Carol, I've not noticed more hunger so much as a change in the things I really want to eat. Once it gets cool, I really want to crank up the baking, which in our house isn't always a good thing as my dh and I both want to lose weight.

As I was making up some menus for fall and winter this week, I noticed that the foods were pretty much "heavier" things: macaroni and cheese, beef stew, chicken and biscuits, goulash, meatloaf and mashed potatoes, homemade soups, chili, scalloped potatoes, things like that... We just don't crave in the cooler weather the tossed salads or a meal of tomatoes, cukes, and corn on the cob, like we do in the summertime.

It's probably a good time to pay special attention to hunger/fullness if we're going to eat meals like this. If we heap our plates out of habit, we'll gain very easily. I'd like to go into spring a little bit lighter this time, not with an extra ten pounds I've gained over the winter.

I am absolutely thrilled that I found this thread!

I bought the Intutitive Eating Book as a birthday gift for myself. I was panicking because last week, I just inhaled three pieces of pizza, drank a bunch of beer, and on top of all of that I had some margaritas. I did this recklessly. So, I gave it a bunch of thought and went on the internet looking for a good diet. I was thinking about the South Beach Diet, but that first week, for me, would be like punishment. As I was perusing diets, I ran across a review for the IE book. The more I read about it, I was convinced that this was the lifestyle change I needed.

The authors make a lot of sense. Here is a link for a website that explains the main gist of this plan. Of course there are some things like no calorie counting and to avoid the scales, but I think some exceptions can be made.

I have been trying the suggestions/ideas that the book contains. They are working. After reading the book, there are some things about myself and my eating habits that I had no clue about.

Thought this was interesting from the Beyond Chocolate newsletter.

PRINCIPLE NO. 10: Be your own guru
Remind me what this principle is about
A step in the right direction

You know the great thing about a diet? You get to actually see your 'progress' every week. There it is in front of you - those magic numbers on the scale that say 'success' or 'failure'. Of course, the failure is devastating, but the success, well, that's quite some high. But, you know, being on a diet is a bit like walking a tightrope. There you are, concentrating with all your might on the destination, trying not to wobble - and then, one wrong move, and you come crashing down to earth with a bump. Ouch.

The Beyond Chocolate journey, on the other hand, is a less linear one. Unlike a tightrope, which is straight and taut and threatens to throw you off at any moment, intuitive eating is more like a spiral staircase. You may come back to the same place each time as you ascend, but you're ever higher up the stairs - and there's a banister to lean on when you need a rest. Sure, you may circle round issues you thought you'd long since resolved, but every time you step over those tired old all-or-nothing thoughts again, congratulate yourself. You're moving forward.

Beyond Chocolater Teresa, who did the E-course three years ago and is now training to be a Chocolate Fairy, has this to say: "The thing is, the Beyond Chocolate approach isn't a diet and so we can't fall off it. OK, we won't always have it easy, but that's normal. Out of the bad times come good times again, and we learn from that cycle. If we are true to the Beyond Chocolate spirit, we'll understand that that is life, that's what happens to women, that's what we do. It's the times when we fail that make us better at long-term intuitive eating, when we stop to acknowledge where we are today with an eye on where we want to be tomorrow.

Hard day=desire to eat when not hungry.

Hey guys. So it is 9:13 p.m. here in San Francisco. I had a really tiring day which involved a geology test I didn't know about, engagement ring shopping with my brother (fun, but draining really) fighting traffic and coming home. Also, I am extra tired because I walked 45 minutes to school today.

So even though I had a hearty dinner, and ate a little more past full (nothing tragic, just a little more than necessary) here I am, tired, alone and bored. I am not hungry. But of course...what do I want to do? EAT.

My body needs sleep and rest, so that is what I will do. I will brush my teeth, wash my face, lay down, listen to music and just rest.

I'm starting to learn that intuitive eating it intuitive living. My body says, "rest please." So I should rest. Not eat.

At least now I am aware. Let's hope that I am successful.

xoxo,
Rachelle

Hello aliciag,

etherence, I totally agree, intuitive eating = intuitive living! You made the right choice, resting instead of eating. Good for you! Can't tell you how many times in the past (and not so distant past) that I chose to eat when I should have chose something else because I really wasn't hungry.

Excellent .

Hey guys...so today is my day off so I bet I'll be posting a bunch...I have to ask...do any of you feel guilty when you are pleasantly full? Not gorged because you overate..but just normal full and satisfied?

I think when I used to diet a lot, feeling full made me feel guilty because well...that meant that hahah I ATE...starving or being slightly hungry was a noble feeling to have because it meant that I wasn't eating and therefore not eating meant sticking to a diet and not gaining weight... (some kind of twisted victory now that I look at it...)

I sure miss Shay and others who used to post here. Sometimes I can't figure it out. They had more than a 1000 posts and then they just quit. Anyway, I miss their input.

Etherence, I think the starving feeling is how I got overweight in the first place. I noticed after fasting a lot for a few years that my problem got worse. It took awhile to make the connection. When fall comes and cooler weather it always seems my appetite increases and now I think that is adaptive. It will all even out. I do hate the stuffed feeling but still get there once in awhile. The satisfied feeling I like because I know I can forget about food for awhile.

Thank you for the welcome Blue Serenity.

Etherence, if I feel full or satisfied after a nutritious meal then I don't feel bad, but if it is after eating a huge bag of M&M's or a container of Ben &Jerry's ice cream, I feel awful. I feel very guilty and depressed. I just want to eat like crazy the next day.

It's just one of those days when I don't feel like doing anything and I have a lot of house cleaning to do. So better get at it. Have a great weekend, all.

Not really, because I'm feeling proud and happy that I can recognize when I'm full, did not eat until I'm stuffed, and be completely satisfied with that

That makes a big difference doesn't it? After I read the IE book I could not believe how long I have been living without determining if I was hungry, or wanting to eat because of emotions. Also, the full and stuffed issue is another thing that I totally ignored. I had to get stuffed before I thought that I fel satisfied.

I hate that stuffed feeling, to. However, this past week you wouldn't know it. I got the yogurt covered pretzel that I was craving and maybe there is something to be said about waiting too long to get something you really have a taste/hunger for because I over did it with them. I ate way to many too fast and I've been miserable every since. Plus the fact that we have a new fish place close by and we ate there this past week as well. It was just too much junk type foods in one week. I am really trying this week to undo all the bad stuff I did to myself last week. I think I need to have some ground rules for myself along with IE. I don't know if that my "diet" thinking or not, but I just can't let myself go like that. It isn't worth feeling so miserable physically. And then you add the beating myself up on top of that it has not been a good time for me. Hope everyone else is having a better time of it than I have.

Patty, the main thing is to catch yourself before you are too full and tell yourself you can have it later. I crave healthy things but I also eat anything in moderation. You'll get the hang of it. Be patient with yourself and don't go back to the diet thinking.