Re: Need Support!

January 6, 2007

Jeri,

Sorry you're struggling... but, hang in there! Everyone gains weight

at the holidays, it seems. My " big " clothes are even fitting kinda

tight, and believe me... I'm not happy about that! BUT, I also am

being patient with myself ... I got the weight off using IE before,

so I *know* that I can get it off again, too! I also know, though,

that I've not been giving 100% to following the principles. I know

that when I do, the weight will start coming off.

So, be patient -- and PLEASE don't take up smoking! Don't " hurt "

yourself like that! (Having lived with someone who's tried, for

years, to quit, I just don't want to see you have to go through

that! I have seen, firsthand, what smoking does to a person's

health! ... hubby claims that, now that he's been a Non-Smoker since

March 23, 2006, he can smell better, taste better, sleep better --

he is constantly telling me all the benefits of having quit... so

just think of how horrible it must've been for him WHILE he smoked!)

Okay...sorry... getting off the soap-box. :-?

Read some books on non-dieting... or, articles online! (there are

lots of resources in our LINKS section). These help to motivate me

when I'm in a " slump " , and feel down.

Refresh your memory about IE's 10 Principles (see my website, if you

need to: http://www.geocities.com/intuitiveeaters ).

And, recommit to it for JUST ONE DAY! Take it one day --or, even one

meal-- at a time. Don't kick yourself. Be compassionate, telling

yourself that you don't *have* to get it perfect. Things will come...

Jenn

<><

> I have actually considered taking up smoking as a replacment for

my eating habits, but I realize this is just me transferring my self-

hatred into some sort of self-destructive behavior...

>

> I really need support. What do you guys do when you seem to slip

into these ruts? I KNOW that once I get back into the swing of

school and exercise regularly and eat within reason, I'll start to

slim down - I just can't seem to START! I feel SO in despair

January 7, 2007

Hi Jeri,

Don't beat yourself up about overeating. Just learn from the

experience. From what you've shared, you were doing last chance eating

because you had the mentality that you wouldn't be able to get

homecooked food for a long time. I totally understand this, because I

know that dorm food is usually awful, so I can see why you would feel

deprived. Does your dorm have an oven or stove where you can make your

favorites to prevent you from feeling deprived while your at school?

Or do any of your friends have apartments..heck you could offer to

make them a big meal and you could all enjoy it together. That way

home-cooked food wouldn't hold power over you - you could have it

whenever you wanted.

You also mentioned that you felt guilty after overeating and promised

you would do moderation. My question is: were you doing moderation

before the overeating? I have trouble believing that you would gorge

if you honestly were having whatever you were hungry for whenever you

wanted. Why would you struggle with going back to moderation if

moderation weren't somehow a punishment? I don't mean to sound harsh

here, I'm just trying to help you figure out what happened.

When I started intuitive eating I had a lot of slip-ups. From years of

anorexia and bulimia I had completely lost touch of eating to

satisfaction. It does get better, though. Just keep trying and do not

beat yourself up over mistakes, they are learning experiences. Did you

have a tummy ache after you gorged on sweets? Did you feel good when

you ate to satisfaction? Think about these things, and keep plugging

away.

January 8, 2007

Jeri,

Part of IE is that it isn't a linear process - it will have ups and

downs. I love sugar and I used to be the person who would polish off

the whole box of twinkies because I felt like if I had one I might as

well have them all (I was very black or white). I know keep tons of

candy and stuff in the house and actually don't touch it very often

because I know I can have it whenever I want. Food doesn't have the

power over me - I get to choose when I eat it. When I have a slip-up, I

I reread the IE book and try to analyze why it happened - what was I

feeling. I will also keep a IE journal for a few days where I record

what I ate (I don't get detailed with portions) and my hunger scale and

my feelings. It is a great tool for understanding why things are

happening. Hang in there - it really is a process and takes time to

work through.

>

> Hey everyone,

> It's been awhile! I hope all of you had great holidays and are

looking forward

> to a happy and wonderful new year in 2007. I am very upset at the

moment, for

> a number of reasons.

>

January 8, 2007