Re: I have a lot of weight to lose. Can I really do it?

[Guest guest]

I do believe that IE is about losing weight. I have been so bad about eating mindlessly that with IE, eating mindfully has caused me to release the weight. I started out weighing almost 380 pounds and I am now down to 337. If this is not losing weight than I must be doing something wrong. We are each at different parts of our journey with IE. I did not have to legalize any food because I ate whatever I wanted. There was nothing offlimits as you can see from my weight. So the only thing I had to work on with IE was only eating when I was hungry and stopping when I was satisfied. This was my first step. Then my body started to crave good food and I started to give it to her. I still don't eat good food all the time (healthy food) but I still try to watch my hunger/fullness levels and I think that is what has helped me lose weight with IE. I do not treat it

as a diet. I do not count calories. I do not measure portion sizes. I simply eat when I am hungry and stop when I am satisfied. Michele jkarcze wrote: I may or may not lose weight doing IE, but I believe (and otherswill disagree, but I really do believe) that IE is not about losingweight. . Currently Reading: Songs Without Words Recently Read: Shopaholic and Baby by Sophie Kinsella __________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

You betcha IE can lead to weight loss! Its what I am hoping for too.

But if the whole FOCUS of IE is weight loss weight loss weight loss,

one can get sidetracked and forget to work on eating changes that will

allow one's body to reclaim its power to 'direct' one's eating and

THEN adjust off any unwanted or needed weight.

GOOD for you to be on the 'down' slope of your IE journey. I look

forward to your announcement that you have broken the 300 barrier!

Bravo gal

>

> I do believe that IE is about losing weight. I have been so bad

about eating mindlessly that with IE, eating mindfully has caused me

to release the weight. I started out weighing almost 380 pounds and I

am now down to 337. If this is not losing weight than I must be doing

something wrong.

>

> We are each at different parts of our journey with IE. I did not

have to legalize any food because I ate whatever I wanted. There was

nothing offlimits as you can see from my weight. So the only thing I

had to work on with IE was only eating when I was hungry and stopping

when I was satisfied. This was my first step. Then my body started

to crave good food and I started to give it to her. I still don't eat

good food all the time (healthy food) but I still try to watch my

hunger/fullness levels and I think that is what has helped me lose

weight with IE.

>

> I do not treat it as a diet. I do not count calories. I do not

measure portion sizes. I simply eat when I am hungry and stop when I

am satisfied.

>

> Michele

[Guest guest]

You betcha IE can lead to weight loss! Its what I am hoping for too.

But if the whole FOCUS of IE is weight loss weight loss weight loss,

one can get sidetracked and forget to work on eating changes that will

allow one's body to reclaim its power to 'direct' one's eating and

THEN adjust off any unwanted or needed weight.

GOOD for you to be on the 'down' slope of your IE journey. I look

forward to your announcement that you have broken the 300 barrier!

Bravo gal

>

> I do believe that IE is about losing weight. I have been so bad

about eating mindlessly that with IE, eating mindfully has caused me

to release the weight. I started out weighing almost 380 pounds and I

am now down to 337. If this is not losing weight than I must be doing

something wrong.

>

> We are each at different parts of our journey with IE. I did not

have to legalize any food because I ate whatever I wanted. There was

nothing offlimits as you can see from my weight. So the only thing I

had to work on with IE was only eating when I was hungry and stopping

when I was satisfied. This was my first step. Then my body started

to crave good food and I started to give it to her. I still don't eat

good food all the time (healthy food) but I still try to watch my

hunger/fullness levels and I think that is what has helped me lose

weight with IE.

>

> I do not treat it as a diet. I do not count calories. I do not

measure portion sizes. I simply eat when I am hungry and stop when I

am satisfied.

>

> Michele

[Guest guest]

You betcha IE can lead to weight loss! Its what I am hoping for too.

But if the whole FOCUS of IE is weight loss weight loss weight loss,

one can get sidetracked and forget to work on eating changes that will

allow one's body to reclaim its power to 'direct' one's eating and

THEN adjust off any unwanted or needed weight.

GOOD for you to be on the 'down' slope of your IE journey. I look

forward to your announcement that you have broken the 300 barrier!

Bravo gal

>

> I do believe that IE is about losing weight. I have been so bad

about eating mindlessly that with IE, eating mindfully has caused me

to release the weight. I started out weighing almost 380 pounds and I

am now down to 337. If this is not losing weight than I must be doing

something wrong.

>

> We are each at different parts of our journey with IE. I did not

have to legalize any food because I ate whatever I wanted. There was

nothing offlimits as you can see from my weight. So the only thing I

had to work on with IE was only eating when I was hungry and stopping

when I was satisfied. This was my first step. Then my body started

to crave good food and I started to give it to her. I still don't eat

good food all the time (healthy food) but I still try to watch my

hunger/fullness levels and I think that is what has helped me lose

weight with IE.

>

> I do not treat it as a diet. I do not count calories. I do not

measure portion sizes. I simply eat when I am hungry and stop when I

am satisfied.

>

> Michele

[Guest guest]

Michele -

Congratulations on your progress. Being able to know when you are

hungry and knowing when you are satisfied is great.

>

> I do believe that IE is about losing weight. I have been so bad

about eating mindlessly that with IE, eating mindfully has caused me

to release the weight. I started out weighing almost 380 pounds and I

am now down to 337. If this is not losing weight than I must be doing

something wrong.

>

> We are each at different parts of our journey with IE. I did not

have to legalize any food because I ate whatever I wanted. There was

nothing offlimits as you can see from my weight. So the only thing I

had to work on with IE was only eating when I was hungry and stopping

when I was satisfied. This was my first step. Then my body started

to crave good food and I started to give it to her. I still don't eat

good food all the time (healthy food) but I still try to watch my

hunger/fullness levels and I think that is what has helped me lose

weight with IE.

>

> I do not treat it as a diet. I do not count calories. I do not

measure portion sizes. I simply eat when I am hungry and stop when I

am satisfied.

>

> Michele

[Guest guest]

That's awesome, Michele!

[Guest guest]

Thanks, Press. Michele press182 wrote: That's awesome, Michele! Currently Reading: Songs Without Words Recently Read: Shopaholic and Baby by Sophie

Kinsella __________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

Thanks, Press. Michele press182 wrote: That's awesome, Michele! Currently Reading: Songs Without Words Recently Read: Shopaholic and Baby by Sophie

Kinsella __________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

Thanks, Press. Michele press182 wrote: That's awesome, Michele! Currently Reading: Songs Without Words Recently Read: Shopaholic and Baby by Sophie

Kinsella __________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

Hi CW,

I just wanted to let you know about my own experience and why I am a

believer in the IE way of eating. Nine years ago I lost 50 pounds

(from 197lbs to 147lbs) in five months. I had never been a dieter,

but when I picked up the Weigh Down book (a faith based IE approach)

and applied it, I ended up shedding the weight at 4 pounds a week.

Looking over all the tips and way of eating described regarding IE I

have to say that was exactly what I was doing. The key, for myself,

was/is waiting until my stomach actually rumbles. When it rumbles

audibly (or if I can feel it) then I know that is the green light to

go and eat what I crave (whatever I choose, no rules). The

difficulty for me is eating just until full. Also, one thing I

found was that I knew if I ate something heavy (like McD's for

lunch) I wouldn't even feel hungry for supper as it took too long

for my body to use up those calories and empty once again. I found

the lighter or smaller the meals I had the easier it was to stay on

track. I tried to aim to be hungry and eat 3-6 times a day. If I

only got hungry 2X in the day I found/find it hard to not be drawn

irresistably to food. So small or light portions was/is the key for

me. I ate regular food, sweets, full fat, fast food etc. I did a

bit more walking as I loved the feeling of freedom (not to have to

exercise) and also as my body got lighter I found it more

enjoyable. I would lose 4 pounds a week primarly because I was

using the rumbling stomach as my green light to eat! I managed my

weight for a few years, but some weight has crept back on

(pregnancy, and moving away from the IE style of eating) and so I'm

back to getting focussed on the rumbling stomach once again and

small portions...in the same boat as you:-) One thing I found on a

different group site was the practical idea of a 72 hour

challenge... I don't know if I'm allowed to post the link of the

chart they made up...so I'll just describe. I can email you the

link if you are interested....

Just create a chart, 12 empty squares across each row (6 rows)along

with each hour of the day/nightabove the empty square. Each square

represents an hour. So, first row would be 12am 1am 2am etc. with

an empty square underneath. Second row would be 12pm 1pm 2pm etc.

with an empty square underneath each hour. Then, next step is to

fill in the square for each hour of the day and night with:

* zzzz's for the hours you are sleeping.

* X = no hunger (that includes when we get obsessed with " head "

hunger...not physical)

* a smiley face when you have managed to successfully avoid eating

when you were " head " hungry but not physically hungry

* a star when you have eaten when you are truly physically hungry

(for me that is definitely when my stomach rumbles)and stopped when

you were full NOT overfull.

If you eat when you are NOT hungry you start all over again with a

new chart.

I really like this idea and am implementing it right now. What I

especially like is that I feel like I have accomplished something

each hour I choose not to eat when I'm not hungry. And it feels

really good to see the stars that reflect when I have eaten when my

body NEEDS the food. I'm aiming for 3-6 stars in the day once

again. I found it a very practical suggestion. My kids are finding

it kind of funny. My 5 yr old asked if my stomach rumbled today! I

found that kind of cute. I think it is a good example to them.

Hope this helps!

:-)

>

> Michele-

> HOW did you lose 50# in less than a year? Did you limit what you

ate? Limit portion sizes? Increase your exercise? to me that sounds

kinda like a diet . I'd love to know how IE helps with weight loss,

cause frankly, I'm starting to think its just an excuse for my weak

willpower to be justified. OR maybe IE is just another kind of diet

in disguise and those who can stick to it get great results and once

again, I can't stick to it, so it doesn't work.

>

> As long as I've been on this board I've never heard people say

it caused weight loss like that. If you can share what happened in

your mind, head, life that caused that kind of loss, please share,

I'm getting desperate enough to go on a juice fast for a couple of

weeks. I can't stand myself anymore. All this " love yourself, be

gentle " stuff is starting to sound like a line of BS to me. I think

WW for life might be my solution after all.

>

> thanks for your help,

> CW

>

> __________________________________________________

>

[Guest guest]

>

Also, one thing I

> found was that I knew if I ate something heavy (like McD's for

> lunch) I wouldn't even feel hungry for supper as it took too long

> for my body to use up those calories and empty once again. I found

> the lighter or smaller the meals I had the easier it was to stay on

> track. I tried to aim to be hungry and eat 3-6 times a day. If I

> only got hungry 2X in the day I found/find it hard to not be drawn

> irresistably to food. So small or light portions was/is the key for

> me.

that is just how I started! I purposely ate 'just enough' so that I would be

hungry again in two

hours. I wanted to have several opportunities to eat each day. It was actually

fun

[Guest guest]

>

Also, one thing I

> found was that I knew if I ate something heavy (like McD's for

> lunch) I wouldn't even feel hungry for supper as it took too long

> for my body to use up those calories and empty once again. I found

> the lighter or smaller the meals I had the easier it was to stay on

> track. I tried to aim to be hungry and eat 3-6 times a day. If I

> only got hungry 2X in the day I found/find it hard to not be drawn

> irresistably to food. So small or light portions was/is the key for

> me.

that is just how I started! I purposely ate 'just enough' so that I would be

hungry again in two

hours. I wanted to have several opportunities to eat each day. It was actually

fun