Struggling...need advice from some oldtimers

[Guest guest]

I have been working with the IE approach for almost two months now and

given the short time frame, have come a very long way mentally and

emotionally. Two months ago I was at rock bottom, obsessed and out of

control. My life was nothing more than a recurring nightmare of dieting

and bingeing. IE has completely changed my life. It has given my life

back to me in fact. My world no longer revolves around food.

But physically, it's a different story. I would describe my eating

habits as mostly healthy, and I do a moderate amout of weekly exercise.

Despite those facts, and given that my binges have almost ceased, I

have not lost any weight since starting with IE. (I have about 20 extra

pounds on my frame at this point.)

I know I need to be patient and take pride in how far I have come in

what are arguably the more important areas in overcoming emotional

eating. But it's hard to not be disappointed that my body does not seem

to be heading down to its natural weight.

Do the physical changes come last in your experiences, long after the

mental and emotional changes have taken place and solidified?

Thanks in advance.

[Guest guest]

>

> I have been working with the IE approach for almost two months now

and given the short time frame, have come a very long way mentally

and emotionally. ... I know I need to be patient and take pride in

how far I have come in what are arguably the more important areas in

overcoming emotional eating. But it's hard to not be disappointed

that my body does not seem to be heading down to its natural weight.

> Do the physical changes come last in your experiences, long after

the mental and emotional changes have taken place and solidified?

You sound like you've made *tremendous* progress in two months, and

I'm in awe of your success. Make no mistake, what you have described

is huge success.

I believe that by caring for yourself and your body in the best and

most positive way you can, your weight will gradually evolve to the

healthiest level that is possible for you. Give it time. Not many

people would find they drop weight quickly through intuitive eating

(unless perhaps they started at a fairly high weight in the first

place, and were managing to step back from some seriously volatile

overeating). I know it seems frustrating and you may be impatient,

but this is a slow process. Your body is not likely to drop

noticeable weight quickly without being shocked into it by the usual

dieting tactics (and we don't want to go *there* again). It's a

gradual process, but necessarily so. You'd rather be on a long,

natural, slow journey to whatever your natural weight may be than a

fast plunge downhill, followed by some scary bends, and more huge

climbs, right? Been there, done that?

I do believe that you need to make and consolidate the mental and

emotional changes first, and the physical will follow in due course,

when your body is ready - and probably when you're not watching. And

it may not be the physical change you presently expect or hope for,

but you know what? You may be surprised to find that the " 20 extra "

pounds become less and less important to you as you develop your

confidence in and appreciation of yourself and your body, and accept

and love yourself *however* you are at the time.

And remember, we love you the way you are already!

Hugs

Sigigee

[Guest guest]

Have you ever thought that the 20 extra pounds you

have on your frame, as you say, is what is your

natural weight. How do you gauge that it is not?

Just curious and not trying to antagonistic but I am

curious about where you get the thought that 20 pounds

really is too much.

Michele

--- always_almost_there

wrote:

> I have been working with the IE approach for almost

> two months now and

> given the short time frame, have come a very long

> way mentally and

> emotionally. Two months ago I was at rock bottom,

> obsessed and out of

> control. My life was nothing more than a recurring

> nightmare of dieting

> and bingeing. IE has completely changed my life. It

> has given my life

> back to me in fact. My world no longer revolves

> around food.

>

> But physically, it's a different story. I would

> describe my eating

> habits as mostly healthy, and I do a moderate amout

> of weekly exercise.

> Despite those facts, and given that my binges have

> almost ceased, I

> have not lost any weight since starting with IE. (I

> have about 20 extra

> pounds on my frame at this point.)

>

> I know I need to be patient and take pride in how

> far I have come in

> what are arguably the more important areas in

> overcoming emotional

> eating. But it's hard to not be disappointed that my

> body does not seem

> to be heading down to its natural weight.

>

> Do the physical changes come last in your

> experiences, long after the

> mental and emotional changes have taken place and

> solidified?

>

> Thanks in advance.

>

>

Michele

CR: Blue Christmas by Kay s

__________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

I've been 'doing' IE since March and it seems that yes, the physical

changes do take longer and probably after the mental and emotional

adjustments back to INternal dictates happen. I have heard/read it

enough here and from other long term IEers that I am now content to

let it happen when it does. THEN I hope it comes off like a snowman

melting in July (lol!) But seriously, I'm just going to be happy

letting my body do what it needs at its own time and pace. My 'job'is

to not make that work harder than necessary ;-)

ehugs, Katcha

>

> Do the physical changes come last in your experiences, long after the

> mental and emotional changes have taken place and solidified?

>

[Guest guest]

Excellent point Michele! IE has never been about 'numbers' (how much,

how long etc.) its about letting one's body determine what IT

wants/needs.

Your question is a good 'ponder for the day' one. How we get and focus

on a NUMBER that is 'right', instead of letting whatever IS 'right' be

what ever it is

Thanks for your insight!! ehugs, Katcha

>

> Have you ever thought that the 20 extra pounds you

> have on your frame, as you say, is what is your

> natural weight. How do you gauge that it is not?

>

> Just curious and not trying to antagonistic but I am

> curious about where you get the thought that 20 pounds

> really is too much.

>

> Michele

[Guest guest]

Wow, I think you and I are twins,lol!

I've only been at this for about 4 months, so I'm not an expert, but

one of the biggest, most difficult lessons I'm learning is that I have

to accept and love myself and my body NOW, even with the extra 20

pounds. I have to be at peace with ME, and accept that I might not

lose weight, and truly be ok with that.

So I try to be thankful for the good things in my life. I try to

appreciate my body for all the things it can do. My body gave me two

incredible kids, and it lets me run around with them, push them on the

swings, and go for bike rides. I can kiss my husband (among other

things, lol!) and do yoga and enjoy a warm bath, or walk the dog.

It sounds hokey, but I try to write down some things that I'm thankful

for. There are no rules, and I don't have to do it every day. But it

helps me get out of my " I'm so fat " mindset.

I hope this helps!

>

> I have been working with the IE approach for almost two months now and

> given the short time frame, have come a very long way mentally and

> emotionally. Two months ago I was at rock bottom, obsessed and out of

> control. My life was nothing more than a recurring nightmare of dieting

> and bingeing. IE has completely changed my life. It has given my life

> back to me in fact. My world no longer revolves around food.

>

> But physically, it's a different story. I would describe my eating

> habits as mostly healthy, and I do a moderate amout of weekly exercise.

> Despite those facts, and given that my binges have almost ceased, I

> have not lost any weight since starting with IE. (I have about 20 extra

> pounds on my frame at this point.)

>

> I know I need to be patient and take pride in how far I have come in

> what are arguably the more important areas in overcoming emotional

> eating. But it's hard to not be disappointed that my body does not seem

> to be heading down to its natural weight.

>

> Do the physical changes come last in your experiences, long after the

> mental and emotional changes have taken place and solidified?

>

> Thanks in advance.

>

[Guest guest]

Michele,

Good point!

I was having the same thoughts actually. This is something I need to

remember for myself, too.

IE isn't always about weight loss. Weight loss occurs when and if you

need it. " When " meaning, if your body needs to heal first-especially if

you're a recovering anorexic, ill or under extreme duress.

Man, that Schwarzbein lady really must have been on to something...

>

> Have you ever thought that the 20 extra pounds you

> have on your frame, as you say, is what is your

> natural weight. How do you gauge that it is not?

>

> Just curious and not trying to antagonistic but I am

> curious about where you get the thought that 20 pounds

> really is too much.

>

> Michele

>

[Guest guest]

No worries, I completely understand where your questioning is coming

from. After years of dieting games I guess I'm just so used to

relating my thoughts about my body to specific numbers. So let me

rephrase...it's not that I think 20 lbs. in itself is so bad, nor do

I concentrate specifically on that number. It is just an estimate

based on knowing my body and knowing that I am not as FIT as I can

be, not so much as THIN as I can be.

I have been weight lifting twice a week for the last 5 months and

have built up lots of great muscles. But unless I am flexing, the

muscles are still covered by fat deposits... especially in my core,

my upper arms, and my thighs. What I really mean to say is that I

know my body is not at it's natural FIT point, and that's where I am

longing to get to, and why I'm disappointed that my much improved

eating habits don't seem to be affecting anything.

>

> > I have been working with the IE approach for almost

> > two months now and

> > given the short time frame, have come a very long

> > way mentally and

> > emotionally. Two months ago I was at rock bottom,

> > obsessed and out of

> > control. My life was nothing more than a recurring

> > nightmare of dieting

> > and bingeing. IE has completely changed my life. It

> > has given my life

> > back to me in fact. My world no longer revolves

> > around food.

> >

> > But physically, it's a different story. I would

> > describe my eating

> > habits as mostly healthy, and I do a moderate amout

> > of weekly exercise.

> > Despite those facts, and given that my binges have

> > almost ceased, I

> > have not lost any weight since starting with IE. (I

> > have about 20 extra

> > pounds on my frame at this point.)

> >

> > I know I need to be patient and take pride in how

> > far I have come in

> > what are arguably the more important areas in

> > overcoming emotional

> > eating. But it's hard to not be disappointed that my

> > body does not seem

> > to be heading down to its natural weight.

> >

> > Do the physical changes come last in your

> > experiences, long after the

> > mental and emotional changes have taken place and

> > solidified?

> >

> > Thanks in advance.

> >

> >

>

>

>

> Michele

>

> CR: Blue Christmas by Kay s

>

>

>

> __________________________________________________

>