questions

[Guest guest]

Hi all.

I'm new here and am taking the plunge.

I have some questions on IE and feel that I'm holding back from

embracing this fully.

Ok here goes...

I have 2 kids and a husband. How can I really embrace this? I want to

eat with the family, but sometimes I overeat just because I eat when

I'm not hungry, or feel like I should eat everything.

Secondly, I find exercise a problem, walking is difficult for me, and

I don't have a gymn near me, what can I do?

Thanks,

Steph

[Guest guest]

Happy to answer your questions.  See below.

 

Sharon

 

 

#1 – Does anyone worry about the health consequences of being overweight and the health benefits of maintaining a healthy body weight?  I’m all for self-acceptance, but I worry about health, too.  Any thoughts?

 

Yes, I worry about this frequently.  My aunt died several years ago.  She weighed about 400 pounds and her death certificate (which I've thought about copying and placing on my fridge) says the cause of death was STARVATION/MALNUTRITION.  She was on every type of silly diet and fad thing you could think of.  We used to have to plan famiily holiday dinners before 2 pm because that's when she would stop allowing her self any food or drink intake except water.  There were lots of other things, too.  I think all the time how I don't want to be bed-ridden and miss out on so much of life like she did.  I don't really think of " self acceptance " as meaning that I'm planning to stay this weight or size forever.  For me, what it means is coming to terms with the fact that I'm a valuable loveable individual just the size and weight that I am.  And, I find that when I wasn't allowing me to love myself, I wasn't even trying to really take care of my body or my health.  Now that I'm on the non-dieting track with IE, I am finally " allowed " to love myself and respect myself for the beautiful woman I am within ... and I'm just going to allow the " outward me " to develop into the beautiful woman that I know is struggling to get out.  Does that make sense?

 

#2 – Any Christians on this list that struggle to put God into the equation?  I know this is OT – so if you are a Christian and want to email me directly with your feelings on this subject, that is fine.  Just interested in a Christian background/slant to the whole body, IE, health equation....

 I'm a Christian and don't struggle with putting Him in the equation at all.  God made me (all of us) and loves us no matter how fat or thin we are.  I actually find that loving myself and accepting myself has brought me closer to God in my Christian walk.

#3 – Does anyone sometimes feel like IE is basically just a “fat acceptance” club?  How (in your opinions) does loving yourself, accepting yourself as you are, etc. differ from fat acceptance?  I’m burned out from years of dieting – and am questioning if IE is my “true path” to a healthy self mind/body/spirit....but I am not content being overweight and do not want to embrace that.....because of the health factor.  It is SO not about being a size 0, or looking good in a bikini, or pleasing a man or pleasing anyone.  I just know (since I am in the health profession) what obesity does to a body....and am just wondering how IE differs.

 

I think my previous comments may have already answered this.  I don't think of IE as a fat acceptance lifestyle at all.  But, as a health professional I'm sure you know that rapid weight loss isn't good for us.  So, I'm trusting my body to achieve my very own naturally appropriate weight in just the right amount of time by listening to the signals that God designed our bodies to give us.  I just lost (or more precisely IGNORED) the ability to listen to my body telling me when to eat and when to stop a number of years ago.  I can't expect that to correct itself in a matter of a couple of months. 

 

I might be stirring up trouble with any/all of these questions...I have an open mind....and I am seeking.  I am not trying to offend or disrespect anyone.  I am asking these questions straightforward with a childlike curiousity – I am new to IE and I am learning.

 Best of luck on your IE journey.  If you would like to message me privately, I may be able to share information with you from a Christian perspective that may help (and some resources).

 

 

Thanks!Jolene

 

------------------------------

It is only with the heart that one can see rightly;

what is essential is invisible to the eye.

     -Antoine de Saint-Exupery (The Little Prince)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Guest guest]

See comments below

>

> #1 - Does anyone worry about the health consequences of being overweight and

> the health benefits of maintaining a healthy body weight? I'm all for

> self-acceptance, but I worry about health, too. Any thoughts?

>

*****Absolutely! While I have High Blood Pressure now and am on some medication

for it I feel and believe I am much healthier now than when I was obsessing over

what and how much I ate and when and how much I exercised. I eat healthy. I

exercise on a fairly regular basis. I listen to my body. And when I do over

eat I do so mindfully, giving myself permission, understanding why I'm

overeating and then I don't beat myself up with starvation or extreme exercise

and punishment. I learn each and every time that the best way to deal with

overeating is to feel my feelings and breath through them and to stay mindful in

the here and now. Food doesn't solve my problems and doesnt even help anymore

even temporarily. Each time I attempt to over eat it is less and less.

I know and believe that when my mind and body are ready to release the weight it

will do so naturally.*****

>

> #2 - Any Christians on this list that struggle to put God into the equation?

> I know this is OT - so if you are a Christian and want to email me directly

> with your feelings on this subject, that is fine. Just interested in a

> Christian background/slant to the whole body, IE, health equation....

>

*****Yes I am a Christian. If you are looking for a good christian perspective

on this I would recommend the book Thin Within. But my Christian beliefs are

what help me to remember that God made me the way I am and God loves me no

matter what size and shape I am. That then helps me to love myself just the way

I am.*****

>

> #3 - Does anyone sometimes feel like IE is basically just a " fat acceptance "

> club? How (in your opinions) does loving yourself, accepting yourself as

> you are, etc. differ from fat acceptance? I'm burned out from years of

> dieting - and am questioning if IE is my " true path " to a healthy self

> mind/body/spirit....but I am not content being overweight and do not want to

> embrace that.....because of the health factor. It is SO not about being a

> size 0, or looking good in a bikini, or pleasing a man or pleasing anyone.

> I just know (since I am in the health profession) what obesity does to a

> body....and am just wondering how IE differs.

*****The first step I believe is to start believing that you are healthy and

beautiful just the way you are. And please remember that there are people out

there that are heavier but are just as healthy if not more so than sometimes a

size 0 person. Heavier people can still live life to the fullest and exercise

and be just as attractive/sexy as a skinny person. I think it is what you

determine is best for you and then you need to follow your own path.

Wish you the best in whatever path you decide to choose. For me I just happen

to know that I am much heathier spiritually, mentally and maybe even bodily by

following IE. I could never, ever go back to the insanity of dieting. In

truth, Diets don't work because if they did there wouldn't be a billion dollar

industry trying to sell a different diet every day or week.

Alana

>

> I might be stirring up trouble with any/all of these questions...I have an

> open mind....and I am seeking. I am not trying to offend or disrespect

> anyone. I am asking these questions straightforward with a childlike

> curiousity - I am new to IE and I am learning.

>

>

>

> Thanks!

> Jolene

>

>

>

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

>

> It is only with the heart that one can see rightly;

>

> what is essential is invisible to the eye.

>

> -Antoine de Saint-Exupery (The Little Prince)

>