My favorite lately is about a cup of frozen mango, about 3/4 medium banana (a whole one overwhelms the flavor), 1/4c or so light coconut milk, and 2T ground flaxseed, and some vanilla. I haven't gotten totally consistent result yet, but when I got it right, it was like ice cream.

Wow, Julie, does that sound good! I can't have calcium and maybe that recipe would be alright. Gotta try it. I used to make a smoothie from watermelon, peaches and banana. Tasted just like ice cream. Two of the fruits needed to be frozen but one not, so the blender wouldn't get stuck.

Thank you Carol!!!!

Thank you Blue Serenity!!!
I have had those blah days, and I just give in. Last week, one of my meals was mini-candy bars. I sat there and ate about six of them. But, you bounced back today and that is what counts. I am going to have to be careful with those dreary winter days. They always get to me.

I just lovvvvvve mangos. That almost sounds like a mango colada smoothie. Some rum in der....LOL just kidding.


Carol..this fruit combo sounds to die for!

I had a couple of nonIE days. Seems cooler weather makes me crave heavier foods. I didn't get that full but no I ate too much. Today I'm not particularly hungry so that's a plus. I'm craving salad and that hasn't happened in awhile. How is everyone doing?

Hi Carol and everyone! Doin' OK today. Off to my usual slow start. Just wondering what I can do to kick up the weight-loss. I'm participating in challenges on the board and the thing I dread the most is reporting a gain, especially since I'm part of a team. I started tracking my goals on a daily basis to help keep me on track and last week was awesome for me. This week got off to a rocky start and I'm finding myself with two days to weigh-in and up several pounds from my last weigh-in. Challenges are fun but oh so stressful! I let my team down, I let myself down. But I want to participate. Makes for an emotional roller coaster of a ride.

As far as the IE is going, I've been eating whatever I want and lots of my favorite stuff for about a week or so now and have enjoyed every bite. But now I am settling into the idea that "OK, now what?" So I'm starting to crave things I've not been eating all week ... chicken, salads, steaks. Anybody who has read the IE book, is there mention of going thru a phase like this in the book? (I REALLY need to get the book! I pledge to order a copy today!) The novelty of eating my all-time favorite candy, Reese cups, till they come out my ears has worn off. I have a whole bin of them in the pantry, which right now I could take or leave. I know they are there IF I want them. And I'm starting to crave other stuff. I guess this is a good thing. I'm listening to my body.

Well, that's how I'm doing and where I'm at. I just hope I can take off some of this "bloat" weight before Friday. Not looking good.

That sounds stressful to me. I would really hate to feel pressured (even if the pressure was only from me) to do anything other than what was best for me because I'm on a team.

We do have challenges that are not team-based. I personally join the 5# challenges in the Support Group forum. I'll never win, because lots of folk are losing twice as fast as I am, but it doesn't really matter. It's just a place to check in every day and get encouragement. Most (not all!) weigh daily, but you don't have to.

It is stressful, but I think I'd slack off if I didn't have the accountability. Scratch that, I KNOW I would slack off!

I ordered the book! One goal completed this week!

Hey blue-
With regards to your body wanting stuff it hasn't had (steaks, chicken, salad etc) I think that is a sign that your body is talking to you. If you notice, those things are different than what you have eaten, and maybe your body is craving those now so it can different nutrients and vitamins from these new cravings.
As far as what the book says, first and foremost it always says to honor your hunger. So if those are the things you are hungry for, you should eat them...
In the meantime before you get the book, have you visited the official website? Here it is just in case you don't have the link:

http://www.intuitiveeating.com/

xoxo,
Rachelle

Hi Blue, According to the IE book by Tribole & Resch, the results of eating what you want when you want ultimately balances in a 90% - 10% of food choice. When you finally are at peace with food, your choices will be 905 fairly light nutritionally healthy foods and 10% what they call play foods because we will begin to enjoy feeling good and not feeling stuffed from overeating. Thanks for asking the question. It made me look it up and found that we are both in a good place in the process of becoming Intuitive Eaters.

I'm having trouble getting my water drank now that it is so cold here. I am wanting hot drinks rather than water. Hope I can get that turned around or at least get it balanced.

Thanks etherence and pattygirl!

That's what I was thinking. Thanks for the link, too. I have seen the site, at least the 10 points to follow.

That sounds great! On the road to recovery! It is amazing what kind of "brain damage" dieting can do!

Not sure how to ramp up the water intake as you are trying to do. I've been alternating drinks. I have a big 24 oz. Tervis tumbler that I drink out of all day. First I'll fill it up with iced tea and when I'm done with that I'll switch off to ice water. I'm trying to get in 3 of those full of water in addition to whatever else I'm drinking. Seems to work pretty well when I remember to switch off. I'm so used to going to the tea pot sometimes I forget. lol

Hey. I'm really struggling between either dieting or overeating. I was doing so well for a while, then, hit a snag and gave up. Well, I just can't diet anymore. Every diet forbids something I like, or makes me obsess about food. This is the only way for me. And, even then, it's not much different than dieting, accept my focus is liberated from food, though I still like the same stuff, whole foods, fresh, etc. If anyone could give me advice about how to get out of being obsessed with losing weight, I'd really appreciate it. I feel like my weight has become my entire self worth, and, that makes me feel very sad. Really don't know what to do anymore, but know, if I just stay wih this, that IE will eventually lead me home. Thanks for being there on the journey and with me in my hour of need.
Amie

Blue, I agree with you about the "brain damage" dieting. I have been so brainwashed by diets that I am constantly battling that. I am glad to learn that we are just going through the process which means it will finally change and although it may be a slow process we will eventually become IE "thinkers". The book will help you because it explains the different voices that are in our heads and which ones are helpful voices and which ones are harmful. I read this book when I first got it, but I have to say I am getting more out of it now. I think when I get back from my trip that I am going to read it again only more slowly and really get down to practicing what it says.

Amie, I too am obsessive about the weight. That is why I still haven't been able to give up the scales and I'm not sure if I ever will completely. I think one thing is the "diet mind" that makes up so obsessive because let's face it when dieting the scale is supposed to tell us when we've been good and reward us with a weight loss. I'm not getting the reward that I want. I may lose, but then there are days when the scales are back up. Perhaps that is why they say in the IE book to make how good you feel your goal rahter than what the scale says. Makes me wonder if the scale is sabotaging me my efforts. As long as the scale keeps us in the "diet mind" then we will constantly be listening to the Food Police voice and never get away from thinking that there just might be a diet out there that will work although we know there isn't. The book says if you are eating a nutritionally healthy food because you like it and want it with the feelings of guilt (which I take this to mean that you would feel guilty if you didn't eat healthy) then eat it. Hope we both can find a way to "not" let the "scale voice" have such an influence on us.

Thanks, Patty, for the words of encouragement. I'd forgotten about the various voices the book talks about. I'm with you, going to slowly reread the book.
Amie

Regarding choosing to eat healthier foods: today is such a day for me. I got up late so there was no breakfast but when deciding what to eat for lunch I really listened to my body today. I was really drawn to the cold, brightly colored single-packed, mandarin oranges in the fridge and they were so good. Then the cinnamon applesauce caught my eye. MMMmmmm Peeking in the freezer for anything I could find ... ah talapia ... haven't had that in a while. Sounds good! What a satisfying meal! (And I'm not a big fruit person!) It was just really enjoyable to listen and respond accordingly! It would have been just as easy to grab a can of soup or throw together a sandwich, but it wasn't what I wanted. This is good! I can live like this. Choosing to eat healthy foods because my body wants them over choosing to eat healthy foods because a diet dictates that's all I can eat is so much better! And the Reese cups are still in the cabinet if I want them! Not feeling the urge right at the moment. Am actually thinking about something like veggies right now ...

Yup, isn't that a funny thing about the Reeses cups. Mine was Cadbury milk chocolate with almonds. Now it's just not that much of a draw. Today it's been salad and garlic bread. I've been off of salad for awhile so it's about time.