Re: I'm New, and have a Peanut Butter addiction!!!

[Guest guest]

Eliza,Thank you so much for your feedback. That is good advice. I guess I shouldn't taboo peanut butter by not using it at all. There are limits. I just have to find a way to set them for myself, because once I get out the spoon, I can find any means to rationalize my behavior to put down several spoonfuls at a time. AHH! Waterfield 805 Renaissance Pointe Apt. 302 Altamonte Springs, FL 32714 Subject: Re: I'm New, and have a Peanut Butter addiction!!!To:

IntuitiveEating_Support Date: Thursday, June 11, 2009, 12:01 PM

Hello ,

Welcome to group. To be honest I am addiction to peanut butter and though I have find a way to work with my body for that one. I eat that about almost every morning and for some reason my body is satisfy with it. I use that on my waffles, toast, muffins, and even bagels as depend on what I am in mood for breakfast. Just simply listen to your body and find out on when usual would likely want peanut butter the most.

Eliza

>

> Hello everyone,

>

> Well really, I should introduce myself. I have been lurking for a long time now, gathering wonderful feedback and support from all of you. My name is and I am within normal weight range I guess, but have struggled with body image issues for the past 9 years or so. I have always been so hard on myself, and treated myself in ways that I would never treat a friend or family member. I have been on weight watchers for the past 3 years, and i did great at first, but since having to start birth control to regulate a period that never came (i went 2 years without one), my body weight started to climb. for the first time i felt out of control with my ability to manage my weight. i now realize how restricted i have been with my eating, focusing on every ounce of food i put in my mouth, having to log it in my food journal each time, and log all my exercise as well. after three years, i just got tired of it all. i just want to LIVE LIFE, enjoy food in

moderation, and stop thinking so much about food altogether.

>

> well recently i started back at school for my summer semester, and i have been slightly binging on peanut butter at the end of a very long day. i know i should not be eating so late, but i just get home and want to relax and the smooth peanut butter seems to soothe me after a rough day of a full time job and a full time school commitment. how would you all handle this night-time eating issue? i am learning to really pay attention to my body's signals, but it is hard when you are so tired and just want to relax. peanut butter has always been a trigger food for me, and i have a hard time with it when it is around. i threw the jar out last night, and plan on not buying it for awhile until i can muster some control over it. what are your thoughts? i appreciate you listening to me and reading this email.

>

> laura

>

[Guest guest]

Wow, I think you just made me cry, (in a good way!). It felt so good to hear you say, it's not what ww says, or others, but me. i have always felt a lack of control, and by giving into pb, i felt guilty about it. however, by allowing myself some room, patience, and kindness, i may not feel like i have to rely on that at the end of a long day. maybe i could just sit without it, and see what's really going on. thank you for your help :-) Waterfield 805 Renaissance Pointe Apt. 302 Altamonte Springs, FL 32714 Subject:

Re: I'm New, and have a Peanut Butter addiction!!!To: IntuitiveEating_Support Date: Thursday, June 11, 2009, 12:03 PM

Hi and welcome! I relate a lot to what you talk about in terms of being punishingly hard on oneself in ways you would never be to others.

Personally, I think you need to go out and buy 6 big jars of peanut butter and let yourself know that if you want to have some, it is your choice, your prerogative, and there is nothing "wrong" with it. You call the shots here- not WW, not anyone else, but you.

In the meantime, maybe be willing to explore what you need to soothe when you come home from your long days and see what feelings come up.

I wish you the best,

>

> Hello everyone,

>

> Well really, I should introduce myself. I have been lurking for a long time now, gathering wonderful feedback and support from all of you. My name is and I am within normal weight range I guess, but have struggled with body image issues for the past 9 years or so. I have always been so hard on myself, and treated myself in ways that I would never treat a friend or family member. I have been on weight watchers for the past 3 years, and i did great at first, but since having to start birth control to regulate a period that never came (i went 2 years without one), my body weight started to climb. for the first time i felt out of control with my ability to manage my weight. i now realize how restricted i have been with my eating, focusing on every ounce of food i put in my mouth, having to log it in my food journal each time, and log all my exercise as well. after three years, i just got tired of it all. i just want to LIVE LIFE, enjoy food in

moderation, and stop thinking so much about food altogether.

>

> well recently i started back at school for my summer semester, and i have been slightly binging on peanut butter at the end of a very long day. i know i should not be eating so late, but i just get home and want to relax and the smooth peanut butter seems to soothe me after a rough day of a full time job and a full time school commitment. how would you all handle this night-time eating issue? i am learning to really pay attention to my body's signals, but it is hard when you are so tired and just want to relax. peanut butter has always been a trigger food for me, and i have a hard time with it when it is around. i threw the jar out last night, and plan on not buying it for awhile until i can muster some control over it. what are your thoughts? i appreciate you listening to me and reading this email.

>

> laura

>

[Guest guest]

Katcha,I love your name, by the way! Thank you for your support. Legalizing pb seems so simple, yet freeing at the same time. As silly as it sounds, I feel like it has a hold on me sometimes. It serves as my vise. But why? ya know? why of all things, would peanut butter help me out after a long day? maybe talking to my husband or petting my cats, things i should be doing, would help me more than an huge amount of peanut butter. i appreciate your kind words. they have come at a time when i need them the most.lauraSubject: Re: I'm New, and have a Peanut

Butter addiction!!!To: IntuitiveEating_Support Date: Thursday, June 11, 2009, 11:05 AM

Hi ,

Glad to be reading a post from you. Sounds like you just need to legalize peanut butter. And yes it can be a trying process, but what you do in the end is to learn for yourself that peanut butter is simply a food and one that you can choose to eat when you (your body) wants it. I found all sorts of help in this process in the IE book as well as in Overcoming Overeating.

Hope you keep us in touch as you do this. Its great for you and others too. It took me months to get chocolate into the 'food' category, but surprise surprise (to me!) its pretty much there now.

Best to you, Katcha

IEing since March 2007

>

> Hello everyone,

>

> Well really, I should introduce myself. I have been lurking for a long time now, gathering wonderful feedback and support from all of you. My name is and I am within normal weight range I guess, but have struggled with body image issues for the past 9 years or so. I have always been so hard on myself, and treated myself in ways that I would never treat a friend or family member. I have been on weight watchers for the past 3 years, and i did great at first, but since having to start birth control to regulate a period that never came (i went 2 years without one), my body weight started to climb. for the first time i felt out of control with my ability to manage my weight. i now realize how restricted i have been with my eating, focusing on every ounce of food i put in my mouth, having to log it in my food journal each time, and log all my exercise as well. after three years, i just got tired of it all. i just want to LIVE LIFE, enjoy food in

moderation, and stop thinking so much about food altogether.

>

> well recently i started back at school for my summer semester, and i have been slightly binging on peanut butter at the end of a very long day. i know i should not be eating so late, but i just get home and want to relax and the smooth peanut butter seems to soothe me after a rough day of a full time job and a full time school commitment. how would you all handle this night-time eating issue? i am learning to really pay attention to my body's signals, but it is hard when you are so tired and just want to relax. peanut butter has always been a trigger food for me, and i have a hard time with it when it is around. i threw the jar out last night, and plan on not buying it for awhile until i can muster some control over it. what are your thoughts? i appreciate you listening to me and reading this email.

>

> laura

>

[Guest guest]

Ohhhhh. I love peanut butter. I eat the crunchy kind every morning. It fills me

up more than the smooth stuff. It takes longer to digest too and is a good

source of protein. It's was one of the many reasons I gave up the points system.

It took up too many points and I refused to give it up...)

Abby

>

>

>

>

> Subject: Re: I'm New, and have a Peanut Butter

addiction!!!

> To: IntuitiveEating_Support

> Date: Thursday, June 11, 2009, 12:01 PM

>

>

> Hello ,

>

>

>

> Welcome to group. To be honest I am addiction to peanut butter and though I

have find a way to work with my body for that one. I eat that about almost every

morning and for some reason my body is satisfy with it. I use that on my

waffles, toast, muffins, and even bagels as depend on what I am in mood for

breakfast. Just simply listen to your body and find out on when usual would

likely want peanut butter the most.

>

>

>

> Eliza

>

>

>

>

>

> >

>

> > Hello everyone,

>

> >

>

> > Well really, I should introduce myself. I have been lurking for a long time

now, gathering wonderful feedback and support from all of you. My name is

and I am within normal weight range I guess, but have struggled with body image

issues for the past 9 years or so. I have always been so hard on myself, and

treated myself in ways that I would never treat a friend or family member. I

have been on weight watchers for the past 3 years, and i did great at first, but

since having to start birth control to regulate a period that never came (i went

2 years without one), my body weight started to climb. for the first time i felt

out of control with my ability to manage my weight. i now realize how restricted

i have been with my eating, focusing on every ounce of food i put in my mouth,

having to log it in my food journal each time, and log all my exercise as well.

after three years, i just got tired of it all. i just want to LIVE LIFE, enjoy

food in

> moderation, and stop thinking so much about food altogether.

>

> >

>

> > well recently i started back at school for my summer semester, and i have

been slightly binging on peanut butter at the end of a very long day. i know i

should not be eating so late, but i just get home and want to relax and the

smooth peanut butter seems to soothe me after a rough day of a full time job and

a full time school commitment. how would you all handle this night-time eating

issue? i am learning to really pay attention to my body's signals, but it is

hard when you are so tired and just want to relax. peanut butter has always been

a trigger food for me, and i have a hard time with it when it is around. i threw

the jar out last night, and plan on not buying it for awhile until i can muster

some control over it. what are your thoughts? i appreciate you listening to me

and reading this email.

>

> >

>

> > laura

>

> >

>

[Guest guest]

What about " trying out " a new way of thinking with it. Like " I can have as much

peanut butter as I want to. " Cause it won't be such an off-limits big deal if

you think of it that way. You'll get sick of it. You may even stop after one

spoonful, thinking do I really want this? ;-)

Warrior

>

> >

>

> > Hello everyone,

>

> >

>

> > Well really, I should introduce myself. I have been lurking for a long time

now, gathering wonderful feedback and support from all of you. My name is

and I am within normal weight range I guess, but have struggled with body image

issues for the past 9 years or so. I have always been so hard on myself, and

treated myself in ways that I would never treat a friend or family member. I

have been on weight watchers for the past 3 years, and i did great at first, but

since having to start birth control to regulate a period that never came (i went

2 years without one), my body weight started to climb. for the first time i felt

out of control with my ability to manage my weight. i now realize how restricted

i have been with my eating, focusing on every ounce of food i put in my mouth,

having to log it in my food journal each time, and log all my exercise as well.

after three years, i just got tired of it all. i just want to LIVE LIFE, enjoy

food in

> moderation, and stop thinking so much about food altogether.

>

> >

>

> > well recently i started back at school for my summer semester, and i have

been slightly binging on peanut butter at the end of a very long day. i know i

should not be eating so late, but i just get home and want to relax and the

smooth peanut butter seems to soothe me after a rough day of a full time job and

a full time school commitment. how would you all handle this night-time eating

issue? i am learning to really pay attention to my body's signals, but it is

hard when you are so tired and just want to relax. peanut butter has always been

a trigger food for me, and i have a hard time with it when it is around. i threw

the jar out last night, and plan on not buying it for awhile until i can muster

some control over it. what are your thoughts? i appreciate you listening to me

and reading this email.

>

> >

>

> > laura

>

> >

>

[Guest guest]

Very good point! This made me think for myself about what I am craving. You

made me think of something else too...could it be protein that is being craved?

Warrior

> >

> > Hello everyone,

> >

> > Well really, I should introduce myself. I have been lurking for a long time

now, gathering wonderful feedback and support from all of you. My name is

and I am within normal weight range I guess, but have struggled with body image

issues for the past 9 years or so. I have always been so hard on myself, and

treated myself in ways that I would never treat a friend or family member. I

have been on weight watchers for the past 3 years, and i did great at first, but

since having to start birth control to regulate a period that never came (i went

2 years without one), my body weight started to climb. for the first time i felt

out of control with my ability to manage my weight. i now realize how restricted

i have been with my eating, focusing on every ounce of food i put in my mouth,

having to log it in my food journal each time, and log all my exercise as well.

after three years, i just got tired of it all. i just want to LIVE LIFE, enjoy

food in moderation, and stop thinking so much about food altogether.

> >

> > well recently i started back at school for my summer semester, and i have

been slightly binging on peanut butter at the end of a very long day. i know i

should not be eating so late, but i just get home and want to relax and the

smooth peanut butter seems to soothe me after a rough day of a full time job and

a full time school commitment. how would you all handle this night-time eating

issue? i am learning to really pay attention to my body's signals, but it is

hard when you are so tired and just want to relax. peanut butter has always been

a trigger food for me, and i have a hard time with it when it is around. i threw

the jar out last night, and plan on not buying it for awhile until i can muster

some control over it. what are your thoughts? i appreciate you listening to me

and reading this email.

> >

> > laura

> >

>

[Guest guest]

What a beautiful, funny, sad story. Thanks for sharing it -- it made my day.

Harry

Re: I'm New, and have a Peanut Butter

addiction!!!

Hi all,

I'm new and just received this as my first post this morning and i couldn't

help but smile. I've been suffering from an eating disorder for the past 11

years of my life and was just recently discharged from a residential

treatment center. One afternoon while I was there, the electricity went out

and the nutritionist " informed " us that we would all instead be having

peanut butter and jelly sandwiches instead of our self planned meals. Well,

needless to say, you put a room full of already anxious and overwhelmed

eating disorder patients into complete and total hysterics and panic

attacks. People were not only crying and having panic attacks but were also

getting ready to jump out the window, run away or get up and sock the poor,

innocent nutritionist across the face. Once we sat down to lunch - it could

have been a scene film a comedy film with each person acting out on their

sandwich in their own unique and distorted way - from flat refusing, to

breaking it into little pieces and throwing it back on the plate in disgust

(that's what I did), to crying, to running away from the table. After the

few of us who were able to finished, I had a serious panic attack. I was

angry at the system and wanted to punch all of them (I am not AT ALL a

violent person). After that emotion subsided, I just started bawling. It was

the weirdest thing ever.

The point of this long and drawn-out story is that it stopped to make me

really think about what it was about peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, or

just peanut butter for that matter. I think it might have something to do

with the nurturing aspect of PB & J sandwiches - that when we were little kids

and hungry or upset, our parents would make us PB & J sandwiches. As we

started to develop this self-conscious attitude of our bodies and began to

self-educate on fat and calories - peanut butter was one of those obvious

" bad " foods that we identified. We thought, sub-consciously, that by

completely avoiding it, we would eliminate not only the bad food, but our

bad feelings about ourselves. I think this can be applied to a wide range of

foods but peanut butter is the perfect example because of its carefree,

childhood history. But, what if no food is bad at all and nor are we? What

if no food can fix or change how we feel about ourselves? That's the task we

need to work - loving ourselves and thinking positively no matter what. If

we truly feel this way - then no food, no matter what it is, can (or

should!) affect our self-worth.

> > >

> > > >

> > >

> > > > Hello everyone,

> > >

> > > >

> > >

> > > > Well really, I should introduce myself. I have been lurking for

> > > > a long time now, gathering wonderful feedback and support from all

of you. My name is and I am within normal weight range I guess, but

have struggled with body image issues for the past 9 years or so. I have

always been so hard on myself, and treated myself in ways that I would never

treat a friend or family member. I have been on weight watchers for the past

3 years, and i did great at first, but since having to start birth control

to regulate a period that never came (i went 2 years without one), my body

weight started to climb. for the first time i felt out of control with my

ability to manage my weight. i now realize how restricted i have been with

my eating, focusing on every ounce of food i put in my mouth, having to log

it in my food journal each time, and log all my exercise as well. after

three years, i just got tired of it all. i just want to LIVE LIFE, enjoy

food in

> > >  moderation, and stop thinking so much about food altogether.

> > >

> > > >

> > >

> > > > well recently i started back at school for my summer semester,

> > > > and i have been slightly binging on peanut butter at the end of

> > > > a very long day. i know i should not be eating so late, but i

> > > > just get home and want to relax and the smooth peanut butter

> > > > seems to soothe me after a rough day of a full time job and a

> > > > full time school commitment. how would you all handle this

> > > > night-time eating issue? i am learning to really pay attention

> > > > to my body's signals, but it is hard when you are so tired and

> > > > just want to relax. peanut butter has always been a trigger food

> > > > for me, and i have a hard time with it when it is around. i

> > > > threw the jar out last night, and plan on not buying it for

> > > > awhile until i can muster some control over it. what are your

> > > > thoughts? i appreciate you listening to me and reading this

> > > > email.

> > >

> > > >

> > >

> > > > laura

> > >

> > > >

> > >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> > ------------------------------------

> >

> >

[Guest guest]

Hi, I like peanut butter too, but haven't had any in a long time. What

works for me when I have a craving and I am not hungry is to sit

quietly and ask myself what I really need and find something other

than food that really sounds even better to me. If nothing comes up I

just sit with the feelings until they fade and pretend that I am in

labor and have no choice other than to breathe and wait it out. (This

really works, but sometimes I am too stressed to do it, and then just

try to minimize harm and not beat myself up.)

[Guest guest]

Wow, this is powerful about the breathing. (and about not beating yourself up)

Thank you.

Warrior

>

> Hi, I like peanut butter too, but haven't had any in a long time. What

> works for me when I have a craving and I am not hungry is to sit

> quietly and ask myself what I really need and find something other

> than food that really sounds even better to me. If nothing comes up I

> just sit with the feelings until they fade and pretend that I am in

> labor and have no choice other than to breathe and wait it out. (This

> really works, but sometimes I am too stressed to do it, and then just

> try to minimize harm and not beat myself up.)

>

[Guest guest]

Thank you Gillian posting this clarification of your views. I knew you had some

good thoughts to share on this topic, and was afraid I had mis'quoted' you

ehugs, Katcha

IEing since March 2007

>

> Hi Everyone,

>

>

>

> I had hundreds of emails to go through from this group since I receive the

> messages in a special folder in my email program. I've been keeping an eye

> on the posts but wanted to specifically comment on a few of them and see if

> I can be of any help, even though the topic has gone away. The topic of

> addiction is one that I have very strong feelings about. Keep in mind that

> you may not agree with me and that's ok, but maybe I can share a different

> perspective that could help break through what feels like an addiction.

>

>

>

> The media and the diet industry certainly contribute to this idea that we

> can be addicted to food in general or a particular food. And I understand it

> may really feel like an addiction and that you have no control over eating

> it. Certainly some foods can have an effect on our brain chemistry, and you

> may also find yourself eating or going for food under stressful

> circumstances without even realizing that you are doing it. I even felt in

> the past that I was addicted to sugar. I went on a sugar-free diet and 2

> months later tried to eat a little ice cream and of course started binging.

> This just " proved " to me that I was addicted. That brings me to my first

> point:

>

>

>

> Our thoughts determine our results. You may have heard of the Law of

> Attraction which is all the rage these days. I'm not a big proponent of it,

> but I learned long before hearing about LOA that if we want to change our

> outcomes, we must change our thoughts. It goes like this: Thoughts lead to

> Feelings which lead to Behaviors which lead to Results. So, the thought is

> " I'm addicted to sugar " . The feeling is frustration and helplessness because

> I can't control it. My behavior would then be denying sugar followed by

> binging on it. This leads to the result, which is I'm addicted to sugar and

> I can't control it and all I do is overeat on it. If you believe you're

> addicted to sugar, your actions and results will reflect it.

>

>

>

> By changing the thought I changed my results. The new thought was " I can

> have sugar when I want it and eat enough that I enjoy it and feel good when

> I'm done " . The feeling changes to confident and empowered. My behavior is

> eating ice cream, or whatever, when I'm hungry so it tastes really good and

> stopping when my body has had enough. The result is I enjoyed the ice cream

> and didn't feel sick, binge on it, or any other issues that I believed I had

> in the past with sugar. Does that make sense?

>

>

>

> Another issue I have with thinking you're addicted to food or a food is that

> you cannot treat overeating or binging with the standard models that are

> used for other addictions. In the 12-step model, you are told to abstain

> from what you are addicted to. You cannot abstain from food, obviously. I

> know that OA says to abstain from your binge foods, but often they are sugar

> and flour. Good luck! (I'm not bashing OA, if it helps you, that is great, I

> just don't agree with their philosophy) To overcome overeating, you need to

> learn how to make all foods permissible and change your relationship with

> those foods, not abstain.

>

>

>

> One thing that is similar between addiction and overeating is that it's

> usually a symptom of a need not being met. That's why the concept of a

> higher power is important in 12 step programs. But you are also told to

> admit you are helpless over the thing you are addicted to. I help my clients

> learn they are in charge of making decisions about food, they aren't

> helpless. IE is a process that creates empowerment, not helplessness.

>

>

>

> Anyway, these are just some thoughts I wanted to share. I hope they are

> helpful!

>

>

>

> I wrote an article for my newsletter in March in response to Oprah's

> revelation about her weight. In the article in her magazine she briefly

> mentioned food addiction. If you want to read my article, you can see it in

> my newsletter archives. Scroll down the page and choose March 2009 and

> you'll find it there. http://www.healthieroutcomes.com/newsletter.html

>

>

>

>

>

> Thanks!

> Gillian

>

> Gillian Hood-son, MS, ACSM

> Get your report, " The 6 Steps to Guilt-Fr*e Eating " by visiting

> http://www.HealthierOutcomes.com <http://www.healthieroutcomes.com/>

>

>

> _____

>

[Guest guest]

Hi, Gillian. Thank you for your thoughtful post. You said, <<By changing the thought I changed my

results. The new thought was “I can have sugar when I want it and eat

enough that I enjoy it and feel good when I’m doneâ€. The feeling

changes to confident and empowered. My behavior is eating ice cream, or

whatever, when I’m hungry so it tastes really good and stopping when my

body has had enough. The result is I enjoyed the ice cream and didn’t

feel sick, binge on it, or any other issues that I believed I had in the past

with sugar. Does that make sense?>>Yes, it makes perfect sense, because even though I struggle with food, you are making me think. I think that when I would tell myself I am literally powerless over a certain food, I really meant: I don't want this food right now. or: I don't want a lot of this food right now. That should have been my first thought before I start thinking about digging in and bingeing. I hope that makes sense. Thanks for bringing it up. Cindi

[Guest guest]

Gillian,

More and more, I am beginning to be able to understand this viewpoint. It is

happening gradually, but the more people explain this side of it, the more I

agree. So i am glad Katcha and yourself have been doing that for peeps like me.

;-)

Warrior

>

> Hi Everyone,

>

>

>

> I had hundreds of emails to go through from this group since I receive the

> messages in a special folder in my email program. I've been keeping an eye

> on the posts but wanted to specifically comment on a few of them and see if

> I can be of any help, even though the topic has gone away. The topic of

> addiction is one that I have very strong feelings about. Keep in mind that

> you may not agree with me and that's ok, but maybe I can share a different

> perspective that could help break through what feels like an addiction.

>

>

>

> The media and the diet industry certainly contribute to this idea that we

> can be addicted to food in general or a particular food. And I understand it

> may really feel like an addiction and that you have no control over eating

> it. Certainly some foods can have an effect on our brain chemistry, and you

> may also find yourself eating or going for food under stressful

> circumstances without even realizing that you are doing it. I even felt in

> the past that I was addicted to sugar. I went on a sugar-free diet and 2

> months later tried to eat a little ice cream and of course started binging.

> This just " proved " to me that I was addicted. That brings me to my first

> point:

>

>

>

> Our thoughts determine our results. You may have heard of the Law of

> Attraction which is all the rage these days. I'm not a big proponent of it,

> but I learned long before hearing about LOA that if we want to change our

> outcomes, we must change our thoughts. It goes like this: Thoughts lead to

> Feelings which lead to Behaviors which lead to Results. So, the thought is

> " I'm addicted to sugar " . The feeling is frustration and helplessness because

> I can't control it. My behavior would then be denying sugar followed by

> binging on it. This leads to the result, which is I'm addicted to sugar and

> I can't control it and all I do is overeat on it. If you believe you're

> addicted to sugar, your actions and results will reflect it.

>

>

>

> By changing the thought I changed my results. The new thought was " I can

> have sugar when I want it and eat enough that I enjoy it and feel good when

> I'm done " . The feeling changes to confident and empowered. My behavior is

> eating ice cream, or whatever, when I'm hungry so it tastes really good and

> stopping when my body has had enough. The result is I enjoyed the ice cream

> and didn't feel sick, binge on it, or any other issues that I believed I had

> in the past with sugar. Does that make sense?

>

>

>

> Another issue I have with thinking you're addicted to food or a food is that

> you cannot treat overeating or binging with the standard models that are

> used for other addictions. In the 12-step model, you are told to abstain

> from what you are addicted to. You cannot abstain from food, obviously. I

> know that OA says to abstain from your binge foods, but often they are sugar

> and flour. Good luck! (I'm not bashing OA, if it helps you, that is great, I

> just don't agree with their philosophy) To overcome overeating, you need to

> learn how to make all foods permissible and change your relationship with

> those foods, not abstain.

>

>

>

> One thing that is similar between addiction and overeating is that it's

> usually a symptom of a need not being met. That's why the concept of a

> higher power is important in 12 step programs. But you are also told to

> admit you are helpless over the thing you are addicted to. I help my clients

> learn they are in charge of making decisions about food, they aren't

> helpless. IE is a process that creates empowerment, not helplessness.

>

>

>

> Anyway, these are just some thoughts I wanted to share. I hope they are

> helpful!

>

>

>

> I wrote an article for my newsletter in March in response to Oprah's

> revelation about her weight. In the article in her magazine she briefly

> mentioned food addiction. If you want to read my article, you can see it in

> my newsletter archives. Scroll down the page and choose March 2009 and

> you'll find it there. http://www.healthieroutcomes.com/newsletter.html

>

>

>

>

>

> Thanks!

> Gillian

>

> Gillian Hood-son, MS, ACSM

> Get your report, " The 6 Steps to Guilt-Fr*e Eating " by visiting

> http://www.HealthierOutcomes.com <http://www.healthieroutcomes.com/>

>

>

> _____

>

[Guest guest]

KT, we who have 'gone before' are happy to 'pass it on' to those who want to go

the same direction! It can be hard to not just jump in and TELL those just

starting out - do this, understand that, but in the long run each person walks

their own path. All anyone can do is offer to suggest what 'way' might be more

helpful and interesting to those at the foot of the path.

In the case of IE, its almost like one has to dump all the previously learned

practices of dieting. That is a tall order as its what a person has become

'comfortable' with, mainly because its a KNOWN. And as one steps across the

'crack' that separates from dieting path to a normal eating journey, its the old

caught between the boat and the pier decision time. One is either going to

return to the pier or launch into the boat.

Congrats on your first steps and glad to be sharing this life supporting journey

with you too. It won't be all that long before you and find yourself looking at

newbies thinking - OMG was I like that?!? lol! I hope that you can also tap back

into the fragility that you felt taking your first steps and extend a supportive

hand to those who are testing the path for themselves.

ehugs, Katcha

IEing since March 2007

>

> Gillian,

>

> More and more, I am beginning to be able to understand this viewpoint. It is

happening gradually, but the more people explain this side of it, the more I

agree. So i am glad Katcha and yourself have been doing that for peeps like me.

;-)

>

> Warrior

>

[Guest guest]

Thanks, Katcha. yes, I feel I am jumping into the boat. It is very unknown.

As a newbie too, it's hard because you have to be careful to not follow just

anyone's boat, and that can be hard to be selective because you are new and

clueless. lol

It is a completely different way of thinking. For example, I've got a beach

trip coming up with our martial arts group and I am usually so self conscious to

get ina swimsuit. Even if it was just going to be in front of my immediate

family. (mind you, it doesn't matter how little I weigh or how toned I

am...it's never good enough. I'll always find something wrong with myself to

feel insecure about, and of course, I'm focusing on my outsides, not inside.)

With another beach trip coming up this summer, I thought...what freedom to be

able to go as me, not my body. I could see that with IE I could get to a place

of feeling good about myself,about who I am, without factoring in my tone and

weight, etc. And I was thinking...why not just give in to that abandon of

control and worry, etc.? I mean, it doesn't do me any good anyhow. It's just

like the rest of what goes with dieting, it only seems that it will help, but

never does. And like I said, no matter how fit I am or what size I am, if I'm

in that frame of mind, it's never, ever good enough.

Warrior

> >

> > Gillian,

> >

> > More and more, I am beginning to be able to understand this viewpoint. It

is happening gradually, but the more people explain this side of it, the more I

agree. So i am glad Katcha and yourself have been doing that for peeps like me.

;-)

> >

> > Warrior

> >

>