So here's a dilemma... what if you think for dinner you'd like to order pizza. Do you wait until you're hungry to order or do you order it hoping that in 45 minutes to an hour you'll be hungry. If you do the former then you're probably more likely to eat more when it gets there, right? Because not only will you be hungry but you'll be thinking about that pizza for a long time. I guess that's the same problem with going out.

Sabrina, I think that's about the same as deciding what to cook for dinner, then cooking and waiting for it to be done. By the time it's done, you probably are hungry and can eat with control, whereas if you wait to start dinner until you are hungry, you might overeat or snack until it's ready (the latter is what I fight). Personally, I would order the pizza and if you aren't quite hungry when it arrives, put it in the oven on low to keep it warm and then eat when you are hungry.

That sounds like a good plan, Idrial. That's a problem for me......cooking supper. With 10 kids I have spent years cooking AND tasting. Not a good combo. Things are a little slower now but the problem of being hungry while cooking persists. Seems like there are an incredible amount of situations that need addressing. So if we each post our predicaments we might get some good suggestions.

Carol - I have done that myself. Eat in a resturant and was not hungry. Mayb you could of just had them wrap it immediately to go and just sipped something at the table. That way you could still socialize without really eating.

Sabrina,

Sounds like your friend is doing good 3 pounds in week. The most I have lost in one week is 1 pound.

4thefuture,

It is great that you are starting with you daughter early. There is so much pressure for girls and women to be thin. I think much more than for boys. I have a 9 year old niece who really does not eat because she says she does not want to get fat. She is not overweight but I already see that she will have problems in the future with that diet mentality.

Wazzugirl,

I never used to go to dinner because I was always on a diet and felt during that time I needed to stay out of the restaurants. When I would eventually go out for a birthday celebration etc.- I always felt I needed a drink, appetizer, dinner and dessert. The problem was I would tell myself that "I don't know when I will out again so I need to eat everything I like right now!" I am now more relaxed with IE. I know that this is not the last time I will be going out and I can have some of those things the next time. Also I no longer think about food every minute of the day.

Christy,

There are many times I do not want to stop eating even though I am satisfied. It is because I am finally eating food that tastes so good. I have to keep telling myself that I can have so more later when I get hungry again.

Hey all,

Did you know that girl from American Idol - lost 30 pounds with IE. She was the one that was the first runner up. She talked about in people magazine. She was bulimic and worked with nutritionist in a program an did IE.

Carol,

I have avoided many friends and events because of my weight. I have about 80 pounds to loose. I even have not visited my brother and his family in Miami because I do not want them to see me fat. They are very health conscious and one he said to me "do not come down here fat", so I have not seen him in many years. It is so sad that I have let the weight affect my life so much. I get so depressed but coming here helps. I really find strength by communicating with everyone here. We can do this!!!!!

Sabrina,

I am going to get pizza right now. I have wanted it all day and right now I know I am physically hungry. I plan on drinking a glass of water first and eating the pizza slowly and savoring every bite. Also stopping halfway to decide if I am still hungry. Hopefully I will only eat a couple of slices. If you want pizza - you should have it. That is what IE is about - savoring the food we really want in moderation.

Haha, actually I did get it. I ordered a small right after I posted this. I ate til I was satisfied and the rest is for breakfast/lunch tomorrow. Or DH if he wants it. (he works late so he wasn't around to share) It's the first time I've ordered pizza in awhile and wasn't overfull afterwards.

I've been looking for IE websites. Here's one I ran across that I don't think has been mentioned. I don't know if it's specifically IE, and I haven't read through his stuff yet, but it looks like it's close.

www.chunktohunk.com

Idrial, Great job on the eating at the hotel and the exercise!!! It's nice you get a "practice run" before heading home.

Lisa, I read that article about the american idol girl, in fact, it is when I read that article that I realized what my nutritionist had been doing with me. I have to cut down seeing her as our budge allows for electricity or seeing her, and the family wants electricity instead!! (Aren't they selfish??) Luckily she has me off to a good start, I got the book, and I have you guys!!!!

Sabrina, Way to go with the pizza! I think a way for us to be successful is to go into every eating situation with a plan. Once we get over all of the emotional eating and diet mentality issues I don't think we'll have to be so hyper vigiliant.

Everyone, The first thing we have to do is learn to like ourselves for who we are. I was crying to my nutritionist one day and it just popped out.."I am successful at work, blah, blah, blah, but why can't I just like myself?" I think it is really important that we read the body image chapters. I don't have the whole body image thing under control, but I have taken a few steps: 1. I cleaned out part of (not brave enough to do the whole thing yet) my closet. I threw away clothes that I've had for 5-10 years hoping I could wear them again. 2. I went shopping and bought clothes in my size that are pretty and fit! (No more squeezing into pants and having a stomach ache and red welts at the end of the day) Tight clothes make you focus more on your body all day long because of the discomfort. I took my older sister with me who is big boned and a larger size like me. She has always been a larger size and has such a good outlook! She told me to wait in the dressing room and she just brought me stuff. She said, "Just don't look at the size. It doesn't matter." She had watched Oprah's bra special and even got me to get new bras!! 3. When I look in the mirror and start focusing on the parts that make me unhappy, I make a point to compliment my body as a whole. "I am so lucky to have this body that always me to get around and play with my kids. I have strong legs and I can run." Society tells us we should hate ourselves or that something is wrong with us because we don't look like the girls in the fashion magazines. Ads tell us that we can ONLY be happy if we look a certain way.
Shame on us for buying into it! We seem to forget that these "society" people more than likely have these same issues as we do or are extremely miserable with their own eating disorder. Let us also not forget that being thin will NOT solve all of our problems and make our lives perfect. I have a sister who was very overweight. She got gastric bypass surgery. She is thin now, but she obsesses more about food than ever. She is critical of everyone else and their weight. She is still miserable about work and life. Our joy will not come from the size of our pants. It will come from loving and caring for ourselves. When we learn to love ourselves the changes will come.