Re: Re: New member intro

Posted May 21, 2009 · May 21, 2009

Yes it does. I am sure I will have questions and I know that I can rely on you ladies to give me guidance.

Subject: Re: New member introTo: IntuitiveEating_Support Date: Thursday, May 21, 2009, 11:14 AM

Lora, I see by another of your posts that you will be reading the IE (or other non-dieting) book soon. I think this will help you most with understanding that in non-dieting the only 'tracking' you do (if you want to) is YOUR own reactions to food. I'll let the experts explain it best for you, but basically point counting, weight logs etc, are not part of IE. Hope this helps.KatchaIEing since March 2007>

Posted May 21, 2009 · May 21, 2009

I will keep you posted on my progress.

Subject: Re: New member introTo: IntuitiveEating_Support Date: Thursday, May 21, 2009, 1:42 PM

Yeah, I have a suggestion -- don't keep logs! :)I have also done WW, and i lost weight but the hunger and counting almost drove me crazy. I kept records of my weight, calories, food, etc for years and years. most of my life probably. it's great to stop.you'll understand more about the intuitive eating approach as you start reading, but basically, it is really not necessary to keep records if you are in touch with your body, eating what your body wants to eat and exercising when it wants activity. not that that's easy, or that I am so good at it, but as I'm learning, I think it is true.thea> >> > Hi everyone. The following is a copy of an intro email that was sent to the moderators. I wanted to post it and welcome Lora, as well as letting it serve to remind myself and others of how so many of us begin IE. Diet mentality has gotten so deeply entrenched that its hard to even think of what 'other' way to be. I have found that IE offers that other way and I am glad to be sharing experiences and learning with all of you working along this way too.> > > > So welcome Lora and if you or any others haven't read about non-dieting, I strongly suggest that you look at the Book List in the Files section at this site (left/pink column). Many of these books have been found at libraries too.> > > > BEST to all - Katcha>

> IEing since March 2007> > > > (Lora's introduction)> > > > I am Lora Belle and I have a love of fast food, Hershey bars and Pepsi. I am 70 pounds overweight and 'Pre-Diabetic. ' I need some advice on how to deal with sugar and carb cravings. I am slowly changing my unhealthy ways, but I could use some support. I have used Weight Watchers with success, but I am unemployed at this time and I do get stressed and eat.> > > > My weight gains have been tied into traumatic events like my father's stroke, my divorce, my father's death, my mother 's cancer and dying 8 months later and then a major breakup with an ex-boyfriend. These events happened within a period of 4-6 years. I gained weight and never lost it. Now is the time for me to focus on my health, and with your support we can get through this together.> > > > Thank you for taking the time to read my post.> >

> > L.B.> >>

Posted May 25, 2009 · May 25, 2009

One thing I told myself, Abby, when I started IE was this, " I am thin on the inside, but my body on the outside is just waiting to catch up! " . I told myself this constantly. In the beginning it was hard, because the mirror certainly didn't reflect what I was telling myself, but I kept telling myself this over and over, and one day I realized my body had in fact 'caught up'. Basically, what I decided was the day I decided to give up dieting, was the day I also became 'naturally thin'. There was no future date when I would be thin - it started that day - my body was just catching up! I had already decided in my mind that I was there, if that makes any sense. I did experience some 3-steps forward, 2-steps back, but I just kept repeating my mantra...I am naturally thin on the inside, and my body is just waiting to catch up on the outside....I had another one that also helped me. " Everything I eat turns into healthy and beauty. " That affirmation really resonated. I was only too happy to let go of dieting. I thought it was the worst thing in the world to be punished while those around me got to eat what they wanted. But it was definitely an adjustment and learning process, and quite frankly, it still is. But to be free from the diet-mentality is worth it! Hang in there - in fact, you are already there!

Hugs,

I've done WW too. Sometimes I was successful, other times not. Each time, I regained all the weight I lost, plus more. I didn't mind the tracking or counting points, though sometimes I became obsessed with what I was going to eat and when, even after I just finished eating. What really got to me over time was the weekly weigh ins and the competition of who had lost the most weight that week. It became my sole focus, even to the point I would wear light weight clothing to the weigh ins. The number on the scale set the tone for the next week or even the next month. If I lost, I felt great. If I gained, I felt like a failure. I also didn't like how everyone referred to themselves as " bad " or " good " . If you ate a DQ Blizzard, it was bad. If you ate an apple, it was good.

Trying to unlearn " Diet " thinking is not easy for me. It's hard to look at all food and say " I can eat that if I want " when my brain still divides up all food as " good " or " bad " . The good I should eat. The bad I can't, but want to eat. I'm still working on getting in touch with my body and knowing when enough is enoough. I've never done it before. I've been overweight since I was a kid, so food and hunger do not compute in my brain. My parents were always on or off a diet. I always knew when they were or weren't dieting by the food that was in the house.

Being new to all of this, my question is..as I learn to get back in touch with my body, will my weight adjust to a healthy weight? Has this happened to any of you? What have you experienced? Did you find it scary to let go of dieting?

Abby

Posted May 25, 2009 · May 25, 2009

Oops, had a typo there....that was supposed to be, " Everything I eat turns into health and beauty. "

" Everything I eat turns into healthy and beauty. " That affirmation really resonated.

Posted May 25, 2009 · May 25, 2009

Wow ! I love your mantra! I think I'll adopt it as my own!

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Posted May 25, 2009 · May 25, 2009

,

Thank you ... how inspiring this is for me, I love them and they are so true....you are what you think !

I will start immediately using these reaffirmations.

Sally

I've done WW too. Sometimes I was successful, other times not. Each time, I regained all the weight I lost, plus more. I didn't mind the tracking or counting points, though sometimes I became obsessed with what I was going to eat and when, even after I just finished eating. What really got to me over time was the weekly weigh ins and the competition of who had lost the most weight that week. It became my sole focus, even to the point I would wear light weight clothing to the weigh ins. The number on the scale set the tone for the next week or even the next month. If I lost, I felt great. If I gained, I felt like a failure. I also didn't like how everyone referred to themselves as "bad" or "good". If you ate a DQ Blizzard, it was bad. If you ate an apple, it was good.Trying to unlearn "Diet" thinking is not easy for me. It's hard to look at all food and say "I can eat that if I want" when my brain still divides up all food as "good" or "bad".

The good I should eat. The bad I can't, but want to eat. I'm still working on getting in touch with my body and knowing when enough is enoough. I've never done it before. I've been overweight since I was a kid, so food and hunger do not compute in my brain. My parents were always on or off a diet. I always knew when they were or weren't dieting by the food that was in the house. Being new to all of this, my question is..as I learn to get back in touch with my body, will my weight adjust to a healthy weight? Has this happened to any of you? What have you experienced? Did you find it scary to let go of dieting? Abby

Posted May 26, 2009 · May 26, 2009

Wooo hooo! I'm so glad they are as inspiring to you ladies, as they were to me. I have a ton of others. They came from a book by Sondra Ray. I will check & see if it is on the group's book list, and if not maybe I can add it there.

,

Thank you ... how inspiring this is for me, I love them and they are so true....you are what you think !

I will start immediately using these reaffirmations.

Sally

I've done WW too. Sometimes I was successful, other times not. Each time, I regained all the weight I lost, plus more. I didn't mind the tracking or counting points, though sometimes I became obsessed with what I was going to eat and when, even after I just finished eating. What really got to me over time was the weekly weigh ins and the competition of who had lost the most weight that week. It became my sole focus, even to the point I would wear light weight clothing to the weigh ins. The number on the scale set the tone for the next week or even the next month. If I lost, I felt great. If I gained, I felt like a failure. I also didn't like how everyone referred to themselves as " bad " or " good " . If you ate a DQ Blizzard, it was bad. If you ate an apple, it was good.

Trying to unlearn " Diet " thinking is not easy for me. It's hard to look at all food and say " I can eat that if I want " when my brain still divides up all food as " good " or " bad " .

The good I should eat. The bad I can't, but want to eat. I'm still working on getting in touch with my body and knowing when enough is enoough. I've never done it before. I've been overweight since I was a kid, so food and hunger do not compute in my brain. My parents were always on or off a diet. I always knew when they were or weren't dieting by the food that was in the house.

Being new to all of this, my question is..as I learn to get back in touch with my body, will my weight adjust to a healthy weight? Has this happened to any of you? What have you experienced? Did you find it scary to let go of dieting?

Abby

Posted May 26, 2009 · May 26, 2009

,Thank you for sharing that nugget of wisdom -- i love that saying (about being thin on the inside)! I wrote it down and am going to post it on my wall!I think that thinking and believing positively has such power -- way more than focusing on the negative. I think you really can will things to come true. So the " I am already thin idea seems really powerful.

Thank you for sharing that!Abby -- the IE journey is difficult, but I think that it is worth it. Your body has put on extra weight as a defense mechanism, to protect herself in case you didnt feed it/her. As you prove to her that you will feed her whenever she is hungry, she will slowly become more trusting of you. For many of us, this results in weight loss. But since you know diets don't work in the long run anyway, why not build a loving relationship with your body and see what happens? At the very least, you will find peace and comfort -- and that is a very big thing! But it's definitely scary and hard. Try to reward yourself for small successes (meaning in learning to trust yourself, not weight loss!)

Best,Abby

Abby, its excellent that you are realizing where you are 'at' in your IE journey. There are many of us here who have been, and maybe still are, 'where' you are at now. All I can tell you is that if you gift yourself the time and are willing to be gentle with yourself too, IE will begin to work for you as you work on it. I've not lost weight as I wished for when I began my IE journey, but I have 'gained' so much MORE in happy living as well as ditching diet mentality and food concerns. Take what baby steps you can, post your successes and trials here, and enjoy your IE journey. We are happy and honored to share it with you.

ehugs, Katcha

IEing since March 2007

>

> ,

>

> Thank you. That is an interesting way of looking at it. I like that. I will try it. Part of what I am struggling with is that I know dieting doesn't work, but IE scares me. I don't trust myself enough yet to completely let go of " diet " thinking. I have 100+ lbs to lose and I'm afraid that if I give myself permission to eat based on what my body wants and needs, I will gain weight and not be able to control my eating. It's a struggle between knowing I have to let go and being afraid to let go.

>

> I have to start trusting myself and listening to my body instead of running the numbers, points, calories, good/bad list through my head all the time. You're right. It's a learning process and it is going to take time to undo years of dieting which never worked anyway.

>

> Abby

--

Posted May 26, 2009 · May 26, 2009

Hi Abby,You are not alone. I have 150 pounds to get rid of. I stopped dieting 10 years ago and haven't looked back. You may at first gain some weight, especially if you have just come off of a diet. Eventually, it should stabilize. I find that now, I am ready to start eating consciously, and gently, gently choosing healthier options because I want to, not because someone tells me I should. I am making an effort to listen to my body and how it reacts to foods. I actually ate vegepaté yesterday. I really like it. It is a healthy food. Well, about 1/2 hour after eating it I had heartburn. That never happened with the homemade one I once made. I guess I'll look for the recipe and try making it again.I agree with not wanting to follow any rules. Breaking food rules are my only Rebellions, and I find

that no longer serves me. Carole> > Subject: Re: New member intro> To: IntuitiveEating_Support > Received: Monday, May 25, 2009, 10:26 PM> ,> > Thank you. That is an interesting way of looking at it. I> like that. I will try it. Part of what I am struggling with> is that I know dieting doesn't work, but IE scares me. I> don't trust myself enough yet to completely let go of "diet"> thinking. I have 100+ lbs to lose and I'm afraid that if I> give myself permission to eat based on what my body wants> and needs, I will gain weight and not be able to control my> eating. It's a struggle between knowing I have to let go and> being afraid to let go.> > I have to start trusting myself and

listening to my body> instead of running the numbers, points, calories, good/bad> list through my head all the time. You're right. It's a> learning process and it is going to take time to undo years> of dieting which never worked anyway.> > Abby>

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Posted May 26, 2009 · May 26, 2009

Hi Abby,I do remember the scary part, but just remember " eat when I am hungry and stop when I've had enough " and you will get there. Also, I thought one thing you said was interesting, that if you give yourself permission to eat what your body wants & needs, that you'll gain weight & lose control. It reminded me that there is a difference, I feel, in what our body wants vs. what our mind wants. If you are hungry, then it is ok to eat! So, as you go through this process, just be really aware and sure that you are listening to your body, and not your 'head' so to speak.

A good example of this, would be if I were really on empty, and then asked my body what it really wanted, and it asked for the absolute best chocolate truffle that I could only find in one shop in town.....I'd have that and it would be so fantastic and so satisfying, and I would be satisfied with the perfect amount for me, and I wouldn't gain weight. OR I could be really stressed out, my kids could be driving me crazy, and the phone could be ringing, I could be saying, Calgon, take me away! and I head to the kitchen cabinet and eat more oreos than I intended (because they were there), which would be my head talking, and it would definitely be more than my body would have wanted. (Ok, great, you just helped me from eating those oreos! LOL.) Anyway, I hope that helps.

Hugs,

,

Thank you. That is an interesting way of looking at it. I like that. I will try it. Part of what I am struggling with is that I know dieting doesn't work, but IE scares me. I don't trust myself enough yet to completely let go of " diet " thinking. I have 100+ lbs to lose and I'm afraid that if I give myself permission to eat based on what my body wants and needs, I will gain weight and not be able to control my eating. It's a struggle between knowing I have to let go and being afraid to let go.

I have to start trusting myself and listening to my body instead of running the numbers, points, calories, good/bad list through my head all the time. You're right. It's a learning process and it is going to take time to undo years of dieting which never worked anyway.

Abby

>

> >

> > I've done WW too. Sometimes I was successful, other times not. Each time, I

> > regained all the weight I lost, plus more. I didn't mind the tracking or

> > counting points, though sometimes I became obsessed with what I was going to

> > eat and when, even after I just finished eating. What really got to me over

> > time was the weekly weigh ins and the competition of who had lost the most

> > weight that week. It became my sole focus, even to the point I would wear

> > light weight clothing to the weigh ins. The number on the scale set the tone

> > for the next week or even the next month. If I lost, I felt great. If I

> > gained, I felt like a failure. I also didn't like how everyone referred to

> > themselves as " bad " or " good " . If you ate a DQ Blizzard, it was bad. If you

> > ate an apple, it was good.

> >

> > Trying to unlearn " Diet " thinking is not easy for me. It's hard to look at

> > all food and say " I can eat that if I want " when my brain still divides up

> > all food as " good " or " bad " . The good I should eat. The bad I can't, but

> > want to eat. I'm still working on getting in touch with my body and knowing

> > when enough is enoough. I've never done it before. I've been overweight

> > since I was a kid, so food and hunger do not compute in my brain. My parents

> > were always on or off a diet. I always knew when they were or weren't

> > dieting by the food that was in the house.

> >

> > Being new to all of this, my question is..as I learn to get back in touch

> > with my body, will my weight adjust to a healthy weight? Has this happened

> > to any of you? What have you experienced? Did you find it scary to let go of

> > dieting?

> >

> > Abby

> >

>

Posted May 27, 2009 · May 27, 2009

Actually it is starting to work already. I bypassed a Taco Bell and did not turn in the drive sthrough. Instead I went to the grocery store to get a salad. My tummy thanked me.

,Thank you. That is an interesting way of looking at it. I like that. I will try it. Part of what I am struggling with is that I know dieting doesn't work, but IE scares me. I don't trust myself enough yet to completely let go of "diet" thinking. I have 100+ lbs to lose and I'm afraid that if I give myself permission to eat based on what my body wants and needs, I will gain weight and not be able to control my eating. It's a struggle between knowing I have to let go and being afraid to let go.I have to start trusting myself and listening to my body instead of running the numbers, points, calories, good/bad list through my head all the time. You're right. It's a learning process and it is going to take time to undo years of dieting which never worked anyway.Abby

> > >> >> > I've done WW too. Sometimes I was successful, other times not. Each time, I> > regained all the weight I lost, plus more. I didn't mind the tracking or> > counting points, though sometimes I became obsessed with what I was going to> > eat and when, even after I just finished eating. What really got to me over> > time was the weekly weigh ins and the competition of who had lost the most> > weight that week. It became my sole focus, even to the point I would wear> > light weight clothing to the weigh ins. The number on the scale set the tone> > for the next week or even the next month. If I lost, I felt great. If I> > gained, I felt like a failure. I also didn't like how everyone referred to> > themselves as "bad" or "good". If you

ate a DQ Blizzard, it was bad. If you> > ate an apple, it was good.> >> > Trying to unlearn "Diet" thinking is not easy for me. It's hard to look at> > all food and say "I can eat that if I want" when my brain still divides up> > all food as "good" or "bad". The good I should eat. The bad I can't, but> > want to eat. I'm still working on getting in touch with my body and knowing> > when enough is enoough. I've never done it before. I've been overweight> > since I was a kid, so food and hunger do not compute in my brain. My parents> > were always on or off a diet. I always knew when they were or weren't> > dieting by the food that was in the house.> >> > Being new to all of this, my question is..as I learn to get back in touch> > with my body, will my weight adjust to a healthy weight? Has this happened> > to any of

you? What have you experienced? Did you find it scary to let go of> > dieting?> >> > Abby> >>

Posted May 27, 2009 · May 27, 2009

Abby,Here is my concern. I am pre-diabetic and I should not be having sugar. I need to train myself to cut out the sugar for health sake not diet sake. Does that make sense??

,

Thank you. That is an interesting way of looking at it. I like that. I will try it. Part of what I am struggling with is that I know dieting doesn't work, but IE scares me. I don't trust myself enough yet to completely let go of "diet" thinking. I have 100+ lbs to lose and I'm afraid that if I give myself permission to eat based on what my body wants and needs, I will gain weight and not be able to control my eating. It's a struggle between knowing I have to let go and being afraid to let go.