It is like it has all come together for me. For the first time in a long time, I actually believe that I can do this. If I can get so used to it that it becomes second nature to me or routine, then I believe the weight will eventually go down to a healthy weight. I just don't feel like I'm on a diet any more. I honestly feel like I am eating normal because this is the way I ate as a kid and the way I ate when DH and I got married 6 years ago. I can't remember exactly what my weight went up to when I first started IE this time because I did gain some, but as best as I can remember I think I've lost about 5 lbs or maybe 7 so far this month. Still not sure how I'm going to keep doing things the way I want to eat while on vacation because I can't always get the foods I want to eat, but I guess that will be a new challenge of me doing IE. I'll just have to take it easy, relax and try to enjoy. Actually trips usually have been easy for me so I hope IE will make it even more so.

carol3639 I know you and your DH enjoyed having you whole family there for his birthday. You did well with the food too. Good for you. I'm anxious to read the newsletter you shared, but am tired and will read it tomorrow.

Spoz You've come to a good place for help.

Blue Serenity I did that. Bought some of my favorite foods and it worked for me. At first I thought it was going to work against because I ate too much at times, but once I really realized that nothing is off limits to me and that all food is legal now... I have no problems. In fact, I have kind of learned that some of the foods that I thought were my favorite foods and that just had to have because I missed them so much suddenly are not my favorites at all. In fact, I found out I didn't like them or miss them as much as I thought. Now I find that I can live with or without them. I think that is a great part of IE is being free to have what we really want.

I can't remember who posted about Intuitive Living, but I agree with you that it should also be a part of what we do for ourselves along with IE. I like what you realized that you would spend $5 for a loaf of healthy bread, but not spend it for something you really liked that wasn't food. I'm bad about that myself. I think we all do that because we don't think we deserve to be pampered with things we like. I know that 5 years ago when I had lost and weighed almost 50 lbs less than I do now, I loved to do special things to pamper myself that I don't do now. I loved buying new clothes for my new weight. Now I won't by anything new. I know it is because I don't feel as good about me now that I gained that much back.

I better close it is late. Hope everybody has a good week end. Catch ya again when I can.

Hi. Etherence, you have so much, living in San Fransisco, I miss the richness of varied experiences living in a big city. Sometimes, I think people don't even taste what they are eating, they just want to shovel in as much as they can. I realize that I like certain textures and temperatures, can't do cold bagels or pizza.
I first heard about legalizing all foods in Overcoming Overeating. That was the first size acceptance book I ever read, and a lot of the advice in it is good, though I think it glosses over some of the health risks of being obese. I can't believe I'm exercising consistantly and drinking water because I actually like the way it makes me look and feel.
I'm also in the process of ending toxic relationships. This is hard, because these people make me feel kind of guilty for not caring, but, I come first, and their negative energy is draining. My spiritual teacher tells me to get rid of anyone in your life that isn't positive and supportive. Talk to you all soon.
Amie

Lord willing, we're leaving for Wisconsin Dells soon and most of the kids are going just for the night. Then they will be going to their own homes. It's sad but I'm really tired so the rest will be good. It sure was great. Have you ever heard the saying "The anticipation is greater than the realization"? Well this time the realization was greater. We went out to eat last night and I ate too much even though I wasn't really full. Chock that up as a learning lesson.

The past few days, I have slacked off on my IE primarily because I neglected to have breakfast and my cup of coffee. Besides this, I have been stressed over ridiculous things that I have the power to fix. I had a big break through today. This is going to sound kind of wild, but I went to a buffet. I had a craving for fried chicken. I loaded up my plate like I used to but didn't finish what I had on it. Usually, I polish everything off so I can go back and get more food, and then I get three desserts. Today, I did finish one piece of chicken and took my time eating the rest of the stuff on my plate. The meatloaf didn't taste as good, the mashed potatoes were gross, the bread was without substance, and the mac & cheese, was just bad. I finished most of one Pepsi and left the refill. For desert, I had a small chocolate cupcake. On my way home, I stopped at the grocery store to pick up my prescriptions. I got a couple of bananas and an apple. Usually when I screw up, I go ahead and make it worth my while and go for some Ben & Jerry's ice cream. Today, I didn't nor am I knocking myself for not being mindful the past few days. Today showed me that I can prepare healthier foods at home that taste way better than the meatball sandwich I had at lunch or the buffet stuff I had for dinner.

I went to see a movie and I didn't load up with a bucket of buttered popcorn and a tub of soda. I got a small Coke. So, in general, I am happy with the changes that I have made and I am not going to beat myself up for the past few days.

Alicia, sounds to me like it went well ... learning experiences, right? Like you said, it went SO differently than it used to. Success!

Thanks Julie. It was different because I tasted things instead of just eating eating eating because I stuck in the "I am going on a diet tomorrow" mentality. I kept thinking "this food will be around tomorrow and so will Golden Corral...unless it burns down then I'll go to the Chuckwagon Buffet." LOL

I had breakfast today, so I am off to a good start. Also, there is no guilt from these last two days.

HAHA! Alcia, so true about the buffet running down! I had a similar realization about food and wanting to eat it but then had to remind myself that it would still be there later if I was hungry and I wanted it. Sometimes, I think I used to think that all of my favorite foods (chicken fingers, cookies, fries and bottles of ranch dressing) would grow little legs and run away from me if I didn't eat them even if I wasn't hungry. Now I have to tell myself, Rach, dude...your food isn't going anywhere...chill...

Also, congrats on
1. Realizing you were stressed
2. Actually tasting the buffet food and not eating as much of it as you used to! What a great step
3. Just the fact that you thought about how and why you were eating is progress! Yay!

xoxo
R

Random thought:

A lot of us on here have mentioned that once we actually taste a food by slowing down while eating it, we are surprised to find we don't even like how it tasted or even miss it that much.

Amie, I think this thought of mine relates to you post: In a dysfunctional way, I was really sad when I found out that some of the foods that I thought I loved so much didn't really taste good. I guess it's because that means, I can't get fulfillment, or satisfaction out of eating them anymore. It's like when you slowly begin to realize that a relationship (either with a friend or bf/dh) wasn't as good as it was and isn't working...and realizing that it's not giving you what you need or even feel good anymore so you have to let go.

Is this a totally random thought or what?

Here is link to another IE board. Lots of good reads:

http://boards.msn.com/Healthboards/t...threadid=39457

Thanks for the thread, etherence. It will take awhile to get through that! On the flip side of recent posts, have you found any foods that you really like that you had sort of forgotten about? I bought some caramel corn the other day and I haven't done that in years. And yesterday I was so busy I forgot to eat lunch. Now that's a first. Had a late lunch at about 4pm of 2 bananas and 2 pieces of toast. Wow did that taste good!

Thank you Rachelle. I still need some work, but I am on my way. I review a little bit of the book on a daily basis.

I had lunch today at Souplantation. For those who don't have this restaurant, it's a long salad bar, soup bar, bread bar, dessert bar, and so on. All you can eat. Actually not my favorite place, but the birthday girl (mom) got to choose .

I just had what looked good. Stopped before I got stuffed. Didn't finish things that didn't taste as good as they looked. Had the corn muffin with honey butter 'cause I wanted it. No dessert because their desserts looked like unappealing junk. Actually didn't even get salad the first time through because I've had a salad type entree for dinner a couple times in the last few days, and didn't feel like more. Ended up having some anyway, because mom recommended the spinach strawberry salad.

Anyway, decent food/nutrition-wise, not stellar - but so nice not to feel any guilt or regrets at all, because, you know, whatever I want is allowed . It was just about enjoying lunch with family, not about worrying about what I eat.

Now THAT's what it's all about!

Good job Julie!!!

Hey guys...Now that I've gone from overeating prior to Intuitive Eating, I've now gone to undereating at meals...hahah...that's right...I eat slowly and as soon as I get that full feeling (maybe not full enough apparently) I stop eating. Then I am hungry quite soon after that but I guess I still have some of the diet mentality in me because instead of going back to what I was eating, I try and polish off my hunger with small snacks...which start off as cheese, then crackers...then salami...haha...

I guess I am so afraid of overeating now that I am not eating enough at meals...thoughts?