Re: Illness & IE??

May 20, 2009

I understand. I recently have been diagonsed with gastritis and occasional IBS.

My body is screaming at me to listen to it and I finally am.

>

> I was diagnosed with GERD about a year ago & have been getting much worse the

past couple of months. In talking to my doctor & several nutritionists, it's

recommended that I reduce or eliminate several types of food for a period of

time to allow my body to heal. While this makes perfect sense, I'm finding it

difficult to keep my food rebel at bay (she sees it as more food rules). My

guess is that if I continue to give myself permissions to eat anything I want,

then hopefully I will choose what feels best in my body & avoid certain things

for awhile. It just feels like fine line between doing what's best for my

health & getting into diet mode....anyone have experience in practicing IE

alongside a treatment plan for health recovery?

>

May 20, 2009

Yes, yes, yes, this is exactly what happened to me, and was quite frankly, what sent me into a tailspin so to speak when I thought I was 'done' with the weight thing after so many years of being 'effortlessly thin' (that's Thin Within speak). I had fully integrated the IE way of life, and then one day my symptoms just started - I experienced some pretty serious blood sugar and fatigue issues - and the fatigue was almost debilitating. I couldn't figure out why - it took a long time to discover I had some true food sensitivities and to some of the major ingredients in most foods such as corn, wheat and soy. I was told to eliminate these things and to eliminate all sugar as well. It was horrible. I felt betrayed by my own body, and I wasn't coping well at all with these changes, since I, too, perceived them as rules and my weight started to yo-yo, and I hadn't done that since I first really fell into the groove with intuitive eating. I really think this is what messed me up, so I'll share what I've figured out since then (it has been several years of adjustment for me - ugh).....

First, I decided that I would decide when I would eliminate these foods. Knowing what made me feel horrible, I made a conscious choice to either eat the offending item or not, knowing the consequences. I got to decide if I wanted to make that choice for my body, not a doctor, not anyone. But it took me a long time to figure that out! But once I finally did, it was liberating. And interestingly, most of the time I choose not to have the item that bothers me, but I was more successful with it once I made it my choice.

For example, corn is probably the worst thing for me....making me not only so fatigued that I can barely drive, but it contributes to this very weird sleep pattern and makes me feel kind of scary dizzy. So when faced with corn, I would make a choice and tell myself, " I can have that if I want to. Do I want to feel badly after I eat it and go ahead & eat it? Or do I want to just skip it just this one time, knowing there will be another opportunity to have it, and then avoid any icky symptoms? " This was really very liberating. Sometimes I go ahead and have the item, and other times, I don't. I also learned that certain foods are easily substituted...for example, I have a bunch of recipes that call for corn and I just substitute green chilies, chopped tomatoes, or chopped bell peppers, (and I always pick the gorgeous colors like yellow, orange & red and it makes me feel so special!) So I feel less like I'm missing out, and more like I'm getting something even more gourmet, something even better. Also, because I am more in touch with my body I have even discovered that certain things don't bother me, like fresh corn on the cob straight from the field - never any symptoms. (It must be something when they process it that doesn't jive with my body.) But it took really paying attention, and making those choices for me, by me - not letting the outside world tell me I had to. Also, I'm talking about things that aren't necessarily life threatening. I mean, if a nut allergy meant you couldn't breathe, that is a different ball game.

Secondly, only we know our bodies best, and I discovered many of the things they told me I couldn't have really don't bother me at all. I was told I couldn't have tomatoes (on that same horrible day they gave me the big long list of can't have's), and I LOVE homegrown ripe tomatoes. How could I be sentenced to a life without them? (There went my weight!) Then one day, I decided to take it into my own hands and really test for myself whether this gave me trouble. I learned that they really don't bother me at all so I have tomatoes now whenever I want. So really paying attention and learning how your body responds to specific things can be very helpful.

Also, something else that has really helped me because of these health issues is to really consider the quality of the food I'm eating. This isn't always easy, but when I eat, I try to choose the healthiest version of that food and it really helped many of my symptoms. So, instead of choosing a hamburger from a greasy spoon, I will go to a place that might make me a gourmet burger with organic meat and organic produce. This sounds like a pricier alternative, but really, when you are eating intuitively, we are eating so much less and it is so much more satisfying to eat the most delicious food you can savor, that I discovered that I usually eat less.

Forgiveness also had to play a role. I was really mad at my body and experienced a lot of 'why me's'. But then I remember how thankful I am that these diagnoses didn't occur while I was in dieting mode - that could have been even more challenging!

Journaling during this period is also helpful, in determining what works & what doesn't and recognizing those moments when you are feeling the deprivation factor. I hope this is helpful. It is something that I feel like I've finally come to the downhill slope on, and it helped even more to find this group!! Keep us posted! (Sorry this was so long!)

I was diagnosed with GERD about a year ago & have been getting much worse the past couple of months. In talking to my doctor & several nutritionists, it's recommended that I reduce or eliminate several types of food for a period of time to allow my body to heal. While this makes perfect sense, I'm finding it difficult to keep my food rebel at bay (she sees it as more food rules). My guess is that if I continue to give myself permissions to eat anything I want, then hopefully I will choose what feels best in my body & avoid certain things for awhile. It just feels like fine line between doing what's best for my health & getting into diet mode....anyone have experience in practicing IE alongside a treatment plan for health recovery?

May 20, 2009

, that is an excellent post. You really have tuned into your body so well.

I love that you made everything YOUR choice and allowed yourself to make those

decisions too. Very inspiring and bravo for you!

Ehugs, Katcha

IEing since March 2007

>

> Yes, yes, yes, this is *exactly* what happened to me, and was quite frankly,

> what sent me into a tailspin so to speak when I thought I was 'done' with

> the weight thing after so many years of being 'effortlessly thin' (that's

> Thin Within speak). I had fully integrated the IE way of life, and then one

> day my symptoms just started - I experienced some pretty serious blood sugar

> and fatigue issues - and the fatigue was almost debilitating. I couldn't

> figure out why - it took a long time to discover I had some true food

> sensitivities and to some of the major ingredients in most foods such as

> corn, wheat and soy. I was told to eliminate these things and to eliminate

> all sugar as well. It was horrible. I felt betrayed by my own body, and I

> wasn't coping well at all with these changes, since I, too, perceived them

> as rules and my weight started to yo-yo, and I hadn't done that since I

> first really fell into the groove with intuitive eating. I really think

> this is what messed me up, so I'll share what I've figured out since then

> (it has been several years of adjustment for me - ugh).....

>

> First, I decided that *I* would decide when I would eliminate these foods.

> Knowing what made me feel horrible, I made a conscious choice to either eat

> the offending item or not, knowing the consequences. I got to decide if I

> wanted to make that choice for my body, not a doctor, not anyone. But it

> took me a long time to figure that out! But once I finally did, it was

> liberating. And interestingly, most of the time I choose not to have the

> item that bothers me, but I was more successful with it once I made it

> *my*choice.

>

> For example, corn is probably the worst thing for me....making me not only

> so fatigued that I can barely drive, but it contributes to this very weird

> sleep pattern and makes me feel kind of scary dizzy. So when faced with

> corn, I would make a choice and tell myself, " I can have that if I want to.

> Do I want to feel badly after I eat it and go ahead & eat it? Or do I want

> to just skip it just this one time, knowing there will be another

> opportunity to have it, and then avoid any icky symptoms? " This was really

> very liberating. Sometimes I go ahead and have the item, and other times, I

> don't. I also learned that certain foods are easily substituted...for

> example, I have a bunch of recipes that call for corn and I just substitute

> green chilies, chopped tomatoes, or chopped bell peppers, (and I always pick

> the gorgeous colors like yellow, orange & red and it makes me feel so

> special!) So I feel less like I'm missing out, and more like I'm getting

> something even more gourmet, something even better. Also, because I am more

> in touch with my body I have even discovered that certain things don't

> bother me, like fresh corn on the cob straight from the field - never any

> symptoms. (It must be something when they process it that doesn't jive with

> my body.) But it took really paying attention, and making those choices for

> me, by me - not letting the outside world tell me I had to. Also, I'm

> talking about things that aren't necessarily life threatening. I mean, if a

> nut allergy meant you couldn't breathe, that is a different ball game.

>

> Secondly, only we know our bodies best, and I discovered many of the things

> they told me I couldn't have really don't bother me at all. I was told I

> couldn't have tomatoes (on that same horrible day they gave me the big long

> list of can't have's), and I LOVE homegrown ripe tomatoes. How could I be

> sentenced to a life without them? (There went my weight!) Then one day, I

> decided to take it into my own hands and really test for myself whether this

> gave me trouble. I learned that they really don't bother me at all so I

> have tomatoes now whenever I want. So really paying attention and learning

> how your body responds to specific things can be very helpful.

>

> Also, something else that has really helped me because of these health

> issues is to really consider the quality of the food I'm eating. This isn't

> always easy, but when I eat, I try to choose the healthiest version of that

> food and it really helped many of my symptoms. So, instead of choosing a

> hamburger from a greasy spoon, I will go to a place that might make me a

> gourmet burger with organic meat and organic produce. This sounds like a

> pricier alternative, but really, when you are eating intuitively, we are

> eating so much less and it is so much more satisfying to eat the most

> delicious food you can savor, that I discovered that I usually eat less.

>

> Forgiveness also had to play a role. I was really mad at my body and

> experienced a lot of 'why me's'. But then I remember how thankful I am that

> these diagnoses didn't occur while I was in dieting mode - that could have

> been even more challenging!

>

> Journaling during this period is also helpful, in determining what works &

> what doesn't and recognizing those moments when you are feeling the

> deprivation factor. I hope this is helpful. It is something that I feel

> like I've finally come to the downhill slope on, and it helped even more to

> find this group!! Keep us posted! (Sorry this was so long!)

>

May 21, 2009

I suffer from basically the same thing! I've never been officially diagnosed with GERD but I have the symptoms. I rebelled for a long time too but eventually I came to realize that I was only hurting myself by eating foods that I couldn't handle. It's no fun being in pain and if I avoid certain foods I feel so much better. So I don't deny myself foods but I try and ask myself before I eat how I want to feel afterwards. If I know something will make me sick...sometimes I choose to eat it anyway but most of the time now I choose not to have it.

I've also been having jaw problems and I saw a specialist yesterday. I'm supposed to eat a soft foods diet. I'm trying not to freak out about it...I won't be able to eat some of my favourite foods. But there are still a lot of foods I love that I can eat! So I'm trying to think about getting rid of this jaw pain and not the deprivation of the foods I can't eat anymore.

To: IntuitiveEating_Support Sent: Wednesday, May 20, 2009 11:09:29 AMSubject: Illness & IE??

I was diagnosed with GERD about a year ago & have been getting much worse the past couple of months. In talking to my doctor & several nutritionists, it's recommended that I reduce or eliminate several types of food for a period of time to allow my body to heal. While this makes perfect sense, I'm finding it difficult to keep my food rebel at bay (she sees it as more food rules). My guess is that if I continue to give myself permissions to eat anything I want, then hopefully I will choose what feels best in my body & avoid certain things for awhile. It just feels like fine line between doing what's best for my health & getting into diet mode....anyone have experience in practicing IE alongside a treatment plan for health recovery?

All new Yahoo! Mail - Get a sneak peak at messages with a handy reading pane.

May 21, 2009

Thank you for this, ! What you said about making it your choice (and not

allowing your power to be taken by anyone else where food is concerned)--is what

I've been sensing I need to do to deal with this! I grew up in a house with a

doctor who had a lot to say about what I ate and what I looked like. It's no

wonder that anytime a doctor tells me to banish certain foods, that some part of

me feels like rebelling. So I'm working on awareness that I have that choice,

anytime, to eat what I like & what works for me. Last night was a bit of a

breakthrough with that. We had a friend over for dinner & as usual when eating

with friends, I got caught up in the conversation and didn't quite eat enough.

So around 9pm I was feeling hungry again. I started to make myself a snack &

then remembered that eating late at night is a big trigger for my GERD

symptoms--and so I paused to think. I knew that it was fine to eat a snack if I

wanted because I was hungry, but I also knew there was a good chance I'd feel

crummy all night long. So without a lot of effort, I opted to skip the

snack---the miraculous part of this is that I didn't feel deprived! It just

felt like making the right choice for my body. So I hope I can build on this

experience and start healing up soon.

And I also agree with you 100% on food quality--makes a tremendous difference in

how I feel! My family joined a farmer's coop program and we get a weekly supply

of organically grown produce & meats/eggs--which is so delicious! I've been

eating salads for lunch every day since we started it (with a great variety of

veggies) and it feels and tastes amazing--can't wait for tomatoes to be in

season =)

>

> >

> > I was diagnosed with GERD about a year ago & have been getting much worse

> > the past couple of months. In talking to my doctor & several nutritionists,

> > it's recommended that I reduce or eliminate several types of food for a

> > period of time to allow my body to heal. While this makes perfect sense, I'm

> > finding it difficult to keep my food rebel at bay (she sees it as more food

> > rules). My guess is that if I continue to give myself permissions to eat

> > anything I want, then hopefully I will choose what feels best in my body &

> > avoid certain things for awhile. It just feels like fine line between doing

> > what's best for my health & getting into diet mode....anyone have experience

> > in practicing IE alongside a treatment plan for health recovery?

> >

>

May 21, 2009

Well, ironically, being diagnosed with gastritis was a big part of me being open

to and finding IE. IE is about listening to your body. My body hadn't been

listened to by me in a long time. I kept putting things in it that literally

burned it. So although I'm limited which is a little counterintuitive to IE,

not ignoring what my body needs is iE. So that's kinda how I look at it.

Warrior