Re: Are we prisoners?

[Guest guest]

Thank you for this reminder. I think the " acceptance of our bodies "

part is a very difficult one. I was just thinking, too, that I hear a

lot of people on the board talk about how much weight they need to lose.

I've been trying not to think of intuitive eating as a weight loss

plan, but it certainly creeps up on me all the time.

Excellent post!

[Guest guest]

Thank you for this reminder. I think the " acceptance of our bodies "

part is a very difficult one. I was just thinking, too, that I hear a

lot of people on the board talk about how much weight they need to lose.

I've been trying not to think of intuitive eating as a weight loss

plan, but it certainly creeps up on me all the time.

Excellent post!

[Guest guest]

Thank you for this reminder. I think the " acceptance of our bodies "

part is a very difficult one. I was just thinking, too, that I hear a

lot of people on the board talk about how much weight they need to lose.

I've been trying not to think of intuitive eating as a weight loss

plan, but it certainly creeps up on me all the time.

Excellent post!

[Guest guest]

hey shaktidance8 ~ please come out more, don't lurk. this was really

helpful for me to read. thank you for the thought and effort you put

into that post.

i made my decision that i could no longer diet on mid april when i

turned 50. i realized i'd been on a diet for 40+ years of my life. i

didn't know what i was going to do, but i knew i wasn't going to do

that anymore.

i went to the bookstore and was looking around for something

different ~ not another plan, not another miracle combination of

foods ~ and found " It's Not About Food. "

i initially set out with the idea i would weigh every day " to keep a

handle on things, " and that i'd write down my food on myfooddiary.

the weighing every day was the first to go, then writing down my

food. then i got the book . . . that really changed things and

opened my eyes to the insanity.

what i think about all of it is that it's a process of change, kind

of like healing from an illness. it's just that this time, my

illness is chronic dieting and food/weight obsession, not

the " addiction " that i was convinced kept me eating foods that were

Not Acceptable.

changing my whole life and my mind and my thoughts and everything

that i have ~ sadly and truly ~ focused on for so many years is a

tremendous shock to my system.

so many good things so far and so much more education to attain.

it's funny that you'd mention the prison because i almost feel as if

there is a (probably little, because my first diet was 2d grade)

person trapped inside of me screaming out that she has been falsely

accused, that she is not a raving food addict, not completely

unable to control herself and that she should be given another

chance.

i'm really happy that i am recognizing this process as the truth.

the fact is, though, that whether i recognize it as being important

to me and my life or not, it IS the truth, diets don't work, chronic

dieting is an affliction that simply promotes weight gain and

bingeing. there is another answer and i'm grateful. thank you for

writing what you did. a great reminder to just relax and let go and

all will be well.

lynette

>

> Hey all,

>

> I have been lurking for a little while now, keeping up on the

> threads, and I've been noticing something a little disturbing

going

> on. I'm only pointing it out to help you all further yourselves on

> the path to intuitive eating. Notice how I don't capitalize

it...that

> would be like capitalizing the word 'breathing' or 'walking' or

other

[Guest guest]

hey shaktidance8 ~ please come out more, don't lurk. this was really

helpful for me to read. thank you for the thought and effort you put

into that post.

i made my decision that i could no longer diet on mid april when i

turned 50. i realized i'd been on a diet for 40+ years of my life. i

didn't know what i was going to do, but i knew i wasn't going to do

that anymore.

i went to the bookstore and was looking around for something

different ~ not another plan, not another miracle combination of

foods ~ and found " It's Not About Food. "

i initially set out with the idea i would weigh every day " to keep a

handle on things, " and that i'd write down my food on myfooddiary.

the weighing every day was the first to go, then writing down my

food. then i got the book . . . that really changed things and

opened my eyes to the insanity.

what i think about all of it is that it's a process of change, kind

of like healing from an illness. it's just that this time, my

illness is chronic dieting and food/weight obsession, not

the " addiction " that i was convinced kept me eating foods that were

Not Acceptable.

changing my whole life and my mind and my thoughts and everything

that i have ~ sadly and truly ~ focused on for so many years is a

tremendous shock to my system.

so many good things so far and so much more education to attain.

it's funny that you'd mention the prison because i almost feel as if

there is a (probably little, because my first diet was 2d grade)

person trapped inside of me screaming out that she has been falsely

accused, that she is not a raving food addict, not completely

unable to control herself and that she should be given another

chance.

i'm really happy that i am recognizing this process as the truth.

the fact is, though, that whether i recognize it as being important

to me and my life or not, it IS the truth, diets don't work, chronic

dieting is an affliction that simply promotes weight gain and

bingeing. there is another answer and i'm grateful. thank you for

writing what you did. a great reminder to just relax and let go and

all will be well.

lynette

>

> Hey all,

>

> I have been lurking for a little while now, keeping up on the

> threads, and I've been noticing something a little disturbing

going

> on. I'm only pointing it out to help you all further yourselves on

> the path to intuitive eating. Notice how I don't capitalize

it...that

> would be like capitalizing the word 'breathing' or 'walking' or

other

[Guest guest]

hey shaktidance8 ~ please come out more, don't lurk. this was really

helpful for me to read. thank you for the thought and effort you put

into that post.

i made my decision that i could no longer diet on mid april when i

turned 50. i realized i'd been on a diet for 40+ years of my life. i

didn't know what i was going to do, but i knew i wasn't going to do

that anymore.

i went to the bookstore and was looking around for something

different ~ not another plan, not another miracle combination of

foods ~ and found " It's Not About Food. "

i initially set out with the idea i would weigh every day " to keep a

handle on things, " and that i'd write down my food on myfooddiary.

the weighing every day was the first to go, then writing down my

food. then i got the book . . . that really changed things and

opened my eyes to the insanity.

what i think about all of it is that it's a process of change, kind

of like healing from an illness. it's just that this time, my

illness is chronic dieting and food/weight obsession, not

the " addiction " that i was convinced kept me eating foods that were

Not Acceptable.

changing my whole life and my mind and my thoughts and everything

that i have ~ sadly and truly ~ focused on for so many years is a

tremendous shock to my system.

so many good things so far and so much more education to attain.

it's funny that you'd mention the prison because i almost feel as if

there is a (probably little, because my first diet was 2d grade)

person trapped inside of me screaming out that she has been falsely

accused, that she is not a raving food addict, not completely

unable to control herself and that she should be given another

chance.

i'm really happy that i am recognizing this process as the truth.

the fact is, though, that whether i recognize it as being important

to me and my life or not, it IS the truth, diets don't work, chronic

dieting is an affliction that simply promotes weight gain and

bingeing. there is another answer and i'm grateful. thank you for

writing what you did. a great reminder to just relax and let go and

all will be well.

lynette

>

> Hey all,

>

> I have been lurking for a little while now, keeping up on the

> threads, and I've been noticing something a little disturbing

going

> on. I'm only pointing it out to help you all further yourselves on

> the path to intuitive eating. Notice how I don't capitalize

it...that

> would be like capitalizing the word 'breathing' or 'walking' or

other

[Guest guest]

Thank you for your post.

I really like and agree with alot of what you wrote. I absolutely

agree that many people focus way too much on the aesthetic

consequence of food consumption and weight loss/gain.

I finished a Bachelor of Fine Art in 2002 and I thank God for the

awareness it brought me of the visual prejudices associated with many

things. I feel extremely lucky and blessed for that experience. I

painted myself nude at 300 pounds, hung those paintings in several

galleries in downtown Atlanta and held my breath! The gift of it was

that yes I heard the comments made when they thought I was out of ear

shot and wanted to express disgust but I also had many men come and

try to get my phone number (who wouldve thought?!) and I learned that

my body type at that weight is an archetype for motherhood and mother

earth. I saw beyond the negative voices and into a much broader and

spiritual acceptance of who I was when I was willing to put myself

out there. In many other countries, the overweight people are

thought to be rich because they can afford the food! Its a very

American thing to associate extra weight with lack of willpower and

laziness.

Anyway, I got really angry and defensive intially about this and got

in everyones face. Of course, when they werent happy with my

behavior I blamed them for hating fat people. HA HA Couldnt

possibly be that I was being angry, confrontational and aggressive?

No, not that.

To make my point, I really had to accept this was about me. D'OH.

Its intuitive. Its about me finding MY VOICE and MY RELATIONSHIP

with food that is unique and special. It was always someone else's

voice and someone else's opinion (the diets). Scary! I dont trust

myself with food. Of course. I think thats because I was always

trying to fit everyone else's voice in my body. I was so afraid to

mess up (kind of got that out of the way..huh?) that I just left it

to everyone else like I was a blank ________ to be filled in.

Im learning that it doesnt matter what anyone else does with food.

What DOES matter is that I allow others to have their own voice with

food (and their opinions too even though I really dont like some of

them) and that means I can have mine too! Its a two way street. I

can never learn more about my side of the street if I am always

visiting someone else's. Sometimes I like the way their street

lights are and arrange mine to match (the art world calls

this " appropriating " instead of stealing...ha ha) or sometimes I like

that their side is clean, bright and sunny and decide to arrange mine

as so but my main FOCUS is always on managing my side of the street.

Im learning boundaries. In the past, I always encouraged people to

coach me about my food (kind of a dieting bonding) and now I am

learning it is not a good thing. I trust that to my nutrionist. She

is the one with the degree! This isnt about making me " pretty "

or " attractive " ...I AM ALREADY! I accept this slowly and each day as

I remove the ways I formerly abused myself and food over and under

consumption were part of that!

Good post!

Cant wait to read all the replies to it.

Thank you!

> a part of this...the media, the diet books...I don't want to be a

> part of it. Intuitive eating is the only answer...but not the kind

> of 'intuition' that requires you to feel guilty if you're not

> perfectly interpreting the signals within yourself you've been

> ignoring for so long. Guilt has no place in intuitive eating.

Neither

> does the intoxicating dream of a lighter teenager body. Self

> acceptance. *sigh*. I wish I had it...I'm a work in progress.

>

> Just thought I'd point that out.

> Basically, what I mean to say is this:

> Don't feel angry if you eat two bites and you think you're

full...eat

> the whole thing if you want to. It's okay. Or, challange why you

want

> to eat the whole thing...but don't secretly hope you're going

> to 'come out on top' by not eating it.

>

> I don't know, sorry for taking so long to make my point. I hope

this

> helps somebody.

>

> -Me

>

[Guest guest]

Thank you for your post.

I really like and agree with alot of what you wrote. I absolutely

agree that many people focus way too much on the aesthetic

consequence of food consumption and weight loss/gain.

I finished a Bachelor of Fine Art in 2002 and I thank God for the

awareness it brought me of the visual prejudices associated with many

things. I feel extremely lucky and blessed for that experience. I

painted myself nude at 300 pounds, hung those paintings in several

galleries in downtown Atlanta and held my breath! The gift of it was

that yes I heard the comments made when they thought I was out of ear

shot and wanted to express disgust but I also had many men come and

try to get my phone number (who wouldve thought?!) and I learned that

my body type at that weight is an archetype for motherhood and mother

earth. I saw beyond the negative voices and into a much broader and

spiritual acceptance of who I was when I was willing to put myself

out there. In many other countries, the overweight people are

thought to be rich because they can afford the food! Its a very

American thing to associate extra weight with lack of willpower and

laziness.

Anyway, I got really angry and defensive intially about this and got

in everyones face. Of course, when they werent happy with my

behavior I blamed them for hating fat people. HA HA Couldnt

possibly be that I was being angry, confrontational and aggressive?

No, not that.

To make my point, I really had to accept this was about me. D'OH.

Its intuitive. Its about me finding MY VOICE and MY RELATIONSHIP

with food that is unique and special. It was always someone else's

voice and someone else's opinion (the diets). Scary! I dont trust

myself with food. Of course. I think thats because I was always

trying to fit everyone else's voice in my body. I was so afraid to

mess up (kind of got that out of the way..huh?) that I just left it

to everyone else like I was a blank ________ to be filled in.

Im learning that it doesnt matter what anyone else does with food.

What DOES matter is that I allow others to have their own voice with

food (and their opinions too even though I really dont like some of

them) and that means I can have mine too! Its a two way street. I

can never learn more about my side of the street if I am always

visiting someone else's. Sometimes I like the way their street

lights are and arrange mine to match (the art world calls

this " appropriating " instead of stealing...ha ha) or sometimes I like

that their side is clean, bright and sunny and decide to arrange mine

as so but my main FOCUS is always on managing my side of the street.

Im learning boundaries. In the past, I always encouraged people to

coach me about my food (kind of a dieting bonding) and now I am

learning it is not a good thing. I trust that to my nutrionist. She

is the one with the degree! This isnt about making me " pretty "

or " attractive " ...I AM ALREADY! I accept this slowly and each day as

I remove the ways I formerly abused myself and food over and under

consumption were part of that!

Good post!

Cant wait to read all the replies to it.

Thank you!

> a part of this...the media, the diet books...I don't want to be a

> part of it. Intuitive eating is the only answer...but not the kind

> of 'intuition' that requires you to feel guilty if you're not

> perfectly interpreting the signals within yourself you've been

> ignoring for so long. Guilt has no place in intuitive eating.

Neither

> does the intoxicating dream of a lighter teenager body. Self

> acceptance. *sigh*. I wish I had it...I'm a work in progress.

>

> Just thought I'd point that out.

> Basically, what I mean to say is this:

> Don't feel angry if you eat two bites and you think you're

full...eat

> the whole thing if you want to. It's okay. Or, challange why you

want

> to eat the whole thing...but don't secretly hope you're going

> to 'come out on top' by not eating it.

>

> I don't know, sorry for taking so long to make my point. I hope

this

> helps somebody.

>

> -Me

>

[Guest guest]

Thank you for your post.

I really like and agree with alot of what you wrote. I absolutely

agree that many people focus way too much on the aesthetic

consequence of food consumption and weight loss/gain.

I finished a Bachelor of Fine Art in 2002 and I thank God for the

awareness it brought me of the visual prejudices associated with many

things. I feel extremely lucky and blessed for that experience. I

painted myself nude at 300 pounds, hung those paintings in several

galleries in downtown Atlanta and held my breath! The gift of it was

that yes I heard the comments made when they thought I was out of ear

shot and wanted to express disgust but I also had many men come and

try to get my phone number (who wouldve thought?!) and I learned that

my body type at that weight is an archetype for motherhood and mother

earth. I saw beyond the negative voices and into a much broader and

spiritual acceptance of who I was when I was willing to put myself

out there. In many other countries, the overweight people are

thought to be rich because they can afford the food! Its a very

American thing to associate extra weight with lack of willpower and

laziness.

Anyway, I got really angry and defensive intially about this and got

in everyones face. Of course, when they werent happy with my

behavior I blamed them for hating fat people. HA HA Couldnt

possibly be that I was being angry, confrontational and aggressive?

No, not that.

To make my point, I really had to accept this was about me. D'OH.

Its intuitive. Its about me finding MY VOICE and MY RELATIONSHIP

with food that is unique and special. It was always someone else's

voice and someone else's opinion (the diets). Scary! I dont trust

myself with food. Of course. I think thats because I was always

trying to fit everyone else's voice in my body. I was so afraid to

mess up (kind of got that out of the way..huh?) that I just left it

to everyone else like I was a blank ________ to be filled in.

Im learning that it doesnt matter what anyone else does with food.

What DOES matter is that I allow others to have their own voice with

food (and their opinions too even though I really dont like some of

them) and that means I can have mine too! Its a two way street. I

can never learn more about my side of the street if I am always

visiting someone else's. Sometimes I like the way their street

lights are and arrange mine to match (the art world calls

this " appropriating " instead of stealing...ha ha) or sometimes I like

that their side is clean, bright and sunny and decide to arrange mine

as so but my main FOCUS is always on managing my side of the street.

Im learning boundaries. In the past, I always encouraged people to

coach me about my food (kind of a dieting bonding) and now I am

learning it is not a good thing. I trust that to my nutrionist. She

is the one with the degree! This isnt about making me " pretty "

or " attractive " ...I AM ALREADY! I accept this slowly and each day as

I remove the ways I formerly abused myself and food over and under

consumption were part of that!

Good post!

Cant wait to read all the replies to it.

Thank you!

> a part of this...the media, the diet books...I don't want to be a

> part of it. Intuitive eating is the only answer...but not the kind

> of 'intuition' that requires you to feel guilty if you're not

> perfectly interpreting the signals within yourself you've been

> ignoring for so long. Guilt has no place in intuitive eating.

Neither

> does the intoxicating dream of a lighter teenager body. Self

> acceptance. *sigh*. I wish I had it...I'm a work in progress.

>

> Just thought I'd point that out.

> Basically, what I mean to say is this:

> Don't feel angry if you eat two bites and you think you're

full...eat

> the whole thing if you want to. It's okay. Or, challange why you

want

> to eat the whole thing...but don't secretly hope you're going

> to 'come out on top' by not eating it.

>

> I don't know, sorry for taking so long to make my point. I hope

this

> helps somebody.

>

> -Me

>

[Guest guest]

I read a book by Philip Roth a couple of years ago called " The Human

Stain " (they made it into a movie with Kidman too).

Anyway, the basic synopsis is that theres a professor accused of making

racial slurs against two black students. The irony is that this

professor is actually black and has disowned his black heritage to

become " white " . (he was very light skinned compared to the rest of his

family)

The reason I am bringing up this movie is because I remember the words

his Mother said when he told her that he was never going to visit the

family again so he could complete the illusion that he was a white

man. His Mother said, " You're making yourself a slave "

Profound! I'll never forget that line.

I immediately made the association with my prejudices against weight.

No one need do it to me as long as I was doing it for them.

Great to remember that.

sorry to post again.

I just needed to share that experience.

> food...but they still haven't completely broken free from the prison.

>

> What's the prison?

[Guest guest]

I read a book by Philip Roth a couple of years ago called " The Human

Stain " (they made it into a movie with Kidman too).

Anyway, the basic synopsis is that theres a professor accused of making

racial slurs against two black students. The irony is that this

professor is actually black and has disowned his black heritage to

become " white " . (he was very light skinned compared to the rest of his

family)

The reason I am bringing up this movie is because I remember the words

his Mother said when he told her that he was never going to visit the

family again so he could complete the illusion that he was a white

man. His Mother said, " You're making yourself a slave "

Profound! I'll never forget that line.

I immediately made the association with my prejudices against weight.

No one need do it to me as long as I was doing it for them.

Great to remember that.

sorry to post again.

I just needed to share that experience.

> food...but they still haven't completely broken free from the prison.

>

> What's the prison?

[Guest guest]

I read a book by Philip Roth a couple of years ago called " The Human

Stain " (they made it into a movie with Kidman too).

Anyway, the basic synopsis is that theres a professor accused of making

racial slurs against two black students. The irony is that this

professor is actually black and has disowned his black heritage to

become " white " . (he was very light skinned compared to the rest of his

family)

The reason I am bringing up this movie is because I remember the words

his Mother said when he told her that he was never going to visit the

family again so he could complete the illusion that he was a white

man. His Mother said, " You're making yourself a slave "

Profound! I'll never forget that line.

I immediately made the association with my prejudices against weight.

No one need do it to me as long as I was doing it for them.

Great to remember that.

sorry to post again.

I just needed to share that experience.

> food...but they still haven't completely broken free from the prison.

>

> What's the prison?

[Guest guest]

I loved your post. Thank you so much for the insight and encouragement. Emmashaktidance8 wrote: Hey all,I have been lurking for a little while now, keeping up on the threads, and I've been noticing something a little disturbing going on. I'm only pointing it out to help you all further yourselves on the path to intuitive eating. Notice how I don't capitalize it...that would be like capitalizing the word 'breathing' or

'walking' or other natural human things...in other words, capitalizing intuitive eating would be making it into something it is not: a formal plan. Anyways, I just want to help by pointing this out; if you don't feel it applies to you, that's fine as well; I just know that food issues come shrouded in layers and layers of deception, and we deceive ourselves as much as we are deceived by the media, and...well, sometimes reality checks or just stopping to think help.Anyway, I've been noticing people referring to eating intuitively as 'IE', using words such as 'the plan' and 'stick to it' and 'rebel' all in regards to intuitive eating. I would urge you to take a step back and see if you are really not turning intuitive eating into another diet? We're all aware that we have the capability of doing this, and some of us have realized that we've been doing it and stopped ourselves, only to slowly settle into the

dieting pattern once more. What concerns me overall is the fact that the reason most people are drawn to intuitive eating is to lose weight. There's a lot of self hatred going on in our society nowadays, and the people I've seen on the boards seem releived that they are able to allow themselves food...but they still haven't completely broken free from the prison. What's the prison? It's REALLY hard to see. We're all in it right now. We're like fish who don't know that we are wet; it is like the water around us. It's a body image/dieting prison; we are constantly fed messages from the media and from people around us that we are not good enough because of our bodies. We are fed the message that the ultimate nobility is the pursuit of weight loss; that those who are overweight are weak willed, and those who are thin are worthy of our admiration. Almost EVERY SINGLE magazine I've seen on grocer stands nowadays are

full of stories of people who have turned their lives around...by losing weight. 'Anne Marie lost 45 pounds, and is happy for the first time in her life!' Oprah hosts shows where she interviews people who have lost weight, and the story is always the same...they are so much happier, they have so much more confidance, and have finally started living their lives. That's the message we receive. It's deceptive. Losing weight didn't make any of their lives better. Perhaps they started to live, trully live, and the weight came off as a result? I don't know, I'm not them, but all I can say is it is NOT ABOUT THE WEIGHT and it is most certainly NOT ABOUT THE FOOD. Why is it so overwhelmingly like this in society? I think it's to sell stuff, personally. I mean, the dieting industry is a multi million dollar industry, and as long as we keep people hating themselves, we can keep making money off of them. Self hatred is a

prison, and we can continue deceiving the poor prisoners with false 'keys' to freedom (like weight loss...a tighter tummy...thinner thighs...whatever), because they want freedom, but they don't know how to get it. It's disgusting, and it's ridiculous. It's not their fault, either. But they don't have to stay imprisoned. I was in a health club the other day, and I stopped and took a look around me. All I saw were people scurrying on treadmills and hampster wheels and stairmasters, faster and faster, but not getting anywhere. Running and scurrying upwards and outwards to where they thought freedom was. I closed my eyes and imagined myself rising above, above, above all the madness...above the Secret mannequins, above supermodels and weight loss reality television, above diet products and light n fit yogurts and 100 calorie packs and...above the need to shackle myself to some ungraspable image of

'perfection'...when I opened my eyes, I got off my elliptical trainer and went outside for a walk instead. It was wonderful. I'm not there yet, guys. I'm just sad. That's all. I don't want to be a part of this...the media, the diet books...I don't want to be a part of it. Intuitive eating is the only answer...but not the kind of 'intuition' that requires you to feel guilty if you're not perfectly interpreting the signals within yourself you've been ignoring for so long. Guilt has no place in intuitive eating. Neither does the intoxicating dream of a lighter teenager body. Self acceptance. *sigh*. I wish I had it...I'm a work in progress. Just thought I'd point that out. Basically, what I mean to say is this:Don't feel angry if you eat two bites and you think you're full...eat the whole thing if you want to. It's okay. Or, challange why you want to eat the whole thing...but don't secretly hope you're going

to 'come out on top' by not eating it. I don't know, sorry for taking so long to make my point. I hope this helps somebody. -Me

Be a better Globetrotter. Get better travel answers from someone who knows.Yahoo! Answers - Check it out.

[Guest guest]

I loved your post. Thank you so much for the insight and encouragement. Emmashaktidance8 wrote: Hey all,I have been lurking for a little while now, keeping up on the threads, and I've been noticing something a little disturbing going on. I'm only pointing it out to help you all further yourselves on the path to intuitive eating. Notice how I don't capitalize it...that would be like capitalizing the word 'breathing' or

'walking' or other natural human things...in other words, capitalizing intuitive eating would be making it into something it is not: a formal plan. Anyways, I just want to help by pointing this out; if you don't feel it applies to you, that's fine as well; I just know that food issues come shrouded in layers and layers of deception, and we deceive ourselves as much as we are deceived by the media, and...well, sometimes reality checks or just stopping to think help.Anyway, I've been noticing people referring to eating intuitively as 'IE', using words such as 'the plan' and 'stick to it' and 'rebel' all in regards to intuitive eating. I would urge you to take a step back and see if you are really not turning intuitive eating into another diet? We're all aware that we have the capability of doing this, and some of us have realized that we've been doing it and stopped ourselves, only to slowly settle into the

dieting pattern once more. What concerns me overall is the fact that the reason most people are drawn to intuitive eating is to lose weight. There's a lot of self hatred going on in our society nowadays, and the people I've seen on the boards seem releived that they are able to allow themselves food...but they still haven't completely broken free from the prison. What's the prison? It's REALLY hard to see. We're all in it right now. We're like fish who don't know that we are wet; it is like the water around us. It's a body image/dieting prison; we are constantly fed messages from the media and from people around us that we are not good enough because of our bodies. We are fed the message that the ultimate nobility is the pursuit of weight loss; that those who are overweight are weak willed, and those who are thin are worthy of our admiration. Almost EVERY SINGLE magazine I've seen on grocer stands nowadays are

full of stories of people who have turned their lives around...by losing weight. 'Anne Marie lost 45 pounds, and is happy for the first time in her life!' Oprah hosts shows where she interviews people who have lost weight, and the story is always the same...they are so much happier, they have so much more confidance, and have finally started living their lives. That's the message we receive. It's deceptive. Losing weight didn't make any of their lives better. Perhaps they started to live, trully live, and the weight came off as a result? I don't know, I'm not them, but all I can say is it is NOT ABOUT THE WEIGHT and it is most certainly NOT ABOUT THE FOOD. Why is it so overwhelmingly like this in society? I think it's to sell stuff, personally. I mean, the dieting industry is a multi million dollar industry, and as long as we keep people hating themselves, we can keep making money off of them. Self hatred is a

prison, and we can continue deceiving the poor prisoners with false 'keys' to freedom (like weight loss...a tighter tummy...thinner thighs...whatever), because they want freedom, but they don't know how to get it. It's disgusting, and it's ridiculous. It's not their fault, either. But they don't have to stay imprisoned. I was in a health club the other day, and I stopped and took a look around me. All I saw were people scurrying on treadmills and hampster wheels and stairmasters, faster and faster, but not getting anywhere. Running and scurrying upwards and outwards to where they thought freedom was. I closed my eyes and imagined myself rising above, above, above all the madness...above the Secret mannequins, above supermodels and weight loss reality television, above diet products and light n fit yogurts and 100 calorie packs and...above the need to shackle myself to some ungraspable image of

'perfection'...when I opened my eyes, I got off my elliptical trainer and went outside for a walk instead. It was wonderful. I'm not there yet, guys. I'm just sad. That's all. I don't want to be a part of this...the media, the diet books...I don't want to be a part of it. Intuitive eating is the only answer...but not the kind of 'intuition' that requires you to feel guilty if you're not perfectly interpreting the signals within yourself you've been ignoring for so long. Guilt has no place in intuitive eating. Neither does the intoxicating dream of a lighter teenager body. Self acceptance. *sigh*. I wish I had it...I'm a work in progress. Just thought I'd point that out. Basically, what I mean to say is this:Don't feel angry if you eat two bites and you think you're full...eat the whole thing if you want to. It's okay. Or, challange why you want to eat the whole thing...but don't secretly hope you're going

to 'come out on top' by not eating it. I don't know, sorry for taking so long to make my point. I hope this helps somebody. -Me

Be a better Globetrotter. Get better travel answers from someone who knows.Yahoo! Answers - Check it out.

[Guest guest]

I loved your post. Thank you so much for the insight and encouragement. Emmashaktidance8 wrote: Hey all,I have been lurking for a little while now, keeping up on the threads, and I've been noticing something a little disturbing going on. I'm only pointing it out to help you all further yourselves on the path to intuitive eating. Notice how I don't capitalize it...that would be like capitalizing the word 'breathing' or

'walking' or other natural human things...in other words, capitalizing intuitive eating would be making it into something it is not: a formal plan. Anyways, I just want to help by pointing this out; if you don't feel it applies to you, that's fine as well; I just know that food issues come shrouded in layers and layers of deception, and we deceive ourselves as much as we are deceived by the media, and...well, sometimes reality checks or just stopping to think help.Anyway, I've been noticing people referring to eating intuitively as 'IE', using words such as 'the plan' and 'stick to it' and 'rebel' all in regards to intuitive eating. I would urge you to take a step back and see if you are really not turning intuitive eating into another diet? We're all aware that we have the capability of doing this, and some of us have realized that we've been doing it and stopped ourselves, only to slowly settle into the

dieting pattern once more. What concerns me overall is the fact that the reason most people are drawn to intuitive eating is to lose weight. There's a lot of self hatred going on in our society nowadays, and the people I've seen on the boards seem releived that they are able to allow themselves food...but they still haven't completely broken free from the prison. What's the prison? It's REALLY hard to see. We're all in it right now. We're like fish who don't know that we are wet; it is like the water around us. It's a body image/dieting prison; we are constantly fed messages from the media and from people around us that we are not good enough because of our bodies. We are fed the message that the ultimate nobility is the pursuit of weight loss; that those who are overweight are weak willed, and those who are thin are worthy of our admiration. Almost EVERY SINGLE magazine I've seen on grocer stands nowadays are

full of stories of people who have turned their lives around...by losing weight. 'Anne Marie lost 45 pounds, and is happy for the first time in her life!' Oprah hosts shows where she interviews people who have lost weight, and the story is always the same...they are so much happier, they have so much more confidance, and have finally started living their lives. That's the message we receive. It's deceptive. Losing weight didn't make any of their lives better. Perhaps they started to live, trully live, and the weight came off as a result? I don't know, I'm not them, but all I can say is it is NOT ABOUT THE WEIGHT and it is most certainly NOT ABOUT THE FOOD. Why is it so overwhelmingly like this in society? I think it's to sell stuff, personally. I mean, the dieting industry is a multi million dollar industry, and as long as we keep people hating themselves, we can keep making money off of them. Self hatred is a

prison, and we can continue deceiving the poor prisoners with false 'keys' to freedom (like weight loss...a tighter tummy...thinner thighs...whatever), because they want freedom, but they don't know how to get it. It's disgusting, and it's ridiculous. It's not their fault, either. But they don't have to stay imprisoned. I was in a health club the other day, and I stopped and took a look around me. All I saw were people scurrying on treadmills and hampster wheels and stairmasters, faster and faster, but not getting anywhere. Running and scurrying upwards and outwards to where they thought freedom was. I closed my eyes and imagined myself rising above, above, above all the madness...above the Secret mannequins, above supermodels and weight loss reality television, above diet products and light n fit yogurts and 100 calorie packs and...above the need to shackle myself to some ungraspable image of

'perfection'...when I opened my eyes, I got off my elliptical trainer and went outside for a walk instead. It was wonderful. I'm not there yet, guys. I'm just sad. That's all. I don't want to be a part of this...the media, the diet books...I don't want to be a part of it. Intuitive eating is the only answer...but not the kind of 'intuition' that requires you to feel guilty if you're not perfectly interpreting the signals within yourself you've been ignoring for so long. Guilt has no place in intuitive eating. Neither does the intoxicating dream of a lighter teenager body. Self acceptance. *sigh*. I wish I had it...I'm a work in progress. Just thought I'd point that out. Basically, what I mean to say is this:Don't feel angry if you eat two bites and you think you're full...eat the whole thing if you want to. It's okay. Or, challange why you want to eat the whole thing...but don't secretly hope you're going

to 'come out on top' by not eating it. I don't know, sorry for taking so long to make my point. I hope this helps somebody. -Me

Be a better Globetrotter. Get better travel answers from someone who knows.Yahoo! Answers - Check it out.

[Guest guest]

I loved your post. Thank you so much for the insight and encouragement. Emmashaktidance8 wrote: Hey all,I have been lurking for a little while now, keeping up on the threads, and I've been noticing something a little disturbing going on. I'm only pointing it out to help you all further yourselves on the path to intuitive eating. Notice how I don't capitalize it...that would be like capitalizing the word 'breathing' or

'walking' or other natural human things...in other words, capitalizing intuitive eating would be making it into something it is not: a formal plan. Anyways, I just want to help by pointing this out; if you don't feel it applies to you, that's fine as well; I just know that food issues come shrouded in layers and layers of deception, and we deceive ourselves as much as we are deceived by the media, and...well, sometimes reality checks or just stopping to think help.Anyway, I've been noticing people referring to eating intuitively as 'IE', using words such as 'the plan' and 'stick to it' and 'rebel' all in regards to intuitive eating. I would urge you to take a step back and see if you are really not turning intuitive eating into another diet? We're all aware that we have the capability of doing this, and some of us have realized that we've been doing it and stopped ourselves, only to slowly settle into the

dieting pattern once more. What concerns me overall is the fact that the reason most people are drawn to intuitive eating is to lose weight. There's a lot of self hatred going on in our society nowadays, and the people I've seen on the boards seem releived that they are able to allow themselves food...but they still haven't completely broken free from the prison. What's the prison? It's REALLY hard to see. We're all in it right now. We're like fish who don't know that we are wet; it is like the water around us. It's a body image/dieting prison; we are constantly fed messages from the media and from people around us that we are not good enough because of our bodies. We are fed the message that the ultimate nobility is the pursuit of weight loss; that those who are overweight are weak willed, and those who are thin are worthy of our admiration. Almost EVERY SINGLE magazine I've seen on grocer stands nowadays are

full of stories of people who have turned their lives around...by losing weight. 'Anne Marie lost 45 pounds, and is happy for the first time in her life!' Oprah hosts shows where she interviews people who have lost weight, and the story is always the same...they are so much happier, they have so much more confidance, and have finally started living their lives. That's the message we receive. It's deceptive. Losing weight didn't make any of their lives better. Perhaps they started to live, trully live, and the weight came off as a result? I don't know, I'm not them, but all I can say is it is NOT ABOUT THE WEIGHT and it is most certainly NOT ABOUT THE FOOD. Why is it so overwhelmingly like this in society? I think it's to sell stuff, personally. I mean, the dieting industry is a multi million dollar industry, and as long as we keep people hating themselves, we can keep making money off of them. Self hatred is a

prison, and we can continue deceiving the poor prisoners with false 'keys' to freedom (like weight loss...a tighter tummy...thinner thighs...whatever), because they want freedom, but they don't know how to get it. It's disgusting, and it's ridiculous. It's not their fault, either. But they don't have to stay imprisoned. I was in a health club the other day, and I stopped and took a look around me. All I saw were people scurrying on treadmills and hampster wheels and stairmasters, faster and faster, but not getting anywhere. Running and scurrying upwards and outwards to where they thought freedom was. I closed my eyes and imagined myself rising above, above, above all the madness...above the Secret mannequins, above supermodels and weight loss reality television, above diet products and light n fit yogurts and 100 calorie packs and...above the need to shackle myself to some ungraspable image of

'perfection'...when I opened my eyes, I got off my elliptical trainer and went outside for a walk instead. It was wonderful. I'm not there yet, guys. I'm just sad. That's all. I don't want to be a part of this...the media, the diet books...I don't want to be a part of it. Intuitive eating is the only answer...but not the kind of 'intuition' that requires you to feel guilty if you're not perfectly interpreting the signals within yourself you've been ignoring for so long. Guilt has no place in intuitive eating. Neither does the intoxicating dream of a lighter teenager body. Self acceptance. *sigh*. I wish I had it...I'm a work in progress. Just thought I'd point that out. Basically, what I mean to say is this:Don't feel angry if you eat two bites and you think you're full...eat the whole thing if you want to. It's okay. Or, challange why you want to eat the whole thing...but don't secretly hope you're going

to 'come out on top' by not eating it. I don't know, sorry for taking so long to make my point. I hope this helps somebody. -Me

No need to miss a message. Get email on-the-go with Yahoo! Mail for Mobile. Get started.

[Guest guest]

I loved your post. Thank you so much for the insight and encouragement. Emmashaktidance8 wrote: Hey all,I have been lurking for a little while now, keeping up on the threads, and I've been noticing something a little disturbing going on. I'm only pointing it out to help you all further yourselves on the path to intuitive eating. Notice how I don't capitalize it...that would be like capitalizing the word 'breathing' or

'walking' or other natural human things...in other words, capitalizing intuitive eating would be making it into something it is not: a formal plan. Anyways, I just want to help by pointing this out; if you don't feel it applies to you, that's fine as well; I just know that food issues come shrouded in layers and layers of deception, and we deceive ourselves as much as we are deceived by the media, and...well, sometimes reality checks or just stopping to think help.Anyway, I've been noticing people referring to eating intuitively as 'IE', using words such as 'the plan' and 'stick to it' and 'rebel' all in regards to intuitive eating. I would urge you to take a step back and see if you are really not turning intuitive eating into another diet? We're all aware that we have the capability of doing this, and some of us have realized that we've been doing it and stopped ourselves, only to slowly settle into the

dieting pattern once more. What concerns me overall is the fact that the reason most people are drawn to intuitive eating is to lose weight. There's a lot of self hatred going on in our society nowadays, and the people I've seen on the boards seem releived that they are able to allow themselves food...but they still haven't completely broken free from the prison. What's the prison? It's REALLY hard to see. We're all in it right now. We're like fish who don't know that we are wet; it is like the water around us. It's a body image/dieting prison; we are constantly fed messages from the media and from people around us that we are not good enough because of our bodies. We are fed the message that the ultimate nobility is the pursuit of weight loss; that those who are overweight are weak willed, and those who are thin are worthy of our admiration. Almost EVERY SINGLE magazine I've seen on grocer stands nowadays are

full of stories of people who have turned their lives around...by losing weight. 'Anne Marie lost 45 pounds, and is happy for the first time in her life!' Oprah hosts shows where she interviews people who have lost weight, and the story is always the same...they are so much happier, they have so much more confidance, and have finally started living their lives. That's the message we receive. It's deceptive. Losing weight didn't make any of their lives better. Perhaps they started to live, trully live, and the weight came off as a result? I don't know, I'm not them, but all I can say is it is NOT ABOUT THE WEIGHT and it is most certainly NOT ABOUT THE FOOD. Why is it so overwhelmingly like this in society? I think it's to sell stuff, personally. I mean, the dieting industry is a multi million dollar industry, and as long as we keep people hating themselves, we can keep making money off of them. Self hatred is a

prison, and we can continue deceiving the poor prisoners with false 'keys' to freedom (like weight loss...a tighter tummy...thinner thighs...whatever), because they want freedom, but they don't know how to get it. It's disgusting, and it's ridiculous. It's not their fault, either. But they don't have to stay imprisoned. I was in a health club the other day, and I stopped and took a look around me. All I saw were people scurrying on treadmills and hampster wheels and stairmasters, faster and faster, but not getting anywhere. Running and scurrying upwards and outwards to where they thought freedom was. I closed my eyes and imagined myself rising above, above, above all the madness...above the Secret mannequins, above supermodels and weight loss reality television, above diet products and light n fit yogurts and 100 calorie packs and...above the need to shackle myself to some ungraspable image of

'perfection'...when I opened my eyes, I got off my elliptical trainer and went outside for a walk instead. It was wonderful. I'm not there yet, guys. I'm just sad. That's all. I don't want to be a part of this...the media, the diet books...I don't want to be a part of it. Intuitive eating is the only answer...but not the kind of 'intuition' that requires you to feel guilty if you're not perfectly interpreting the signals within yourself you've been ignoring for so long. Guilt has no place in intuitive eating. Neither does the intoxicating dream of a lighter teenager body. Self acceptance. *sigh*. I wish I had it...I'm a work in progress. Just thought I'd point that out. Basically, what I mean to say is this:Don't feel angry if you eat two bites and you think you're full...eat the whole thing if you want to. It's okay. Or, challange why you want to eat the whole thing...but don't secretly hope you're going

to 'come out on top' by not eating it. I don't know, sorry for taking so long to make my point. I hope this helps somebody. -Me

No need to miss a message. Get email on-the-go with Yahoo! Mail for Mobile. Get started.

[Guest guest]

I loved your post. Thank you so much for the insight and encouragement. Emmashaktidance8 wrote: Hey all,I have been lurking for a little while now, keeping up on the threads, and I've been noticing something a little disturbing going on. I'm only pointing it out to help you all further yourselves on the path to intuitive eating. Notice how I don't capitalize it...that would be like capitalizing the word 'breathing' or

'walking' or other natural human things...in other words, capitalizing intuitive eating would be making it into something it is not: a formal plan. Anyways, I just want to help by pointing this out; if you don't feel it applies to you, that's fine as well; I just know that food issues come shrouded in layers and layers of deception, and we deceive ourselves as much as we are deceived by the media, and...well, sometimes reality checks or just stopping to think help.Anyway, I've been noticing people referring to eating intuitively as 'IE', using words such as 'the plan' and 'stick to it' and 'rebel' all in regards to intuitive eating. I would urge you to take a step back and see if you are really not turning intuitive eating into another diet? We're all aware that we have the capability of doing this, and some of us have realized that we've been doing it and stopped ourselves, only to slowly settle into the

dieting pattern once more. What concerns me overall is the fact that the reason most people are drawn to intuitive eating is to lose weight. There's a lot of self hatred going on in our society nowadays, and the people I've seen on the boards seem releived that they are able to allow themselves food...but they still haven't completely broken free from the prison. What's the prison? It's REALLY hard to see. We're all in it right now. We're like fish who don't know that we are wet; it is like the water around us. It's a body image/dieting prison; we are constantly fed messages from the media and from people around us that we are not good enough because of our bodies. We are fed the message that the ultimate nobility is the pursuit of weight loss; that those who are overweight are weak willed, and those who are thin are worthy of our admiration. Almost EVERY SINGLE magazine I've seen on grocer stands nowadays are

full of stories of people who have turned their lives around...by losing weight. 'Anne Marie lost 45 pounds, and is happy for the first time in her life!' Oprah hosts shows where she interviews people who have lost weight, and the story is always the same...they are so much happier, they have so much more confidance, and have finally started living their lives. That's the message we receive. It's deceptive. Losing weight didn't make any of their lives better. Perhaps they started to live, trully live, and the weight came off as a result? I don't know, I'm not them, but all I can say is it is NOT ABOUT THE WEIGHT and it is most certainly NOT ABOUT THE FOOD. Why is it so overwhelmingly like this in society? I think it's to sell stuff, personally. I mean, the dieting industry is a multi million dollar industry, and as long as we keep people hating themselves, we can keep making money off of them. Self hatred is a

prison, and we can continue deceiving the poor prisoners with false 'keys' to freedom (like weight loss...a tighter tummy...thinner thighs...whatever), because they want freedom, but they don't know how to get it. It's disgusting, and it's ridiculous. It's not their fault, either. But they don't have to stay imprisoned. I was in a health club the other day, and I stopped and took a look around me. All I saw were people scurrying on treadmills and hampster wheels and stairmasters, faster and faster, but not getting anywhere. Running and scurrying upwards and outwards to where they thought freedom was. I closed my eyes and imagined myself rising above, above, above all the madness...above the Secret mannequins, above supermodels and weight loss reality television, above diet products and light n fit yogurts and 100 calorie packs and...above the need to shackle myself to some ungraspable image of

'perfection'...when I opened my eyes, I got off my elliptical trainer and went outside for a walk instead. It was wonderful. I'm not there yet, guys. I'm just sad. That's all. I don't want to be a part of this...the media, the diet books...I don't want to be a part of it. Intuitive eating is the only answer...but not the kind of 'intuition' that requires you to feel guilty if you're not perfectly interpreting the signals within yourself you've been ignoring for so long. Guilt has no place in intuitive eating. Neither does the intoxicating dream of a lighter teenager body. Self acceptance. *sigh*. I wish I had it...I'm a work in progress. Just thought I'd point that out. Basically, what I mean to say is this:Don't feel angry if you eat two bites and you think you're full...eat the whole thing if you want to. It's okay. Or, challange why you want to eat the whole thing...but don't secretly hope you're going

to 'come out on top' by not eating it. I don't know, sorry for taking so long to make my point. I hope this helps somebody. -Me

No need to miss a message. Get email on-the-go with Yahoo! Mail for Mobile. Get started.

[Guest guest]

Wow! Great post, ! VERY insightful!

I, too, am trying really hard to start accepting and loving myself

NOW, in the moment. I do feel myself slowly coming to that more

mature point in my life.

However, when I do talk (on this board and others in the past) about

having to lose weight, I can honestly say that for 90% of that issue

it's for HEALTH reasons and not aesthetics or looks. I'm too old now

and mature enough now with a lovely family and have birthed two

beautiful boys to " NEED " to be a model-looking, skinny wafer of a

woman. No, that's not it at all. My health is actually starting to

deteriorate because of these excess 40-50 pounds. My knee is not

recovering as it should after two surgeries last year. My ankles and

joints hurt. I now have a heel spur because of the excess weight on

my bony, arch-less feet. I'm always winded going up stairs and

cannot play with my two adorable boys the way I should/want to. So,

when I talk about the importance of losing weight, for me personally,

it's a very strong mission for all the right reasons -- for me. Not

about the pressures of society TELLING me I need to look thin.

I really enjoyed, though, your post about your confidence in your

body image. I re-read it again and it's profound! It really is a

shame that more people can't be accepting of all body types. There's

just way too much judgement and pressure out there. It's sad.

GREAT post. I think I'm going to print it out and add it to my

journal.

jenny

> > a part of this...the media, the diet books...I don't want to be a

> > part of it. Intuitive eating is the only answer...but not the

kind

> > of 'intuition' that requires you to feel guilty if you're not

> > perfectly interpreting the signals within yourself you've been

> > ignoring for so long. Guilt has no place in intuitive eating.

> Neither

> > does the intoxicating dream of a lighter teenager body. Self

> > acceptance. *sigh*. I wish I had it...I'm a work in progress.

> >

> > Just thought I'd point that out.

> > Basically, what I mean to say is this:

> > Don't feel angry if you eat two bites and you think you're

> full...eat

> > the whole thing if you want to. It's okay. Or, challange why you

> want

> > to eat the whole thing...but don't secretly hope you're going

> > to 'come out on top' by not eating it.

> >

> > I don't know, sorry for taking so long to make my point. I hope

> this

> > helps somebody.

> >

> > -Me

> >

>

[Guest guest]

Wow! Great post, ! VERY insightful!

I, too, am trying really hard to start accepting and loving myself

NOW, in the moment. I do feel myself slowly coming to that more

mature point in my life.

However, when I do talk (on this board and others in the past) about

having to lose weight, I can honestly say that for 90% of that issue

it's for HEALTH reasons and not aesthetics or looks. I'm too old now

and mature enough now with a lovely family and have birthed two

beautiful boys to " NEED " to be a model-looking, skinny wafer of a

woman. No, that's not it at all. My health is actually starting to

deteriorate because of these excess 40-50 pounds. My knee is not

recovering as it should after two surgeries last year. My ankles and

joints hurt. I now have a heel spur because of the excess weight on

my bony, arch-less feet. I'm always winded going up stairs and

cannot play with my two adorable boys the way I should/want to. So,

when I talk about the importance of losing weight, for me personally,

it's a very strong mission for all the right reasons -- for me. Not

about the pressures of society TELLING me I need to look thin.

I really enjoyed, though, your post about your confidence in your

body image. I re-read it again and it's profound! It really is a

shame that more people can't be accepting of all body types. There's

just way too much judgement and pressure out there. It's sad.

GREAT post. I think I'm going to print it out and add it to my

journal.

jenny

> > a part of this...the media, the diet books...I don't want to be a

> > part of it. Intuitive eating is the only answer...but not the

kind

> > of 'intuition' that requires you to feel guilty if you're not

> > perfectly interpreting the signals within yourself you've been

> > ignoring for so long. Guilt has no place in intuitive eating.

> Neither

> > does the intoxicating dream of a lighter teenager body. Self

> > acceptance. *sigh*. I wish I had it...I'm a work in progress.

> >

> > Just thought I'd point that out.

> > Basically, what I mean to say is this:

> > Don't feel angry if you eat two bites and you think you're

> full...eat

> > the whole thing if you want to. It's okay. Or, challange why you

> want

> > to eat the whole thing...but don't secretly hope you're going

> > to 'come out on top' by not eating it.

> >

> > I don't know, sorry for taking so long to make my point. I hope

> this

> > helps somebody.

> >

> > -Me

> >

>

[Guest guest]

Wow! Great post, ! VERY insightful!

I, too, am trying really hard to start accepting and loving myself

NOW, in the moment. I do feel myself slowly coming to that more

mature point in my life.

However, when I do talk (on this board and others in the past) about

having to lose weight, I can honestly say that for 90% of that issue

it's for HEALTH reasons and not aesthetics or looks. I'm too old now

and mature enough now with a lovely family and have birthed two

beautiful boys to " NEED " to be a model-looking, skinny wafer of a

woman. No, that's not it at all. My health is actually starting to

deteriorate because of these excess 40-50 pounds. My knee is not

recovering as it should after two surgeries last year. My ankles and

joints hurt. I now have a heel spur because of the excess weight on

my bony, arch-less feet. I'm always winded going up stairs and

cannot play with my two adorable boys the way I should/want to. So,

when I talk about the importance of losing weight, for me personally,

it's a very strong mission for all the right reasons -- for me. Not

about the pressures of society TELLING me I need to look thin.

I really enjoyed, though, your post about your confidence in your

body image. I re-read it again and it's profound! It really is a

shame that more people can't be accepting of all body types. There's

just way too much judgement and pressure out there. It's sad.

GREAT post. I think I'm going to print it out and add it to my

journal.

jenny

> > a part of this...the media, the diet books...I don't want to be a

> > part of it. Intuitive eating is the only answer...but not the

kind

> > of 'intuition' that requires you to feel guilty if you're not

> > perfectly interpreting the signals within yourself you've been

> > ignoring for so long. Guilt has no place in intuitive eating.

> Neither

> > does the intoxicating dream of a lighter teenager body. Self

> > acceptance. *sigh*. I wish I had it...I'm a work in progress.

> >

> > Just thought I'd point that out.

> > Basically, what I mean to say is this:

> > Don't feel angry if you eat two bites and you think you're

> full...eat

> > the whole thing if you want to. It's okay. Or, challange why you

> want

> > to eat the whole thing...but don't secretly hope you're going

> > to 'come out on top' by not eating it.

> >

> > I don't know, sorry for taking so long to make my point. I hope

> this

> > helps somebody.

> >

> > -Me

> >

>

[Guest guest]

Great post! Really made me think!

And, I can honestly say for myself that I am not thinking of this

intuitive eating plan as a diet. I wake up each morning lately and

barely THINK of it. It's actually the " anti-diet " for me.

Yes, I am definitely first using it to free myself of the prison of

food and food thoughts and obsession over all the dieting crap that

I've been suffering with for years. That is the first and foremost

benefit I'm getting from this " anti-diet " .

But, also, for me personally, I DO need to lose weight. And, I can

totally picture this (as something totally, radically different than

anything else I've tried) working for me to shed this 40ish pounds to

be healthy again. It's not about being vain or accepted as " skinny "

or to fit in with society -- it's, for me, to be healthy again. My

body is not healthy at this weight.

I totally feel that this is the " anti-diet " because those words that

you used " stick to it " , " rebel " etc. seemed to have vanished from my

vocabulary. This is just a normal way of living suddenly for me and

I feel as if I can now relate to all of my " normal eating " friends.

A light-bulb moment of " .....oh!! So THAT's how they all think about

food - eat when hungry, stop when full. How simple. " Totally not

something I have to rebel against.

I think you hit the nail on the head when you mentioned some of these

people (on Oprah etc.) who are " happier now that they've lost the

weight... " in that maybe they started living fully....truly living

and THAT's why the weight came off. That's exactly how I feel about

this new plan of attack in my eating with intuitive eating. I think

I feel like I'm truly living again for the first time in SOOOOO

long. That's why I feel such confidence that this weight is going to

finally come off -- albeit slowly I'm sure, but that's fine.

Thanks again for a very insightful post!

jenny

>

> Hey all,

>

> I have been lurking for a little while now, keeping up on the

> threads, and I've been noticing something a little disturbing going

> on. I'm only pointing it out to help you all further yourselves on

> the path to intuitive eating. Notice how I don't capitalize

it...that

> would be like capitalizing the word 'breathing' or 'walking' or

other

> natural human things...in other words, capitalizing intuitive

eating

> would be making it into something it is not: a formal plan.

Anyways,

> I just want to help by pointing this out; if you don't feel it

> applies to you, that's fine as well; I just know that food issues

> come shrouded in layers and layers of deception, and we deceive

> ourselves as much as we are deceived by the media, and...well,

> sometimes reality checks or just stopping to think help.

>

> Anyway, I've been noticing people referring to eating intuitively

> as 'IE', using words such as 'the plan' and 'stick to it'

and 'rebel'

> all in regards to intuitive eating. I would urge you to take a step

> back and see if you are really not turning intuitive eating into

> another diet?

> We're all aware that we have the capability of doing this, and some

> of us have realized that we've been doing it and stopped ourselves,

> only to slowly settle into the dieting pattern once more. What

> concerns me overall is the fact that the reason most people are

drawn

> to intuitive eating is to lose weight. There's a lot of self hatred

> going on in our society nowadays, and the people I've seen on the

> boards seem releived that they are able to allow themselves

> food...but they still haven't completely broken free from the

prison.

>

> What's the prison? It's REALLY hard to see. We're all in it right

> now. We're like fish who don't know that we are wet; it is like the

> water around us. It's a body image/dieting prison; we are

constantly

> fed messages from the media and from people around us that we are

not

> good enough because of our bodies. We are fed the message that the

> ultimate nobility is the pursuit of weight loss; that those who are

> overweight are weak willed, and those who are thin are worthy of

our

> admiration. Almost EVERY SINGLE magazine I've seen on grocer stands

> nowadays are full of stories of people who have turned their lives

> around...by losing weight. 'Anne Marie lost 45 pounds, and is happy

> for the first time in her life!' Oprah hosts shows where she

> interviews people who have lost weight, and the story is always the

> same...they are so much happier, they have so much more confidance,

> and have finally started living their lives. That's the message we

> receive. It's deceptive. Losing weight didn't make any of their

lives

> better. Perhaps they started to live, trully live, and the weight

> came off as a result? I don't know, I'm not them, but all I can say

> is it is NOT ABOUT THE WEIGHT and it is most certainly NOT ABOUT

THE

> FOOD.

>

> Why is it so overwhelmingly like this in society? I think it's to

> sell stuff, personally. I mean, the dieting industry is a multi

> million dollar industry, and as long as we keep people hating

> themselves, we can keep making money off of them. Self hatred is a

> prison, and we can continue deceiving the poor prisoners with

> false 'keys' to freedom (like weight loss...a tighter

tummy...thinner

> thighs...whatever), because they want freedom, but they don't know

> how to get it. It's disgusting, and it's ridiculous. It's not their

> fault, either. But they don't have to stay imprisoned.

>

> I was in a health club the other day, and I stopped and took a look

> around me. All I saw were people scurrying on treadmills and

hampster

> wheels and stairmasters, faster and faster, but not getting

anywhere.

> Running and scurrying upwards and outwards to where they thought

> freedom was. I closed my eyes and imagined myself rising above,

> above, above all the madness...above the Secret

mannequins,

> above supermodels and weight loss reality television, above diet

> products and light n fit yogurts and 100 calorie packs and...above

> the need to shackle myself to some ungraspable image

> of 'perfection'...when I opened my eyes, I got off my elliptical

> trainer and went outside for a walk instead. It was wonderful.

>

> I'm not there yet, guys. I'm just sad. That's all. I don't want to

be

> a part of this...the media, the diet books...I don't want to be a

> part of it. Intuitive eating is the only answer...but not the kind

> of 'intuition' that requires you to feel guilty if you're not

> perfectly interpreting the signals within yourself you've been

> ignoring for so long. Guilt has no place in intuitive eating.

Neither

> does the intoxicating dream of a lighter teenager body. Self

> acceptance. *sigh*. I wish I had it...I'm a work in progress.

>

> Just thought I'd point that out.

> Basically, what I mean to say is this:

> Don't feel angry if you eat two bites and you think you're

full...eat

> the whole thing if you want to. It's okay. Or, challange why you

want

> to eat the whole thing...but don't secretly hope you're going

> to 'come out on top' by not eating it.

>

> I don't know, sorry for taking so long to make my point. I hope

this

> helps somebody.

>

> -Me

>

[Guest guest]

Great post! Really made me think!

And, I can honestly say for myself that I am not thinking of this

intuitive eating plan as a diet. I wake up each morning lately and

barely THINK of it. It's actually the " anti-diet " for me.

Yes, I am definitely first using it to free myself of the prison of

food and food thoughts and obsession over all the dieting crap that

I've been suffering with for years. That is the first and foremost

benefit I'm getting from this " anti-diet " .

But, also, for me personally, I DO need to lose weight. And, I can

totally picture this (as something totally, radically different than

anything else I've tried) working for me to shed this 40ish pounds to

be healthy again. It's not about being vain or accepted as " skinny "

or to fit in with society -- it's, for me, to be healthy again. My

body is not healthy at this weight.

I totally feel that this is the " anti-diet " because those words that

you used " stick to it " , " rebel " etc. seemed to have vanished from my

vocabulary. This is just a normal way of living suddenly for me and

I feel as if I can now relate to all of my " normal eating " friends.

A light-bulb moment of " .....oh!! So THAT's how they all think about

food - eat when hungry, stop when full. How simple. " Totally not

something I have to rebel against.

I think you hit the nail on the head when you mentioned some of these

people (on Oprah etc.) who are " happier now that they've lost the

weight... " in that maybe they started living fully....truly living

and THAT's why the weight came off. That's exactly how I feel about

this new plan of attack in my eating with intuitive eating. I think

I feel like I'm truly living again for the first time in SOOOOO

long. That's why I feel such confidence that this weight is going to

finally come off -- albeit slowly I'm sure, but that's fine.

Thanks again for a very insightful post!

jenny

>

> Hey all,

>

> I have been lurking for a little while now, keeping up on the

> threads, and I've been noticing something a little disturbing going

> on. I'm only pointing it out to help you all further yourselves on

> the path to intuitive eating. Notice how I don't capitalize

it...that

> would be like capitalizing the word 'breathing' or 'walking' or

other

> natural human things...in other words, capitalizing intuitive

eating

> would be making it into something it is not: a formal plan.

Anyways,

> I just want to help by pointing this out; if you don't feel it

> applies to you, that's fine as well; I just know that food issues

> come shrouded in layers and layers of deception, and we deceive

> ourselves as much as we are deceived by the media, and...well,

> sometimes reality checks or just stopping to think help.

>

> Anyway, I've been noticing people referring to eating intuitively

> as 'IE', using words such as 'the plan' and 'stick to it'

and 'rebel'

> all in regards to intuitive eating. I would urge you to take a step

> back and see if you are really not turning intuitive eating into

> another diet?

> We're all aware that we have the capability of doing this, and some

> of us have realized that we've been doing it and stopped ourselves,

> only to slowly settle into the dieting pattern once more. What

> concerns me overall is the fact that the reason most people are

drawn

> to intuitive eating is to lose weight. There's a lot of self hatred

> going on in our society nowadays, and the people I've seen on the

> boards seem releived that they are able to allow themselves

> food...but they still haven't completely broken free from the

prison.

>

> What's the prison? It's REALLY hard to see. We're all in it right

> now. We're like fish who don't know that we are wet; it is like the

> water around us. It's a body image/dieting prison; we are

constantly

> fed messages from the media and from people around us that we are

not

> good enough because of our bodies. We are fed the message that the

> ultimate nobility is the pursuit of weight loss; that those who are

> overweight are weak willed, and those who are thin are worthy of

our

> admiration. Almost EVERY SINGLE magazine I've seen on grocer stands

> nowadays are full of stories of people who have turned their lives

> around...by losing weight. 'Anne Marie lost 45 pounds, and is happy

> for the first time in her life!' Oprah hosts shows where she

> interviews people who have lost weight, and the story is always the

> same...they are so much happier, they have so much more confidance,

> and have finally started living their lives. That's the message we

> receive. It's deceptive. Losing weight didn't make any of their

lives

> better. Perhaps they started to live, trully live, and the weight

> came off as a result? I don't know, I'm not them, but all I can say

> is it is NOT ABOUT THE WEIGHT and it is most certainly NOT ABOUT

THE

> FOOD.

>

> Why is it so overwhelmingly like this in society? I think it's to

> sell stuff, personally. I mean, the dieting industry is a multi

> million dollar industry, and as long as we keep people hating

> themselves, we can keep making money off of them. Self hatred is a

> prison, and we can continue deceiving the poor prisoners with

> false 'keys' to freedom (like weight loss...a tighter

tummy...thinner

> thighs...whatever), because they want freedom, but they don't know

> how to get it. It's disgusting, and it's ridiculous. It's not their

> fault, either. But they don't have to stay imprisoned.

>

> I was in a health club the other day, and I stopped and took a look

> around me. All I saw were people scurrying on treadmills and

hampster

> wheels and stairmasters, faster and faster, but not getting

anywhere.

> Running and scurrying upwards and outwards to where they thought

> freedom was. I closed my eyes and imagined myself rising above,

> above, above all the madness...above the Secret

mannequins,

> above supermodels and weight loss reality television, above diet

> products and light n fit yogurts and 100 calorie packs and...above

> the need to shackle myself to some ungraspable image

> of 'perfection'...when I opened my eyes, I got off my elliptical

> trainer and went outside for a walk instead. It was wonderful.

>

> I'm not there yet, guys. I'm just sad. That's all. I don't want to

be

> a part of this...the media, the diet books...I don't want to be a

> part of it. Intuitive eating is the only answer...but not the kind

> of 'intuition' that requires you to feel guilty if you're not

> perfectly interpreting the signals within yourself you've been

> ignoring for so long. Guilt has no place in intuitive eating.

Neither

> does the intoxicating dream of a lighter teenager body. Self

> acceptance. *sigh*. I wish I had it...I'm a work in progress.

>

> Just thought I'd point that out.

> Basically, what I mean to say is this:

> Don't feel angry if you eat two bites and you think you're

full...eat

> the whole thing if you want to. It's okay. Or, challange why you

want

> to eat the whole thing...but don't secretly hope you're going

> to 'come out on top' by not eating it.

>

> I don't know, sorry for taking so long to make my point. I hope

this

> helps somebody.

>

> -Me

>

[Guest guest]

Great post! Really made me think!

And, I can honestly say for myself that I am not thinking of this

intuitive eating plan as a diet. I wake up each morning lately and

barely THINK of it. It's actually the " anti-diet " for me.

Yes, I am definitely first using it to free myself of the prison of

food and food thoughts and obsession over all the dieting crap that

I've been suffering with for years. That is the first and foremost

benefit I'm getting from this " anti-diet " .

But, also, for me personally, I DO need to lose weight. And, I can

totally picture this (as something totally, radically different than

anything else I've tried) working for me to shed this 40ish pounds to

be healthy again. It's not about being vain or accepted as " skinny "

or to fit in with society -- it's, for me, to be healthy again. My

body is not healthy at this weight.

I totally feel that this is the " anti-diet " because those words that

you used " stick to it " , " rebel " etc. seemed to have vanished from my

vocabulary. This is just a normal way of living suddenly for me and

I feel as if I can now relate to all of my " normal eating " friends.

A light-bulb moment of " .....oh!! So THAT's how they all think about

food - eat when hungry, stop when full. How simple. " Totally not

something I have to rebel against.

I think you hit the nail on the head when you mentioned some of these

people (on Oprah etc.) who are " happier now that they've lost the

weight... " in that maybe they started living fully....truly living

and THAT's why the weight came off. That's exactly how I feel about

this new plan of attack in my eating with intuitive eating. I think

I feel like I'm truly living again for the first time in SOOOOO

long. That's why I feel such confidence that this weight is going to

finally come off -- albeit slowly I'm sure, but that's fine.

Thanks again for a very insightful post!

jenny

>

> Hey all,

>

> I have been lurking for a little while now, keeping up on the

> threads, and I've been noticing something a little disturbing going

> on. I'm only pointing it out to help you all further yourselves on

> the path to intuitive eating. Notice how I don't capitalize

it...that

> would be like capitalizing the word 'breathing' or 'walking' or

other

> natural human things...in other words, capitalizing intuitive

eating

> would be making it into something it is not: a formal plan.

Anyways,

> I just want to help by pointing this out; if you don't feel it

> applies to you, that's fine as well; I just know that food issues

> come shrouded in layers and layers of deception, and we deceive

> ourselves as much as we are deceived by the media, and...well,

> sometimes reality checks or just stopping to think help.

>

> Anyway, I've been noticing people referring to eating intuitively

> as 'IE', using words such as 'the plan' and 'stick to it'

and 'rebel'

> all in regards to intuitive eating. I would urge you to take a step

> back and see if you are really not turning intuitive eating into

> another diet?

> We're all aware that we have the capability of doing this, and some

> of us have realized that we've been doing it and stopped ourselves,

> only to slowly settle into the dieting pattern once more. What

> concerns me overall is the fact that the reason most people are

drawn

> to intuitive eating is to lose weight. There's a lot of self hatred

> going on in our society nowadays, and the people I've seen on the

> boards seem releived that they are able to allow themselves

> food...but they still haven't completely broken free from the

prison.

>

> What's the prison? It's REALLY hard to see. We're all in it right

> now. We're like fish who don't know that we are wet; it is like the

> water around us. It's a body image/dieting prison; we are

constantly

> fed messages from the media and from people around us that we are

not

> good enough because of our bodies. We are fed the message that the

> ultimate nobility is the pursuit of weight loss; that those who are

> overweight are weak willed, and those who are thin are worthy of

our

> admiration. Almost EVERY SINGLE magazine I've seen on grocer stands

> nowadays are full of stories of people who have turned their lives

> around...by losing weight. 'Anne Marie lost 45 pounds, and is happy

> for the first time in her life!' Oprah hosts shows where she

> interviews people who have lost weight, and the story is always the

> same...they are so much happier, they have so much more confidance,

> and have finally started living their lives. That's the message we

> receive. It's deceptive. Losing weight didn't make any of their

lives

> better. Perhaps they started to live, trully live, and the weight

> came off as a result? I don't know, I'm not them, but all I can say

> is it is NOT ABOUT THE WEIGHT and it is most certainly NOT ABOUT

THE

> FOOD.

>

> Why is it so overwhelmingly like this in society? I think it's to

> sell stuff, personally. I mean, the dieting industry is a multi

> million dollar industry, and as long as we keep people hating

> themselves, we can keep making money off of them. Self hatred is a

> prison, and we can continue deceiving the poor prisoners with

> false 'keys' to freedom (like weight loss...a tighter

tummy...thinner

> thighs...whatever), because they want freedom, but they don't know

> how to get it. It's disgusting, and it's ridiculous. It's not their

> fault, either. But they don't have to stay imprisoned.

>

> I was in a health club the other day, and I stopped and took a look

> around me. All I saw were people scurrying on treadmills and

hampster

> wheels and stairmasters, faster and faster, but not getting

anywhere.

> Running and scurrying upwards and outwards to where they thought

> freedom was. I closed my eyes and imagined myself rising above,

> above, above all the madness...above the Secret

mannequins,

> above supermodels and weight loss reality television, above diet

> products and light n fit yogurts and 100 calorie packs and...above

> the need to shackle myself to some ungraspable image

> of 'perfection'...when I opened my eyes, I got off my elliptical

> trainer and went outside for a walk instead. It was wonderful.

>

> I'm not there yet, guys. I'm just sad. That's all. I don't want to

be

> a part of this...the media, the diet books...I don't want to be a

> part of it. Intuitive eating is the only answer...but not the kind

> of 'intuition' that requires you to feel guilty if you're not

> perfectly interpreting the signals within yourself you've been

> ignoring for so long. Guilt has no place in intuitive eating.

Neither

> does the intoxicating dream of a lighter teenager body. Self

> acceptance. *sigh*. I wish I had it...I'm a work in progress.

>

> Just thought I'd point that out.

> Basically, what I mean to say is this:

> Don't feel angry if you eat two bites and you think you're

full...eat

> the whole thing if you want to. It's okay. Or, challange why you

want

> to eat the whole thing...but don't secretly hope you're going

> to 'come out on top' by not eating it.

>

> I don't know, sorry for taking so long to make my point. I hope

this

> helps somebody.

>

> -Me

>

[Guest guest]

Wow this was a great post. I guess that it is so much easier for me to grasp on to when I say IE. It sounds like a marketing ploy doesn't it. I just never thought about it in the terms that you are speaking about but I totally agree with you. I have made it into another thing that I do. I guess giving it more significance than it truly deserves.

I remember when I lost 80 pounds and everyone is like you are so different, and I remember saying that I am happier blah, blah, blah. But you know what deep down inside I was thinking so what did these people think of me before, I mean I am still who I am just smaller--when you think about it that is the only thing that changed and people's perception of me. It made me very mad after a while and some people I decided that having them a part of my life was not a good thing. I also remember making fun of those informercials where everyone starts crying because of their transformation, it became a bit much, you can not get through an informercial without "Crying Suzie".

I haven't been in the gym all week. Partially because I am recuperating from being sick but mostly because I wanted to go outside because the weather was so nice and I must admit I felt guilty doing this. I felt that I should be in the gym on the elliptical machine truly working out. One of the woman at the job said you didn't go to the gym. I said no I wanted to go outside and take a long walk which is what I did. I don't want to be couped up in the gym. I started taking tennis lessons, I want to be outside. I truly do prefer this than the gym. I am not sure if I will go back inside this summer unless it rains. I do feel guilty doing this I am not going to lie about this, but I also know that for the 2nd session of the tennis I am going to sign up for 2 sessions a week I really like it and find it more fun than being inside. Before the adult class starts the kids are there from 3-6 and they are just running all over the place just chasing the ball and having a good time. They are not concerned about losing weight, being a particular size, or spot-reducing. They are just loving life. Yeah and when it was our turn I was just running after the ball enjoying it, maybe not to the extent of them or for as long, I was tired lol!! The whole family goes to the park Sat. morning for a fitness walk, but I just like the fact that the family is together and we get to talk and goof around--well my 2 DD's, dh is usally speeding across the track! I feel wonderful doing this and the park is so beautiful and I don't need a Polar monitor to find out if I am really working out! I am just starting to feel bored with being in the gym all the time. The things that I can do to help me with the tennis I really can do it in the comforts of my home for 20-30 minutes, I was even feeling guilty about not "working out for 45 - 60 minutes". It is crazy.--Gym Prison!

I am going to buy a nice work outfit for me to wear for work in my size know that fit-not something that I will fit into by a certain time period. I want to look good know and feel confident in my body.

I do need to lose 30 pounds there is no doubt about that but I do believe that I can do it normally not through a particular diet. I do know my tendencies--it is a challenge but as you say we are all a work in progress.

>> Hey all,> > I have been lurking for a little while now, keeping up on the > threads, and I've been noticing something a little disturbing going > on. I'm only pointing it out to help you all further yourselves on > the path to intuitive eating. Notice how I don't capitalize it...that > would be like capitalizing the word 'breathing' or 'walking' or other > natural human things...in other words, capitalizing intuitive eating > would be making it into something it is not: a formal plan. Anyways, > I just want to help by pointing this out; if you don't feel it > applies to you, that's fine as well; I just know that food issues > come shrouded in layers and layers of deception, and we deceive > ourselves as much as we are deceived by the media, and...well, > sometimes reality checks or just stopping to think help.> > Anyway, I've been noticing people referring to eating intuitively > as 'IE', using words such as 'the plan' and 'stick to it' and 'rebel' > all in regards to intuitive eating. I would urge you to take a step > back and see if you are really not turning intuitive eating into > another diet? > We're all aware that we have the capability of doing this, and some > of us have realized that we've been doing it and stopped ourselves, > only to slowly settle into the dieting pattern once more. What > concerns me overall is the fact that the reason most people are drawn > to intuitive eating is to lose weight. There's a lot of self hatred > going on in our society nowadays, and the people I've seen on the > boards seem releived that they are able to allow themselves > food...but they still haven't completely broken free from the prison. > > What's the prison? It's REALLY hard to see. We're all in it right > now. We're like fish who don't know that we are wet; it is like the > water around us. It's a body image/dieting prison; we are constantly > fed messages from the media and from people around us that we are not > good enough because of our bodies. We are fed the message that the > ultimate nobility is the pursuit of weight loss; that those who are > overweight are weak willed, and those who are thin are worthy of our > admiration. Almost EVERY SINGLE magazine I've seen on grocer stands > nowadays are full of stories of people who have turned their lives > around...by losing weight. 'Anne Marie lost 45 pounds, and is happy > for the first time in her life!' Oprah hosts shows where she > interviews people who have lost weight, and the story is always the > same...they are so much happier, they have so much more confidance, > and have finally started living their lives. That's the message we > receive. It's deceptive. Losing weight didn't make any of their lives > better. Perhaps they started to live, trully live, and the weight > came off as a result? I don't know, I'm not them, but all I can say > is it is NOT ABOUT THE WEIGHT and it is most certainly NOT ABOUT THE > FOOD. > > Why is it so overwhelmingly like this in society? I think it's to > sell stuff, personally. I mean, the dieting industry is a multi > million dollar industry, and as long as we keep people hating > themselves, we can keep making money off of them. Self hatred is a > prison, and we can continue deceiving the poor prisoners with > false 'keys' to freedom (like weight loss...a tighter tummy...thinner > thighs...whatever), because they want freedom, but they don't know > how to get it. It's disgusting, and it's ridiculous. It's not their > fault, either. But they don't have to stay imprisoned. > > I was in a health club the other day, and I stopped and took a look > around me. All I saw were people scurrying on treadmills and hampster > wheels and stairmasters, faster and faster, but not getting anywhere. > Running and scurrying upwards and outwards to where they thought > freedom was. I closed my eyes and imagined myself rising above, > above, above all the madness...above the Secret mannequins, > above supermodels and weight loss reality television, above diet > products and light n fit yogurts and 100 calorie packs and...above > the need to shackle myself to some ungraspable image > of 'perfection'...when I opened my eyes, I got off my elliptical > trainer and went outside for a walk instead. It was wonderful. > > I'm not there yet, guys. I'm just sad. That's all. I don't want to be > a part of this...the media, the diet books...I don't want to be a > part of it. Intuitive eating is the only answer...but not the kind > of 'intuition' that requires you to feel guilty if you're not > perfectly interpreting the signals within yourself you've been > ignoring for so long. Guilt has no place in intuitive eating. Neither > does the intoxicating dream of a lighter teenager body. Self > acceptance. *sigh*. I wish I had it...I'm a work in progress. > > Just thought I'd point that out. > Basically, what I mean to say is this:> Don't feel angry if you eat two bites and you think you're full...eat > the whole thing if you want to. It's okay. Or, challange why you want > to eat the whole thing...but don't secretly hope you're going > to 'come out on top' by not eating it. > > I don't know, sorry for taking so long to make my point. I hope this > helps somebody. > > -Me>