thank you!

[Guest guest]

Thanks to all of you who are there for me. I am getting new ideas. I am doing what some of you are telling me. I am going to do this one way or the other!

Tonight I will prepare a menu of my own for tomorrow so I have my plan. I am going to find more creative ways to enjoy foods. I loved canned green beans! I can plan on buying more. Those I can eat without stopping right? I have to find a way to get this done.

You all say it is not hard. Well, I have to get on with it. I have been trying so hard. One of these days I have to make it work.

Thank you guys! I am taking your advice.

Congratulations to all of you who are losing weight! You have my support.

Yahoo! Sports Rekindle the Rivalries. Sign up for Fantasy Football

[Guest guest]

>Tonight I will prepare a menu of my own for tomorrow so I have my plan. I

>am going to find more creative ways to enjoy foods. I loved canned green

>beans! I can plan on buying more. Those I can eat without stopping right?

i certainly did sometimes i would cook up 2 cans with garlic and go to town.

sometimes i'd been too hungry and would eat them straight out of the can! (bad

risa!) you just have to read the label to make sure there's absolutely no sugar

added. i buy and eat the del monte fresh cut french-style green beans.

~risa

[Guest guest]

Tai, my doctor visit went fine, no mention of weight.  Poor lab results due to medications. I will have to examine my fears and doubts about the effectiveness/validity of IE. I will have to have blood work weekly until results are normal for liver function.  The rest of my labs were fine, so I am encouraged by that and IE.  I would love to hear from someone who has been on Ie for a long time and has been " successful " .  Sandy

 

, it's not yet instinctive to me, but here is my story:

 

I started reading the message boards over a year ago. I realized what the IE style was saying and it took me time to get used to what it means to be hungry, and what it means to be satisfied. I never felt hungry before because I was always eating, and did not understand when to stop eating. this is the brief story.

 

I decided that I would eat anything and everything I wanted as a result of reading about the IE process, and so I did. I gained a lot of weight. But that is not unusual, because I've been gaining and losing 50 pounds or so for many years. After about a year of eating anything and everything without cessation, I finally weighed myself and realized that IE does not mean that I have to eat anything and everything whenever I think about food. It can mean mindful eating. Right now I've progressed to understanding my body signals and what I'm doing to my body. I also know (now) that I can eat all the foods I desire, nothing is forbidden. I do not currently want to sit with a box of ice cream as if that's my desire in life and eat as much ice cream and drowning myself in it. I used to think that way. I do not any more. If I want to drown myself in a vat of ice cream, I know I can do that. But now I don't want

to. But if I want to, I maybe will. Does that make sense?

 

Tai

To: IntuitiveEating_Support Sent: Wednesday, June 22, 2011 1:04 AM

Subject: Thank you!

 

I just want everyone to know that I am so grateful to have found this support group. Sometimes it feels like everyone else in the world is dieting, counting calories, and judging you if you're not. It can be lonely even if you know it is the right process for you. I didn't realize anyone else out there was doing this besides me until I discovered this group. Reading through your messages has been an enormous affirmation. I can't tell you how helpful it is.

For the past month, since I finished reading IE, I have started this process. For the first time in my life that I can remember, I am actually enjoying my food and not feeling guilt for every nondiet food I eat. I am exercising for the way it makes me feel, not connected to a specific fitness goal. I have made weight loss a lower priority, and have decided I would rather live in peace with food at a higher weight than be unhappy and deprived at a lower weight.

Although I have made

these decisions, written them down, reread them daily to remind myself, I have had moments where I just wanted to be thin more than anything else and dieting seemed like the only viable option. I guess it's normal to have those thoughts, but it is frustrating nonetheless. As the book says, intuitive eating is a process and occasionally returning to old ways of thinking and eating is part of that process. Having been extremely goal-oriented my entire life, I think the hardest part for me is knowing that this isn't a linear journey.

I would love to ask: could anyone like to tell me how long they have been following the IE program and at what point it started feeling natural, instinctual, or even easy?

[Guest guest]

I have been doing IE since 11/08.I have had GREAT results in terms of finding more peace and happiness in life. I stopped hating myself for my changed appearance -- weight gain due to PCOS. i am SOOOO much happier now! (and for the record, i think my weight is about the same.)

i have really worked hard on separating my value as a person from my appearance. this is not easy!!! because this is a cultural thing... women are very much judged by their appearance. without getting too political, think about how people talk about hillary clinton's hairstyle, clothing choices, and " cankles. " i have never heard this about a male politician! i have stopped buying fashion and gossip magazines, and i already don't watch TV... not being bombarded by images of unrealistically thin women has really helped me! 

more recently, i have been able to make some gradual changes in my " diet " towards foods that i felt would promote my health... but the way i do it is so different now. instead of thinking about foods to cut out (which is pretty negative), i think about what foods i want to add (much more positive focus). for me, i wanted to eat more protein, partly because of PCOS, partly because of pregnancy. so i tried to keep more protein-rich foods around... but NEVER criticized myself for eating more carbohydrate-laden foods. and was amazed to find, after a few weeks, that my consumption of processed carbohydrates was gradually decreasing. but i never forbid anything, and that makes all the difference! 

another change i've made is my relationship to exercise. i've never lost weight through exercise, so that probably helps, in a weird way, to separate it from dieting. but i found that i often dreaded going for my run. so one winter, i decided to consciously take time off from running. especially since my last marathon, which i overtrained for and didn't enjoy at all. i did other things instead, and when the weather warmed up, started running again... but without my old rule that anything less than 30 minutes " didn't count. " i started running with 10 minute runs (and never wore my watch, so i couldn't count!) and gradually increased from there. i never enjoyed running so much! and i doubt i will ever train for an event again, because it puts too much external pressure on exercise for my comfort. i like to focus on exercise as being for my mental, emotional, and physical health. i think this relaxed attitude also helped me to stay active throughout my pregnancy, which has no doubt made pregnancy easier on me, both physically and mentally, and will surely be a big help in labor and delivery!

i LOVE IE. i will NEVER diet again. this doesn't mean i can never make changes to my eating, my exercise, or even my weight... it means i have promised to never hate my body again. after all that it does for me, how could i???

all the best,abbyIE since 11/08 and 33 weeks pregnant ps it gets easier and easier. it's instinctual for me MOST of the time. just keep taking baby steps, and give yourself TONS of encouragement! seriously, don't be afraid to go overboard in lavishing positive feedback for even the smallest of changes. it makes a WORLD of difference. talk to yourself like you would a small child who is learning to use the potty, or to ride a bike... something that seems so small to us now, but is monumental to a little one. i think IE is much more about your relationship with yourself than it is about eating. 

I would love to ask: could anyone like to tell me how long they have been following the IE program and at what point it started feeling natural, instinctual, or even easy?

[Guest guest]

I have been doing IE since 11/08.I have had GREAT results in terms of finding more peace and happiness in life. I stopped hating myself for my changed appearance -- weight gain due to PCOS. i am SOOOO much happier now! (and for the record, i think my weight is about the same.)

i have really worked hard on separating my value as a person from my appearance. this is not easy!!! because this is a cultural thing... women are very much judged by their appearance. without getting too political, think about how people talk about hillary clinton's hairstyle, clothing choices, and " cankles. " i have never heard this about a male politician! i have stopped buying fashion and gossip magazines, and i already don't watch TV... not being bombarded by images of unrealistically thin women has really helped me! 

more recently, i have been able to make some gradual changes in my " diet " towards foods that i felt would promote my health... but the way i do it is so different now. instead of thinking about foods to cut out (which is pretty negative), i think about what foods i want to add (much more positive focus). for me, i wanted to eat more protein, partly because of PCOS, partly because of pregnancy. so i tried to keep more protein-rich foods around... but NEVER criticized myself for eating more carbohydrate-laden foods. and was amazed to find, after a few weeks, that my consumption of processed carbohydrates was gradually decreasing. but i never forbid anything, and that makes all the difference! 

another change i've made is my relationship to exercise. i've never lost weight through exercise, so that probably helps, in a weird way, to separate it from dieting. but i found that i often dreaded going for my run. so one winter, i decided to consciously take time off from running. especially since my last marathon, which i overtrained for and didn't enjoy at all. i did other things instead, and when the weather warmed up, started running again... but without my old rule that anything less than 30 minutes " didn't count. " i started running with 10 minute runs (and never wore my watch, so i couldn't count!) and gradually increased from there. i never enjoyed running so much! and i doubt i will ever train for an event again, because it puts too much external pressure on exercise for my comfort. i like to focus on exercise as being for my mental, emotional, and physical health. i think this relaxed attitude also helped me to stay active throughout my pregnancy, which has no doubt made pregnancy easier on me, both physically and mentally, and will surely be a big help in labor and delivery!

i LOVE IE. i will NEVER diet again. this doesn't mean i can never make changes to my eating, my exercise, or even my weight... it means i have promised to never hate my body again. after all that it does for me, how could i???

all the best,abbyIE since 11/08 and 33 weeks pregnant ps it gets easier and easier. it's instinctual for me MOST of the time. just keep taking baby steps, and give yourself TONS of encouragement! seriously, don't be afraid to go overboard in lavishing positive feedback for even the smallest of changes. it makes a WORLD of difference. talk to yourself like you would a small child who is learning to use the potty, or to ride a bike... something that seems so small to us now, but is monumental to a little one. i think IE is much more about your relationship with yourself than it is about eating. 

I would love to ask: could anyone like to tell me how long they have been following the IE program and at what point it started feeling natural, instinctual, or even easy?

[Guest guest]

Abigail, GREAT!  Thank you so much for all your input.  It offers hope and reaffirms my commitment.  And you are so right it's not about the weight mainly.  It's about health of mind, body, and spirit. I have found that the extra weight is making me very uncomfortable physically, so that is a motivator to choose healthier foods by listening to my body.  I had heard that before about not taking away food, but adding in new foods.  I like that.  I am feeling pretty certain that I will be able to exercise again too once my blood work is normal.  It most likely was from medication.   And I wasn't doing anything strenuous.  When I say I " swim " , it means I paddle around in the pool.  Bowl means standing at the line like the kids do and gently throwing the ball.  My bike ride lasts 10 minutes.  Walking is about 20 min.  That is so much more than I could do last year, that I am thrilled.   I liked your closing remark about how could I hate my body after all it does for me.  I think that would be a good focus, the absolute wonderful and complex entity of our body is. It is truly an amazing work of art.  Sandy

 

I have been doing IE since 11/08.I have had GREAT results in terms of finding more peace and happiness in life. I stopped hating myself for my changed appearance -- weight gain due to PCOS. i am SOOOO much happier now! (and for the record, i think my weight is about the same.)

i have really worked hard on separating my value as a person from my appearance. this is not easy!!! because this is a cultural thing... women are very much judged by their appearance. without getting too political, think about how people talk about hillary clinton's hairstyle, clothing choices, and " cankles. " i have never heard this about a male politician! i have stopped buying fashion and gossip magazines, and i already don't watch TV... not being bombarded by images of unrealistically thin women has really helped me! 

more recently, i have been able to make some gradual changes in my " diet " towards foods that i felt would promote my health... but the way i do it is so different now. instead of thinking about foods to cut out (which is pretty negative), i think about what foods i want to add (much more positive focus). for me, i wanted to eat more protein, partly because of PCOS, partly because of pregnancy. so i tried to keep more protein-rich foods around... but NEVER criticized myself for eating more carbohydrate-laden foods. and was amazed to find, after a few weeks, that my consumption of processed carbohydrates was gradually decreasing. but i never forbid anything, and that makes all the difference! 

another change i've made is my relationship to exercise. i've never lost weight through exercise, so that probably helps, in a weird way, to separate it from dieting. but i found that i often dreaded going for my run. so one winter, i decided to consciously take time off from running. especially since my last marathon, which i overtrained for and didn't enjoy at all. i did other things instead, and when the weather warmed up, started running again... but without my old rule that anything less than 30 minutes " didn't count. " i started running with 10 minute runs (and never wore my watch, so i couldn't count!) and gradually increased from there. i never enjoyed running so much! and i doubt i will ever train for an event again, because it puts too much external pressure on exercise for my comfort. i like to focus on exercise as being for my mental, emotional, and physical health. i think this relaxed attitude also helped me to stay active throughout my pregnancy, which has no doubt made pregnancy easier on me, both physically and mentally, and will surely be a big help in labor and delivery!

i LOVE IE. i will NEVER diet again. this doesn't mean i can never make changes to my eating, my exercise, or even my weight... it means i have promised to never hate my body again. after all that it does for me, how could i???

all the best,abbyIE since 11/08 and 33 weeks pregnant ps it gets easier and easier. it's instinctual for me MOST of the time. just keep taking baby steps, and give yourself TONS of encouragement! seriously, don't be afraid to go overboard in lavishing positive feedback for even the smallest of changes. it makes a WORLD of difference. talk to yourself like you would a small child who is learning to use the potty, or to ride a bike... something that seems so small to us now, but is monumental to a little one. i think IE is much more about your relationship with yourself than it is about eating. 

I would love to ask: could anyone like to tell me how long they have been following the IE program and at what point it started feeling natural, instinctual, or even easy?

[Guest guest]

Abigail, GREAT!  Thank you so much for all your input.  It offers hope and reaffirms my commitment.  And you are so right it's not about the weight mainly.  It's about health of mind, body, and spirit. I have found that the extra weight is making me very uncomfortable physically, so that is a motivator to choose healthier foods by listening to my body.  I had heard that before about not taking away food, but adding in new foods.  I like that.  I am feeling pretty certain that I will be able to exercise again too once my blood work is normal.  It most likely was from medication.   And I wasn't doing anything strenuous.  When I say I " swim " , it means I paddle around in the pool.  Bowl means standing at the line like the kids do and gently throwing the ball.  My bike ride lasts 10 minutes.  Walking is about 20 min.  That is so much more than I could do last year, that I am thrilled.   I liked your closing remark about how could I hate my body after all it does for me.  I think that would be a good focus, the absolute wonderful and complex entity of our body is. It is truly an amazing work of art.  Sandy

 

I have been doing IE since 11/08.I have had GREAT results in terms of finding more peace and happiness in life. I stopped hating myself for my changed appearance -- weight gain due to PCOS. i am SOOOO much happier now! (and for the record, i think my weight is about the same.)

i have really worked hard on separating my value as a person from my appearance. this is not easy!!! because this is a cultural thing... women are very much judged by their appearance. without getting too political, think about how people talk about hillary clinton's hairstyle, clothing choices, and " cankles. " i have never heard this about a male politician! i have stopped buying fashion and gossip magazines, and i already don't watch TV... not being bombarded by images of unrealistically thin women has really helped me! 

more recently, i have been able to make some gradual changes in my " diet " towards foods that i felt would promote my health... but the way i do it is so different now. instead of thinking about foods to cut out (which is pretty negative), i think about what foods i want to add (much more positive focus). for me, i wanted to eat more protein, partly because of PCOS, partly because of pregnancy. so i tried to keep more protein-rich foods around... but NEVER criticized myself for eating more carbohydrate-laden foods. and was amazed to find, after a few weeks, that my consumption of processed carbohydrates was gradually decreasing. but i never forbid anything, and that makes all the difference! 

another change i've made is my relationship to exercise. i've never lost weight through exercise, so that probably helps, in a weird way, to separate it from dieting. but i found that i often dreaded going for my run. so one winter, i decided to consciously take time off from running. especially since my last marathon, which i overtrained for and didn't enjoy at all. i did other things instead, and when the weather warmed up, started running again... but without my old rule that anything less than 30 minutes " didn't count. " i started running with 10 minute runs (and never wore my watch, so i couldn't count!) and gradually increased from there. i never enjoyed running so much! and i doubt i will ever train for an event again, because it puts too much external pressure on exercise for my comfort. i like to focus on exercise as being for my mental, emotional, and physical health. i think this relaxed attitude also helped me to stay active throughout my pregnancy, which has no doubt made pregnancy easier on me, both physically and mentally, and will surely be a big help in labor and delivery!

i LOVE IE. i will NEVER diet again. this doesn't mean i can never make changes to my eating, my exercise, or even my weight... it means i have promised to never hate my body again. after all that it does for me, how could i???

all the best,abbyIE since 11/08 and 33 weeks pregnant ps it gets easier and easier. it's instinctual for me MOST of the time. just keep taking baby steps, and give yourself TONS of encouragement! seriously, don't be afraid to go overboard in lavishing positive feedback for even the smallest of changes. it makes a WORLD of difference. talk to yourself like you would a small child who is learning to use the potty, or to ride a bike... something that seems so small to us now, but is monumental to a little one. i think IE is much more about your relationship with yourself than it is about eating. 

I would love to ask: could anyone like to tell me how long they have been following the IE program and at what point it started feeling natural, instinctual, or even easy?

[Guest guest]

I really appreciated this post, thank you Abby.

Carolyn

>

> I have been doing IE since 11/08.

>

[Guest guest]

I really appreciated this post, thank you Abby.

Carolyn

>

> I have been doing IE since 11/08.

>

[Guest guest]

Abby,

Great thoughts!

A friend brought up something great yesterday. If women stopped

hating their bodies, the US economy would collapse! I wouldn't take

it that far...but think about all the stuff we purchase EXTRA because

we are taught to hate ourselves and be objectified by others:

clothing (i mean, we buy it...but sometimes we compulsively buy it

when we're worried about looking good)

the diet industry (billions of dollars per year!!!)

makeup (again, there's a difference between what we want because we

enjoy ourselves and what we'd buy without societal pressure!)

manicures-pedicures-fake nails (again...it's about motive...I love

pedicures for fun...)

plastic surgery

diet foods

diet supplements

beauty, exercise, etc. books

gyms (again...good for health...but motives!!!)

face creams and " skin care " that promises anti-aging crap

What else???

Cheers,

[Guest guest]

I've been doing IE for a bit over a year, I think, and it feels

pretty easy. Occasionally I have those moments where I try to follow

something more rigid or get into self-attack, but it's rare. I'm not

weighing myself in 2011, and I know I haven't gained weight and

probably have lost some. I was between 22 and 24 in pants, more 24

than 22, and now I'm wearing size 22. So...it's just a little bit

less, but it's healthy and happy.

The most important thing I focus on is being kind to myself. I

exercise some, know that in time I will exercise more, eat in a

nourishing way and don't freak out when I overeat. All is well.

Good luck!

Cheers,

[Guest guest]

I've been doing IE for a bit over a year, I think, and it feels

pretty easy. Occasionally I have those moments where I try to follow

something more rigid or get into self-attack, but it's rare. I'm not

weighing myself in 2011, and I know I haven't gained weight and

probably have lost some. I was between 22 and 24 in pants, more 24

than 22, and now I'm wearing size 22. So...it's just a little bit

less, but it's healthy and happy.

The most important thing I focus on is being kind to myself. I

exercise some, know that in time I will exercise more, eat in a

nourishing way and don't freak out when I overeat. All is well.

Good luck!

Cheers,

[Guest guest]

Wow Abby, thank you for sharing that. That's really a lot of recovery for you! RainSubject: Re: Thank you!To: IntuitiveEating_Support Date: Wednesday, June 22, 2011, 8:44 AM

I have been doing IE since 11/08.I have had GREAT results in terms of finding more peace and happiness in life. I stopped hating myself for my changed appearance -- weight gain due to PCOS. i am SOOOO much happier now! (and for the record, i think my weight is about the same.)

i have really worked hard on separating my value as a person from my appearance. this is not easy!!! because this is a cultural thing... women are very much judged by their appearance. without getting too political, think about how people talk about hillary clinton's hairstyle, clothing choices, and "cankles." i have never heard this about a male politician! i have stopped buying fashion and gossip magazines, and i already don't watch TV... not being bombarded by images of unrealistically thin women has really helped me!

more recently, i have been able to make some gradual changes in my "diet" towards foods that i felt would promote my health... but the way i do it is so different now. instead of thinking about foods to cut out (which is pretty negative), i think about what foods i want to add (much more positive focus). for me, i wanted to eat more protein, partly because of PCOS, partly because of pregnancy. so i tried to keep more protein-rich foods around... but NEVER criticized myself for eating more carbohydrate-laden foods. and was amazed to find, after a few weeks, that my consumption of processed carbohydrates was gradually decreasing. but i never forbid anything, and that makes all the difference!

another change i've made is my relationship to exercise. i've never lost weight through exercise, so that probably helps, in a weird way, to separate it from dieting. but i found that i often dreaded going for my run. so one winter, i decided to consciously take time off from running. especially since my last marathon, which i overtrained for and didn't enjoy at all. i did other things instead, and when the weather warmed up, started running again... but without my old rule that anything less than 30 minutes "didn't count." i started running with 10 minute runs (and never wore my watch, so i couldn't count!) and gradually increased from there. i never enjoyed running so much! and i doubt i will ever train for an event again, because it puts too much external pressure on exercise for my comfort. i like to focus on exercise as being for my mental, emotional, and physical health. i think this relaxed attitude also helped me to stay

active throughout my pregnancy, which has no doubt made pregnancy easier on me, both physically and mentally, and will surely be a big help in labor and delivery!

i LOVE IE. i will NEVER diet again. this doesn't mean i can never make changes to my eating, my exercise, or even my weight... it means i have promised to never hate my body again. after all that it does for me, how could i???

all the best,abbyIE since 11/08 and 33 weeks pregnant ps it gets easier and easier. it's instinctual for me MOST of the time. just keep taking baby steps, and give yourself TONS of encouragement! seriously, don't be afraid to go overboard in lavishing positive feedback for even the smallest of changes. it makes a WORLD of difference. talk to yourself like you would a small child who is learning to use the potty, or to ride a bike... something that seems so small to us now, but is monumental to a little one. i think IE is much more about your relationship with yourself than it is about eating.

[Guest guest]

GREAT POST!

Excuse my capitals but well-put!

Foggy

>

> Abby,

>

> Great thoughts!

>

> A friend brought up something great yesterday. If women stopped

> hating their bodies, the US economy would collapse! I wouldn't take

> it that far...but think about all the stuff we purchase EXTRA because

> we are taught to hate ourselves and be objectified by others:

>

> clothing (i mean, we buy it...but sometimes we compulsively buy it

> when we're worried about looking good)

>

> the diet industry (billions of dollars per year!!!)

>

> makeup (again, there's a difference between what we want because we

> enjoy ourselves and what we'd buy without societal pressure!)

>

> manicures-pedicures-fake nails (again...it's about motive...I love

> pedicures for fun...)

>

> plastic surgery

>

> diet foods

>

> diet supplements

>

> beauty, exercise, etc. books

>

> gyms (again...good for health...but motives!!!)

>

> face creams and " skin care " that promises anti-aging crap

>

> What else???

>

> Cheers,

>

>

[Guest guest]

GREAT POST!

Excuse my capitals but well-put!

Foggy

>

> Abby,

>

> Great thoughts!

>

> A friend brought up something great yesterday. If women stopped

> hating their bodies, the US economy would collapse! I wouldn't take

> it that far...but think about all the stuff we purchase EXTRA because

> we are taught to hate ourselves and be objectified by others:

>

> clothing (i mean, we buy it...but sometimes we compulsively buy it

> when we're worried about looking good)

>

> the diet industry (billions of dollars per year!!!)

>

> makeup (again, there's a difference between what we want because we

> enjoy ourselves and what we'd buy without societal pressure!)

>

> manicures-pedicures-fake nails (again...it's about motive...I love

> pedicures for fun...)

>

> plastic surgery

>

> diet foods

>

> diet supplements

>

> beauty, exercise, etc. books

>

> gyms (again...good for health...but motives!!!)

>

> face creams and " skin care " that promises anti-aging crap

>

> What else???

>

> Cheers,

>

>

[Guest guest]

, Your comment about this not being a linear journey jumped right out at me! I have always been one who just wants to know what the rules are, and I'll follow them. Then I had kids. ;o) So many examples jumped out at me! When I started therapy I wanted to do it "right" - that one took a long time to accept that it's not only NOT linear, but for me it's been one roller-coaster after another. And I hate roller-coasters! Much as I did not appreciate hearing it when I was younger, I have come to see that many things fall into place (along with our own willingness to work on them) with time. As I begin this IE approach, it feels good not to have to bring my baggage of needing rules for it. Thanks, MargaretTo: IntuitiveEating_Support Sent: Wed, June 22, 2011 1:04:58 AMSubject: Thank you!

I just want everyone to know that I am so grateful to have found this support group. Sometimes it feels like everyone else in the world is dieting, counting calories, and judging you if you're not. It can be lonely even if you know it is the right process for you. I didn't realize anyone else out there was doing this besides me until I discovered this group. Reading through your messages has been an enormous affirmation. I can't tell you how helpful it is.

For the past month, since I finished reading IE, I have started this process. For the first time in my life that I can remember, I am actually enjoying my food and not feeling guilt for every nondiet food I eat. I am exercising for the way it makes me feel, not connected to a specific fitness goal. I have made weight loss a lower priority, and have decided I would rather live in peace with food at a higher weight than be unhappy and deprived at a lower weight.

Although I have made these decisions, written them down, reread them daily to remind myself, I have had moments where I just wanted to be thin more than anything else and dieting seemed like the only viable option. I guess it's normal to have those thoughts, but it is frustrating nonetheless. As the book says, intuitive eating is a process and occasionally returning to old ways of thinking and eating is part of that process. Having been extremely goal-oriented my entire life, I think the hardest part for me is knowing that this isn't a linear journey.

I would love to ask: could anyone like to tell me how long they have been following the IE program and at what point it started feeling natural, instinctual, or even easy?

[Guest guest]

I have been doing IE for about 4 years now (hard to believe!)

I discovered IE when I attended a teleconference called " Chocolate Doesn't Make

You Fat " . It was based on Dr. May's IE book " Am I Hungry? " which I

then did a several week teleclass based on the same book. After that I worked

with the leader of the class and our moderator for this group and IE coach,

Gillian Hood-son (http://healthieroutcomes.com/index.html)

It took about 2 years before things really felt " Intuitive " on a regular basis.

I too did the " eat all of my forbidden food " thing and even took it to the

extremes at times. But it really does work as those foods that I had deprived

myself of all my dieting years finally released their grasp on me and I stopped

craving them all the time. I probably put on 20-30 pounds. But then, upon

Gillian's suggestion, I went out and bought new clothes that fit me at that

time. It's what made my shift for me. I stopped panicking and being worried

about gaining weight and I started to drop weight.

Last year I was able to drop about 16 pounds. I know I've lost more this year

but I don't know how much. I can tell by how my clothes feel. I seem to stay

constant for a while (which is huge because in my dieting days I always yo-yo'd)

and then I seem to start releasing weight again.

Alot is contributed to incorporating Intuitive Exercise into my life. I love to

exercise. I love how it makes me feel. I love how I sleep better at night. I

love how it helps me release stress. And I'm not just talking about a strolling

walk. When I exercise I sweat! But it feels so amazing. But I really listen

to my body on how long, how much and what I want to do that day.

I have been able to get my doctor to take me off of one of my high blood

pressure meds. My goal is to get off my other HBP med. How wonderful it is to

set a goal not related to the scale!

I still struggle with eating too much. I am working on really focusing in on

stopping just before that full feeling. But it is a tough one for me. I feel

like I have a knawing feeling if I don't eat till I'm full. There is a very

fine line between eating just enough and being full. And then I feel like I'm

hungry within an hour of eating if I don't eat till full. And I'm trying to

retrain myself that that is ok.

A wonderful book I recommend is " Miracles on Weight Loss " by nne

on. It really is an IE book despite the title. She gives some great

exercises to learn to appreciate food and how we eat it as well some deep

emotional work. It's very spiritual and my not resonate with everyone.

I am currently working with an accupunturist(and life coach) and he is helping

me further improve my relationship with food.

It is all a journey and I don't think the journey will ever end.

Alana

>

> I would love to ask: could anyone like to tell me how long they have been

following the IE program and at what point it started feeling natural,

instinctual, or even easy?

>

[Guest guest]

I don't know what your health problems are, but you might want to check out the

book " Doctor Yourself " by Saul Phd, especially if you are taking a lot of

medications.

http://www.doctoryourself.com/

Alana

>

> > **

> >

> >

> > , it's not yet instinctive to me, but here is my story:

> >

> > I started reading the message boards over a year ago. I realized what the

> > IE style was saying and it took me time to get used to what it means to be

> > hungry, and what it means to be satisfied. I never felt hungry before

> > because I was always eating, and did not understand when to stop eating.

> > this is the brief story.

> >

> > I decided that I would eat anything and everything I wanted as a result of

> > reading about the IE process, and so I did. I gained a lot of weight. But

> > that is not unusual, because I've been gaining and losing 50 pounds or so

> > for many years. After about a year of eating anything and everything without

> > cessation, I finally weighed myself and realized that IE does not mean that

> > I have to eat anything and everything whenever I think about food. It can

> > mean mindful eating. Right now I've progressed to understanding my body

> > signals and what I'm doing to my body. I also know (now) that I can eat all

> > the foods I desire, nothing is forbidden. I do not currently want to sit

> > with a box of ice cream as if that's my desire in life and eat as much ice

> > cream and drowning myself in it. I used to think that way. I do not any

> > more. If I want to drown myself in a vat of ice cream, I know I can do that.

> > But now I don't want to. But if I want to, I maybe will. Does that make

> > sense?

> >

> > Tai

> >

> > *From:* rebeccasiegel

> > *To:* IntuitiveEating_Support

> > *Sent:* Wednesday, June 22, 2011 1:04 AM

> > *Subject:* Thank you!

> >

> >

> > I just want everyone to know that I am so grateful to have found this

> > support group. Sometimes it feels like everyone else in the world is

> > dieting, counting calories, and judging you if you're not. It can be lonely

> > even if you know it is the right process for you. I didn't realize anyone

> > else out there was doing this besides me until I discovered this group.

> > Reading through your messages has been an enormous affirmation. I can't tell

> > you how helpful it is.

> >

> > For the past month, since I finished reading IE, I have started this

> > process. For the first time in my life that I can remember, I am actually

> > enjoying my food and not feeling guilt for every nondiet food I eat. I am

> > exercising for the way it makes me feel, not connected to a specific fitness

> > goal. I have made weight loss a lower priority, and have decided I would

> > rather live in peace with food at a higher weight than be unhappy and

> > deprived at a lower weight.

> >

> > Although I have made these decisions, written them down, reread them daily

> > to remind myself, I have had moments where I just wanted to be thin more

> > than anything else and dieting seemed like the only viable option. I guess

> > it's normal to have those thoughts, but it is frustrating nonetheless. As

> > the book says, intuitive eating is a process and occasionally returning to

> > old ways of thinking and eating is part of that process. Having been

> > extremely goal-oriented my entire life, I think the hardest part for me is

> > knowing that this isn't a linear journey.

> >

> > I would love to ask: could anyone like to tell me how long they have been

> > following the IE program and at what point it started feeling natural,

> > instinctual, or even easy?

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

>

[Guest guest]

Sandy, I understand your fears. And IE is not for everybody. But after decades of fear (of food and overeating), and several bouts of dieting, I have come to understand more about IE (normal eating) and why dieting is not for me. Are you trying to say that you feel you might need to go on a diet? Normal eating is a term I like to use and it is so hard for nonregulated eaters like ourselves to get on course. Being mindful of what you eat is not necessarily (IMO) eating anything and everything that appears before you. I am interested in hearing how you view IE and your description of how IE applies to you. I know you have medical issues, but don't you think you can exercise wisdom of choices and still be an intuitive eater? For instance, if I know that

I've eaten more bread than I would normally care to eat on any given day, does that mean that I must think I must, should, or will eat all the bread that is either in my mind to eat, or which is placed before me? Tai

To: IntuitiveEating_Support Sent: Wednesday, June 22, 2011 4:57 PMSubject: Re: Thank you!

I don't know what your health problems are, but you might want to check out the book "Doctor Yourself" by Saul Phd, especially if you are taking a lot of medications.http://www.doctoryourself.com/Alana--- In IntuitiveEating_Support , Beaulieu wrote:>> Tai, my doctor visit went fine, no mention of weight. Poor lab results due> to medications. I will have to examine my fears and doubts about the> effectiveness/validity of IE. I will have to have blood work weekly until> results are normal for liver function. The rest of my labs were fine, so I> am encouraged by that and IE. I would love to hear from someone who has> been on Ie for a long time

and has been "successful". Sandy

[Guest guest]

Alana, thank you for your reply. Very encouraging. I have a similar experience to yours, except on a smaller scale because I learned about IE perhaps 1-1/2 years ago, and did permit myself to eat voraciously all the foods I denied myself as a matter of course for decades, even though I was usually "fat." Like you, I gained 20-30 pounds during that period and it DID amazingly suddenly release its grip on me. I like the way you phrase that -- those foods released their grip on me. I am in the process of feeding myself well, and eating when I'm basically hungry, sometimes hours can go by and I look forward to coming home and eating the foods that I enjoy. :-) thanks again for your reply. Tai

To: IntuitiveEating_Support Sent: Wednesday, June 22, 2011 4:53 PMSubject: Re: Thank you!

I have been doing IE for about 4 years now (hard to believe!)I discovered IE when I attended a teleconference called "Chocolate Doesn't Make You Fat". It was based on Dr. May's IE book "Am I Hungry?" which I then did a several week teleclass based on the same book. After that I worked with the leader of the class and our moderator for this group and IE coach, Gillian Hood-son (http://healthieroutcomes.com/index.html) It took about 2 years before things really felt "Intuitive" on a regular basis.I too did the "eat all of my forbidden food" thing and even took it to the extremes at times. But it really does work as those foods that I had deprived myself of all my dieting years finally released their grasp on me and I stopped craving them all the time. I probably put on 20-30 pounds. But then, upon Gillian's suggestion, I went out and bought new clothes that fit me at that time. It's what made my shift for me. I stopped

panicking and being worried about gaining weight and I started to drop weight.Last year I was able to drop about 16 pounds. I know I've lost more this year but I don't know how much. I can tell by how my clothes feel. I seem to stay constant for a while (which is huge because in my dieting days I always yo-yo'd) and then I seem to start releasing weight again.Alot is contributed to incorporating Intuitive Exercise into my life. I love to exercise. I love how it makes me feel. I love how I sleep better at night. I love how it helps me release stress. And I'm not just talking about a strolling walk. When I exercise I sweat! But it feels so amazing. But I really listen to my body on how long, how much and what I want to do that day. I have been able to get my doctor to take me off of one of my high blood pressure meds. My goal is to get off my other HBP med. How wonderful it is to set a goal not related to the scale!I still struggle with

eating too much. I am working on really focusing in on stopping just before that full feeling. But it is a tough one for me. I feel like I have a knawing feeling if I don't eat till I'm full. There is a very fine line between eating just enough and being full. And then I feel like I'm hungry within an hour of eating if I don't eat till full. And I'm trying to retrain myself that that is ok.A wonderful book I recommend is "Miracles on Weight Loss" by nne on. It really is an IE book despite the title. She gives some great exercises to learn to appreciate food and how we eat it as well some deep emotional work. It's very spiritual and my not resonate with everyone.I am currently working with an accupunturist(and life coach) and he is helping me further improve my relationship with food.It is all a journey and I don't think the journey will ever end.Alana> > I would love to ask: could anyone like to

tell me how long they have been following the IE program and at what point it started feeling natural, instinctual, or even easy?>

[Guest guest]

Margaret, I enjoy the fact that there are few rules. The big rule I am giving myself (like making sure I brush my teeth) is to wait until i'm hungry to eat, and then stop eating when I'm no longer hungry. :-) Everything else is a matter of concept, as in: what will I have to eat today? Will I eat cheese? sugar? salt? beans? What? Take care, Tai

To: IntuitiveEating_Support Sent: Wednesday, June 22, 2011 3:41 PMSubject: Re: Thank you!

, Your comment about this not being a linear journey jumped right out at me! I have always been one who just wants to know what the rules are, and I'll follow them. Then I had kids. ;o) So many examples jumped out at me! When I started therapy I wanted to do it "right" - that one took a long time to accept that it's not only NOT linear, but for me it's been one roller-coaster after another. And I hate roller-coasters! Much as I did not appreciate hearing it when I was younger, I have come to see that many things fall into place (along with our own willingness to work on them) with time. As I begin this IE approach, it feels good not to have to bring my baggage of needing rules for it. Thanks, Margaret

To: IntuitiveEating_Support Sent: Wed, June 22, 2011 1:04:58 AMSubject: Thank you!

I just want everyone to know that I am so grateful to have found this support group. Sometimes it feels like everyone else in the world is dieting, counting calories, and judging you if you're not. It can be lonely even if you know it is the right process for you. I didn't realize anyone else out there was doing this besides me until I discovered this group. Reading through your messages has been an enormous affirmation. I can't tell you how helpful it is.For the past month, since I finished reading IE, I have started this process. For the first time in my life that I can remember, I am actually enjoying my food and not feeling guilt for every nondiet food I eat. I am exercising for the way it makes me feel, not connected to a specific fitness goal. I have made weight loss a lower priority, and have decided I would rather live in peace with food at a higher weight than be unhappy and deprived at a lower

weight.Although I have made these decisions, written them down, reread them daily to remind myself, I have had moments where I just wanted to be thin more than anything else and dieting seemed like the only viable option. I guess it's normal to have those thoughts, but it is frustrating nonetheless. As the book says, intuitive eating is a process and occasionally returning to old ways of thinking and eating is part of that process. Having been extremely goal-oriented my entire life, I think the hardest part for me is knowing that this isn't a linear journey.I would love to ask: could anyone like to tell me how long they have been following the IE program and at what point it started feeling natural, instinctual, or even easy?

[Guest guest]

Tai, I think it was just a knee jerk reaction that revealed to me that I may still be holding onto a small piece of the dieting mentality.  But I will never diet again.  IE is perfect for me and I plan to work with it.  I also come from a long history of working in the medical field and I think the poor lab results triggered some of that.   I think/ know that I am on the journey and will be taking it step  by step.  I think this has been a major shift in my thinking although I can not yet put it into words.  It will become more clear to me as time goes on. I just feel free again, like I did in the first few months of IE, like a huge burden has been lifted.. My alb results showed normal HDL and LDL, thyroid, everything but the liver function and that is a side effect from the medication.  So it was validation for me to know that IE can and does work. I am back on track.  I am celebrating my birthday on Sunday and will enjoy my cake and ice cream. Thanks for all your concern.  I am not sure if I answered your questions, but I am not sure I have the answers yet.  But thanks for all the " food " for thought.   I will be out with my friend celebrating all day tomorrow.  Sandy

 

Sandy, I understand your fears. And IE is not for everybody. But after decades of fear (of food and overeating), and several bouts of dieting, I have come to understand more about IE (normal eating) and why dieting is not for me. Are you trying to say that you feel you might need to go on a diet? Normal eating is a term I like to use and it is so hard for nonregulated eaters like ourselves to get on course. Being mindful of what you eat is not necessarily (IMO) eating anything and everything that appears before you. I am interested in hearing how you view IE and your description of how IE applies to you. I know you have medical issues, but don't you think you can exercise wisdom of choices and still be an intuitive eater? For instance, if I know that

I've eaten more bread than I would normally care to eat on any given day, does that mean that I must think I must, should, or will eat all the bread that is either in my mind to eat, or which is placed before me? Tai

To: IntuitiveEating_Support Sent: Wednesday, June 22, 2011 4:57 PM

Subject: Re: Thank you!

 

I don't know what your health problems are, but you might want to check out the book " Doctor Yourself " by Saul Phd, especially if you are taking a lot of medications.http://www.doctoryourself.com/

Alana>> Tai, my doctor visit went fine, no mention of weight. Poor lab results due

> to medications. I will have to examine my fears and doubts about the> effectiveness/validity of IE. I will have to have blood work weekly until> results are normal for liver function. The rest of my labs were fine, so I

> am encouraged by that and IE. I would love to hear from someone who has> been on Ie for a long time

and has been " successful " . Sandy

[Guest guest]

Well, I have something else to say here. Aside from the dieting and beauty money-making schemes, how about the ads showing humongous hamburgers dripping with fat and cheese and bacon and bread and a picture of someone chomping into one, drooling to have one of those? Yikes! Talk about mind control. I thought today: WHO'D WANT 'EM? if they're in their right mind. But all those years I'd look at those pictures and think -- wow -- all that delicious food just waiting for me to eat it. :-) Not any more, I see the ridiculousness of those ads. Tai

To: IntuitiveEating_Support Sent: Wednesday, June 22, 2011 2:59 PMSubject: Re: Thank you!

GREAT POST! Excuse my capitals but well-put!Foggy>> Abby,> > Great thoughts!> > A friend brought up something great yesterday. If women stopped > hating their bodies, the US economy would collapse! I wouldn't take > it that far...but think about all the stuff we purchase EXTRA because > we are taught to hate ourselves and be objectified by others:> > clothing (i mean, we buy it...but sometimes we compulsively buy it > when we're worried about looking good)> > the diet industry (billions of dollars per year!!!)> > makeup (again, there's a difference between what we want because we > enjoy

ourselves and what we'd buy without societal pressure!)> > manicures-pedicures-fake nails (again...it's about motive...I love > pedicures for fun...)> > plastic surgery> > diet foods> > diet supplements> > beauty, exercise, etc. books> > gyms (again...good for health...but motives!!!)> > face creams and "skin care" that promises anti-aging crap> > What else???> > Cheers,> >

[Guest guest]

Abby, that idea of never hating your body again really resonated with me. Also that you can make changes in your approach to food as time goes on. Thanks for posting that. It helps. Tai

To: IntuitiveEating_Support Sent: Wednesday, June 22, 2011 11:44 AMSubject: Re: Thank you!

I have been doing IE since 11/08.

I have had GREAT results in terms of finding more peace and happiness in life. I stopped hating myself for my changed appearance -- weight gain due to PCOS. i am SOOOO much happier now! (and for the record, i think my weight is about the same.)

i have really worked hard on separating my value as a person from my appearance. this is not easy!!! because this is a cultural thing... women are very much judged by their appearance. without getting too political, think about how people talk about hillary clinton's hairstyle, clothing choices, and "cankles." i have never heard this about a male politician! i have stopped buying fashion and gossip magazines, and i already don't watch TV... not being bombarded by images of unrealistically thin women has really helped me!

more recently, i have been able to make some gradual changes in my "diet" towards foods that i felt would promote my health... but the way i do it is so different now. instead of thinking about foods to cut out (which is pretty negative), i think about what foods i want to add (much more positive focus). for me, i wanted to eat more protein, partly because of PCOS, partly because of pregnancy. so i tried to keep more protein-rich foods around... but NEVER criticized myself for eating more carbohydrate-laden foods. and was amazed to find, after a few weeks, that my consumption of processed carbohydrates was gradually decreasing. but i never forbid anything, and that makes all the difference!

another change i've made is my relationship to exercise. i've never lost weight through exercise, so that probably helps, in a weird way, to separate it from dieting. but i found that i often dreaded going for my run. so one winter, i decided to consciously take time off from running. especially since my last marathon, which i overtrained for and didn't enjoy at all. i did other things instead, and when the weather warmed up, started running again... but without my old rule that anything less than 30 minutes "didn't count." i started running with 10 minute runs (and never wore my watch, so i couldn't count!) and gradually increased from there. i never enjoyed running so much! and i doubt i will ever train for an event again, because it puts too much external pressure on exercise for my comfort. i like to focus on exercise as being for my mental, emotional, and physical health. i think this relaxed attitude also helped me to stay active throughout my

pregnancy, which has no doubt made pregnancy easier on me, both physically and mentally, and will surely be a big help in labor and delivery!

i LOVE IE. i will NEVER diet again. this doesn't mean i can never make changes to my eating, my exercise, or even my weight... it means i have promised to never hate my body again. after all that it does for me, how could i???

all the best,

abby

IE since 11/08 and 33 weeks pregnant

ps it gets easier and easier. it's instinctual for me MOST of the time. just keep taking baby steps, and give yourself TONS of encouragement! seriously, don't be afraid to go overboard in lavishing positive feedback for even the smallest of changes. it makes a WORLD of difference. talk to yourself like you would a small child who is learning to use the potty, or to ride a bike... something that seems so small to us now, but is monumental to a little one. i think IE is much more about your relationship with yourself than it is about eating.

I would love to ask: could anyone like to tell me how long they have been following the IE program and at what point it started feeling natural, instinctual, or even easy?

[Guest guest]

LOL, Sandy, congratulations and good for you! I'm not going to tell you what to eat as you're celebrating ... you'll know. :-) Take care, Tai

To: IntuitiveEating_Support Sent: Wednesday, June 22, 2011 10:55 PMSubject: Re: Re: Thank you!

Tai, I think it was just a knee jerk reaction that revealed to me that I may still be holding onto a small piece of the dieting mentality. But I will never diet again. IE is perfect for me and I plan to work with it. I also come from a long history of working in the medical field and I think the poor lab results triggered some of that. I think/ know that I am on the journey and will be taking it step by step. I think this has been a major shift in my thinking although I can not yet put it into words. It will become more clear to me as time goes on. I just feel free again, like I did in the first few months of IE, like a huge burden has been lifted.. My alb results showed normal HDL and LDL, thyroid, everything but the liver function and that is a side effect from the medication. So it was validation for me to know that IE can and does work. I am back on track. I am celebrating my birthday

on Sunday and will enjoy my cake and ice cream. Thanks for all your concern. I am not sure if I answered your questions, but I am not sure I have the answers yet. But thanks for all the "food" for thought. I will be out with my friend celebrating all day tomorrow. Sandy

Sandy, I understand your fears. And IE is not for everybody. But after decades of fear (of food and overeating), and several bouts of dieting, I have come to understand more about IE (normal eating) and why dieting is not for me. Are you trying to say that you feel you might need to go on a diet? Normal eating is a term I like to use and it is so hard for nonregulated eaters like ourselves to get on course. Being mindful of what you eat is not necessarily (IMO) eating anything and everything that appears before you. I am interested in hearing how you view IE and your description of how IE applies to you. I know you have medical issues, but don't you think you can exercise wisdom of choices and still be an intuitive eater? For instance, if I know that I've eaten more bread than I would normally care to eat on any given day, does that mean that I must think I must, should, or will eat all the bread that is either in my mind to eat, or

which is placed before me? Tai

To: IntuitiveEating_Support Sent: Wednesday, June 22, 2011 4:57 PMSubject: Re: Thank you!

I don't know what your health problems are, but you might want to check out the book "Doctor Yourself" by Saul Phd, especially if you are taking a lot of medications.http://www.doctoryourself.com/Alana--- In IntuitiveEating_Support , Beaulieu wrote:>> Tai, my doctor visit went fine, no mention of weight. Poor lab results due> to medications. I will have to examine my fears and doubts about the> effectiveness/validity of IE. I will have to have blood work weekly until> results are normal for liver function. The rest of my labs were fine, so I> am encouraged by that and IE. I would love to hear from someone who has> been on Ie for a long time and has been "successful".

Sandy