What was it like when you started intuitive eating?

[Guest guest]

Thanks for sharing Alana, I am new to this group and somewhat new to intuitive eating so it is helpful to hear your experience and confidence.

You mentioned that it not being a quick fix, i wondered if you struggled with it at the beginning and if you or others could share more you write what it was like for you at the beginning -- what you struggled with and how you handled those struggles, and also if you struggle as much with those things now?

Really looking forward to hearing from you (all),

Liz

To: IntuitiveEating_Support From: ajslinton@...Date: Thu, 1 Oct 2009 16:21:23 +0000Subject: Doctor's Vist - Message to Newbies

Hello All.I have to see the doctor about every 6 months to reveiw my blood pressure medication. I am very happy to report that I think this was the first doctors apt. where I haven't freaked out prior. I wasn't worried about a thing! I am happy to report that after working IE for a little over 2 years now, my weight has stabalized for the past 6 months. I haven't lost any weight, but the greatest news ever is that I haven't gained any weight! This is so huge for me. All my life I have either lost or gained weight, never, ever maintained. So my message to the newbies is to stick with IE. It is not a quick fix, but if you can stick with it, you will find the most incredible sense of calmness and peacefullness not just around food, but with body acceptance and yourself in general.I know that there have been alot of discussions on here about doctors riding their patients about needing to loose weight and "if they don't" putting the fear of God into them. I am happy to say that there are doctors out there that do not do this. Mine has never, except in our first meeting mentioned losing weight and how he recommend that I go about it. In fact, my chiropractor mentions weight more than my general MD. He knows how I feel and that I am working on being intutive. But he is alwasy telling of someone he has on his "plan" that has lost weight. I finally bit the bullet and decided to have more of a detailed disucussion with him about this. He gave a sample sheet of what the plan would look like. If anyone is familiar with the old, old Weight Watcher plan where they counted exchanges, that is what he does. But it was a highly restricted list of foods and their portion sizes. In talking with him he said "ice cream is not on this list, I would have you substitute another low fat dairy and a fruit". I just about when into cardiac arrest! What, no ice cream! That was my deciding factor that I would never go back to a "plan" like his which by the way, he doesn't call a "diet" but a "way of eating for life". I was so thrilled to see that IE is finally working for me in that I can finally, after 42 years of my life, maintain my weight. I know that IE is the ONLY way to live and eat.Alana

Hotmail® has ever-growing storage! Don’t worry about storage limits. Check it out.

[Guest guest]

I just started back in April and I am still learning. I do have my moment of

struggle fall into binge with foods. Especially, with my emotions sometimes can

be high drives. I did had gain some weights since I start IE but however that

had impressed my doctor big time because my health stay same even though she was

a bit concern about my weight gains so fast. I explain to her what I have been

trying to regain control without fall into diet situation while dealing with my

emotions. She had no problem and completely support me with this. Since then I

have had managed keep my weights stay same and I am happy. However, it is not

over for me yet which there will be hard road ahead of me from time to time.

Eliza

>

>

> Thanks for sharing Alana, I am new to this group and somewhat new to intuitive

eating so it is helpful to hear your experience and confidence.

>

>

>

> You mentioned that it not being a quick fix, i wondered if you struggled with

it at the beginning and if you or others could share more you write what it was

like for you at the beginning -- what you struggled with and how you handled

those struggles, and also if you struggle as much with those things now?

>

>

>

> Really looking forward to hearing from you (all),

>

> Liz

>

>

>

> To: IntuitiveEating_Support

> From: ajslinton@...

> Date: Thu, 1 Oct 2009 16:21:23 +0000

> Subject: Doctor's Vist - Message to Newbies

>

>

>

>

>

> Hello All.

> I have to see the doctor about every 6 months to reveiw my blood pressure

medication. I am very happy to report that I think this was the first doctors

apt. where I haven't freaked out prior. I wasn't worried about a thing! I am

happy to report that after working IE for a little over 2 years now, my weight

has stabalized for the past 6 months. I haven't lost any weight, but the

greatest news ever is that I haven't gained any weight! This is so huge for me.

All my life I have either lost or gained weight, never, ever maintained. So my

message to the newbies is to stick with IE. It is not a quick fix, but if you

can stick with it, you will find the most incredible sense of calmness and

peacefullness not just around food, but with body acceptance and yourself in

general.

> I know that there have been alot of discussions on here about doctors riding

their patients about needing to loose weight and " if they don't " putting the

fear of God into them. I am happy to say that there are doctors out there that

do not do this. Mine has never, except in our first meeting mentioned losing

weight and how he recommend that I go about it.

> In fact, my chiropractor mentions weight more than my general MD. He knows how

I feel and that I am working on being intutive. But he is alwasy telling of

someone he has on his " plan " that has lost weight. I finally bit the bullet and

decided to have more of a detailed disucussion with him about this. He gave a

sample sheet of what the plan would look like. If anyone is familiar with the

old, old Weight Watcher plan where they counted exchanges, that is what he does.

But it was a highly restricted list of foods and their portion sizes. In talking

with him he said " ice cream is not on this list, I would have you substitute

another low fat dairy and a fruit " . I just about when into cardiac arrest! What,

no ice cream! That was my deciding factor that I would never go back to a " plan "

like his which by the way, he doesn't call a " diet " but a " way of eating for

life " . I was so thrilled to see that IE is finally working for me in that I can

finally, after 42 years of my life, maintain my weight. I know that IE is the

ONLY way to live and eat.

> Alana

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

> _________________________________________________________________

> Hotmail® has ever-growing storage! Don't worry about storage limits.

>

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orage_062009

>

[Guest guest]

Thanks Eliza.

To: IntuitiveEating_Support From: elizahawk@...Date: Thu, 1 Oct 2009 20:43:56 +0000Subject: Re: What was it like when you started intuitive eating?

I just started back in April and I am still learning. I do have my moment of struggle fall into binge with foods. Especially, with my emotions sometimes can be high drives. I did had gain some weights since I start IE but however that had impressed my doctor big time because my health stay same even though she was a bit concern about my weight gains so fast. I explain to her what I have been trying to regain control without fall into diet situation while dealing with my emotions. She had no problem and completely support me with this. Since then I have had managed keep my weights stay same and I am happy. However, it is not over for me yet which there will be hard road ahead of me from time to time. Eliza>> > Thanks for sharing Alana, I am new to this group and somewhat new to intuitive eating so it is helpful to hear your experience and confidence.> > > > You mentioned that it not being a quick fix, i wondered if you struggled with it at the beginning and if you or others could share more you write what it was like for you at the beginning -- what you struggled with and how you handled those struggles, and also if you struggle as much with those things now?> > > > Really looking forward to hearing from you (all),> > Liz> > > > To: IntuitiveEating_Support > Date: Thu, 1 Oct 2009 16:21:23 +0000> Subject: Doctor's Vist - Message to Newbies> > > > > > Hello All.> I have to see the doctor about every 6 months to reveiw my blood pressure medication. I am very happy to report that I think this was the first doctors apt. where I haven't freaked out prior. I wasn't worried about a thing! I am happy to report that after working IE for a little over 2 years now, my weight has stabalized for the past 6 months. I haven't lost any weight, but the greatest news ever is that I haven't gained any weight! This is so huge for me. All my life I have either lost or gained weight, never, ever maintained. So my message to the newbies is to stick with IE. It is not a quick fix, but if you can stick with it, you will find the most incredible sense of calmness and peacefullness not just around food, but with body acceptance and yourself in general.> I know that there have been alot of discussions on here about doctors riding their patients about needing to loose weight and "if they don't" putting the fear of God into them. I am happy to say that there are doctors out there that do not do this. Mine has never, except in our first meeting mentioned losing weight and how he recommend that I go about it. > In fact, my chiropractor mentions weight more than my general MD. He knows how I feel and that I am working on being intutive. But he is alwasy telling of someone he has on his "plan" that has lost weight. I finally bit the bullet and decided to have more of a detailed disucussion with him about this. He gave a sample sheet of what the plan would look like. If anyone is familiar with the old, old Weight Watcher plan where they counted exchanges, that is what he does. But it was a highly restricted list of foods and their portion sizes. In talking with him he said "ice cream is not on this list, I would have you substitute another low fat dairy and a fruit". I just about when into cardiac arrest! What, no ice cream! That was my deciding factor that I would never go back to a "plan" like his which by the way, he doesn't call a "diet" but a "way of eating for life". I was so thrilled to see that IE is finally working for me in that I can finally, after 42 years of my life, maintain my weight. I know that IE is the ONLY way to live and eat.> Alana> > > > > > > > > > __________________________________________________________> Hotmail® has ever-growing storage! Don't worry about storage limits.> http://windowslive.com/Tutorial/Hotmail/Storage?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_HM_Tutorial_Storage_062009>

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[Guest guest]

Hi Liz! I've been at IE now for 3 years! I started by reading the Intuitive Eating book...I heard about it in a People magazine article about Katharine McPhee. I was going to Weight Watchers at the time and thought IE sounded so much better. She talked about eating Mars bars at every meal and I thought that sounds awesome! So I got the book...and became hyper focused on my hunger. I lost a little weight at first and then I started gaining. And I gained and gained and gained. I just ate whatever I wanted in whatever quanitities I wanted...just because I could. About 6 months after I started IE I found this group and I'm sure I would have returned to dieting long ago without this group!

I struggled with IE for the next 2 years or so. I'd have spells where I was really in tune with my hunger/fullness and I would lose a little weight. Then I'd get stressed out and start binging again and gain weight. This continued until last spring. And then something clicked! I stopped focusing so much on my weight and instead focused on how I feel. For the last 6 months or so I've been doing really well. I've been really focused on how my body feels. I stopped overeating most of the time because I don't feel good afterwards. I started working out more...not to lose weight like I did in the past but because it makes me feel good! And I like feeling good! I still have days where I struggle with overeating but they are getting fewer and farther between.

The best advice I can give you is to post your struggles here in this group. This group has helped me more than anything else. It's so comforting to know that there are other people out there struggling with the same thing. And keep reading books! I've read so many books on IE and body acceptance and I learn something valuable from each one. And most of all...don't give up!! IE is the best thing that has ever happened to me!

Kipkabob

(Intuitive eating since September 2006)

To: intuitiveeating_support Sent: Thursday, October 1, 2009 5:10:25 PMSubject: What was it like when you started intuitive eating?

Thanks for sharing Alana, I am new to this group and somewhat new to intuitive eating so it is helpful to hear your experience and confidence. You mentioned that it not being a quick fix, i wondered if you struggled with it at the beginning and if you or others could share more you write what it was like for you at the beginning -- what you struggled with and how you handled those struggles, and also if you struggle as much with those things now? Really looking forward to hearing from you (all),Liz

To: IntuitiveEating_ Support@yahoogro ups.comFrom: ajslintoncomcast (DOT) netDate: Thu, 1 Oct 2009 16:21:23 +0000Subject: [intuitiveEating_ Support] Doctor's Vist - Message to Newbies

Hello All.I have to see the doctor about every 6 months to reveiw my blood pressure medication. I am very happy to report that I think this was the first doctors apt. where I haven't freaked out prior. I wasn't worried about a thing! I am happy to report that after working IE for a little over 2 years now, my weight has stabalized for the past 6 months. I haven't lost any weight, but the greatest news ever is that I haven't gained any weight! This is so huge for me. All my life I have either lost or gained weight, never, ever maintained. So my message to the newbies is to stick with IE. It is not a quick fix, but if you can stick with it, you will find the most incredible sense of calmness and peacefullness not just around food, but with body acceptance and yourself in general.I know that there have been alot of discussions on here about doctors riding their patients about needing to loose weight and "if they don't" putting

the fear of God into them. I am happy to say that there are doctors out there that do not do this. Mine has never, except in our first meeting mentioned losing weight and how he recommend that I go about it. In fact, my chiropractor mentions weight more than my general MD. He knows how I feel and that I am working on being intutive. But he is alwasy telling of someone he has on his "plan" that has lost weight. I finally bit the bullet and decided to have more of a detailed disucussion with him about this. He gave a sample sheet of what the plan would look like. If anyone is familiar with the old, old Weight Watcher plan where they counted exchanges, that is what he does. But it was a highly restricted list of foods and their portion sizes. In talking with him he said "ice cream is not on this list, I would have you substitute another low fat dairy and a fruit". I just about when into cardiac arrest! What, no ice cream! That was my deciding factor

that I would never go back to a "plan" like his which by the way, he doesn't call a "diet" but a "way of eating for life". I was so thrilled to see that IE is finally working for me in that I can finally, after 42 years of my life, maintain my weight. I know that IE is the ONLY way to live and eat.Alana

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[Guest guest]

Hi Liz,

I wouldn't call it a struggle per say, at least not like with dieting. It is

about learning to listen to you and your body. After years of dieting we often

lose complete touch with what our body is telling us and also what it is that we

really like food wise. We often times have been following external food plans or

diets that tell us what, how much and when we should eat. It was about an

experimentation for me. Some people use the term food anthropoligist. But for

me it was about experimenting with skipping breakfast vs. eating later in the am

vs. eating an early breakfast as the diet world tells us we should.

Experimenting with allowing myself to truly feel hungry and not being afraid of

hunger (I learned that I will not die or pass out if I get really hungry and now

know that I will honor my hunger/body as quickly as I possibly can).

Experimenting with what foods I truly like and dislike as opposed to eating

something just because it is good for me. Experimenting with how my body reacts

to different foods such as fresh vs. steamed vegies, cutting down on fruit

because it actually causes pretty severe diarrhea, how does protein vs. carbs

feel in my body etc. I think that if you think IE will be a struggle then it

will be. I would suggest relaxing, having fun with it and don't be afraid to

" play " with your food and eating. With IE there is no judgements,no more making

our selves good our bad because of food. Just working towards loving

acceptance. I will admit, I did gain quite a bit of weight in the first year or

so. I panicked. I freaked out that my clothes weren't fitting. I relaxed

(after some IE coaching), went shopping and got some clothes that fit me now and

feel good now (Praise God for Lane !). Once I did that, I stopped gaining

the weight. I will also admit that I really went overboard with the

legalization phase. I had forbidden so many things and made myself so wrong for

having them that at first I didn't believe I could have them whenever I wanted.

It took a while for that to sink into my brain. Gradually over time, my body

and mind learned it could trust me and if I wanted a cookie, then I could have

it. Now I can eat a cookie or two and not eat the entire container. I still

tend to eat a bit too much, I'm not always mindful about my eating, but I rarely

eat when not hungry, and I rarely binge any more. I also now can move/exercise

intuitively. I used to make myself bad if I didn't do something. Now I'm ok if

I do even 5-15min of movement, even if it's stretching. I am experimenting with

some beginning yoga, tai chi and pilates DVD's and absolutely loving them,

especially the relaxing/grounding benefit from them. How wonderful that I don't

have to beat myself up with exercise in an attempt to lose weight.

I wish you luck in your IE journey. I hope this wasn't too much info and that I

was able to answer your question.

Alana

>

>

>

> You mentioned that it not being a quick fix, i wondered if you struggled with

it at the beginning and if you or others could share more you write what it was

like for you at the beginning -- what you struggled with and how you handled

those struggles, and also if you struggle as much with those things now?

>

>

>

> Really looking forward to hearing from you (all),

>

> Liz

>

>

>

>