Re: How I'm Doing

[Guest guest]

Way to go ! Glad you are here and sharing your experiences too.

ehugs, Katcha

IEing since March 2007

>

>

>

> asked:

> How long with Intuitive Eating?

>

> Have you lost weight?

>

> Do you find it somewhat easy to follow?

>

> Well , I read the IE book years ago, but I didn't really get it. I tried

to turn it into a diet book with rules to follow. Needless to say, that didn't

work and I constantly " failed " at it. Then I read Geneen Roth and had the same

experience. I roller coasted for years, going up and down the scale 20-30

pounds, alternately restricting, overexercising, bingeing, and feeling

miserable.

>

> Four years ago I broke my leg very severely while bicycling and was unable to

walk for ten weeks. At the time, I'd been restricting and overexercising. After

I was able to walk again, I gained 40 pounds over the course of the next couple

of years because I couldn't stop bingeing and overeating. I finally sought help

from a therapist who specializes in eating disorders. She helped me realize once

and for all that I was choosing to use food in ways that weren't healthy for me.

I finally understood that it was fine for me to eat a giant bowl of ice cream --

as long as I was willing to deal with feeling overfull, cranky, crabby the next

day, and have urges to eat more then and the next day. Who wants to feel like

that?!?

>

> As I started to eat more mindfully, I lost 25 pounds and my weight has been

pretty steady for the past several months. I'm still a few pounds overweight,

but my focus is on fully recovering from a sick relationship with food rather

than on getting back into a size 6. Easy to follow? No. I'm not sure if it will

ever become unconscious for me. However, it is not painful and I find it much

easier to make healthier choices. I eat what feels good and tastes good to me. I

don't eat much that is artificial because real food tastes soooo much better to

me these days. I'd so much rather eat some greek yogurt with granola in it than

a Twinkie. I don't go hungry -- I eat steel cut oatmeal with almond butter,

fruit, and nuts in it most mornings because it keeps me satisfied, doesn't mess

up my moods, and tastes fabulous. I know that I can eat a burger and fries

whenever I want. Sometimes I order it and eat about half of it, but most of the

time it just sounds greasy. Don't get me wrong -- I still LOVE dessert and other

foods that aren't " healthy " , but I've learned that if I eat more than a very

small serving of it, I feel very out of sorts starting immediately afterward and

continuing even into the next day. Anyway, LMK if you have other questions!

>

>

>

> _________________________________________________________________

> Microsoft brings you a new way to search the web. Try Bing™ now

> http://www.bing.com?form=MFEHPG & publ=WLHMTAG & crea=TEXT_MFEHPG_Core_tagline_try

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[Guest guest]

~

Thanks for sharing. Everyone's stories are a big help.

>

>

>

> asked:

> How long with Intuitive Eating?

>

> Have you lost weight?

>

> Do you find it somewhat easy to follow?

>

> Well , I read the IE book years ago, but I didn't really get it. I tried

to turn it into a diet book with rules to follow. Needless to say, that didn't

work and I constantly " failed " at it. Then I read Geneen Roth and had the same

experience. I roller coasted for years, going up and down the scale 20-30

pounds, alternately restricting, overexercising, bingeing, and feeling

miserable.

>

> Four years ago I broke my leg very severely while bicycling and was unable to

walk for ten weeks. At the time, I'd been restricting and overexercising. After

I was able to walk again, I gained 40 pounds over the course of the next couple

of years because I couldn't stop bingeing and overeating. I finally sought help

from a therapist who specializes in eating disorders. She helped me realize once

and for all that I was choosing to use food in ways that weren't healthy for me.

I finally understood that it was fine for me to eat a giant bowl of ice cream --

as long as I was willing to deal with feeling overfull, cranky, crabby the next

day, and have urges to eat more then and the next day. Who wants to feel like

that?!?

>

> As I started to eat more mindfully, I lost 25 pounds and my weight has been

pretty steady for the past several months. I'm still a few pounds overweight,

but my focus is on fully recovering from a sick relationship with food rather

than on getting back into a size 6. Easy to follow? No. I'm not sure if it will

ever become unconscious for me. However, it is not painful and I find it much

easier to make healthier choices. I eat what feels good and tastes good to me. I

don't eat much that is artificial because real food tastes soooo much better to

me these days. I'd so much rather eat some greek yogurt with granola in it than

a Twinkie. I don't go hungry -- I eat steel cut oatmeal with almond butter,

fruit, and nuts in it most mornings because it keeps me satisfied, doesn't mess

up my moods, and tastes fabulous. I know that I can eat a burger and fries

whenever I want. Sometimes I order it and eat about half of it, but most of the

time it just sounds greasy. Don't get me wrong -- I still LOVE dessert and other

foods that aren't " healthy " , but I've learned that if I eat more than a very

small serving of it, I feel very out of sorts starting immediately afterward and

continuing even into the next day. Anyway, LMK if you have other questions!

>

>

>

> _________________________________________________________________

> Microsoft brings you a new way to search the web. Try Bing™ now

> http://www.bing.com?form=MFEHPG & publ=WLHMTAG & crea=TEXT_MFEHPG_Core_tagline_try

bing_1x1

>

[Guest guest]

I think that addiction is not quite the right word here? If I don't eat a

certain thing of way, I'm not going to go thru DTs or rob people to get money

for my food 'fix' ;-). Yes one can get into a pattern where eating to create a

certain effect is done. But again, I don't think I'd call that an addiction.

Katcha

IEing since March 2007

> >

> > I think you are right Carole. I have found that I have 'sentimental' eating

moments which are rather like trying to regain a pleasant memory of how I used

to feel when I ate a 'beloved' (or fobidden ;-) food. As I eat the food I know

it doesn't taste like what I want it to, nor does it satisfy (serve its

function?) as it used to do, but I eat it all the same, hoping all the way? The

good news is that these occurrences happen more and more rarely as well as stay

in my consciousness stronger each time.

> >

> > Best to you, Katcha

> > IEing since March 2007

[Guest guest]

I guess it's just your view of the word addiction and mine being a bit

different. ;-) There are a lot of people who are addicted to alcohol who are

able to seek recovery before robbing someone to get more booze money or getting

to the point that their body goes through DT's. But if you are giving up

something you want in life (like being able to do certain physical things, etc.)

for that substance's promise of " relaxation " or " escape " , etc., then to me,

that's addiction. If you can't get through a family get-together without

drinking afterwards or can't get through a family get-together without

overeating to the point of some form of feeling sick after, it's not too

different I guess. Like I said, I guess it's just how you view the word. :-)

Warrior

> > >

> > > I think you are right Carole. I have found that I have 'sentimental'

eating moments which are rather like trying to regain a pleasant memory of how I

used to feel when I ate a 'beloved' (or fobidden ;-) food. As I eat the food I

know it doesn't taste like what I want it to, nor does it satisfy (serve its

function?) as it used to do, but I eat it all the same, hoping all the way? The

good news is that these occurrences happen more and more rarely as well as stay

in my consciousness stronger each time.

> > >

> > > Best to you, Katcha

> > > IEing since March 2007

>

[Guest guest]

Hey, Warrior, be careful when you compliment me. I tend to get a bit rambunctious when people like me, find me funny, etc. :-)

But thanks anyway.

Right now I think it took us time and bad thinking to get us here, and it will take time and better thinking (i.e., help from other people) to move us into a different arena of thought. It's almost like the difference between positive thinking and negative thinking. Some people are stymied by their fears ... and whenever something bad happens they think it just fits in with their view of life, right? But other people, perhaps with better thinking approach, might recognize the truthfulness of the negative, but also consider the positive aspect of something and learn to lean towards that.

So ... I admit I have a problem with food. I am happy to be coming to terms with IE, and working on being hungry before I eat something. That's a big one for me. Later for better choices, although I no longer choose to eat a big jumbo bag of BBQ chips on a regular basis. :-) I'm getting hungry now ... I feel it! (Ah joy that I waited) question is: what do I eat for dinner? what do I eat for anything, snack, dinner whatever you want to call it? that is the question. Didn't Hamlet say something like that? What to eat? THAT is the question...:-)

Thank you for the compliment, Warrior. Talk to you later.

Cindi

Subject: Re: How I'm DoingTo: IntuitiveEating_Support Date: Monday, June 22, 2009, 3:57 PM

I'm sure there are a lot of alcoholics that feel if they haven't killed anyone in a DUI that they are not addicts either. Most alcoholics don't steal anything to get liquor. So there are many differing levels of addiction, many, many. I personally have some form of addiction with food. Otherwise, why can't I just change what has made my body into something that isn't me (and can't do what I want to do.)? Why don't I just change it and keep it changed if I have no issues?? How do I act when I can't get that "fix" of the food I want? Do people love to be around me at that time? I love your point of view on this. It's very honest. Thanks,Warrior>> Hi. I just joined IE board because someone told me about it. I already belong to a couple of other boards, and I'm learning a lot.> > I would like to say this here, though, about food addiction. I can understand the term when it comes to let's say, purging, bingeing, etc. Because a big bag of chips and junk food isn't that terribly expensive, and it's usually easier to find hamburgers and food thrown out than liquor and drugs. But most people here don't have to steal to get a big bag of BBQ chips and eat themselves to a slow death. To me, addiction is about dependence or continual habit. They say heroin addicts have a "habit." True, they may have to steal etc. to get the drug of choice because it's 1) so expensive, and 2) illegal. But food is not that expensive even though at this point some might have to steal just to get it to eat because times are so rough. But all that aside, when a person has withdrawal

(pain from eating less), and is habitually abusing food by overeating to real excess (gaining lots of weight), and can't stop (cannot eat less even though he wants to), to me> that's an addiction.> > And hi to everybody out there! :-)> Cindi>

[Guest guest]

OK, I got a bit over the top with my remarks about addiction and 'stealing to

keep up one's habit', but that is so NOT the point I was trying to make. I feel

that addiction is a PHYSICAL demand by one's body which ends up overruling a

person's ability to do almost anything other than service the needs of the

(UNnecessary) substance taken. I just don't feel that food, which is a necessary

item in life, falls into that category. Unlike alcohol or harder drugs, one can

NOT live without food. And while glucose can 'hit' a body (fast, immediate

digestion and availability to brain/muscles), it is also a compound that bodies

are built to handle too.

I, and I'm sure many other members here, are here for support in dealing with

eating issues. Yes, boundaries are 'out of whack' for most of us, but its more

likely that we can adjust these back into a more 'normal' range if we choose to

embrace a focus on what helps us do that. Labels such as 'bad foods', even

'healthy foods' (a subtle form of 'good' instead of 'bad') and certainly

'addictive foods' tend to distract away from that effort and even hark back to

diet mentality which is built upon a 'finding a demon' basis. Positive is what

enhances one's life, negative is what do NOT. For me that is the best 'reset'

guideline I can use.

Katcha

IEing since March 2007

>

> I'm sure there are a lot of alcoholics that feel if they haven't killed anyone

in a DUI that they are not addicts either. Most alcoholics don't steal anything

to get liquor. So there are many differing levels of addiction, many, many.

>

> I personally have some form of addiction with food. Otherwise, why can't I

just change what has made my body into something that isn't me (and can't do

what I want to do.)? Why don't I just change it and keep it changed if I have

no issues?? How do I act when I can't get that " fix " of the food I want? Do

people love to be around me at that time? I love your point of view on this.

It's very honest.

>

> Thanks,

>

> Warrior

[Guest guest]

Hi, Katcha. Interesting post. You said, <<OK, I got a bit over the top with my remarks about addiction and

'stealing to keep up one's habit', but that is so NOT the point I was

trying to make. I feel that addiction is a PHYSICAL demand by one's

body which ends up overruling a person's ability to do almost anything

other than service the needs of the (UNnecessary) substance taken. I

just don't feel that food, which is a necessary item in life, falls

into that category. Unlike alcohol or harder drugs, one can NOT live

without food. And while glucose can 'hit' a body (fast, immediate

digestion and availability to brain/muscles) , it is also a compound

that bodies are built to handle too.>>OK, I used to feel the exact same way. And I would attend weight loss groups and hear people talk about their problem with food, and even though I was overweight and could not stick to a diet, I would say out loud to them -- "C'mon ... all you have to do is eat less ... I don't have a "problem," no one has a "problem," it's just a matter of eating less." Yes, I knew that, but I couldn't eat less for years. In fact, I ate more and gained more weight until i was so fat that I truly couldn't walk very much.<<I, and I'm sure many other members here, are here for support in

dealing with eating issues. Yes, boundaries are 'out of whack' for most

of us, but its more likely that we can adjust these back into a more

'normal' range if we choose to embrace a focus on what helps us do

that. Labels such as 'bad foods', even 'healthy foods' (a subtle form

of 'good' instead of 'bad') and certainly 'addictive foods' tend to

distract away from that effort and even hark back to diet mentality

which is built upon a 'finding a demon' basis. Positive is what

enhances one's life, negative is what do NOT. For me that is the best

'reset' guideline I can use.>>I am 66 years old. I know I am not perfect. In fact, at 66, even though my body is falling apart, I realize I have a lot to learn and a lot of "unlearning" to do. I can only work on one or two problems at a time. Right now I am working on recognizing my hunger signal, and waiting until I have that to eat. As far as food choices go, I have a pretty good idea of which foods will pack the weight on if I eat more than mouthful or two, which foods I have a problem with in terms of choice and eating too much, I am trying not to label foods as good or bad. When I went to a gathering recently, the hostess had plenty of food for everybody. But a friend near me had on her plate meatballs, rice, mac & cheese, and sausage, also green beans. She ate everything except one small piece of sausage she left behind. I like sausage, but I didn't ask for it because I know that sausage is filled with all kinds of stuff I don't

want to eat. I like sausage, but rarely do I have it. Do I call it bad? (shrug) I don't know if it's bad or good. I know I like the taste of most sausages. But I think, and maybe I"m wrong, it's filled with fat, animal cast-offs, nitrites, nitrates, and other items not generally well thought of. But then again, so are probably most other foods, so perhaps I'm not thinking rationally here. rational thinking might tell me that a little sausage occasionally would be OK. But if I had a plate of sausages and eggs, 2 slices of buttered rye and a bowl of oatmeal for breakfast, followed by a nice hearty sandwich & bowl of cream soup with chips, followed by fried fish or chicken with rice & beans & salad & a dessert for dinner -- I am certain I'd gain weight.Anyway, I enjoyed your post, glad to hear you've done IE for a while now, hope we can get to know each other better.Cindi

[Guest guest]

It is hard, but if we can learn to think more about being good to ourself,

meaning not the good for 20 minutes the food goes in, but good the rest of the

time, then we are capable of change.

Warrior

>

> > >

>

> > > I'm sure there are a lot of alcoholics that feel if they haven't killed

anyone in a DUI that they are not addicts either. Most alcoholics don't steal

anything to get liquor. So there are many differing levels of addiction, many,

many.

>

> > >

>

> > > I personally have some form of addiction with food. Otherwise, why can't

I just change what has made my body into something that isn't me (and can't do

what I want to do.)? Why don't I just change it and keep it changed if I have

no issues?? How do I act when I can't get that " fix " of the food I want? Do

people love to be around me at that time? I love your point of view on this.

It's very honest.

>

> > >

>

> > > Thanks,

>

> > >

>

> > > Warrior

>

> >

>

[Guest guest]

I really don't want to get too involved in this one, because I think it is apparent that there are two schools of thought here, but I think that addiction is a word that is too loaded and the problem with it is that it gives us an excuse to put our food issues outside of us.  And we are here because we realize that perhaps our choices regarding food are inside of us, which is an exciting, powerful thought.  The odds aren't against you, or any of us, because we have everything we need to let go of the compulsiveness around food, and to get back to its more basic purpose - enjoyment and sustenance - everything we need is inside our bodies, heart & soul!

I remember the absolute desperation I felt when I first came to Thin Within as a teen (I'm 45 now).  There was the author standing up there, Judy Wardell Halliday, speaking to us in such a loving, gentle way explaining that there would be no more searching outside of us for a magic bullet.  The diet programs, the pills, the shots, the magazines that touted the next perfect weight solution to solve all our problems were external - they all said, " pick me, I'll fix you! " .  She then said simply that the magic was inside of us, we didn't have to search for it.  That was such a memorable, special moment for me, when I realized, I could do this, the power was in me and that there was nothing physical that I needed outside of me to fix me.

Blessings,

Katcha wrote:

> I think that addiction is not quite the right word here? If I don't eat a

> certain thing of way, I'm not going to go thru DTs or rob people to get

> money for my food 'fix' ;-).

I think food addiction is very real. Certain foods trigger the same

parts of the brain as other drugs do. There is more and more evidence

for this. Food addiction (may it be in the form of compulsive

overeating, bulimia or anorexia) causes a lot of harm and can even

physically kill people. Bulimics flush thousands and thousands of bucks

down the drain if the disease gets bad enough, causing patients to steal

money and food to get their fix. They might not rob a bank but they go

shop lifting to get their fix.

I don't know if you've heard of the theory of the " selfish brain " . I

think it's an interesting read when it comes to obesity and food

addiction.

I think it's important to accept that food can be very addictive (not

saying that everyone on here is a food addict). It changes the challenge

from not " only " having to conquer an emotional issue but a physical one

as well. I believe it's important to accept the physical processes as

well and not deny them, though I have to say it's kind of hard to

swallow as it seems to raise the odds against me even further.

s.

[Guest guest]

Katcha wrote:

> I tried to email you (off list) by using the message link at the group

> site and it bounced back to me as undeliverable. Could you please either

> update your email address on file with Yahoo or send me a better one to my

Weird, it shouldn't bounce as I keep getting group mail.

s.

[Guest guest]

Katcha wrote:

> Styxia, I think what was saying is that its the NEED TO HAVE an

> excuse that is the problem, not a denial of a fact?

Hm, that still would not answer my question. I don't see how an

addiction can be used as an excuse. I mean, if I have an addiction I

have still some " duty " to fight it. However, maybe I'm getting it wrong.

s.

[Guest guest]

Hi Dawn - Welcome to the group.

I just started IE about 2 months ago myself. I would suggest really giving your

all to the IE way. The sugar addiction MIGHT be just another diet myth the

media etc. has had you buy into.

I thought I had an addiction to sugar too, but I craved it so often when dieting

that when I finally had it, I couldn't stop. Part of that deprivation/bingeing

thing.

When I started IE all of this is slowing going away. I crave all different

kinds of things...some days it's more carbs, some days it's more sugary things,

and some days it's something else. Let the process work with you and for you

and be natural for you.

Good luck and welcome.

> > >

> > > > I think that addiction is not quite the right word here? If I don't eat

a

> > > > certain thing of way, I'm not going to go thru DTs or rob people to get

> > > > money for my food 'fix' ;-).

> > >

> > > I think food addiction is very real. Certain foods trigger the same

> > > parts of the brain as other drugs do. There is more and more evidence

> > > for this. Food addiction (may it be in the form of compulsive

> > > overeating, bulimia or anorexia) causes a lot of harm and can even

> > > physically kill people. Bulimics flush thousands and thousands of bucks

> > > down the drain if the disease gets bad enough, causing patients to steal

> > > money and food to get their fix. They might not rob a bank but they go

> > > shop lifting to get their fix.

> > >

> > > I don't know if you've heard of the theory of the " selfish brain " . I

> > > think it's an interesting read when it comes to obesity and food

> > > addiction.

> > >

> > > I think it's important to accept that food can be very addictive (not

> > > saying that everyone on here is a food addict). It changes the challenge

> > > from not " only " having to conquer an emotional issue but a physical one

> > > as well. I believe it's important to accept the physical processes as

> > > well and not deny them, though I have to say it's kind of hard to

> > > swallow as it seems to raise the odds against me even further.

> > >

> > > s.

> > >

> > >

> >

>

[Guest guest]

The description of the loving way that Judy Wardell Halliday spoke was very helpful. Shouldn't we all speak so lovingly in general? i'm going to work on that. :-) CindiSubject: Re: How I'm DoingTo: IntuitiveEating_Support Date: Wednesday, June 24, 2009, 11:27 AM

Thank you for putting what I had been struggling to express into plain, understandable words. I do not want to deny that some foods can be VERY challenging, but many reasons, but the focus here is doing the best each of us can with what we are capable of managing here and now.

Ehugs, Katcha

IEing since March 2007

> >

> > > I think that addiction is not quite the right word here? If I don't eat a

> > > certain thing of way, I'm not going to go thru DTs or rob people to get

> > > money for my food 'fix' ;-).

> >

> > I think food addiction is very real. Certain foods trigger the same

> > parts of the brain as other drugs do. There is more and more evidence

> > for this. Food addiction (may it be in the form of compulsive

> > overeating, bulimia or anorexia) causes a lot of harm and can even

> > physically kill people. Bulimics flush thousands and thousands of bucks

> > down the drain if the disease gets bad enough, causing patients to steal

> > money and food to get their fix. They might not rob a bank but they go

> > shop lifting to get their fix.

> >

> > I don't know if you've heard of the theory of the "selfish brain". I

> > think it's an interesting read when it comes to obesity and food

> > addiction.

> >

> > I think it's important to accept that food can be very addictive (not

> > saying that everyone on here is a food addict). It changes the challenge

> > from not "only" having to conquer an emotional issue but a physical one

> > as well. I believe it's important to accept the physical processes as

> > well and not deny them, though I have to say it's kind of hard to

> > swallow as it seems to raise the odds against me even further.

> >

> > s.

> >

> >

>