Re: My choice I choose

[Guest guest]

People can and do generally eat whatever they want. Few hold a fork to someone else's mouth and force feed them or refuse to feed them. I have my reasons for not eating what I don't think will benefit me and sometimes I state them. Those reasons may be scientifically sound or not. Time will possibly tell. Right now I'm cutting down on cheese because I had eaten it for a while in huge quantities, but if others want to eat cheese in large quantities, that is their decision. Tai

To: IntuitiveEating_Support Sent: Monday, August 29, 2011 2:31 PMSubject: Re: My choice I choose

I am a vegan who believes added oil, sugar, and processed foods have made me gain weight. I have science that I believe in to back it up, but I also totally believe in everyone's right to choose their diet. I eat intuitively foods that I feel honor my body and the earth. My husband *loves* cheese. That is fine by me. I worry it will affect his body negatively, but I have also seen my very overweight grandfather eat it all his life, so much so that he got cheese as presents at christmas! He died of natural causes at 90 with no evidence of heart disease or cancer.

I know I follow a restricted eating style that many here will feel isn't intuitive eating, but I eat the things I feel are best for me in the quantities I want, and I feel I must afford that same right to others whether it is cheese or whole milk, or anything I would never want to eat. If you feel good about it then who am I to object.

Alia

Tai your post is borderline offensive on a few different levels. If seems like you are upset because others don't see cheese as a bad food and aren't as worried about cholesterol as you are.

[Guest guest]

Sandy, that is what helped me realize that food itself was not my enemy, it didn't have to threaten me. I'm glad you're coming to that realization, too. Tai

To: IntuitiveEating_Support Sent: Monday, August 29, 2011 8:18 AMSubject: Re: My choice I choose

Tai, very well put. In the first phase of IE I ate lots of stuff I loved and had denied myself because they were "bad" for me. I no longer desire them so much but know I can have them if I want to. And I stopped eating most of them because they didn't honor my body. I have been "afraid" of diabetes but "fatty liver disease" was never mentioned to me by my doctor. I will see where that leads me. Hope your husband can learn more IE through your example. Sandy

My husband was diagnosed with diabetes. Ever since I met him, he loved to eat whatever "he" wanted. Steaks, hamburgers, french fries, bacon and when he learned about melted cheese on his fries, it was as if he entered a gate to paradise. Nothing I said changed him. Years went by as I watched him eat hamburgers with cheese, fries, steaks, lamb chops, NO VEGETABLES and lots of candy and ice cream. He is a very good man. Yet guess what happened? Diabetes. It got worse because he could not stop eating those foods. He had awful acid reflux. I KNEW INTUITIVELY it was his eating habits. No doctor had to tell me. He would sneak candy, he would buy bacon cheeseburgers, ice cream, candy every day on the outside. Scientific studies didn't have to tell me that the human body (his human body) was not responding well to all that fat and sugar over the years. He did not have diabetes as a child. He just wanted what he wanted. His sugar count got worse and

worse until he was advised by his doctor to go to a nutritionist because the next step was injecting insulin. I think the needle scared him. I am happy to say that he has learned to introduce more vegetables into his diet, he has listened to the nutritionist, he is learning to eat what makes him happy but stay away from overloading his body at one time with greasy, fatty, and sugary foods. He has lost weight. I think it's for real this time. I hope so. I talk to him about making sure he is satisfied, I gently try to talk to him about IE, I never had the same problems as wanting to eat nothing but fatty foods and sweets for years and years, although potato chips were a big big problem for me for years. I no longer desire them as I did. I am not doing IE as a diet but as a way of life. If I want to eliminate saturated fat from my diet, that is my choice. If a person insists on their right to eat lots of saturated fats, that is their choice. I agree that

it takes time to change. If IE was all about not changing, why bother? If my body reacts poorly to certain substances and I can't stop eating those things, that is certainly a factor to be reckoned with. It was because of IE and eating all the candy I wanted for about a year (of course I gained weight, of course I went to bed sick at night because it would lay on my stomach coming up to my mouth, but I DID IT willingly because of my experiment with IE) I learned that I really DIDN"T WANT ALL THAT CANDY. And so I stopped. I am not on a diet. I don't know if I will lose weight. But I made a choice recently, after eating lots and lots of cheese, to stop eating so much cheese because I don't think it's good for me. I don't think that's a problem, and I'm not judging anyone. The reaction I got was that some LOVE eating cheese. That's OK. I like cheese, too, that's why I ate so much of it for a while. Now I don't want to eat it much any more. But I think I

will have that piece of pizza in the freezer cause I'm hungry, and it has cheese on it. Tai

To: IntuitiveEating_Support Sent: Sunday, August 28, 2011 3:56 PMSubject: Re: My choice I choose

As for diabetes being self inflicted by adults I'm a little surprised you would say that when you know first hand how hard most of us have tried to control our weight for most of our lives and how futile our efforts have been which is why we came to IE. And you know how hard we are all trying to figure out what will work for each of us.>>

I wanted to weigh in (no pun intended :-)) on this thought about diabetes. While obesity can certainly be a factor in Type 2 Diabetes, it is not the only factor. If someone does not have the genetic predisposition toward diabetes, they are unlikely to get the disease, regardless of their weight.

On another level, I often cringe when I hear about a disease being "self-inflicted." What difference does it make? For decades, there was little compassion for HIV/AIDS because it was seen as a disease that was self inflicted. Nobody cared because of this.

Our choices impact many diseases. For example, if you choose to smoke, you know your lung cancer risk may be higher. If you opt to not exercise, you know your risk for cardiac disease is higher. Etc. But, ultimately, it doesn't change anything. Disease is disease, and it's something everybody has to deal with. While it's good to understand our genetic profiles and try to avoid certain diseases for which we're at high risk, the fact is it's impossible to do so all the time. I think it's important to not be judgmental about disease processes because they're seen as self inflicted.

I'm not against cheese, I'll have it now but in smaller doses. I feel I was eating too much cheese and so I stopped that. But I know a mother who has a few children; and when she comes home her reward or gift to those children is a nice bag of cookies for each child. Two children are very fat, yet they love those cookies! She will buy them fast food burgers and fries as a treat as well very often. They have bags of potato chips around them at their disposal as well. Would you say these items are nutritious? The kids love them; they are not on a diet, they are not told by their mom to stay away them, in fact, she feeds them these things as if they were the greatest foods on the earth. Sorry, folks, if you want to eat lots of cheese despite knowing the cholesterol it contains, that's your choice. Go for it. If you don't want to believe that eating certain foods like vegetables and fruits is "good for you," and believe that a steady

intake of fast food burgers with cheese and fries and bacon is OK, believe what you want. I, for my part, will continue to enjoy vegetables and fruits, keep using my choices, and I choose to stay away from fries and burgers at a fast food place covered with melted cheese for the most part. I love IE, but I"m not giving up my thinking ability. I was at the health food store yesterday because I wanted a particular item (yes, folks, chicken bouillion without MSG, another additive in foods I try to refrain from), and I saw a flavor of potato chips that I kind of wanted to try. hmmm I was so tempted ... for less than 2 minutes. I even went back to look at them, thinking maybe maybe I'll buy them, haven't had a bag of potato chips in years. But then I realized it was a big bag and I MIGHT NOT enjoy the new flavor, I really didn't enjoy my previously addictive highly processed food and the thought of all those additives and

saturated fat in those chips made me willingly reject them. Now when the doctor tells you that you have diabetes, do you continue eating all the sugary products you want? Some do and they may have to suffer the consequences of the disease, which in most cases of adults is self inflicted. As I said, if a person wants to believe it's OK to eat all the sugar and cholesterol they want, who am I to stop them? But I will eat cheese from time to time, just not as much as I used to because yes, I don't think it's good for me. Now if you want to think that all the cholesterol-laden foods are ok for you, I am not your food policewoman. But I am knocking off so much cheese, just like I stopped eating potato chips in large quantity. Tai

To: IntuitiveEating_Support Sent: Saturday, August 27, 2011 11:47 PMSubject: Re: I Am Not a Garbage Disposal!

I agree completely; this is all Big Pharma making billions more dollars a year selling statins. Same with lowering the #'s for blood pressure a few years back; made them even more billions and the pharmaceutical companies are on the boards that set the standards of care in medicine. Nasty.> > >>> > >>> > >> From: Tailyn Grey <tailyngrey@>> > >> Subject: Re: I Am Not a Garbage Disposal!> > >> To: "IntuitiveEating_Support " <> > >> IntuitiveEating_Support >> > >> Date: Thursday, August 25, 2011, 8:31 AM> > >>> > >>> > >> Jane, good going! You were able to stop. I am curious, though. How much> > >> food did you eat when you realized you were no longer hungry? I am having> > a> > >> real problem with that. I am revising my thoughts and feelings about> > >> certain kinds of foods, trying to move away from cheese because it is so> > >> high in cholesterol anyway, even though it is such a luxurious food for> > me> > >> to eat. The idea of something dripping with cheese is still very> > alluring,> > >> but I am working on getting off cheese.

Do you notice how much food it> > takes> > >> to get you unhungry? (Anybody ...) Tai> > >>> > >> ------------------------------> > >>> > >>> > >>> > >>> > >>> >>

[Guest guest]

Tai, Perhaps you could re-read your posts. You state that self-inflicted is not a term you would use...but that is exactly the term you used...minus the hyphen. Below is the quote from your text."Now when the doctor tells you that you have diabetes, do you continue eating all the sugary products you want? Some do and they may have to suffer the consequences of the disease, which in most cases of adults is

self inflicted."

The term 'self-inflicted' is not a term I would use. That is a misrepresentation of what I said.... Tai

[Guest guest]

Tai, Perhaps you could re-read your posts. You state that self-inflicted is not a term you would use...but that is exactly the term you used...minus the hyphen. Below is the quote from your text."Now when the doctor tells you that you have diabetes, do you continue eating all the sugary products you want? Some do and they may have to suffer the consequences of the disease, which in most cases of adults is

self inflicted."

The term 'self-inflicted' is not a term I would use. That is a misrepresentation of what I said.... Tai

[Guest guest]

Tai, Perhaps you could re-read your posts. You state that self-inflicted is not a term you would use...but that is exactly the term you used...minus the hyphen. Below is the quote from your text."Now when the doctor tells you that you have diabetes, do you continue eating all the sugary products you want? Some do and they may have to suffer the consequences of the disease, which in most cases of adults is

self inflicted."

The term 'self-inflicted' is not a term I would use. That is a misrepresentation of what I said.... Tai

[Guest guest]

Tai, I used to be so jealous of a friend I had in grade school who could eat anything a and in large quantities and was thin as a rail.  However, I don't know her full story or where she even is now either.  I probably wouldn't have even wanted to actually walk in her shoes.   She had a hard life I know. I was just thinking how many times I have been envious of " thin " people when they may have not been happy at all.  Sandy

 

Sorry if the following offends anyone. Most of us are here because we have lost control over food and the natural response in our bodies. We have done that because of circumstances, whether started when young or older. Older would be something we introduce to ourselves due to emotions, or circumstances we could not handle well. I know that for the most part, restriction does not work for me. I have learned not to " demonize " food. I gave my reasons for not wanting to eat so much cheese, that is my personal decision, and yes, I backed up the reason why I believe cheese is not my friend in overabundance. I still eat some cheese, just not in superabundance. I don't think anyone should eat cheese in superabundance, but neither do I think they should eat fatty hamburgers in abundance either. But that's my thinking, others think they should eat these substances in abundance. I don't think parents should feed their children a superabundance of those foods, yet many think they are " stewards " of the earth, etc., but think maybe they can feed lots of junk food to their own children. I am not threatened that someone else has different nutritional needs or values, we will see how it all works out. I hope everybody is well and those who feel their bodies are telling them eat lots of things I don't want to eat, will be fine and in good health. A mother who feeds her children junk food on a consistent basis as a mainstay is not doing her children a favor IMO. Maybe there are reasons she gives them a steady diet of junk food. We all have reasons to overeat. That is what we're learning to overcome. We're learning to overcome false reasoning, poor reasoning. Of course that is my opinion, obviously not all would agree with that or take offense. I'm sorry about that Each one is different. If some children remain thin while being confronted with loads of junk food given by their parents, so be it. The amount of junk food one eats might make the difference between being healthy and not healthy for some. Also activity. Most diabetics are taught now that they can eat sugar, but in moderation. I don't think there is anything wrong with that, but that is my decision. I believe many people who are not naturally " intuitive eaters " need to be reeducated, just as IE is doing for those taking advantage of the teachings of the promoters of IE.

[Guest guest]

Sandy -

Having just returned from the Am I Hungry? Mindful Eating retreat, I was

surprised to see so many women there who were thin. When I first arrived and

started meeting them, my initial thought (I try so hard not to judge, but it

still comes out) was " what are they doing here " . And then as I started to get to

know them I learned that no matter how good we may think another person's body

is they too have body image issues.

We did an exercise where we partnered up and pretended the other person was a

full length mirror we were looking into and we talked to that mirror as we talk

to ourselves. I partnered with one of those thin women. And as she talked to me

about the thoughts in her head about her body I was stunned. Her body image

issues were just as real to her as mine were to me. The second part of the

exercise was having the mirror talk back. It was wonderful to hear how beautiful

I am after hearing the negative cr*p that came out of my mouth initially.

So you are right. Being envious of other person because they are thinner

(richer, smarter, prettier) than us only serves to make us feel worse about

ourselves.

>

> Tai, I used to be so jealous of a friend I had in grade school who could eat

> anything a and in large quantities and was thin as a rail. However, I don't

> know her full story or where she even is now either. I probably wouldn't

> have even wanted to actually walk in her shoes. She had a hard life I

> know. I was just thinking how many times I have been envious of " thin "

> people when they may have not been happy at all. Sandy

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Jersey Girl, and it just shows how much society, culture, etc. has influenced our thinking.  Sometimes I remind myself of other countries/parts of the world where thin is definitely not " in " but " pleasingly plump " is.  Forgive the terms.  The same is true for  richer, smarter, etc. The exercise sounded wonderful.  What  treat!. Sandy

 

Sandy -

Having just returned from the Am I Hungry? Mindful Eating retreat, I was surprised to see so many women there who were thin. When I first arrived and started meeting them, my initial thought (I try so hard not to judge, but it still comes out) was " what are they doing here " . And then as I started to get to know them I learned that no matter how good we may think another person's body is they too have body image issues.

We did an exercise where we partnered up and pretended the other person was a full length mirror we were looking into and we talked to that mirror as we talk to ourselves. I partnered with one of those thin women. And as she talked to me about the thoughts in her head about her body I was stunned. Her body image issues were just as real to her as mine were to me. The second part of the exercise was having the mirror talk back. It was wonderful to hear how beautiful I am after hearing the negative cr*p that came out of my mouth initially.

So you are right. Being envious of other person because they are thinner (richer, smarter, prettier) than us only serves to make us feel worse about ourselves.

>

> Tai, I used to be so jealous of a friend I had in grade school who could eat

> anything a and in large quantities and was thin as a rail. However, I don't

> know her full story or where she even is now either. I probably wouldn't

> have even wanted to actually walk in her shoes. She had a hard life I

> know. I was just thinking how many times I have been envious of " thin "

> people when they may have not been happy at all. Sandy

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Great 'report from the front' ! That had to be a very powerful moment and

hopefully left a good and deep impression for all participants. Body image is a

very important part of the IE 'package'. I have found its harder to 'see' than

what's on my plate ;-)

Katcha

IEing since March 2007

>

> Sandy -

>

> Having just returned from the Am I Hungry? Mindful Eating retreat, I was

surprised to see so many women there who were thin. When I first arrived and

started meeting them, my initial thought (I try so hard not to judge, but it

still comes out) was " what are they doing here " . And then as I started to get to

know them I learned that no matter how good we may think another person's body

is they too have body image issues.

>

> We did an exercise where we partnered up and pretended the other person was a

full length mirror we were looking into and we talked to that mirror as we talk

to ourselves. I partnered with one of those thin women. And as she talked to me

about the thoughts in her head about her body I was stunned. Her body image

issues were just as real to her as mine were to me. The second part of the

exercise was having the mirror talk back. It was wonderful to hear how beautiful

I am after hearing the negative cr*p that came out of my mouth initially.

>

> So you are right. Being envious of other person because they are thinner

(richer, smarter, prettier) than us only serves to make us feel worse about

ourselves.

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Great 'report from the front' ! That had to be a very powerful moment and

hopefully left a good and deep impression for all participants. Body image is a

very important part of the IE 'package'. I have found its harder to 'see' than

what's on my plate ;-)

Katcha

IEing since March 2007

>

> Sandy -

>

> Having just returned from the Am I Hungry? Mindful Eating retreat, I was

surprised to see so many women there who were thin. When I first arrived and

started meeting them, my initial thought (I try so hard not to judge, but it

still comes out) was " what are they doing here " . And then as I started to get to

know them I learned that no matter how good we may think another person's body

is they too have body image issues.

>

> We did an exercise where we partnered up and pretended the other person was a

full length mirror we were looking into and we talked to that mirror as we talk

to ourselves. I partnered with one of those thin women. And as she talked to me

about the thoughts in her head about her body I was stunned. Her body image

issues were just as real to her as mine were to me. The second part of the

exercise was having the mirror talk back. It was wonderful to hear how beautiful

I am after hearing the negative cr*p that came out of my mouth initially.

>

> So you are right. Being envious of other person because they are thinner

(richer, smarter, prettier) than us only serves to make us feel worse about

ourselves.

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Great 'report from the front' ! That had to be a very powerful moment and

hopefully left a good and deep impression for all participants. Body image is a

very important part of the IE 'package'. I have found its harder to 'see' than

what's on my plate ;-)

Katcha

IEing since March 2007

>

> Sandy -

>

> Having just returned from the Am I Hungry? Mindful Eating retreat, I was

surprised to see so many women there who were thin. When I first arrived and

started meeting them, my initial thought (I try so hard not to judge, but it

still comes out) was " what are they doing here " . And then as I started to get to

know them I learned that no matter how good we may think another person's body

is they too have body image issues.

>

> We did an exercise where we partnered up and pretended the other person was a

full length mirror we were looking into and we talked to that mirror as we talk

to ourselves. I partnered with one of those thin women. And as she talked to me

about the thoughts in her head about her body I was stunned. Her body image

issues were just as real to her as mine were to me. The second part of the

exercise was having the mirror talk back. It was wonderful to hear how beautiful

I am after hearing the negative cr*p that came out of my mouth initially.

>

> So you are right. Being envious of other person because they are thinner

(richer, smarter, prettier) than us only serves to make us feel worse about

ourselves.

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Katcha -

It was unbelievably powerful. There were a lot of tears in the room that day.

You are so right about how important body image is in the IE journey. Because

without learning to take care of ourselves and love ourselves it will never

really work and be just the next diet.

> >

> > Sandy -

> >

> > Having just returned from the Am I Hungry? Mindful Eating retreat, I was

surprised to see so many women there who were thin. When I first arrived and

started meeting them, my initial thought (I try so hard not to judge, but it

still comes out) was " what are they doing here " . And then as I started to get to

know them I learned that no matter how good we may think another person's body

is they too have body image issues.

> >

> > We did an exercise where we partnered up and pretended the other person was

a full length mirror we were looking into and we talked to that mirror as we

talk to ourselves. I partnered with one of those thin women. And as she talked

to me about the thoughts in her head about her body I was stunned. Her body

image issues were just as real to her as mine were to me. The second part of

the exercise was having the mirror talk back. It was wonderful to hear how

beautiful I am after hearing the negative cr*p that came out of my mouth

initially.

> >

> > So you are right. Being envious of other person because they are thinner

(richer, smarter, prettier) than us only serves to make us feel worse about

ourselves.

> >

> >

> >

>