No problem i can do it today for you. I've realized reading my old post/blog entries has been really helpful this time around.

I thought reading the old posts might help, too. Have a good one!!!

Had a weird morning. I was hungry right away but had things to do so delayed eating. Then around 11am I wasn't hungry. Strange?

Carol that happens to me on my way to work when I have to go in to work. I'm usually stuck on the bus so nothing to be done about it. no idea why it happens.

News from Beyond Chocolate.

Smaller portions for maximum satisfaction
No, no...this isn't a typical (and odious) diet-y exhortation to eat smaller portion sizes, this is the Beyond Chocolate take on eating for maximum satisfaction... so read on!

I was visiting my parents in Milan last week and on my last night they took me to one of their favourite restaurants. As I studied the menu I felt a stab of anxiety because I told myself I HAD to taste just about EVERYTHING.

"It's OK," I reassured my desperate gremlin (the one whining that it all looked so good, and how on earth was I going to choose and how unfair it was because I couldn't get this food at home blah...blah..on and on...) "You know how to do this, just tune in and take a few moments to figure out what you really want and how much you are truly hungry for."

As I narrowed the list down and discarded the dishes that that didn't fit, I realised with disappointment that I was still left with too many 'must haves' that I simply wasn't hungry enough for. This usually wouldn't be an issue - I often deliberately overeat when I go out to restaurants. I thoroughly enjoy every mouthful as well as the 'need to undo my zipper' feeling at the end. I'm fine with it, I only do it occasionally and it would be sad life indeed if I only ever ate to satisfy my physiological hunger.

The problem was I'd been eating past satisfaction for a few days now. I'd given myself permission to indulge in my mum's wonderful cooking with second and third helpings, to pick at the wonderful selections of local cheeses and salamis and how could I resist those crumbly, buttery little biscuits they served at the cafe with my morning espresso? The result was that I was feeling a little bloated and realised I wasn't enjoying food as much as usual so that day I'd made a decision to look after myself and say no to overeating... with kindness and compassion.

So there I was in the restaurant, unable to choose between the spaghetti with 'totanetti' (a type of miniature squid - delicious!) in a spicy tomato sauce, the Cotoletta a la Milanese (a typically local breaded veal escalope which is huge at the best of times) and the cinnamon 'parfait' with a Port wine sauce reduction...I knew I couldn't comfortably fit everything in and yet I was unwilling to give anything up.

So here's what I did.

To the consternation of my parents (who really don't approve of 'making a fuss') I waved the waiter over and explained my situation.

"Excuse me. I have a bit of a problem and I'm wondering if you can help me. You see I'm dying to taste the spaghetti with the totanetti and the cotoletta is my favourite dish and I just have to try the cinnamon parfait but I can't possibly eat all of that - it's way too much!", I said imploringly as I fluttered my eyelashes at him, "Would it be too much trouble to ask for a half portion of the pasta and the smallest cotoletta you've got...and will you be terribly offended if I have just a few bites of the pudding?"

The nice Italian waiter smiled back and said: "No problem, Signorina! It's nice to see someone so enthusiastic about food!" And off he went, just like that.

The spaghetti was absolutely divine, the cotoletta was still too big so I left a third of it and gave the sauteed potatoes that accompanied it to my Dad and the waiter made sure there were three spoons to go with the pudding so that we each had a couple of mouthfuls (divine - especially the sticky Port sauce).

All in all it was a very enjoyable dinner. I ate just enough to satisfy all my appetites. Only a few years ago, I would have eaten everything and then felt sick and guilty or I would have ignored myself and settled for the grilled fish and salad which I wouldn't have enjoyed and ended binging on chocolate buttons at home afterward.

"See," I told my Gremlin as we walked home, "you can have your cake and it!"

Work has been kicking my butt lately so not a whole lot of posting but I'm doing kinda of a calorie counting, low carb, intuitive eating plan(yeah everything but the kitchen sink).

I cook just about all my food and no how many calories everything is. I don't log my calories but I've been under 2K. i decided when and and how much to eat based on IE, not how many calories I've had. I actually put back some rice I had with dinner because I realized I had put too much on my plate and had overcompensated because I was hungry when I was heating up dinner.

Anyway, I say all that to say...I have some to realize make a plan that works for you and you can stick to.

Good Luck and have a wonderful couple of months before your deployment.

Hi. Haven't been here in a while. Do IUD's make you gain weight, I was thinking of getting mine removed for other reasons. I'm curious if anyone knows how to make IE work with hypoglycemia. I have to eat a small amount every three or four hours, but, that seems to go against the principle of eating only when hungry. My doctor said eat smaller amounts more often and eat more protein, but, I still wanna do IE. I guess it's all about doing what's best for my body, and, if I don't follow his directions my blood sugar will go too low. I layed in a good supply of diabetic bars and shakes anyway. Have a good day, everyone.
Amie

Carly would know more about the IUD. I think IE could easily work for you if you are careful about eating small amounts. You could actually get hungry that often.

Busy weekend. One daughter from Portland came to visit and 7 brothers and sisters and kids also. I'm tired today. No energy for much of anything. Things will be quiet after Wed. but I'm sure I'll miss them. My FIL is here, too. for 2 weeks. Eating is not even a thought. ha!

@carol I am guessing that was a good Ha

So my eating plan is slowing becoming a totally no scientific science experiment. I realized I lose pretty consistently on weekends and gain or maintain during the week.

Weird right?

So I was 352 as of Friday () and 347 this morning after a workout, but I don't think I lost 5lbs working out. Anyway, so I am back to packing my ie/calorie counting mon-fri 9-5 and pure IE any other time. With the IE calorie counting I pack so many calories and kinda of pick and choose from that through out the day.


completely unrelated note. I am totally into Walk it Out for me Wii.

No carrots were harmed in this post.

I'm having a bad day. My family left, my dh's birthday gift arrived broken and I have eaten a big piece of cake roll. Boo hoo.

Carol: Great article on IE tactics in Milan! My mouth was watering just reading it.

Carly: Good to hear that you are doing better without the IUD. I have always wanted to try the copper one to get away from hormonal side effects, but it seems the copper side effects are just as bad if not worse for some people. I guess there is no silver bullet for BC! I'm currently on the ortho novum BC pill, which makes me retain a few pounds of fluid but has no other side effects. I've tried all kinds of other methods in the past and gained a ton of weight, lost hair, got blotchy skin patches, was unable to wear contact lenses, went through crazy mood swings, etc. etc. Why can't they make a method where weight LOSS is the side effect?

As far as IE goes, I've been a spoiled brat lately with food. I think it has to do with work stress and feeling utterly out of control of things. The weird part is that some days, food doesn't even taste good to me, even when I'm physiologically hungry.

But, I'm back on track now. It only took a meal or two of eating too much and feeling sick to end that behavior. I just need to be more diligent about standing up for myself with [well-meaning] food pushers.

Looks like things are going well IE wise for you Katterina. I just noticed that sometimes I can't figure out what I really want. I think at times like that I'm thinking too much about food. I need to just get on with life. ha!

hey Guys,

IE has been interesting this week. I have been hurry up and wait kinda mode because of work so I've found myself shoveling in food, finishing quickly and still hungry. To stop that I've been counting my bites so 20+, usually up to 30 and then swallowing has helped quite a bit.

Went to the wholefoods buffet, really wanted mac and cheese and some kinda of meet. First I thought of pizza but realized I didn't really want anything but the pepperonis. I ended up with alot of food of which i ate maybe a third, the mac n cheese, a little anti pasta (sp?) salad and some salmon salad and ended up throwing away the rest. Grumpy I spent too much money. Happy I didn't sit there and eat it just because I bought it.

Ok, I don't have any customers, so I can post. I was doing fine and then not doing fine, up and down, up and down, this has got to end! I just received the overfed head, really makes sense, reading it for a second time, IE is so easy in concept and yet so hard in practice. God give me strength!! God BLess. Tammy