Made a new chocolate cookie recipe today but my favorite was the tomatoes and cucumbers from the garden. YUM!

Ok....so this morning I got up and was trying to decide if a) I was hungry for breakfast and b) what I'd like to eat if I was. I couldn't figure out if I was hungry. No hunger pangs and nothing sounded good so I figured I'd just wait to see how I felt later. Soooo....I sit down and play on the computer for a few minutes and drink my coffee and I realize that I'm getting upset/nervous.....like I'm not going to feel better unless I find something to eat NOW! What's that about? :?: I finally decided that I'd make grits, and as soon as I'd made that decision I felt better. Sheesh....talk about emotional eating!:rolleyes:

I think it is about learning the biological signals and that takes time. It will come just give yourself time. If you are like me, you have learned all these "diet" rules of when and how to eat so that you haven't had to listen to when your body is hungry. Now you are having to learn to stop the rules and listen to when your body says it is hungry. I go through that some time too. I don't always recognize when I'm hungry and until I get the shakes. Not so much now as I did in the beginning of this. Now I have the problem of recognizing "real" hunger and I "think" I'm hungry. IE is a process and we just have to go through it. Carolr is a real inspiration to me that this actually works and look forward to the time when I can be join her in the success zone.

IE is process of learning experiences. We learn why we do certain things and make corrections where needed. Trust your instincts.

Good Morning,

Things are going good for me. I'm starting to understand how I like to feel when I eat. I have known this before, but it is sinking in again. I hate feeling stuffed and overfed. Now I feel that I'm starting to explore how I feel when I eat certain foods. I actually like the feeling that eating light foods gives me. The only way I know how to explain it.

The fish sticks were good, but not as good as when Mama fixed it. I find that true about a lot of things. I never thought I could give up potatoes when dieting, so had a baked potato the other day. It was good, but not as great as I thought. I'm learning that some foods are good once in a while, but not all the time. Today, it is hot dogs that I've been hungry for so will test them to see how they measure up. It is interesting when you find that the foods you missed when "dieting" were probably missed just because the were "forbidden" on a diet.

carolr I went through a time when I just had to have chocolate chip cookies. I bought a bag and got tired of them before they were finished. Now I hesitate to buy things like that because I end up not wanting it like I thought I would. Like you, I'm learning that I like the healthier foods more than the "play" foods. But I am in a stage of learning what I really like and what I don't so it all depends on how I feel about it when I get to the store to buy it. Sometimes I get to the item and look at it and then say "I don't want that" and walk away without it. It is a whole 'New" experience for me.

Hope everyone has a great weekend!

flmom23, hunger feels different to different people. You'll figure it out. Patty, sounds like you are figuring it out. After all these years it's kind of a neat feeling. My hubby got me a new side by side frig. I have wanted one for a long time but his mom didn't like hers so he never would buy one. After 40 yr. of marriage he gave in. ha! Praise the Lord! I ordered a dress for my son's wedding Aug 21st but is was a little tight. When I looked at the website that night the size I needed was there. Whew. I considered going on a drastic diet to fit into the first one and am I ever thankful that it is not needed. Not that I could do that anymore.

Help!
 

Hello, all,
My name is Chavonne and I was wondering if I could join this thread. A few days ago, I woke up and realized that, even if I lost the weight I hope to lose, I don't want to be obsessively watching what I eat for the rest of my life. I've heard about IE before and am really intrigued. The idea of not being a slave to my scale sounds like a miracle. I bought Intuitive Eating (the book) this morning and plan to read it as soon as possible. I'm terrified by the idea of not dieting because I've been doing so for most of my life! I would appreciate any and all support and tips. Thanks!

HiChavonne:welcome3: to the thread. We are glad you are here. Just jump in and ask any questions. Hopefully someone will be able help find the answers for you. We all understand your fears as well as we have all been there and had them. I still battle with it at times. I am 66 yrs old this month and have dieted for most of 46 of those years. I think the hardest thing for me was giving up "diet" thinking. In fact I tried IE before and the biggest fear I had and still do sometimes is that I would gain too much weight while getting back to eating normal. I finally decided that I have to give this a chance since I was gaining weight any way from the dieting. At least with IE, I have a chance to lose. My advice would be give it a good chance and don't expect "overnight" changes as IE is a slower process. From what I've read, it is worth it. Good luck with your journey.

carolr-Glad you finally got the refrig you wanted. DH doesn't like ours, but I do except I wish I had gotten white instead of silver which was the in thing when we bought it. I hate trying to keep it clean and we don't have kids little hands on it all thetime. I know you are glad you don't have to do a "diet". You've come so far with IE. Haven't told you lately, but thanks for being an inspiration to the rest of us.

When You can't Recognize Hunger
 

flmom I read today in the book that if you have a difficult time recognizing true hunger to ask yourself how long it has been since you ate last. They recommend not going more than 4 or 5 hours without eating while eating. It seems that the liver dumps carbs every 3 hours and needs to be replenished every 5 hours. This must be true since I read something similar by another dietician's diet book.

Hope this helps.

Thanks, Patty. Actually they make a nonfingerprint stainless steel now. That's what I got. Not sure what is is called but you get the idea. ha!

Hi girls my two mile walks are getting painful, I have blisters on the bottom of my feet, any suggestions on how to get rid of them! Never had them on the bottom of my feet!

I'll learn....although sometimes I think that my body isn't on speaking terms with me! ;)

You know I think I have a couple of different kinds of hunger signals....trying to sort that out.

Congrats on finding the dress! One less thing to stress over! :D

My Dad is a diabetic and that's what they tell him to do. It keeps your blood sugar stable (and makes you not get so hungry!) It think it's a pretty good idea.

Here's what I've figured out so far:

1. I tend to do other things while I eat, so I don't even register the taste of the food most of the time. I'm trying to pay attention and enjoy my food now.

2. I don't eat often enough. I'm much happier as a grazer....little bits all day long instead of big meals.

That's it so far...I'm off to the store. I've been wanting this salad I used to eat all the time. It's soooo good, although it sounds odd. It's lettuce and/or spinach topped with sliced red onion, dried cranberries and goat cheese. Then I use raspberry viniagrette. I had this in a hotel once and used to make it all the time, but I haven't done it for ages. :hungry:

Betsy

Bootsie, new shoes? New socks?

I don't know. Excellent fit is the most important thing.

Betsy I know some of my signals are times when I watch certain things on television and I am trying to break those habits. I do multi-task sometimes even when eating, but trying to break the habit of eating by outward signals.

Again while reading the book yesterday, I learned that I am a grazer too and according to IE... that not only is okay; it is also good for my metabolism. I used to say when previous hubby was living, "I could lose weight if I didn't feel like I had to eat 3 meals a day. I seem to like eating little snacks rather than big meals. For one thing, I like the way it makes me feel.

I love raspberry viviagrette. Never thought of putting dried cranberries in a lettuce/spinach salad. That sounds great. I'll have to try that. Isn't it fun learning that we can eat the foods we like. I'm still learning what I really like and what I don't. I love fruit sometimes with yogurt for breakfast and we had hot dogs yesterday and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I've even got DH telling me what he prefers to eat and doesn't. We are kind of discovering our food likes/dislikes together although he doesn't have a weight problem. I used to try to get him to eat more and eat healtheir. Now I am trying to help him learn to eat more Intuitively with his body. I think we will both feel better.

Bootsie - sorry about the blisters. Hope you are feeling better soon.

Carolr - I think someone told us you had to be sure to get the right stainless steel after we ordered ours on line and the builder got it and put in the house before we moved in. I bought the cleaner made for cleaning and I also made me some lemon water someone told me about... the special cleaner does not work. The lemon water isn't great but works better than anything I've found so far.

Julie, Blue and Everyone else:wave: Hope everyone is having a great Sunday.

I think it was my shoes but i think I must of burned rubber the other morning. It started raining and we were coming up a hill and we learned if you come up it like a dog trots, sorta like a sideway dance that is so easier. Well it started to rain on us! Yeah! But we kinda put the metal to the petal so to say the rest of the way home and got soaked . Rained 2 tenths, I put some Lanacane on my foot and that seems to be really helping.
Will have to go to a bookstore in Marble to get the book Amazon won't let me send a check like I used to , want it all on line.

I was wondering how, for those that read the IE book, you all worked through the principles. I was thinking of reading the book straight through then going back through each principle slowly (2-4 weeks each). What did you all do? Thanks!

I will often tell people to watch children. You know how they'll sit down to eat, take two bites and claim, "I'm done!" They naturally stop when they are no longer hungry. It isn't until they are taught to eat until full that they forget to listen to their body and they listen to the voice saying, "Finish your plate! Somewhere people are starving!"

This is so true! I have a 13 year-old daughter who is 5'4" and weighs about 85 pounds. She is tiny! She knows exactly how much food she needs and I will not mess with that. She'll eat one piece of pizza and I'll ask if she wants another and she'll say "no...I've had enough". All of my kids are like this and it makes hubby nuts. He's always wanting them to come back to "finish their plate", but they seem to have a good relationship with food (willingly eat fruits and veggies....although I wish they were more adventurous in general) and I don't want to screw that up for them as adults. I dearly wish I had the same instincts.

Back in my pre-mommy life I used to sell shoes. I don't remember much about the fit of athletic shoes, but what I will say is that they should never give you blisters on your heel. Sounds like perhaps they're too wide in the heel for you. If it keeps happening, get thee to a running store and have one of those folks fit you. Take your old shoes with you and tell them where the blisters happen and they'll help. I have a friend who does this for a living and she's fantastic. Every shoe brand is different (see...I remembered one more thing!) and they all fit differently, so perhaps you need a more narrow shoe. Until then, possibly wearing thicker socks might help. Good luck! I aspire to be a runner. :^:

Thanks flmom23, these are Walmart walking shoes and it is on the bottom of my feet. I could understand on my heal but the bottom that is why I just dont understand why on the bottom. I been wearing my hiking boots and feet feel just fine till I take them off. The blisters are almost gone just sore.

Hello everyone!
Bootsie suggested I come here to post with you all. I ordered the IE book just now and am anxious to get started. Right now, I'm going to go to the track before it gets too hot. I'll BBL. ♥

Welcome, Mamaduck and all newcomers. Let us know how your IE journey is going.

:wave:Hi Everybody,

:welcome: Mamaduck as well as any other Newbies lurking or that I've missed. Looking forward to getting to know you and sharing our journey together. So let us know how your IE journey is going.

A quick one today. Didn't read any of book this weekend so doing that today. I am enjoying learning what I truly like. Trying whole wheat mac and cheese today.

I think someone asked about doing Principles. I read the book through before and now I'm going through the book much slower doing the Principles more consciously and at whatever pace I need.

Have a great day everybody.

Hello, all,
I just wanted to say that I've made the decision to leave 3FC. Since beginning IE, I feel that I can't use a forum that has the word "diet" in it. I wish you all the best!

Just out of curiosity....do any of you ladies identify yourself as having had an eating disorder...or being close? I'm just interested in how many of you have done it all and see this as a sort of "recover". I'm definitely one of these. I almost feel like I'm learning to breathe again. I've been reading on some other IE websites and forums and I'm fascinated by how many recovering eating disorder survivors there are.

Hi flmom23 and everyone! :wave:

I would definitely say that I've been living with an eating disorder. And I think that the proof is in my size, what the scale says, how I feel about myself, and the hoops I've jumped thru trying to change all of that. Binging and starving and counting every morsel of food one puts in their face is not normal! Yes, absolutely, I think I am on the path to recovery with IE. And that being the case, I expect to fall into old habits from time to time (after all, can't quit eating cold turkey! lol) Slow but steady wins the race!

More company coming Fri. Seems all I do lately is change beds....and computer. ha!

chavwright, in case you pass through and see this, I wish you all the best!

I never had an eating disorder. I'd certainly say I had a problem with eating, and still do to a much lesser extent, but not an eating disorder per se. But I do very much see it as a recovery - not from an ED, but from the crazy society we live in!

There are a number of 3FC's who have mentioned their eating disorders, and I find it SO inspiring the ways they've changed. It gives me a lot of hope.

I am very thankful I had no eating or weight issues growing up (other than thinking the SAD was "normal" or even healthy). I think my eating issues came more secondary to emotional / psychological issues as an adult. It was both a coping mechanism for tremendous stress, and also a symptom of the self-regulation I never learned growing up.

Are any of you ladies over on the through thick and thin forum? Sorry....I can't post the link because I'm too new...

It's a nice one....lots of good information.

Ok, my issue for today is this....because of our schedule today, I have a very narrow window to eat dinner. I'm trying to wait to eat meals until I'm hungry...but what if I'm not? Is it better to eat when you're not hungry, or to wait a few hours until I'm really really hungry?

In the book she addresses this. It's just part of life that you make some compromises. One of them being, when you can only eat at a certain time (or else have to wait until you're beyond starving), just go ahead and have a light meal and don't worry about it.

I agree Julie. Today I had to clean my room and rather than stop in the middle I ate before I started cleaning even though I wasn't quite as hungry as usual. I think I've been on the thick or thin forum but I stick to this one ......too many gets me bogged down and I can't remember where I said what. Now that was quite a sentence!

flmom23 - I'm on through thick and thin, but I don't post on it much any more. They have a lot of good information. I took advantage of reading everything that was there for us. So take the time to read it. I also was able to get a lot of information by writing Shannon and asking her about things I had trouble with. I prefer this thread here at 3fc as far as posting and support. I only use through thick and thin for reading.

My issue today is that I have been fighting the "diet" mentality which has been trying to convince me that I need to be on diet. I'm hanging in here, but I have had the continuing thought all day that I should be following some kind of diet plan. I am also getting bored with the thought of what to eat. Nothing sounds really good right now.

Hi everyone! :wave:

Yesterday was pretty strange for me as far as eating goes. I was really down in the dumps and didn't really care what I ate. Interestingly, I found myself eating chicken and a brownie for breakfast, cookies on a whim, cup-o-noodles for lunch, freetos for the heck of it, green beans and smoked sausage for dinner and even ice cream and popcorn for an evening snack. Probably a heavy calorie day, but I didn't care, I felt totally satisfied with what I ate. (I've been known to eat some strange foods for breakfast, but not brownies!) But since I was in one of my "I-don't-care" moods whatever appealed to me was what I grabbed.

Just to analyze a bit ... today I'm looking back over my list thinking "Wow! I ate a lot, I need to get a grip on myself." But on taking a closer look, I never ate past full. Everything (except dinner) I ate because I was feeling hungry. And dinner wasn't very much. But I even went to bed hungry late last night. Normally the food police would have been criticizing me about what I ate and when I ate it (and how much). But because I just didn't care, I did have permission to eat. And imagine this ... I felt satisfied. lol Maybe to really get this total permission to eat thing to work we need to eat like kids again ... literally! I think someone mentioned watching kids eat a few posts back and yes, I have noticed this too, they self-regulate if allowed to. I know I won't want brownies for breakfast everyday, so why not just allow it anytime of day. Why do I have to eat brownies only for a snack (and after I've had my "nutritious" meal)? What if the pick-me-up I needed to get me thru the morning came from that brownie that just sounded so good at the moment? Had I ignored it for the sake of eating a healthier choice ... perhaps I still would have been craving and would have found myself in binge mode? Who knows?

Well, anyways, all of that just to say I think I've learned something from this experience. When I started IE I did an experiment where I went out and bought all my favorite foods to give myself permission to eat them as I so desired. But in that experiment, I don't think I gave myself permission to eat candy for breakfast. I think I still had rules about what should be eaten when. You know, 3 meals a day with snacks as needed. But when I think about it, back when I was in my late teens and early 20s I didn't eat breakfast. I usually would get hungry around lunch time and can remember eating one of my favorite foods at the time ... canned vegetable soup mixed with cooked white rice. lol And I can even remember when I was working one particular job I would run out for lunch (don't remember if I ate breakfast then or not) and I would grab a diet pepsi and a bag of smartfood popcorn. That was lunch. Or there was another time in my life that I would have a diet pepsi and a package of peanutbutter & cheese crackers for lunch. At those times in my life bingeing never happened. Guilt never happened. I just ate what I liked ... and was at my ideal weight. A lot has changed tho over the years.

Well anyways, I ran on again, just reflecting on some things ... this time I'm done!

Have a great one! :sunny:

I'm there today, too, Blue. I have been sitting at the computer eating Back to Nature crackers mindlessly because my back hurts, I'm recovering from a sore throat, my gouty toes are hurting and the air conditioning guy can't get a part. This is the first time we've had central air......that is if we get it before winter. And it is supposed to be in the 90's Sat. Ugh. Actually I'm putting off cleaning. Why do I do this? Oh, and company is coming again Fri. Life goes on, right and we have lived without central air for 40 yr. of married life. Now if I can just get back to hunger. ha!

I am Julie and just love it there but love it here too! Learning a-lot from both, making new friends is the best part!

I finished off my sirloin steak last night. It was 1/2 steak and it just filled me up quick.

A wasp got tasty this morning and got me on my finger and i sure am sleepy but not hungry and have to fix David some dinner, guess I best go. All have a great day and Carol I know what is to live with out air but it is not easy, get your fans going and forget that food drink plenty water before that food makes you sick in this heat, if its as hot as Texas!

Blue Thanks for sharing your experience. A lot of "food for thought" there to chew on. lol I can remember times like that when I was thin as well.

Carolr Hope you get to feeling better and get the AC working soon as well.

I got up this morning and wanted eggs, sausage and toast. I've done low carb for so long that my first thought was "Oh, that bread is fiber not low carb so I can't have that!" (Isn't it interesting that today I start reading Chapter 8 Principle #4 titled "Challenge the Food Police".) I caught myself and said out loud "Oh yes I can have the toast if I want it" and I did.

Mentioned on an IE thread on another website that I was bored with trying to figure out what I wanted to eat. One of the girls on there made an interesting statement. She said that when we stop "dieting" we don't know what to eat because we have no forbidden foods to crave any more. I believe that is so true. I also find that since I'm not on a diet and don't have to write down, plan, and/or count every bite I eat that I have a lot more time on my hands to do other things.

BTW the other site is www.lowcarbfriends.com if you want to check it out. I think IErs have more time for other things so we don't post as much as dieters do so while his is still my favorite IE place, I find the other places have good info too.

Everybody have a nice day.

A little advice from Beyond Chocolate.

We wait for it all year, we long for the sunshine, the blue skies and the warm breeze on our skin. We plan holidays and picnics and seek out the pubs with the best gardens. We get out the t-shirts and the shorts and the sandals. Summer is upon us... rejoice!

Or not?

For many women, summertime can be fraught with unease, anxiety and embarrassment.

Alison has planned an all inclusive holiday but she's terrified she'll put on loads of weight - she just can't trust herself around all the yummy food which is there just waiting to be eaten.

Beth hates having to bare her arms and legs. It's a daily battle having to choose between feeling hot and sweaty or hiding the arm wings and flabby thighs she hates so much.

Cynthia cringes every time she gets invited to a barbeque. She spends most of her time wondering if other people are counting how many sausages she's got on her plate while she beats herself up for being too weak to opt for the salad.

Dawn is dreading the family get together this year. Her sister in law looks so good in a bikini and she always feels fat and frumpy next to her. She wishes she didn't care and had the confidence to wear a bikini but she hates her belly and ends up spending the day hidden under a t-shirt.

Eleanor buys ice cream and tells herself they are for the kids, but ends up standing in front of the freezer eating it out of the tub with a spoon and then she feels sick and guilty when there's none left.

TRY THIS

For picnics, barbeques and all you can eat buffets: Take a good look at the food on offer and tune in. How hungry are you? What type of food do you really fancy? Select what you are going to eat, choose carefully - you can always go back for more if you're still hungry. If possible, find somewhere quiet to sit, with people whose company you enjoy. Eat mindfully, focus on the food and savour each little delicacy! Tune in often and STOP when you're satisfied.

For those summer and holiday treats you just can't resist: Whether it's ice cream, a bag of hot, crunchy chips or those glorious, sticky ribs with BBQ sauce - if you tell yourself you shouldn't be having them and then beat yourself up for having them anyway it's a no win situation. How about having whatever it is as your meal rather than a treat? Wait until you are hungry and have some. The next time you are hungry, have it again. By giving yourself full permission to have these foods when you are hungry for them instead of sneaking them when you're not, you'll soon find they become like any other food. And then you'll be able to make a real choice rather than feeling compelled to eat them.

For the bikini crisis: Or is it shorts? Or tank tops? Do you spend most of the summer sweating in clothes that cover you up while wishing you could feel more comfortable or fashionable or fresh? We imagine that others are scrutinising and judging our bodies - but in reality we are our own worst enemies and this is what holds us back. Pick a day when you pay special attention to the way you talk to yourself about your body. Notice what you say about the bits you don't like, focus on catching those nasty, demeaning comments and tune in to how it feels to beat yourself up this way. Is there any way you can find something kinder to say?

BINGO!!!



.

You know, this makes me wonder ... there's a diner I love to go that's about an hour away, so it's usually a treat for us to eat there. First of all they have awesome meals and a huge menu but secondly, they have a bakery window loaded with the most sinful looking desserts that I am always way too full to try (but would love to). Meals are huge portions, can hardly ever finish a plate, usually get leftovers to go, so I never get to try the desserts that look so very yummy. I just wonder if a trip is in order. I always joke around saying "we ought to just skip dinner and go straight for dessert" ... why not?

Hi Everyone,

I almost caved in to the "diet mentality" yesterday. Even got an old book out to look at the plan again. As I look at the diet plan, I realized that I would not make it through Step 1.

Then I started reading IE Chapter 8 Principle 4 "Challenge the Food Police". I figure I am right on time for this chapter. I decided to stick to my commitment to IE and just trust it. So I am still doing IE.

I am doing the affirmation thing that I learned from the Beck diet book which teaches to make Response cards that you read everyday. So I took my cards and made them to fit IE thinking and started reading them today. I feel like I'm back on top of things again and more encouraged about what I'm doing.

I see there's lots of reading to do here so I'll come back in a bit and read and catch up with y'all.