I think part of the feast cycle is the famine cycle. I know if I had never dieted and even fasted, I think my body would not have had the need to feast, so to speak or to eat huge portions at once. Our bodies were made to survive famines and drive us to eat when we have abused them for years with dieting. It makes sense when you think how our country had gotten heavier since all the diet schemes.

Katterina & Optical Goddess When I started eating IE, I found that I went through a period of "oh I can have whatever I want" and I did. Mine was chips and even cookies. I bought a bags of what I had really missed and ate it only to find that once I could have it and have as much as I wanted "I don't want it any more". I don't buy cookies any more because I don't want them. Chips are DH's thing and he has a bag that stays in my sight all the time, but I never feel tempted by them any more. It is strange but I have absolutely no desire for them any more. Because I have dieted for so long I've had a battle with a habit of "diet thinking" cycle which I think many do. We eat what "diets" call the "no-no" foods and then feel guilty and end up on cycle of eat, feel guilty and eat it again so on and so on. When on WW, I could still eat it, but it took up my points. WW made me hungry. It took me a while to get things to settle down on IE, but the foods that had the pull on me in the past as "binge" foods just doesn't hold any interest for me any more.

carolr I agree. I think if I had never dieted I probably would never have had a problem.

Sometimes I still fight the thought that I "should" be dieting, but I'm doing better. In fact, after reading so many "diet" books, I've decided that everybody who has a diet book thinks that their way is the only way to lose. I decided this morning that I'm not following any more rules other than the 4 someone tagged the 4 Golden Rules. For those newbies they are 1) If you are hungry, eat. 2) Eat what you like not what you think you should eat. 3) Eat slowly and savour ever bite. 4) When you start to feel full, stop. I have followed all the "diet" rules for 40+ years and I am still fighting the weight. So it is time to STOP and get off this merry-go-round. If I lose weight fine and if I don't fine. I've started doing my own form of exercise like I did when I lost weight NOT Dieting. In fact, as I write this, I realize that I gained most of my weight over the years FOLLOWING OTHER PEOPLES RULES of what I should be doing.

Well, enough of that. Just sounding off, I guess. I just realized this morning that I have wasted so many years dieting because someone started me on this cycle when I was about 19 yrs old and I've been on it for all these years ALL for nothing.

Y'all have a great IE weekend. I am going too.

Hi, ladies...I've been thrown for a loop, or rather, my eating has been.

Two weeks ago, a much-loved brother in law died suddenly of a massive heart attack. This man had been a dynamo, a real "energizer bunny", with boundless energy and always on the go. He was only 58, and we never knew he was sick.

Now I'm absolutely terrified of just about every mouthful I eat, wondering if what I'm eating is just building up heart trouble in me. I've been trying to diet "rigorously" because, even though my brother in law was of a pretty normal weight, I have over a hundred pounds to lose--but of course the dieting isn't working.

I lost three or four pounds the week he died, and had hoped that I could keep the weight loss going, but it hasn't. I'm right back to my go down one, zoom up three pattern.

(Trish, what you said about the Metabolic eating plan was interesting because I'm the same way: my weight is all over the place from one day to the next, and I wonder what's that's all about. I'm also hypothyroid and have been on the proper medication for ten years, so you would think I would have lost at least a size or two, but I've never been able to yet.)

Anyway, my brother in law's death has really messed with my head. There's no pleasure in eating now because I'm terrified of every bite. It doesn't stop me from eating; it just scares me what might be happening inside, even when I'm eating what one would call healthful foods. Then, after a few days of eating only healthy foods, I find that I'm craving comfort foods or junk.

I've also gotten back into the (not helpful) habit of daily weighing again, and watching the scale bounce up and down is just discouraging and frustrating, so--once again--I'm going to try to leave it under the bed for awhile and just go by how my clothes fit.

I'm about *this close* to just saying that this is how big I am; this is how big I'm probably going to stay; then try to figure out how to live with it. Life is too short to go through all that we do because of our weight.

Trish, I, too, believe that if I had never gone on that first diet (Atkins, right after having my daughter), I wouldn't be as big as I am today.

Oh Truffle, I'm so sorry!

I think sometimes we think we're falling off track, doing "bad," or whatever. But really, we go through cycles. It's the way we grow. We might think at first that we're back at square one. But we're not. Each time, it's a little different. Maybe we realize sooner that the food isn't satisfying. Maybe we move on with less guilt and self-berating than before.

Truffle, I don't think you can generalize the appetite you do or don't have right now to the future. Of course it's difficult right now. It won't feel the same next month or next year. Be easy on yourself

[edited to "I don't think can generalize" - just stupid typo!]

Thank you, Julie.

Becky, I am sorry about your brother-in-law. I'm sure this has thrown you for a loop. While it is important to eat healthy, it is also important to give yourself some time for your emotions to heal. Don't be so rough on yourself. Prayers and thoughts coming your way.

Thank you, Trish.

Truffle,

I am really really sorry about your brother in law

I am sure that fear you have is only a face but I'm sorry you are going through this. Try to relax.

I've learnt that connecting with my body through yoga and aerobics helps a lot to calm down. Maybe instead of worrying about the food you can take walks or somehing? I am really looking forward to spring and using my bike again. We are so blessed that we live in VErmont!

They've uploaded my photo to the belly project!! It's the one from February 20th: 24 y-o 0 pregnancies 0 babies!!!
http://thebellyproject.wordpress.com/

Truffle, I'll be thinking of you and your family and sending prayers in this tough time. If you need to vent, or to avoid eating or just need to cry....just write to us! This is a great place where you will only be received with love and not with judgement.

Thank you, ALO22 and Optical Goddess (and yes, ALO22, we sure are blessed to live in Vermont!)

Truffle, I am so sorry for your loss. I will be in prayer for you. I know that your fear is overwhelming right now. I have those fears because my mother is overweight and has had two heart attacks. It can be crippling. I wish you the best and I hope that you can overcome these feelings and enjoy eating to the fullest.

For the past couple of weeks I have been on the Diet roller coaster. I bought the Belly Fat Cure and that seemed impossible for me to follow. I then started trying meal replacements with Slim Fast, Carnation Instant Breakfast, and Lean Cuisine.

I actually gained 5 lbs in 2 weeks from this cause I would feel so deprived that I would pig out even after the meal replacements. I think I have learned my lesson and I am back to IE. For good this time. I know the weight comes off slowly.

At least it is a WOE that I can stick with forever. The best thing is I don't have to buy anything special. Just the foods that me and my family enjoy eating and eat less of it. Only when hungry and stop when comfortable.

I am about to break out my Weigh Down books and reread. I am still reading Weigh Down also.

There are so many things I am missing out on by being overweight. Like an actual swimsuit this summer. Sitting on the sidelines while my family is having a blast at a water park.

I refuse to do this again this summer. This is my motivation right now. To be healthy and feel good. Not just thin but healthy. I might even get to 170 and stay there cause that weight always looked and felt good on me.

I'm interested in everyones thoughts on protien. I love carbs. Through out most of my life I've eaten more carbs than any other food group. I am starting to think that this is working against me, since my body goes through the carb energy so fast and i just replace it w/ other carbs. So, now I"m trying to eat more balanced. I've made a 'deal' with myself that for every carb I eat, it will be paired w/ protien, such as english muffin w/ meat or w/ eggs and turkey bacon. I'm ok when at home but at work it's tough because it has to be portable. The difficulty Im facing is some sources of protein, such as protein dense cereals and nuts I have little control over and will over eat. Other portable protein ideas: eggs, both cooked and hard boiled, apples, bananas, raisins, string cheese, nuts*, yogurt, cottage cheese ( only if I can mix it with something. I hate it alone ), beans, hummus, deli meat....I'm also trying to avoid foods high in sodium. I 've never had to really think about protien before and it's kind of confusing. I love nuts, and think I may be able to deal with it if I get something like pumpkin seeds which I don't love like I do almonds or cashews..and if I put them in serving size baggies so I don't over do it.....anyone's thoughts are greatly appreciated. It's sad that it's so new to me to think of this from a health standpoint and not a weight loss point of view. I realize that a big part of IE is listening to my body, but there are times I need to tell my body what it should have, and then that can be another habit....

Thank you so much. The fear IS overwhelming, and on top of my other weight/food issues, isn't helping at all.

Optical Goddess, I've tried many, many, many....times to do a low carb program such as Atkins. I always felt so rotten when on Induction, then found out that people that are hypothyroid (me) should never have less than 30gr of carbs a day.

If I pair protein with a carb, I do feel better, so I've been trying to do that too as often as possible.

Some of my snacks sound similar to yours. I'll slice an apple and eat it with some peanut butter. String cheese and an apple. Cream cheese or peanut butter and celery. Triscuits and cheddar. A handful of crackers with butter, or peanut butter, or cream cheese. And remember the old standby from years ago--scoop of cottage cheese with a peach half?

Several years ago somebody was saying that you should ALWAYS eat protein, even with your snacks. He went so far as to say if you're going to have a bowl of ice cream, make sure you eat a slice of deli ham with it, or something like that. I don't remember where I read this though.

My appetite has become so disordered that I could live on nothing but sugar and bread items, so I think it's fine to "tell your body" to eat the foods it truly needs.