Re: Finding what I want to eat....

[Guest guest]

" busymomma " wrote:

>When I ask myself what I would like to eat I start thinking of sweets,

>foods that I have always considered " forbidden " . And really, it's not

>that I really want the sweets, it's just my first reaction.

This is exactly the problem I am having! Just today I was thinking that I

used to eat and enjoy salad, for example, and right now I don't find it at

all appealing. I would love to hear whether others have BTDT and, if so,

how they got past that.

Joan in NM

[Guest guest]

Hi Everyone,

I know this issue pretty well myself at times! When I am hungry, what

helps at times is asking myself what I feel like eating (which of course

we can't always answer, hence the problem!) and then I ask how I want to

feel after I am done eating. As you probably know, some foods will give

you more energy after eating, while some can make you tired, or calm, or

other feelings. For example, if I want to be calm and focused, I will eat

something with a mix of protein and carbs, without a lot of simple carbs.

Sometimes this may be a turkey and cheese sandwich, or toast with peanut

butter. Other times I want to feel " light " (and I don't mean in

a body weight type of light!) so a salad may be perfect. I don't know if

this is helpful, because it's so individual for each person, but this

often works for me and my clients.

I also keep a list of ideas that I have found work for me. For example, a

half of one of those really good burritos that you can get at the

" burrito shops " works really well for me. I usually have steak,

cheese, salsa and rice (I don't like beans!) and eat half. It keeps me

satisfied for a good three to four hours and I can look forward to the

other half when I want more! Maybe we could share some ideas on this

list?

Thanks,

Gillian

Gillian Hood-son, MS, ACSM

Healthier Outcomes

It's not just about losing weight!

http://www.healthieroutcomes.com

Check out

my new blogs!

http://www.healthieroutcomes.com/blog ;

http://www.healthieroutcomes.com/fitforbusiness

At 11:14 AM 9/26/2006, you wrote:

" busymomma "

wrote:

>When I ask myself what I would like to eat I start thinking of

sweets,

>foods that I have always considered " forbidden " . And

really, it's not

>that I really want the sweets, it's just my first reaction.

This is exactly the problem I am having! Just today I was thinking that I

used to eat and enjoy salad, for example, and right now I don't find it

at

all appealing. I would love to hear whether others have BTDT and, if so,

how they got past that.

Joan in NM

[Guest guest]

I have the same problem. I'm so used to either eating what a diet

tells me I can (should) eat or eating the forbidden foods to rebel

(without questioning whether I really want them or not). The instant

reaction to eat foods that were previously " forbidden " is

understandable. For so long, I thought " of course I want chocolate

(or pizza, or whatever), " but now I'm starting to learn that some of

the foods I thought I liked, I don't really care for so much. Don't

get me wrong, I do like pizza and chocolate and plenty of other

previously forbidden foods, but they've definitely lost some of

their appeal. So when I wake up in the morning or get ready to eat

lunch, I often find that I have no idea what I want. It's funny, but

I'm so disconnected from my true personal food preferences, that

sometimes I can't even figure out whether I'm enjoying something or

not. But I'm learning. Slowly.

Allee

>

> This is a big problem for me. I get hungry and I have absolutely

no

> idea what I want to eat. Maybe that stems from always following a

> diet plan that told me what I should eat? Maybe it's because I'm

so

> disconnected with my body? Maybe both?

>

> I find myself eating things just to ease my hunger, even finishing

> foods that don't taste that great just for the sake of eating

> something.

>

> When I ask myself what I would like to eat I start thinking of

sweets,

> foods that I have always considered " forbidden " . And really, it's

not

> that I really want the sweets, it's just my first reaction.

>

> I don't know, this is hard for me to explain. But I am at a loss

half

> the time in regards to what I would like to eat when I'm hungry.

>

[Guest guest]

When I first started IE, I would

stare into the fridge or cabinet and want it all. So I would get ouy a

plate and put a tiny bit of everything that sounded good. Then I would

sample it. If it was yummy I ate it and if it wasn’t, I left it.

I like what Gillian says about

thinking about how some things make you feel after you have ate them. I

think I will try that.

I know that when I eat home made

chex mix my body feels super. But I can’t eat much or I will go

hours without hunger. And instant pudding is very soothing to my insides…must

be the milk.

Vicki P.

[Guest guest]

I've noticed this same thing. I wait for hunger only to find that I have NO idea what I want. I'll have to try the little bits of everything idea. I have been enjoying an egg for breakfast often lately and find that it takes me well into the afternoon to feel hungry again.

Leisa

RE: Finding what I want to eat....

When I first started IE, I would stare into the fridge or cabinet and want it all. So I would get ouy a plate and put a tiny bit of everything that sounded good. Then I would sample it. If it was yummy I ate it and if it wasn’t, I left it.

I like what Gillian says about thinking about how some things make you feel after you have ate them. I think I will try that.

I know that when I eat home made chex mix my body feels super. But I can’t eat much or I will go hours without hunger. And instant pudding is very soothing to my insides…must be the milk.

Vicki P.

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[Guest guest]

That is a really good point about considering how you want to feel

after eating. Today I had a bowl of cereal with banana because that's

what I felt like having (and I stopped at only one bowl!) but I was

hungry too soon afterwards. After restricting for so long all I want

are carbs! I never tend to really crave protein. I know I will feel

more satisfied after eating balanced meals, so I'm still trying to

figure out easy things to cook that I can have on hand in the fridge

that will be a good balance of nutrients while also satisfying my

cravings. I was thinking I would make some tuna salad, some bean salad

with canned black beans, and grill some chicken just to have on hand.

I always have lots of veggies and fruits around, so it shouldn't be

too hard to make balanced meals that also taste good.

[Guest guest]

Isn't it interesting to have this realization that here we are as adults and don't know what we REALLY like to eat? That's the realization that shines the light on what this diet kind of culture does to change our relationship to the food we need for sustenance, strength, growth, health. I'll share this idea: I live where we have an incredible number of veggies and fruits available from our local farms, most of them organic and small producers. (Sonoma County CA) A few years ago I realized I was in a rut when it came to veggies and I decided to try a new one each week when I went to the farmers' market. It has been fun, I've grown to like a reallly wide variety of veggies and fruits. So maybe that's how we figure out what we really like. Plan ato include new things in small amounts... food discoveries! Since you have kids, maybe they'll like helping to choose. You can buy small, small

amounts so it's a taste test. I've been experimenting with what to have for a snack if I am having to go a long time between lunch and dinner. I've found out that a piece of cheese and 2 crackers will do it! So will an apple! So will a bag of M & M's! But I noticed after the M & M's I was "jumpier" than after either of the others so I think my body really does like the apple or the cheese/cracker combo better. Lynne (a newbie who's so happy to find this group!) busymomma_06 wrote: This is a big problem for me. I get hungry and I have absolutely no idea what I want to eat. Maybe that stems from always following a diet plan that told me what I should eat? Maybe it's because I'm so disconnected with my body? Maybe both?I find myself eating things just to ease my hunger, even finishing foods that don't taste that great just for the sake of eating something.When I ask myself what I would like to eat I start thinking of sweets, foods that I have always considered "forbidden". And really, it's not that I really want the sweets, it's just my first reaction.I don't know, this is hard for me to explain. But I am at a loss half the time in regards to what I would like to eat when I'm hungry.

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[Guest guest]

Joan, is it possible that salad isn't appealing because you've had so much of it and now your body would like to try something else? I didn't eat much salad for the first 2 weeks, but this weekend really enjoyed one each on Saturday and on Sunday. Lynne Joan Horowitz wrote: "busymomma" wrote:>When I ask myself what I would like to eat I start thinking of sweets,>foods that I have always considered "forbidden". And really, it's not>that I really

want the sweets, it's just my first reaction.This is exactly the problem I am having! Just today I was thinking that I used to eat and enjoy salad, for example, and right now I don't find it at all appealing. I would love to hear whether others have BTDT and, if so, how they got past that.Joan in NM

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[Guest guest]

Joan, is it possible that salad isn't appealing because you've had so much of it and now your body would like to try something else? I didn't eat much salad for the first 2 weeks, but this weekend really enjoyed one each on Saturday and on Sunday. Lynne Joan Horowitz wrote: "busymomma" wrote:>When I ask myself what I would like to eat I start thinking of sweets,>foods that I have always considered "forbidden". And really, it's not>that I really

want the sweets, it's just my first reaction.This is exactly the problem I am having! Just today I was thinking that I used to eat and enjoy salad, for example, and right now I don't find it at all appealing. I would love to hear whether others have BTDT and, if so, how they got past that.Joan in NM

How low will we go? Check out Yahoo! Messenger’s low PC-to-Phone call rates.

[Guest guest]

I too have this same thing of not knowing

what I want to eat. This past weekend I hit a roadblock and quite frankly “freaked

out” and started thinking about going on a diet (I made the mistake of

wearing something that felt tight, which lead to fat feelings and lots of other

negative associations). My supportive husband sat me down and reminded me that

I was no different than the day before, when I felt great. Anyway, after my

mental “freak out” I decided that I would take my 3 kids and go to

our local organic grocery(which is visually a feast for the eyes) and let them

pick out fun, delicious, fresh food. We had a ball, and it was good for me to

go and know that I could pick what I wanted and just let my body tell me what

to pick out. Interestingly, when we got to the huge chocolate section, none

of it looked good – but the cheese section was very appealing. It’s

amazing what our bodies will tell us if we listen (which is not to say that chocolate

isn’t delicious – I’m just not craving it all the time like when

I was deprived J).

Thanks everyone for your comments –

this group is helping me so much! Knowing that others are dealing with the

same issues really helps.

Helen Young

From: TravelJoy

Sent: Wednesday, September 27,

2006 1:21 AM

To:

IntuitiveEating_Support

Subject: Re:

Finding what I want to eat....

Isn't it interesting to have this realization that here we are as

adults and don't know what we REALLY like to eat? That's the realization

that shines the light on what this diet kind of culture does to change our

relationship to the food we need for sustenance, strength, growth,

health.

I'll share this idea: I live where we have an incredible number

of veggies and fruits available from our local farms, most of them organic and

small producers. (Sonoma County CA) A few years ago I realized I was in a rut

when it came to veggies and I decided to try a new one each week when I went to

the farmers' market. It has been fun, I've grown to like a reallly wide

variety of veggies and fruits.

So maybe that's how we figure out what we really like. Plan ato

include new things in small amounts... food discoveries! Since you have kids,

maybe they'll like helping to choose. You can buy small, small amounts so it's

a taste test.

I've been experimenting with what to have for a snack if I am having to

go a long time between lunch and dinner. I've found out that a piece of

cheese and 2 crackers will do it! So will an apple! So will a bag

of M & M's! But I noticed after the M & M's I was " jumpier "

than after either of the others so I think my body really does like the apple

or the cheese/cracker combo better.

Lynne (a newbie who's so happy to find this group!)

busymomma_06

<notenoughofmegmail> wrote:

This is a big problem for

me. I get hungry and I have absolutely no

idea what I want to eat. Maybe that stems from always following a

diet plan that told me what I should eat? Maybe it's because I'm so

disconnected with my body? Maybe both?

I find myself eating things just to ease my hunger, even finishing

foods that don't taste that great just for the sake of eating

something.

When I ask myself what I would like to eat I start thinking of sweets,

foods that I have always considered " forbidden " . And really, it's not

that I really want the sweets, it's just my first reaction.

I don't know, this is hard for me to explain. But I am at a loss half

the time in regards to what I would like to eat when I'm hungry.

Get your email and more, right on the new

Yahoo.com

[Guest guest]

If I know I'm not going to be able to eat again for a while, I'll choose PB on toast because the protein in the PB lasts longer than other foods for me.

Otherwise, I don't know that I really do all that... it's probably why I struggle so much (haven't asked myself what I *feel* like having in a LOOONG time!). :-?

Jenn

<><

Re: Finding what I want to eat.... Hi Everyone,I know this issue pretty well myself at times! When I am hungry, what helps at times is asking myself what I feel like eating (which of course we can't always answer, hence the problem!) and then I ask how I want to feel after I am done eating. As you probably know, some foods will give you more energy after eating, while some can make you tired, or calm, or other feelings. For example, if I want to be calm and focused, I will eat something with a mix of protein and carbs, without a lot of simple carbs. Sometimes this may be a turkey and cheese sandwich, or toast with peanut butter. Other times I want to feel "light" (and I don't mean in a body weight type of light!) so a salad may be perfect. I don't know if this is helpful, because it's so individual for each person, but this often works for me and my clients.I also keep a list of ideas that I have found work for me. For example, a half of one of those really good burritos that you can get at the "burrito shops" works really well for me. I usually have steak, cheese, salsa and rice (I don't like beans!) and eat half. It keeps me satisfied for a good three to four hours and I can look forward to the other half when I want more! Maybe we could share some ideas on this list?Thanks,GillianGillian Hood-son, MS, ACSMHealthier OutcomesIt's not just about losing weight!http://www.healthieroutcomes.comCheck out my new blogs! http://www.healthieroutcomes.com/blog ; http://www.healthieroutcomes.com/fitforbusiness At 11:14 AM 9/26/2006, you wrote:

"busymomma" wrote:>When I ask myself what I would like to eat I start thinking of sweets,>foods that I have always considered "forbidden". And really, it's not>that I really want the sweets, it's just my first reaction.This is exactly the problem I am having! Just today I was thinking that I used to eat and enjoy salad, for example, and right now I don't find it at all appealing. I would love to hear whether others have BTDT and, if so, how they got past that.Joan in NM

Books Read: http://mizbooksreads.blogspot.com

Faith Group: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/unshakablefocus

Healthy Eating: http://intuitive-eating.blogspot.com

Wishlist: http://www.librarything.com/catalog/mizbooks94

[Guest guest]

Lynne wrote:

>Joan, is it possible that salad isn't appealing because you've had so much

>of it and now your body would like to try something else? I didn't eat

>much salad for the first 2 weeks, but this weekend really enjoyed one each

>on Saturday and on Sunday.

Maybe. I probably ate salad (or at least raw vegetables) during at least 2

meals a day for over 5 years. I was eating on a restricted carbohydrate

plan (*not* Atkins!) for most of that 5 years. I could eat anything I

wanted on that plan (though not *everything* I wanted) and was never hungry

nor felt deprived. But... there were foods that I made a conscious decision

not to eat -- such as carrots and potatoes and corn -- so that I could eat

more of the breads and sweets that I preferred.

I'm still trying to find a balance here. It's been about 3 months since I

first read about intuitive eating. So far, I'm still going for the sweets

even when I know the sugar is going to give me a headache or put me to

sleep. That's why Gillian's concept of foods that do not honor her is so

intriguing to me. I'm really hoping to get to the point where I can say

that I would like to eat a certain food, but am choosing not to at this

time. Maybe later.

I guess I'm still feeling the results of years of restricted eating. But...

I still need to work on eating consciously and paying attention to

hunger/satiety signals. I'm not doing so well at that. Too many

distractions around here.

Joan in NM

[Guest guest]

Well, at least now I know that I am not alone in feeling this way. I

guess it's just a process, learning to trust our bodies again. I've

been really watching my son who eats intuitively and how he won't

something if he doesn't really want it or if he's not hungry. My

daughters eat from boredom somewhat but I can say they won't eat

something just because it's there.