I'm not sure reporting our weight would be in line with IE, but, I'd definitely be into setting personal goals, and reporting how they were going. Maybe we could take a particular principle, like no good or bad foods, or, body acceptance, or, whatever we felt we needed to work on.
Amie

I wish I knew what to tell you to change.

I did lose down to about 160 with conventional dieting, albeit pretty healthy, moderated dieting. Then I stopped counting. But of course, by then you're pretty good at eating "right" even without counting. I did slow down, but did lose another 20 pounds.

It's hard to know what, out of everything you do, is key. But to me it seems like what works well for me is not eating low fat, and not eating sugar except for dessert once a week (I'm not rigid about that, but I just don't have sweets at home, so it works out that way). To me, that's intuitive, because if I listen to my body, it's obvious that I'm on a much more even keel physically and with cravings, when I eat that way. And the more I do it, the more I prefer it.

I think being active is important to, but I never did gym workouts. I think it has to be truly enjoyable (something you'd do even if you weren't trying to lose or maintain). For me, that was yoga. I was motivated to get up every day and do it for many reasons beyond weight.

Carol, I would have to rank portions right up at the top of my list of problem areas, too.

I guess if anybody wanted to report their weight, that would be up to them. But I wouldn't say it be necessary. Maybe just check in to say "Things went well today" or "I really ate too much today" or "I've lost two pounds in two weeks" or whatever. On some other threads I've seen/participated in in the past people gave a kind of progress report, even weigh-ins (tho I know the weigh-ins can be depressing if nothing's happening, or the wrong thing is happening, so I don't see it as necessary).

I think the main thing is that for the person checking in it is a way to help stay on track. For instance, just knowing that I make a commitment to the group to check in may help me do it daily and at the same time help me mind my eating daily, too. I tend to get lost in the comfort of privacy (not sharing my journey with anyone) and find myself slacking off and not pressing on towards the goal. Don't know if others feel the same, or experience the same thing, but it could be helpful. ???

Yes, like that, Amie. And I do agree with not necessarily reporting weight. (I don't mind doing so, but don't want anybody to feel they have to.)

So, for myself, for example ... today I had a good day with eating, but didn't get in any form of exercise. Eating wasn't totally intuitive, as I had some time restrictions I had to deal with in relation to meals, but I don't feel that I overate. I honestly don't know my weight as of today, tho the last few times I checked (the most recent was several days ago) I was 203. I hope to lose some weight in about 10 pound increments. (Setting my sight on small goals, so as not to be too overwhelming.) So I'm aiming to get down to 190 again. That's my short term goal. Long term goal ... I'd be happy just to see 150, tho that is still a bit heavy for me at 5'4". Tomorrow I will try to get in some walking and be even more diligent about my eating.

I really hope I'm not making this "diety" for anybody. IE is just so relaxed, that it even feels diety to report on progress.

Hi Julie, just saw your post as I was previewing mine. You are right, there seems to be many ways to interpret what IE is to each of us individually. Likewise, many paths to success. (Haha! That sounded like a fortune cookie!)

Hi ladies!

I have been lurking here lately but not posting as much. As far as the weigh in I don't see anything wrong with it but I wont be able to participate since I haven't weighed myself in several weeks. I feel like I'm maintaining but I could of either lost or gained a pound or 2 but there is no true way to no since I don't weigh.

I have still been working out and IE and eventually it should pay off, good news is I'm no longer constipated woohoo. I found a new trick that helps keep my bowels regular and that is squatting. I think they call it a asian squat and I just do that a couple of times a day and it helps me clear my bowels all the way lol. Sorry if this is tmi. My legs do tend to fall asleep if I stay in a squat for to long but it really helps get the food moving and out of my system. Hopefully everyone else is doing well and keeping up the great work.

And after rereading what I wrote I just wanted to say that I don't squat on the toilet

That's interesting, Carly. Do you just squat for a limited time ? I have trouble with that, too. I take fiber pills but I don't like to do that. I guess I could say that I have never been able to figure out why I gain or lose. I do gain in winter and usually lose in summer but I would sure like to keep it off in the winter. Had a good day yesterday as I was busy all day with a nursing home resident that I brought home for the day. She is so like a child that I felt I had to really watch her most of the day. Today she probably won't remember she was here but I feel so sorry for those people cooped up in there.

I usually squat until my legs feel like they are going numb, I stay in the squat for about 2-5 mins. I try to squat first thing in the morning and it helps give me the urge to poo lol. Supposedly other countries don't have the same bowel issues as us Americans since they do the full squat to poo and it allows the bowel to empty quickly and fully. Squatting on a regular American toilet is hard but some have managed to do it. I tried it twice and found it to awkward so now I squat in front of the toilet and let the urge to poo build up and then I sit on the toilet and go it seems to work fine for me. LOL I'm so embarrassed now lol. The only time I squat to poo is if I'm really constipated sitting regular on the toilet would be torture if I was constipated. So yeah I squat and poo but only when I'm constipated other then that I squat in front of the toilet and then sit on it the regular way. Also I lean forward and lift my legs a little I can't sit straight up and poo. I also did a google search on this very same topic and I found out that I'm not as weird as I originally thought and that alot of other people find it hard to poop while sitting upright. Some people also put a step stool under their feet to help mimic a squat while on a regular toilet. It really does sound crazy and its not one of those things that you bring up at a party but squatting does help keep my bowels regular

Still eating too quickly. Doing well with waiting til hungry, stopping at full is still a challenge, as is accepting myself at my current size. Having trouble motivating myself to exercize without my trainer.

Carly, I have always hated tall toilets for that reason. lol I've just got to have my feet flat on the floor.

They make frames that surround your toilet and give you a place to squat

Carol, my mom has essentially a toilet booster seat that's quite tall, as she has long legs but for several reasons can't get back up from low seats in general. When I use that toilet only my tippy toes reach the floor.

Hehe! Interesting conversation. I have never heard of the squatting. Something to keep in mind.

Today has been a good one for me ... except that I actually let my blood sugar get too low this evening. Had a lite dinner and really kept an eye on my portions throughout the day and as a result after taking a walk this evening (got in some exercise, yay) my blood sugar just plummeted to the point my legs were weak and I was getting sweaty and jittery. Nothing a little ice cream couldn't fix. Thinkin' about some late nite pop corn right now. I'll wait until my belly gets a little more hungry to eat it tho.

jazzmegirl, I don't know if I'll ever accept myself at my current size. Guess that's why I'm getting so focused on getting the weight off. Not just the because of the appearance of being overweight, but all the other things, like health factors and how uncomfortable it can be to bend down to cut my toenails, etc. The spare tire just isn't something I'm interested in carrying around anymore! lol!

"I don't know if I'll ever accept myself at my current size. Guess that's why I'm getting so focused on getting the weight off. Not just the because of the appearance of being overweight, but all the other things, like health factors and how uncomfortable it can be to bend down to cut my toenails, etc. The spare tire just isn't something I'm interested in carrying around anymore! lol! "

I totally agree with you, Blue.

I want the lilypad and hopefully I can purchase it in the next month, my husband thinks I'm silly and always come up with new ideas but he's very supportive

Yesterday and today I got a great workout, I was clearing out the weeds in my yard as well as planting flowers and putting down mulch. My legs, back, arms, everything is so sore. I really wasn't trying to get a workout and did not expect for gardening to work my muscles so hard. We rent a house in a nice neighborhood but the tenant before us did not give a crap about the front yard and it had huge weeds and dog poop all in the flower area, and the bushes were way over grown. I haven't been this sore in a longtime but I just wanted to get it over with so I kept going and going. The flowers look great as well as the red mulch I put down. My yard looked the worst out of all the houses on the street and now in my opinion (this is not biased at all lol) my yard looks the best. Tomorrow we are having someone come by and cut the grass my husband is gone and wont be back til Thursday and then I can throw down grass seeds and make our grass greener, our grass is brown even though we have had it fertilized and aerated so I'm thinking grass seeds is all we will need and add water.

IE is going well but I haven't really been paying attention to my food or savoring it but this is something for me to work on from this day on.

"Yesterday and today I got a great workout, I was clearing out the weeds in my yard as well as planting flowers and putting down mulch. My legs, back, arms, everything is so sore. I really wasn't trying to get a workout and did not expect for gardening to work my muscles so hard."

Same here, Carly, but I've been at it about a week so I think I'm getting used to it.

HELLO ALL! Well I weighed in this morning, lost the 3 pounds I had gained plus one extra, so happy about that. I am having trouble walking my leg and ankle still hurt from tripping over my husband's foot the other day, bruised from kneed to ankle. In the morning my ankle is ok, but by mid morning it is so swollen it looks like it will blow up, doesnt hurt, just swollen. Anyway I hope you all have a blessed weekend,. Tammy

Catholic- great job on losing the weight

I can tell that I'm losing inches since I'm able to pull my shirts down further then usual and plus they stay down versus rising up slowly. The thing that I find the most frustrating about gardening is I love a huge variety in flowers, most of my flowers require different amounts of sun and watering. Some of my flowers were drooping earlier but once I watered them they got really happy and stood tall. This one flower that I have keeps falling over and its frustrating me, it's a beautiful flower or else I would of tossed it long ago. I'm so impatient I want them to get big fast and flourish. But the good thing about gardening is that it takes my mind off of food related thoughts and gardening occupies my mind which is good.

Tomorrow I plan on watering the plants that look like they need the water vs watering every plant. I think I have a pretty good idea of which plants need water and which ones need it every other day. Sorry I'm off topic but I just had to share how gardening is helping me with IE and gardening though its frustrating its something that makes a positive change in my life.