Intuitive Eating #10
 

Since there are 500 posts in the old IE I'll start a new one. Intuitive Eating is eat when you're hungry, stop when you're satisfied. Well, it's a little more than that. When you feed your body regularly, it gets the message that you are no longer in a famine (diet) and will lower your appetite. You'll lose weight slowly but surely. It really is amazing. Somedays I'm hardly hungry at all and others I am. I even passed up Culver's cappachino almond fudge ice cream Sat. because I just wasn't hungry.

Just saying hi on the new thread :D

Thanks, Julie.

Here is a really amazing blog about IE.

http://eatwhenyourehungry.blogspot.com/

That *is* a nice blog :). She seems very genuine and real. I don't remember seeing her book in the store.

I thought it was interesting what Maggie Miller had to say on her blog about eating at a certain restaraunt. That has definitely happened to me.

I share this story with you because I want you to know that every meal isn’t going to be perfect. Some meals may be so dissatisfying that you stop eating them with hunger pangs still in your belly. Other meals will be so disappointing that you’ll want to stop mid-way through, but you won’t because you’re hungry and there’s food in front of you, and you have to get to Costco, get the kids fed and bathed, finish a PPT and put the next meal on the table. So you eat it.

And if you’re like me two weekends ago, it may very well ruin your entire morning. In fact, my mood didn’t turn around until about 3 in the afternoon…….when I got home from the store with a palette of strawberries, a container of blackberries, my favorite yogurt and a new box of granola. Guess what I ate for breakfast every day last week?

So, just remember that even a “seasoned” intuitive eater like myself sometimes has gross food. And sometimes it even ruins my day. But, it’s all a part of this journey. Every meal is a learning experience. You’ll notice that my disappointing meal at CF did not lead me into a binge-fest (though it did lead to a week’s worth of yogurt parfaits for breakfast, and I enjoyed every bite!).

One other little nugget for all those nay-sayers out there who say, “Intuitive eating? Doesn’t that mean you can eat anything you want? All I’d ever eat is donuts and cheeseburgers!” Guess what, sometimes all you’ll want is fresh fruit.

Hi everyone! :wave:

I've been out of town for a while but I'm back now.

Welcome to those of you who I have not yet met ... CatholicCajun and nickyci! Nicky, you sound like you're on your way. I truly believe that IE is the only way to break free from the diet cycle you speak of ... like most of us, I am all too familiar with that! CatholicCajun, snacks have always been hard for me eating this way too. I would usually overindulge in them and that would set me up for binging. Only recently since I started keeping an eye on my carbohydrate intake have I been able to keep the snack binging under control. Seems the more carbs I eat, the more I want and can't control myself. I do eat the "junk" food as well as the "healthy" snacks you mention, just within my own limits, that's what works for me. Great to have you both with us!

And Hello to everyone I haven't mentioned. :wave: Not much time for posting right now. Will check in later.

Have a great one! :sunny:

Hi Blue. Julie, the book by Maggie Miller is $16.95 for an 82 page paper back which I thought was a bit high. I think I can wait until they have some used ones for sale even is it is a few months. The hard back book was $25.95 and the E download is $9.95. The last would be the best deal but still a bit steep. But, hey, she's from CA where everything is expensive.

I looked up IE on Wikipedia today and was surprised to read this.

An early promoter in the recent wave of interest in intuitive eating is Lynn Donovan who published in 1971 a book called The Anti-Diet: the pleasure power way to lose weight. But actually, intuitive eating is not a recent idea at all. "Fletcherism" is defined in dictionaries as eating according to hunger, and is named for American nutritionist Horace Fletcher (1849-1919).

Originally Posted by carolr3639:
Hi Blue. Julie, the book by Maggie Miller is $16.95 for an 82 page paper back which I thought was a bit high. I think I can wait until they have some used ones for sale even is it is a few months. The hard back book was $25.95 and the E download is $9.95. The last would be the best deal but still a bit steep. But, hey, she's from CA where everything is expensive.

I might pay $10 for the ebook. But I'd want to see the TOC first.

Michelle May, MD has several great videos about IE. I was surprised to find these.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0sEcd...eature=related

Originally Posted by carolr3639:
I looked up IE on Wikipedia today and was surprised to read this.

An early promoter in the recent wave of interest in intuitive eating is Lynn Donovan who published in 1971 a book called The Anti-Diet: the pleasure power way to lose weight. But actually, intuitive eating is not a recent idea at all. "Fletcherism" is defined in dictionaries as eating according to hunger, and is named for American nutritionist Horace Fletcher (1849-1919).

That's interesting Carol!

Lots of company this weekend and then leaving, Lord willing, for Portland and Seattle next Tues to see our kids. We're taking 2 grandkids with us. Coming home July 17th. Oh, the thought of all the weeds in the garden! I just won't think about them. ha!

carol, Have a great and fun trip.. getting to take the grandkids how neat. i am still here just been hot and not in here much. but thinking of everyone. i am still losing and exercise. with curves now and love it. losing those inches to. good luck to all. LaDean

Hi, ladies...Just checking in on the new thread. Carol, thanks for the link to the new blog, and to the You Tube videos.

Have a great trip! Everyone else, hope you have a great day!

Yesterday I spoiled my appetite for lunch by having some frozen yogurt, which was ick by the way (that's been my working definition for junk lately - stuff that makes me want to eat it even though the taste makes me think ick - there's something wrong with food like that). I didn't mean to, I thought I'd still be hungry after, but I wasn't for another 4 hours or so. But, good healthy girl that I am, I went and bought some Chipotle anyway, to get in some good beans and veggies. I took a few bites, and realized I was already full. Not just not hungry, but full. Chipotle's not cheap! But I ended up throwing it out because it was out for hours and hours by the time I could even think about eating. I felt stupid for buying lunch before I was hungry, but good about not just eating it anyway!

Julie, I know what you mean about the foods that are just "ick." I don't know why, but I eat them too even tho I'm really not enjoying it, but can't stop eating it for some reason ... maybe subconscious rebellion to the diet mentality?

Chipotle ... love me some Chipotle!!! mmmmm!!! :p

Have a great day everyone! :sunny:

PS. Enjoy your trip Carol!

Julie, I just followed the link to your photos. You've done wonderfully well!
I noticed that you're eating whole foods most of the time, and not calorie counting. Did you calorie count for a long time while losing, or did your loss come about because you switched to whole foods?

Have you been intuitive eating for long?

Carol, those You Tube segments from Michelle May that you posted yesterday were very good. I'm immersed in "diet head" lately, and those videos really jolted me back into reality for what works for me. Hint: it's not "diets". ;)

Originally Posted by Truffle:
Julie, I just followed the link to your photos. You've done wonderfully well!
I noticed that you're eating whole foods most of the time, and not calorie counting. Did you calorie count for a long time while losing, or did your loss come about because you switched to whole foods?
Have you been intuitive eating for long?

I calorie counted down to about 160 pounds, but not after that. That was at the same point as I became vegetarian. I was always doing the wholefoods thing. For most of the rest of the weight loss, it's probably more accurate to say I wasn't calorie counting than to say I was doing Intuitive Eating. But I had it in mind and was learning and experimenting with it a bit. I incorporate more and more over time.

We made it safe and sound to my son's in Seattle My DD will be coming up from Portland tomorrow and then we will go to her house next Mon., Lord willing. I always find it a little more difficult to do IE when away from home because you eat mostly what someone else fixes but today has gone well so far....even had a Baskin Robbins jamoca almond fudge singe dip cone which I only get about once every 3 yr.....ahhhhh.

Hi everyone! :wave:

Hi Carol, glad you're enjoying yourself and have arrived safely. Enjoy your family!

Seems I always have a little trouble on vacation. Can't always eat when you're hungry and then when you do you go past satisified. But I did see some pictures of myself for the first time in a long time and I was surprised and pleased. How is everyone else doing?

Wow, hello everyone. I've read these posts, I am doing intuitive eating right now. I don't eat junk though, I find eating chicken helps fill you up, and it's good when your craving things also. haha, kinda random, huh? I was looking for a thread that I was doing. I found it. :)

I feel really good, and I find that if you let your cravings go, just have alittle of what you want( that's already in your own home already) you feel ok, becuase when you let yourself just have alittle of what your craving, you know it will not hurt you for the day.

What's wierd is since I've started, I havn't felt hungry really at all. One: Becuase I'm eating here and there when I know I need to. Is that against ie? Also, I know that since I've been eating only when I'm hungry it has my appitite lower.

Also as a side note, I've been exercising almost everyday.

Do you guys really think that book is worth getting? I havn't looked at it.

:)

Originally Posted by carolr3639:
Seems I always have a little trouble on vacation. Can't always eat when you're hungry and then when you do you go past satisified. But I did see some pictures of myself for the first time in a long time and I was surprised and pleased. How is everyone else doing?

wow, that is great carol! :)

Welcome snowwolf. I'm on vacation right now so not much time to post. Lord williing, we'll be home on Sat.

Welcome SnowWolf! :wave:

It seems to be a little slow around here lately. I, myself, have been out of town a few days and am just now back. This isn't a really busy thread to begin with, but we have some regulars who pop in to let us know how things are going and we discuss our ups and downs. It's truly a learning process following IE - mostly learning about ourselves! I do recommend the book, but in case you haven't already checked out the website, you can click on the link in my signature to read a bit about it.

I hit a snag this weekend and found out what happens when I am tempted not to watch my carbs, the old diet mentality sets in and I still give myself free reign to eat. *sigh* I guess the only way to be truly free is to give yourself complete permission to eat, not even holding back just a bit (like I have been doing with the carbs). So I think I have to make a life choice ... put up with the occasional splurges that come with family get-togethers and just get back into the game "come Monday" or just totally let go. I've already let go and it added 10 pounds almost instantly. Not the direction I wanted to go in. PLUS I fear diabetes is looming on the horizon for me if I do not put that limit on my carbs now while things are still OK. Well, that was my boo-hoo session for the day. I have to stick with limiting my carbs, but still doing it the IE way.

Hope everyone is doing OK! Its been so quiet in here! Have a great one! :sunny:

From Beyond Chocolate.

Most of us do not wake up in the morning thinking "I really must transform my relationship with food and my body!". Most women wake up thinking "I really must lose weight!". The search for weight loss is all encompassing: Weight loss is the answer, the pot of gold. Or is it?

At Beyond Chocolate we often get asked the million-dollar question: do people lose weight by following the Beyond Chocolate principles?

The short answer is: yes, many women do.

The longer answer is: yes many women do lose weight - for some it happens quite quickly but for most, it takes a while to undo the years of dieting mentality and learn new skills. Lets face it, dieting is depressing, punishing, and it doesn't work for long. Beyond Chocolate is kind, liberating and for life! So, it may take a bit of time to lose weight and you may even put a bit on before it goes for good, but getting there will be nothing like a diet! Some women haven't lost weight but what they've gained is immeasurable.

So while you read the testimonials below, all from women who have reported losing weight and from those who haven't, have a look at what they say they have all gained. Maybe tomorrow you'll wake up thinking "I really must transform my relationship with food and my body!"

"Sophie and Audrey Boss have changed my life, they have taught me how to listen to my body and give it what it needs. I eat for pleasure and nourishment and stop when I am satisfied. I no longer spend evenings uncomfortably full and regretting what I have eaten, or hungry and deprived whilst dieting. I'm free of the tyranny of the diet industry and from my self-imposed dieting and food miseries. And have I lost weight? Yes, two stone so far, without counting a calorie, syn or point, without giving up chocolate, or fresh bread and butter, or cheese, or a good bottle of wine. Beyond Chocolate changes lives." D. Merriman, Yorkshire

"90% of women on this westernised bit of the planet are wasting so much time and energy being miserable about their weight. Read the book. Go on the course. Work on yourself. Then we'll take over the WORLD!" Cressi, Cambridgeshire

"I bought this book a year ago now. The best buy I ever made!! For the first time in my life I'm losing weight without trying and thoroughly enjoying eating whatever I want" D Liridona, on Amazon

"I've been on and off diets all my life. After a year or so of investigating and procrastinating, I started Beyond Chocolate last summer. I had a six-month fight with myself, knowing how important it was medically for me lose weight as soon as possible, but trying to 'let go' and allow intuitive eating to work properly. Then I had a light-bulb moment. The more I worry about it, the less it works. The more I jump on the scales, the less it works. The more I think about weight and size the less it works. I had to learn to trust my body and take a huge leap of faith that it would give me the right signals, if I only allowed it and listened properly, as to how to heal my relationship with food and my body, and become healthier. And now I'm getting lighter. More importantly still, knowing I can trust my body is so liberating! It's a freedom I've never had before in my life and I love it. Letting go is definitely the key." Lesley, Oldham

"With dieting, my only reward was weight loss. With intuitive eating, I'm rewarded every moment of every day. I'm rewarded when I realise I haven't eaten a morning snack because I just wasn't hungry. I'm rewarded when I share the most delicious ice cream with a friend, and enjoy every mouthful without feeling guilty. I'm rewarded with the freedom of not having to write down every morsel that passes my lips. And I'm rewarded when I realise that that little apple pie is still sitting in my freezer, waiting for me when I'm ready." Brooke, Melbourne, Australia

"I have never before felt this level of choice and control around food and, as a result, my self-esteem has soared, giving me the happiness and energy for life I have craved for such a long time." Louise, Edinburgh

(sorry for the spelling-don't have time to fix)

Thanks for welcoming, Carol and blue. :)


And blue, don't beat yourself up-we all know how that feels. Just next time allow yourself what you want, just enjoy it slowly and stop eating. Like, to make yourself allittle satisfyed just eat like let's say...chips, eat or let yourself eat maybe a handful and a half, to take your mind off of wanting it. You'll feel better and in control. Then just have alittle of the other treats on the table. And that's it. You'll feel fine. When you just let yourself have enough to get a taste.

So try that next time. or try eating things at the right time, so they don't make you feel icky when you do have a treat.

For me today, I was running late for summer school ( I'm getting ahead) and I couldn't find any carbs out and ready to just grab. So my mom found the last cinimon roll thingy, and I kind of rolled my eyes inside thinking...I'm taking it anyway. This was at 7: 25 in the morning.

But, I didn't beat myself up for it, becuase I like to eat carbs in the morning, my body needs it and it will burn it up happily no problems... to bad.

But then I have something junky I crave or want more, so I had two hashbrowns when I came home, and I barley waited untill I was hungry, then eggs. And then carries. I felt bad, but I was ok, because I let myself. I know it's not that bad, but when your doing good, you get that "oh-no" thought. I CAN really do some damage when I let myself. ( I didn't do that good yesterday either, but I'm still sticking to my guns and if I eat something bad-if I feel hungry later, then I know it was ok for that day, becuase I'll eat again then exercise. To make up. THIS has helped me alot, it works well, keeps me going, and supprisingly, since I'm focused on taking care of my body, not just lossing wieght, it's working for me. )

So to make up for being a wiener, I worked out on the glazel while watching Rocky 4(haha), and walking down to pick up my brother, then walking for 30 minutes.

So I think to help the cravings, let yourself, but try to time it right. When your body wount make you feel discusting.

And also when your with family, maybe make something healthy to eat, drink allot of water and let yourself have a taste. :) Then you'll get used to it, then worry less-when it's out of your head you'll eat less of it. I think part of eating, comes with wanting satisfying moment that you never quit reach becuase your too focused on eating more. Maybe if we all focused on the first bits and the taste maybe we'll start to feel more satisfyed.

Eventually, you'll be cool about family dinners, and you'll have self controll, becuase when you let your self have some. You'll feel no need to brake and go and throw away your work.

Hope that helps alittle? :)

and carol, that sounds really good, I think you can change yourself without reading a book or joining something though. becuase it takes you to do it. You can lead a horse to water...

Just make sure your serrounded by healthy foods, that way when temptation comes around, you'll not want to eat to much of it. Or not? But that's my thinking, if your in a good mind-set, you can really do good.

Originally Posted by carolr3639:
"With dieting, my only reward was weight loss. With intuitive eating, I'm rewarded every moment of every day. I'm rewarded when I realise I haven't eaten a morning snack because I just wasn't hungry. I'm rewarded when I share the most delicious ice cream with a friend, and enjoy every mouthful without feeling guilty. I'm rewarded with the freedom of not having to write down every morsel that passes my lips. And I'm rewarded when I realise that that little apple pie is still sitting in my freezer, waiting for me when I'm ready."

This reminds me of something I saw years ago ... lemme see if it's still out there on the net somewhere ... yep ...

Originally Posted by :
Normal eating is going to the table hungry and eating until you are satisfied. It is being able to choose food you like and eat it and truly get enough of it—not just stop eating because you think you should. Normal eating is being able to give some thought to your food selection so you get nutritious food, but not being so wary and restrictive that you miss out on enjoyable food. Normal eating is giving yourself permission to eat sometimes because you are happy, sad or bored, or just because it feels good. Normal eating is mostly three meals a day, or four or five, or it can be choosing to munch along the way. It is leaving some cookies on the plate because you know you can have some again tomorrow, or it is eating more now because they taste so wonderful. Normal eating is overeating at times, feeling stuffed and uncomfortable. And it can be undereating at times and wishing you had more. Normal eating is trusting your body to make up for your mistakes in eating. Normal eating takes up some of your time and attention, but keeps its place as only one important area of your life.

In short, normal eating is flexible. It varies in response to your hunger, your schedule, your proximity to food and your feelings.

Originally Posted by SnowWolf:
I think part of eating, comes with wanting satisfying moment that you never quit reach becuase your too focused on eating more. Maybe if we all focused on the first bits and the taste maybe we'll start to feel more satisfyed.

I think you're absolutely right SnowWolf. There is a whole chapter in the IE book dealing with eating for satisfaction. It plays a very important part of eating intuitively!

Hmmm, this gives me something to think about in a different light. I've always looked at all my excess weight as me overeating because I love food so much (and I do love a wide variety of foods, there's not much out there I won't eat) but in reality, the bulk of my weight came on thru a shift of addictions (from smoking & drinking to eating & dieting). And throughout all those diets I've been on in the past, there wasn't much focus on eating for satisfaction. You had to avoid the real mayo because it had more calories and fat than the real good stuff. Turkey bacon was eaten instead of real bacon because is was supposedly better for you. Low carb bread was eaten instead of the real whole wheat, etc. etc. Even now as I am trying to be carb conscious, I find myself gravitating towards lower carb foods so I can EAT MORE. And that is driving the diet mentality that I'm not truly enjoying every bite so I must somehow make up for it by eating MORE FOOD. Oy! And, as I found out this past weekend, put an assortment of cakes and goodies out in front of me on the table and I'm still like a kid in the candy store.

Well, more to think about. I may just have to fire the carb police after all. Thanks Carol and SnowWolf. :grouphug:

Blue, the funny thing is I just haven't been very hungry lately, even for sweets. I think it is partly because on vacation it seems you are eating nonstop and also my blood calcium could be going up again which causes that feeling. Summer is rough because I'm not supposed to be in the sun, which causes an over abundance of vitamin D and also the blood calcium going up. There is calcium in most foods so it is hard in the summer to keep it under control without prednisone which I haven't been taking since Jan. Awful stuff except it does keep the calcium down.

Wow, Carol! I didn't realize calcium could have such an impact on people. I've never heard of that.

The name of the disease is sarcoidosis which consists of tiny granulomas in the lungs and elsewhere. They are filled with macrophages that cause the trouble with the calcium. It is an autoimmune disease. I barely understand it. ha!

thank you for the welcome, I'm in a hurry right now. But, I have questiongs/thoughts things to say about this diet, but I'll have to post them later. sigh. :)

I had a few surprises in the way of eating while on vacation. DH and I had Baskin Robbins ice cream for the first time in a long time. They don't have that around us. The first cone tasted really good but after the second I felt I could take it or leave it. That's something I haven't experienced. We did have a thing called pergochi. or something like that I had never had before. It was a meat pie and very good. I chose that instead of Chipotle like everyone else. That's one good thing....there were a lot of choices in downtown Seattle.

Hi Everyone,

Well, I haven't been here in a while, but I'm still around. :welcome: to all the Newbies. It's good to see the activity here. I've been trying some low carb programs because like Blue, I have to watch the carb intake.

Blue - Since I have to watch my carbs, I have recently decided to incorporate the Carbohydrate Addict's Diet ideas with IE. I really believe it is very doable for me. I only eat high carb foods once a day, but I eat only when I'm hungry. Then I eat until satisfied. I don't like feeling full and I don't eat if I'm not hungry. I never eat just because it is time to eat. I understand where you are coming from. I don't want to get back into the diet thinking and yet I know I must control the carbs to control cravings. I always like the concept of CAD and I can make it work with IE for me. It seems to me that everyone does IE in a way that works for them. And that is the way I think we have to do IE... do it the way that it works for us.

Carolr - Thanks for the blog and the youtube info and all you share. I will check it out tomorrow.

Good night.

Hi Trish. Good to see that you are working this out for yourself. I know it is summer because I'm just not really hungry lately. But, just like our kitties, when the fall weather hits I get hungrier. Do you know the difference between Atkins and South Beach? I'm on another board and a guy there has lost about 50lb in less than 2 months on South Beach. He was over 400lb, however.

Huge difference between Atkins and South Beach.

Atkins restricts carbs period (20g on induction, and slowly raised from there as tolerated), and does NOT restrict fat. It's more of a high fat WOE than high protein. The goal is to be in ketosis.

South Beach restricts refined carbs, but not whole grain / fruit carbs per se (although in practice those on the diet seem to feel they have to be careful with them). But even Phase 1 is much higher carb than Atkins. South Beach does not put you in ketosis. In fact, in Phase 1 you're *supposed* to included servings of dairy and beans that will put you over Atkins induction carb levels. It is also about low-fat dairy and lean mean cuts, whereas Atkins is about full-fat.

Why oh why do I try dieting. :?: I really don't know. I am so tired of it. I've been dieting for 40+ years. I have been following low carbing for almost 2 months and my weight is up this morning. I am through with dieting. I am doing a Journal on the pc regarding my feelings and reading my IE book again.

carolr - thanks for the articles and websites. I appreciate them.

I am also enjoying reading what everyone has written.

Hi everyone, :wave: not much time this morning so just a quick pop-in for me.

Trish, I hear ya! I stopped counting my carbs because it was causing me to stay in diet mode. I'm just winging it now. Yesterday all I wanted was carbs (backlash, I guess) and enjoyed everything from spaghetti to donuts to french fries I wasn't even hungry for. lol What a struggle this is. But, in spite of all that the scale was good to me. I think I somehow finally flushed out a bunch of water weight I was holding on to, which is always nice to see go!

I tried the carbohydrate addicts diet a few years ago and I managed to break even on it. Never lost any weight, but I did eat as much as I wanted to without gaining either. We'll find what works! Hang in there! :hug:

Have a great one everyone! :sunny:

Lots of company here again now. I'm so thankful for IE at times like this. My DD asked me if I had lost more weight. She thought I looked thinner. I might have lost a little on vacation because I didn't feel well. I really don't think so but it was nice of her to ask.