Re: Does dieting make you mad?

[Guest guest]

Well....Amy, part of my lifestyle, and good current health is that I listen to my body. My body tells me that its good to keep up on my fitness and to build muscle so that I stay in good health as I age (I am 41 and look about 30 and I attribute it to my whole life listening to my body's needs).

I get the feeling sometimes that the IE can get just as bad as the diet mentality with people obsessing so much that they almost go the other direction and close out actual good health advice and musings. If you take it too far its just another fad.

So while I really respect what you are saying......I think you can take IE to the point of being just another 'magic bullet'. Lets remember it is indeed about intuition and for each person that can be a different ball of wax.

I know for me 'making up' for a large dinner is about my good health, nothing to do with a diet. I do this whether I want to keep losing weight or I am at the weight I want to be at. For me it is about being healthy and beautiful 'to me' (not to others). It is important to respect everyones way of being I think. Just because one persons intution says one thing, anothers may say another thing. I feel each time I suggest something here I am almost having to edit that I don't talk about ANYTHING healthy.

Anyway, please be careful, some of us like working out, and I love to find more and more healthy ways to be .

If I thought this whole IE thing was about something else I'd think it was just another hype.

And to be clear, I am just responding to a few comments here about working out, it is wearing thin on people like me who love to do it and do it for the right reasons which is to balance our bodies with what we eat. I don't even own a scale lol. I hardly think its diet mentality that I want to work out 20 extra minutes when I eat a big steak. It is my body talking to me . If IE is about something other than that....not sure if I am in the right spot.

I probably sound cross, and I'm really not, just wanted to be clear so when I post in the future I can do so with my own intuitive musings and not have to edit myself (unless I am going wacko on a diet!)

I participate on another health form. Frequently, in that forum, I come across diet speak. Lately, I have been getting really angered. The more I embrace IE, the more it iritates me to see people dieting.

I suffered from that same diet mentality before IE, why can I not be more sympathetic? I get so angry when I see someone else tell another person to find distractions from their hunger, to have more willpower over cravings, to workout a little extra to make up for an indulgence. If I see another young girl talk about eating 500 calories/day and working out 6 days per week, I think I'm going to scream!!!!!! Diets hurt me for a

long time and I cannot stand to watch other people continue to do it to themselves. It's SO frustrating!Sorry for the rant, I think I need to go punch some kickboxing bags!Amy

-- ..

[Guest guest]

I agree!!

>

> I participate on another health form. Frequently, in that forum, I

> come across diet speak. Lately, I have been getting really

angered.

> The more I embrace IE, the more it iritates me to see people

dieting.

> I suffered from that same diet mentality before IE, why can I not be

> more sympathetic?

>

[Guest guest]

I agree!!

>

> I participate on another health form. Frequently, in that forum, I

> come across diet speak. Lately, I have been getting really

angered.

> The more I embrace IE, the more it iritates me to see people

dieting.

> I suffered from that same diet mentality before IE, why can I not be

> more sympathetic?

>

[Guest guest]

I think what makes me mad is the " accepted knowledge " of the diet

industry. What I hear a lot is " well, everyone knows that ________

are bad for you. " Be it carbs, or fat, or caffiene or whatever. And

yet everyone eats whatever it is and feels guilty.

Either eat something or don't eat it, but what is the point of feeling

guilty? Really! I mean, if you think something is bad for you, then

don't eat it, but feeling guilty doesn't change anything except make

you feel terrible.

For the record, I am WELL aware that this is far easier said than

done, and I have done it thousands of times. But when I really think

about it logically, it doesn't really make sense.

Sorry for the rant...

>

> I participate on another health form. Frequently, in that forum, I

> come across diet speak. Lately, I have been getting really angered.

> The more I embrace IE, the more it iritates me to see people dieting.

> I suffered from that same diet mentality before IE, why can I not be

> more sympathetic?

[Guest guest]

,

I totally agree...the acceptance of the inevitability of guilt is so

pervasive. It doesn't make rational sense, but it is always a

temptation for us irrationally.

Amy

> >

> > I participate on another health form. Frequently, in that

forum, I

> > come across diet speak. Lately, I have been getting really

angered.

> > The more I embrace IE, the more it iritates me to see people

dieting.

> > I suffered from that same diet mentality before IE, why can I

not be

> > more sympathetic?

>

[Guest guest]

,

I totally agree...the acceptance of the inevitability of guilt is so

pervasive. It doesn't make rational sense, but it is always a

temptation for us irrationally.

Amy

> >

> > I participate on another health form. Frequently, in that

forum, I

> > come across diet speak. Lately, I have been getting really

angered.

> > The more I embrace IE, the more it iritates me to see people

dieting.

> > I suffered from that same diet mentality before IE, why can I

not be

> > more sympathetic?

>

[Guest guest]

,

I totally agree...the acceptance of the inevitability of guilt is so

pervasive. It doesn't make rational sense, but it is always a

temptation for us irrationally.

Amy

> >

> > I participate on another health form. Frequently, in that

forum, I

> > come across diet speak. Lately, I have been getting really

angered.

> > The more I embrace IE, the more it iritates me to see people

dieting.

> > I suffered from that same diet mentality before IE, why can I

not be

> > more sympathetic?

>

[Guest guest]

Hi ,

I'm not sure if this response will be read but I will send it

anyway. I think it is fair to believe that people with diet

mentality may use IE as just another kind of diet. Most of the

people on this forum are not IE experts, including myself. Most

people here appear to be people who struggle with the diet mentality

and are working towards IE.

You seem to have interpreted one or more of my previous posts and

criticism of your behaviors. That was not my intention. I have no

criticism for your behaviors.

I do have a concern with your posts from another perspective.

Keeping in mind that I believe many people here are struggling with

the diet mentality, I am worried that some of your posts may be

latched on by those with diet mentality to perpetuate diet beliefs.

I realize that it is not your intention to encourage diet

mentality. However, it may be difficult for someone who has never

struggled with diet mentality (or studied it) to see how certain

words and phrases trigger that thinking in those of us who have

struggled. My intention is to encourage people, who are currently

struggling, not to come to those diet conclusions. That is the root

of my criticism, and I hope it makes sense.

Amy

> >

> > I participate on another health form. Frequently, in that

forum, I

> > come across diet speak. Lately, I have been getting really

angered.

> > The more I embrace IE, the more it iritates me to see people

dieting.

> > I suffered from that same diet mentality before IE, why can I

not be

> > more sympathetic?

> >

> > I get so angry when I see someone else tell another person to

find

> > distractions from their hunger, to have more willpower over

cravings,

> > to workout a little extra to make up for an indulgence. If I see

> > another young girl talk about eating 500 calories/day and

working out 6

> > days per week, I think I'm going to scream!!!!!! Diets hurt me

for a

> > long time and I cannot stand to watch other people continue to

do it to

> > themselves. It's SO frustrating!

> >

> > Sorry for the rant, I think I need to go punch some kickboxing

bags!

> >

> > Amy

> >

> >

> >

>

>

>

> --

> ..

>

[Guest guest]

> I realize that it is not your intention to encourage diet

> mentality. However, it may be difficult for someone who has never

> struggled with diet mentality (or studied it) to see how certain

> words and phrases trigger that thinking in those of us who have

> struggled. My intention is to encourage people, who are currently

> struggling, not to come to those diet conclusions.

[Guest guest]

Amy,

Well put. And, I see your point....it's a valid one, definitely.

Having been doing IE for over a year, myself, I still struggle with

the Diet Mentality. But, for me, I recognize it, so I'm --mostly--

able to avoid it when I see it. I can see, though, how it could be

tricky for newcomers to discern the difference...

Jenn

<><

> Keeping in mind that I believe many people here are struggling with

the diet mentality, I am worried that some of your posts may be

> latched on by those with diet mentality to perpetuate diet beliefs.

I realize that it is not your intention to encourage diet

> mentality.

[Guest guest]

Amy,

Well put. And, I see your point....it's a valid one, definitely.

Having been doing IE for over a year, myself, I still struggle with

the Diet Mentality. But, for me, I recognize it, so I'm --mostly--

able to avoid it when I see it. I can see, though, how it could be

tricky for newcomers to discern the difference...

Jenn

<><

> Keeping in mind that I believe many people here are struggling with

the diet mentality, I am worried that some of your posts may be

> latched on by those with diet mentality to perpetuate diet beliefs.

I realize that it is not your intention to encourage diet

> mentality.

[Guest guest]

Amy,

Well put. And, I see your point....it's a valid one, definitely.

Having been doing IE for over a year, myself, I still struggle with

the Diet Mentality. But, for me, I recognize it, so I'm --mostly--

able to avoid it when I see it. I can see, though, how it could be

tricky for newcomers to discern the difference...

Jenn

<><

> Keeping in mind that I believe many people here are struggling with

the diet mentality, I am worried that some of your posts may be

> latched on by those with diet mentality to perpetuate diet beliefs.

I realize that it is not your intention to encourage diet

> mentality.

[Guest guest]

Amy,

I wouldn't say that I get *angry* when I see others dieting, but I

certainly feel sorry for them. I look at them counting calories, or

restricting foods, or counting points, etc., and I just wanna shake

them and say, " Don't you know there's an easier way?! "

It's hardest, especially, with family. I was at my Dad's last weekend,

and I noticed changes in their eating habits. All three in that

household (Dad, stepmom, and little sis -age15) are all overweight.

They are currently restricting foods, and such. And, they've SEEN what

IE did for me! I've explained it to them in detail. But, yet, they

still don't think it'd work *for them*. THAT is what frustrates ME.

But, you can't make people get it. They have to come to that point on

their own.

So, I just continue on as I am, and hopefully someday they'll come to

me and say, " I've had it with dieting... it doesn't work. Tell me more

about this Intuitive Eating thing you do... " )

(And, I send up prayers for everyone, everywhere, too -- that IE will

become the *big thing*, and diets will go " out the window "

permanently!) Hee hee... ;o)

Jenn

<><

> The more I embrace IE, the more it iritates me to see people

dieting. I suffered from that same diet mentality before IE, why can I

not be more sympathetic?

> I cannot stand to watch other people continue to do it to

> themselves. It's SO frustrating!

[Guest guest]

Ever since I started with IE, I have started to feel the same way. I am not sure what is happening but I think I am truly beginning to change my way of thinking about things. The other morning I heard a mother talking at the table next to be to her friends about a bet she had with her son. She would give him money if he lost 5 pounds. This kid had a little tiny child belly but was not overweight by any means. She said if he could lose 5 before she lost 10 he would get the money. I was just angered by this. In the past I would not have thought anything about it but this just seemed to hit a nerve for me. I really hope she gains the weight he loses. :-) Michele amytherrien wrote: I participate on another health form. Frequently, in that forum, I come across diet speak. Lately, I have been getting really angered. The more I embrace IE, the more it iritates me to see people dieting. I suffered from that same diet mentality before IE, why can I not be more sympathetic? I get so angry when I see someone else tell another person to find distractions from their hunger, to have more willpower over cravings, to workout a little extra to make up for an indulgence. If I see another young girl talk about eating 500 calories/day and working out 6 days per week, I think I'm going to

scream!!!!!! Diets hurt me for a long time and I cannot stand to watch other people continue to do it to themselves. It's SO frustrating!Sorry for the rant, I think I need to go punch some kickboxing bags!AmyMichele CR: The

Last Juror by Grisham

Check out the all-new Yahoo! Mail beta - Fire up a more powerful email and get things done faster.

[Guest guest]

I think is completely correct with the following statement. IE

doesn't mean that you don't have to pay attention to the nutritional

value of the food you eat. Not all nutritional information is diet

speak. Some of it really is about respecting your body and doing

what's best for it. Every time we feel hunger, we have choices to

make. Doesn't it serve us best to make informed, healthy choices. I'm

not talking about choices based on how " fattening " something is or

whether it's got too many carb or too much fat. I'm talking about

choices based on what our bodies need to function at their peak.

>

>

> I get the feeling sometimes that the IE can get just as bad as the

diet

> mentality with people obsessing so much that they almost go the other

> direction and close out actual good health advice and musings. If

you

> take it too far its just another fad.

>

---

[Guest guest]

I got mad on Wednesday. I've been taking Turbo Kickboxing class at the

gym on Monday nights. I really love it. It's super-high intensity

workout that really kicks my butt. About a month ago, I had the

opportunity to work the Wednesday night class into my schedule. This

class is taught by a different instructor. The first couple of

Wednesday classes I went to were great. They were really hard but fun.

The week after Thanksgiving, the teacher announces that she had a piece

of pumpkin cheesecake over the weekend. Therefore, we were going to do

more cardio. The class went from super hard to ultra super hard.

This week, the instructor announced that she had two holiday luncheons

to go to this weekend, so we were going to do more cardio. The class

went to mega ultra super hard.

The thing is that this instructor teaches at least 5 times a week. She

looks like she's in her forties and she doesn't have an ounce of body

fat on her. She's got a sixpack. The woman does not need to be

worrying about cheesecake and holiday luncheons. And, she doesn't need

to be taking out her food guilt on the rest of the class.

[Guest guest]

Hey Sandi,

It's amazing how many fitness professionals have the diet mentality.

Having been in the fitness industry for years, it's really hard for me to

watch. The sad thing is many fitness professionals put even more pressure

on themselves to be perfect and do everything " right " because

they are trying to be role models. I got caught up in this my first few

years of my career and I was miserable. I'm so glad that I found

IE!

Anyway, I loved your observation about your fitness class and was

wondering if I could share this story on my blog

(

www.healthieroutcomes.com/blog). I could keep you anonymous or give

you credit, either way. I just think you make an excellent point and

think others could learn from it. If you aren't comfortable with that, no

problem. Just thought I would ask.

Thanks!

Gillian

Gillian Hood-son, MS, ACSM

Healthier Outcomes

It's not just about losing weight!

Want to eat your favorite foods without

gaining weight?

Get your copy of our fr*e special report, " 6 Simple Steps to

Guilt Free Eating " by visiting

http://

www.healthieroutcomes.com

At 10:06 AM 12/8/2006, you wrote:

I got mad on Wednesday. I've

been taking Turbo Kickboxing class at the

gym on Monday nights. I really love it. It's super-high intensity

workout that really kicks my butt. About a month ago, I had the

opportunity to work the Wednesday night class into my schedule. This

class is taught by a different instructor. The first couple of

Wednesday classes I went to were great. They were really hard but

fun.

The week after Thanksgiving, the teacher announces that she had a piece

of pumpkin cheesecake over the weekend. Therefore, we were going to do

more cardio. The class went from super hard to ultra super hard.

This week, the instructor announced that she had two holiday luncheons

to go to this weekend, so we were going to do more cardio. The class

went to mega ultra super hard.

The thing is that this instructor teaches at least 5 times a week. She

looks like she's in her forties and she doesn't have an ounce of body

fat on her. She's got a sixpack. The woman does not need to be

worrying about cheesecake and holiday luncheons. And, she doesn't need

to be taking out her food guilt on the rest of the

class.

[Guest guest]

Yes, I agree with this statement, too. We have to treat our bodies

right. We can make informed decisions for ourselves. The best

information, I think, comes from registered dieticians and from

listening to our own bodies.

Not everyone makes the best of decisions when they are in the diet

mentality. Fear of excess weight can make us make some pretty bad

decisions. Nutrition information can be manipulated into diet rules

under this state of mind. I think this is true if especially if

weight loss success is tied to the nutrition or exercize advice.

Talk of weight loss success can the focus back on weight loss

instead of treating the body right. Since it is sometimes hard to

tell what state of mind someone is in through a message forum, I

think exercizing caution is a good idea.

What I would like to see more is a discussion of how healthy foods

make people feel better. Let's forget about weightloss successes or

failures and focus on physical reactions to food. Let's talk about

how certain nutrients help us feel good. The nutrient that I

discovered to make me feel much better was fiber. What's yours?

Amy

> >

> >

> > I get the feeling sometimes that the IE can get just as bad as

the

> diet

> > mentality with people obsessing so much that they almost go the

other

> > direction and close out actual good health advice and

musings. If

> you

> > take it too far its just another fad.

> >

> ---

>

[Guest guest]

Yes, I agree with this statement, too. We have to treat our bodies

right. We can make informed decisions for ourselves. The best

information, I think, comes from registered dieticians and from

listening to our own bodies.

Not everyone makes the best of decisions when they are in the diet

mentality. Fear of excess weight can make us make some pretty bad

decisions. Nutrition information can be manipulated into diet rules

under this state of mind. I think this is true if especially if

weight loss success is tied to the nutrition or exercize advice.

Talk of weight loss success can the focus back on weight loss

instead of treating the body right. Since it is sometimes hard to

tell what state of mind someone is in through a message forum, I

think exercizing caution is a good idea.

What I would like to see more is a discussion of how healthy foods

make people feel better. Let's forget about weightloss successes or

failures and focus on physical reactions to food. Let's talk about

how certain nutrients help us feel good. The nutrient that I

discovered to make me feel much better was fiber. What's yours?

Amy

> >

> >

> > I get the feeling sometimes that the IE can get just as bad as

the

> diet

> > mentality with people obsessing so much that they almost go the

other

> > direction and close out actual good health advice and

musings. If

> you

> > take it too far its just another fad.

> >

> ---

>

[Guest guest]

I've found myself eating less chicken and more fish and meat. But,

I've also been eating less protein and more complex carbs like whole

wheat bread/pasta and brown rice. I'm also eating a lot more beans.

I've always loved these foods, but when I was on Weight Watchers,

they just used up too many points (except the fish). I was also

avoiding potatoes and oils.

I feel so much more energetic now that I'm getting enough complex

carbs. I'm savoring the flavors of my food more. I think that

chicken is great, but it's so much better when it's an ingredient

rather than the whole dish.

--------

> What I would like to see more is a discussion of how healthy foods

> make people feel better. Let's forget about weightloss successes

or

> failures and focus on physical reactions to food. Let's talk about

> how certain nutrients help us feel good. The nutrient that I

> discovered to make me feel much better was fiber. What's yours?

>

> Amy

>

[Guest guest]

I've found myself eating less chicken and more fish and meat. But,

I've also been eating less protein and more complex carbs like whole

wheat bread/pasta and brown rice. I'm also eating a lot more beans.

I've always loved these foods, but when I was on Weight Watchers,

they just used up too many points (except the fish). I was also

avoiding potatoes and oils.

I feel so much more energetic now that I'm getting enough complex

carbs. I'm savoring the flavors of my food more. I think that

chicken is great, but it's so much better when it's an ingredient

rather than the whole dish.

--------

> What I would like to see more is a discussion of how healthy foods

> make people feel better. Let's forget about weightloss successes

or

> failures and focus on physical reactions to food. Let's talk about

> how certain nutrients help us feel good. The nutrient that I

> discovered to make me feel much better was fiber. What's yours?

>

> Amy

>

[Guest guest]

Sandi--

You are absolutely right about this. I think the problem comes when people are

still very new to IE and are trying to make the diet police go away. I beleive

that making ALL foods okay is a very important part of eating intuitively. Many

people, after practicing IE for a while, speak of how when they took the " taboo "

nature of the food away, it wasn't nearly as tempting.

We have to break the idea that we have inside of us that the reason we struggle

with our weight is because of the FOOD. It isn't...it is because we give too

much power to the food, it is because we eat too much food. Food isn't good or

bad, it just is.

Once we start really paying attention to our bodies, and for some this could

take the longest amount of time, we can recognize how certain foods make us feel

better--more energetic or not as lethargic--than others.

Many people come to IE having ignored their bodies signals for YEARS. For many,

they can't even recognize when they are hungry (recognizing satiety is, in

itself, an art!)

I believe that when we put the onus for our struggle on the food--we miss the

boat and don't deal with the why's of our struggle. Why do we use food for

things other than nourishment? Those are the things we need to learn and figure

out--so we can stop doing it and make food what it is--nourishment.

Just my two cents worth!

Cheryl

[Guest guest]

Sandi--

You are absolutely right about this. I think the problem comes when people are

still very new to IE and are trying to make the diet police go away. I beleive

that making ALL foods okay is a very important part of eating intuitively. Many

people, after practicing IE for a while, speak of how when they took the " taboo "

nature of the food away, it wasn't nearly as tempting.

We have to break the idea that we have inside of us that the reason we struggle

with our weight is because of the FOOD. It isn't...it is because we give too

much power to the food, it is because we eat too much food. Food isn't good or

bad, it just is.

Once we start really paying attention to our bodies, and for some this could

take the longest amount of time, we can recognize how certain foods make us feel

better--more energetic or not as lethargic--than others.

Many people come to IE having ignored their bodies signals for YEARS. For many,

they can't even recognize when they are hungry (recognizing satiety is, in

itself, an art!)

I believe that when we put the onus for our struggle on the food--we miss the

boat and don't deal with the why's of our struggle. Why do we use food for

things other than nourishment? Those are the things we need to learn and figure

out--so we can stop doing it and make food what it is--nourishment.

Just my two cents worth!

Cheryl

[Guest guest]

i hear you... it realllyyy pisses me off, hearing " i'm so fat "

really annoys me too

>

> I participate on another health form. Frequently, in that forum,

I

> come across diet speak. Lately, I have been getting really

angered.

> The more I embrace IE, the more it iritates me to see people

dieting.

> I suffered from that same diet mentality before IE, why can I not

be

> more sympathetic?

>

> I get so angry when I see someone else tell another person to find

> distractions from their hunger, to have more willpower over

cravings,

> to workout a little extra to make up for an indulgence. If I see

> another young girl talk about eating 500 calories/day and working

out 6

> days per week, I think I'm going to scream!!!!!! Diets hurt me

for a

> long time and I cannot stand to watch other people continue to do

it to

> themselves. It's SO frustrating!

>

> Sorry for the rant, I think I need to go punch some kickboxing

bags!

>

> Amy

>

[Guest guest]

i hear you... it realllyyy pisses me off, hearing " i'm so fat "

really annoys me too

>

> I participate on another health form. Frequently, in that forum,

I

> come across diet speak. Lately, I have been getting really

angered.

> The more I embrace IE, the more it iritates me to see people

dieting.

> I suffered from that same diet mentality before IE, why can I not

be

> more sympathetic?

>

> I get so angry when I see someone else tell another person to find

> distractions from their hunger, to have more willpower over

cravings,

> to workout a little extra to make up for an indulgence. If I see

> another young girl talk about eating 500 calories/day and working

out 6

> days per week, I think I'm going to scream!!!!!! Diets hurt me

for a

> long time and I cannot stand to watch other people continue to do

it to

> themselves. It's SO frustrating!

>

> Sorry for the rant, I think I need to go punch some kickboxing

bags!

>

> Amy

>