Re: Intuitive Movement...

August 26, 2008

Wonderful 'ah ha!' moment Latoya! Moderate but steady and gentle

movement sounds much more IE to me too. Its how I fell about my own

activity level in my daily life

ehugs, Katcha

IEing since March 2007

>

> I had a crazy movement day yesterday...unexpectedly. I was planning to

> go for nice walk in a park that I hadn't yet visited as my movement

> practice for the day. Before leaving for my walk, I spoke with a

> friend who lives close to the park and she invited me to go to the

> YMCA with her as a guest and then we would take a walk in the park

> afterwards. Well, we did 30 minutes of strength training and decided

> to check out the Zumba class. Zumba's a 60-minute program that

> incorporates footwork and body movements from flamenco, salsa and

> other dances. We didn't realize that it was 60 minutes...and I really

> did get a work out. Afterwards, we walked a half a block to her house

> to get her dog to go for a relaxing walk in the park...another 30

> minutes.

>

> So, I got a total of over 2 hours of pretty vigorous movement in

> yesterday...and it was way too much. I was buzzed for the rest of the

> night...I couldn't sit still...I was laughing hysterically...I was

> ravenous when I got home and ate way to fast and I wanted to keep

> eating cause it helped calm me a bit. I've had a similar experience

> before when I moved alot in a day and I had a realization about the

> extremes of movement/exercise. There is a threshold of optimal

> movement for me and I passed it yesterday and going over my movement

> threshold made intuitive eating much more difficult.

>

> My friend that I went to the Y with shared that it's been difficult

> for her to go to the " Y " consistently and that she really gets a " work-

> out " when she does...it sounds like she really pushes herself...and I

> wonder if she pushes her self past her body's intuitive movement

> threshold in a way, which results in her skipping days. I see more

> clearly how I'd rather be consistent with my walking or movement over

> time then to " work " myself out and then want to skip days or weeks or

> months or years... Another result was that, I was really stiff this

> morning and didn't want to get up and go for my walk. I decided to go

> out anyway and saw two rainbows in the morning sky...nature was

> showing off!

>

August 26, 2008

What a great discovery! I am also going through the same realizations

with my " workout " routine.

First, I got really sick this year and I am realizing now that it was

partly through being WAY too hard on myself in terms of diet and

exercise. I live in New York and not only am I walking all the time,

I force myself to go to the gym for a hard, pounding workout 3 times

a week.

I stopped when I got sick and I have not resumed my full routine, nor

do I really plan to. I think it was seriously breaking me down and

was a contributing factor to my illness.

Now, I don't think of it as " working out " , which to me (and it may

not be like this for all, just me) seems like " punishment " !

Instead, I'm thinking of it as " exercise " or " healthy movement " . If I

just want to take a walk, that's fine. If I want to do light weights

once a week and that is it - despite all the recommendations to do

more by all the diet/ " health " books, which are really starting to

anger me, then that is fine. I don't think it's natural for anyone to

work out as much as Americans tell each other we should. I am not

even sure that daily exercise is necessary at all if you are already

walking around a lot in your day-to-day life.

Thanks for the post. I'm so glad others are with me on this journey.

> >

> > I had a crazy movement day yesterday...unexpectedly. I was

planning to

> > go for nice walk in a park that I hadn't yet visited as my

movement

> > practice for the day. Before leaving for my walk, I spoke with a

> > friend who lives close to the park and she invited me to go to

the

> > YMCA with her as a guest and then we would take a walk in the

park

> > afterwards. Well, we did 30 minutes of strength training and

decided

> > to check out the Zumba class. Zumba's a 60-minute program that

> > incorporates footwork and body movements from flamenco, salsa and

> > other dances. We didn't realize that it was 60 minutes...and I

really

> > did get a work out. Afterwards, we walked a half a block to her

house

> > to get her dog to go for a relaxing walk in the park...another 30

> > minutes.

> >

> > So, I got a total of over 2 hours of pretty vigorous movement in

> > yesterday...and it was way too much. I was buzzed for the rest of

the

> > night...I couldn't sit still...I was laughing hysterically...I

was

> > ravenous when I got home and ate way to fast and I wanted to keep

> > eating cause it helped calm me a bit. I've had a similar

experience

> > before when I moved alot in a day and I had a realization about

the

> > extremes of movement/exercise. There is a threshold of optimal

> > movement for me and I passed it yesterday and going over my

movement

> > threshold made intuitive eating much more difficult.

> >

> > My friend that I went to the Y with shared that it's been

difficult

> > for her to go to the " Y " consistently and that she really gets

a " work-

> > out " when she does...it sounds like she really pushes

herself...and I

> > wonder if she pushes her self past her body's intuitive movement

> > threshold in a way, which results in her skipping days. I see

more

> > clearly how I'd rather be consistent with my walking or movement

over

> > time then to " work " myself out and then want to skip days or

weeks or

> > months or years... Another result was that, I was really stiff

this

> > morning and didn't want to get up and go for my walk. I decided

to go

> > out anyway and saw two rainbows in the morning sky...nature was

> > showing off!

> >

>

August 26, 2008

Margaret,

What I'm experiencing still does feel like " punishment " . I'm still

very sore and I'm pretty sure I'll be feeling this way for a couple of

more days. I'm going to take an epsom salt bath tonight to help. It's

interesting that you think that a part of the reason that you got sick

was due to a tough diet and fitness regimen. I watched a Biography

episode about Cameron a couple of days ago. She said that she

didn't feel the best when she looked her best...but when she felt

" strong " . Feeling strong has become one of my new indicators of

balanced movement for me...what activities help me feel " strong " .

Feeling stronger in different areas of my body and overall has helped

me manage my life and stress much better. Moving as much as I did

actually left me feeling weaker!

L:)

August 26, 2008

Wow, I love that!!! Feeling strong is the way to go. Thank you so much. That's my goal now - to feel strong as well as balanced and healthy.

I used to think that if I did not work out 3 times a week, I would gain weight uncontrollably and be doomed to a life of being overweight. I need to really work on that belief as it must be untrue - look at all the slim Europeans who do not work out at all, but just focus on moving and staying active and enjoying their food but also not overeating it.

Also, in some of the books I've read recently, it does say that it's possible to exercise too much and break your body down unintentionally. Your body can start to eat muscle instead of fat. I'm pretty sure I have done this to myself. And that's not strong at all.

I believe that we all have exercise limits just like we all have different food needs and hunger patterns - the exercise regimen that's right for one person is not right for the next.

Margaret

Margaret,What I'm experiencing still does feel like " punishment " . I'm stillvery sore and I'm pretty sure I'll be feeling this way for a couple ofmore days. I'm going to take an epsom salt bath tonight to help. It's

interesting that you think that a part of the reason that you got sickwas due to a tough diet and fitness regimen. I watched a Biographyepisode about Cameron a couple of days ago. She said that shedidn't feel the best when she looked her best...but when she felt

" strong " . Feeling strong has become one of my new indicators ofbalanced movement for me...what activities help me feel " strong " .Feeling stronger in different areas of my body and overall has helped

me manage my life and stress much better. Moving as much as I didactually left me feeling weaker!L:)

August 26, 2008

Latoya,

Wow, I love that!!! Feeling strong is the way to go. Thank you so

much. That's my goal now - to feel strong as well as balanced and

healthy.

I used to think that if I did not work out 3 times a week, I would

gain weight uncontrollably and be doomed to a life of being

overweight. I need to really work on that belief as it must be

untrue - look at all the slim Europeans who do not work out at all,

but just focus on moving and staying active and enjoying their food

but also not overeating it.

Also, in some of the books I've read recently, it does say that it's

possible to exercise too much and break your body down

unintentionally. Your body can start to eat muscle instead of fat.

I'm pretty sure I have done this to myself. And that's not strong at

all.

I believe that we all have exercise limits just like we all have

different food needs and hunger patterns - the exercise regimen

that's right for one person is not right for the next.

Margaret

>

> Margaret,

>

> What I'm experiencing still does feel like " punishment " . I'm

still

> very sore and I'm pretty sure I'll be feeling this way for a couple

of

> more days. I'm going to take an epsom salt bath tonight to help.

It's

> interesting that you think that a part of the reason that you got

sick

> was due to a tough diet and fitness regimen. I watched a Biography

> episode about Cameron a couple of days ago. She said that she

> didn't feel the best when she looked her best...but when she felt

> " strong " . Feeling strong has become one of my new indicators of

> balanced movement for me...what activities help me feel " strong " .

> Feeling stronger in different areas of my body and overall has

helped

> me manage my life and stress much better. Moving as much as I did

> actually left me feeling weaker!

>

> L:)

>

August 26, 2008

>

Feeling strong has become one of my new indicators of

> balanced movement for me...what activities help me feel " strong " .

Hi Latoya,

This is interesting. What kind of activities make you feel strong? I

assume strength training, but other things too?

August 26, 2008

Yoga sometimes makes me feel strong. Sometimes I'm amazed at what my body can do! I just try not to feel bad when there are things I can't do. Yoga really emphasizes that you should listen to your body and do what you can. Very much in line with IE.

Kipkabob

(Intuitive eating since September 2006)

Subject: Re: Intuitive Movement...To: IntuitiveEating_Support Received: Tuesday, August 26, 2008, 12:38 PM

>Feeling strong has become one of my new indicators of> balanced movement for me...what activities help me feel "strong".Hi Latoya,This is interesting. What kind of activities make you feel strong? I assume strength training, but other things too?

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August 26, 2008

I have the same issue with working out -- an all or nothing

mentality. While dieiting, if I couldn't get to the gym at least

four days out of the week for at least 45 minutes, I didn't go at

all! I decided to take time off from the gym to see if I could shed

that mentality. I went back yesterday for the first time thinking I

could just move for the enjoyment of moving. Alas, I could not. I

ended up pushing myself more than I should have for the sake of the

calorie count and am sore today.

I'm planning to go back tomorrow to do some light weight work and I'm

going to try and focus on how the exercise makes me feel and all the

health benefits instead of " If I do one more set I can burn more

calories " . The last thing I need is for exercise to be a diet

trigger!

>

> > Margaret,

> >

> > What I'm experiencing still does feel like " punishment " . I'm

still

> > very sore and I'm pretty sure I'll be feeling this way for a

couple of

> > more days. I'm going to take an epsom salt bath tonight to help.

It's

> > interesting that you think that a part of the reason that you got

sick

> > was due to a tough diet and fitness regimen. I watched a Biography

> > episode about Cameron a couple of days ago. She said that she

> > didn't feel the best when she looked her best...but when she felt

> > " strong " . Feeling strong has become one of my new indicators of

> > balanced movement for me...what activities help me feel " strong " .

> > Feeling stronger in different areas of my body and overall has

helped

> > me manage my life and stress much better. Moving as much as I did

> > actually left me feeling weaker!

> >

> > L:)

> >

>

August 26, 2008

I think exercise classes can be a big help, since you don't see the calories you're burning right in front of you and they have a scheduled beginning and end. There are also some fun classes out there. Just a thought...K

Subject: Re: Intuitive Movement...To: IntuitiveEating_Support Date: Tuesday, August 26, 2008, 2:47 PM

I have the same issue with working out -- an all or nothing mentality. While dieiting, if I couldn't get to the gym at least four days out of the week for at least 45 minutes, I didn't go at all! I decided to take time off from the gym to see if I could shed that mentality. I went back yesterday for the first time thinking I could just move for the enjoyment of moving. Alas, I could not. I ended up pushing myself more than I should have for the sake of the calorie count and am sore today. I'm planning to go back tomorrow to do some light weight work and I'm going to try and focus on how the exercise makes me feel and all the health benefits instead of "If I do one more set I can burn more calories". The last thing I need is for exercise to be a diet trigger!> > > Margaret,> >> > What I'm experiencing still does feel like "punishment" . I'm still> > very sore and I'm pretty sure I'll be feeling this way for a couple of> > more days. I'm going to take an epsom salt bath tonight to help. It's> > interesting that you think that a part of the reason that you got sick> > was due to a tough diet and fitness regimen. I watched a Biography> > episode about Cameron a couple of days ago. She said that she> > didn't

feel the best when she looked her best...but when she felt> > "strong". Feeling strong has become one of my new indicators of> > balanced movement for me...what activities help me feel "strong".> > Feeling stronger in different areas of my body and overall has helped> > me manage my life and stress much better. Moving as much as I did> > actually left me feeling weaker!> >> > L:)> >> > > >>

August 26, 2008

I'm in the same boat - and I am wondering if I should even go to the

gym at all for a while, and just do walking or yoga or other more

enjoyable activities. There is something about even being in the gym

that can trigger that mentality of needing to diet and also needing

to kill myself in the gym so I can be thin. Because none of this is

true.

There is also a trainer in my gym who always says hello to me, and

asks where I've been if I take time off. The other day he saw me and

said, " Margaret, you actually broke a sweat today! " and I was not

sure how to take that comment. Or, I recently saw him on the street

and when I told him I was going to rest instead of work out, he told

me to eat a snack and go to the gym because I would feel better!

I don't know how in this country so many of us are in this mentality

that we need to work out a minimum of three times a week to keep fit

or keep our weight down. People I know who don't go to the gym tell

me they feel " guilty " . And as an aside - one of these people, a woman

I know, recently lost about 10 pounds by " eating smaller portions "

(she's a naturally thin eater and eats whatever she wants). She never

works out!

> >

> > > Margaret,

> > >

> > > What I'm experiencing still does feel like " punishment " . I'm

> still

> > > very sore and I'm pretty sure I'll be feeling this way for a

> couple of

> > > more days. I'm going to take an epsom salt bath tonight to

help.

> It's

> > > interesting that you think that a part of the reason that you

got

> sick

> > > was due to a tough diet and fitness regimen. I watched a

Biography

> > > episode about Cameron a couple of days ago. She said that

she

> > > didn't feel the best when she looked her best...but when she

felt

> > > " strong " . Feeling strong has become one of my new indicators of

> > > balanced movement for me...what activities help me

feel " strong " .

> > > Feeling stronger in different areas of my body and overall has

> helped

> > > me manage my life and stress much better. Moving as much as I

did

> > > actually left me feeling weaker!

> > >

> > > L:)

> > >

> >

>

August 26, 2008

That trainer is OBNOXIOUS! The comment about breaking a sweat is just

plain rude.

Topaz

mablackst wrote:

>

> I'm in the same boat - and I am wondering if I should even go to the

> gym at all for a while, and just do walking or yoga or other more

> enjoyable activities. There is something about even being in the gym

> that can trigger that mentality of needing to diet and also needing

> to kill myself in the gym so I can be thin. Because none of this is

> true.

>

> There is also a trainer in my gym who always says hello to me, and

> asks where I've been if I take time off. The other day he saw me and

> said, " Margaret, you actually broke a sweat today! " and I was not

> sure how to take that comment. Or, I recently saw him on the street

> and when I told him I was going to rest instead of work out, he told

> me to eat a snack and go to the gym because I would feel better!

August 26, 2008

Finding out what movement helps me feel stronger has come about by just making movement a daily practice. The chapter in IE on exercise emphasizes "feeling the difference" that movement makes and I didn't really get what that meant until I started moving intentionally. Earlier this year, I remembered that up until my early adolescent years I used to walk to school everyday rain or shine...so I thought to myself why not do that now? I wanted to know for myself what would happen if I added daily movement to my life. I've been planning to add strength training to my weekly movement because I do think that it may help me feel stronger and I haven't done it yet. I've been really following the guidance of my body. I've felt stronger after doing my morning walk...which is simply allowing the natural pace of my walking...I

don't force myself to speed walk or run...just one foot in front of the other. When I complete my "course" everyday and I feel the openness of my breath and my thigh muscles contracting, I know that I've done something for me that is also a reflection of a growing non-diet/intuitive movement. Since I've started walking, I and my mother have noticed others out walking more in the morning too. Walking regularly has opened up all sorts of new movement vistas. I do Dance Dance Revolution...usualy 2-3 times per week, which always feels great, I do feel stronger after, and I've been able to see my progress. I think tracking and seeing my progress has gone a long way to me feeling stronger as well. Dance Dance Revolution led me to go Salsa dancing on Wednesdays with a friend. From that experience, I learned that my core, the area above my hips to

under my breasts, is a weak area in my body. So, now I'm exploring ways to strengthen that area. As I shared in a previous e-mail, I tend to hold stress in my arms...so I try to remember to do punching moves sometimes when I walk. Sometimes, I sing along with the music I listen to when I walk to give my vocal cords some movement. I'm doing movement with an emphasis on FUN!For me, feeling stronger has alot to do with intention. I feel the support of the earth beneath my shoes when I walk. All of my life, the world has been a pretty scary place for me in many ways ...so the fact that I've committed to getting out and walking regularly is doing wonders for helping me feel like I can take up space in the world...that I can take care of myself. I read somewhere that walking helps massage your internal organs and I liked that idea as well. I'm on my 121st day of movement since the end of March and my body just feels stronger and more balanced. For

most of my life, walking seemed too boring to do regularly unless I was walking somewhere and I really didn't know what point or purpose movement could signify for my life other than as an attempt to lose weight and make my body more attractive to others. The whole idea of movement as participating in life and becoming stronger felt like an epiphany to me. This is a long response to a very simple question, yet writing on this group helps me integrate alot. I've been able to reflect on the steps and stages of my intuitive movement journey. L:)Practicing IE since Jan '08

August 26, 2008

He is trying to secure his job drum of business etc. Just ask him if bus is bad they he is scoting for clients

Betty

Re: Re: Intuitive Movement...

That trainer is OBNOXIOUS! The comment about breaking a sweat is just plain rude.Topazmablackst wrote:> > > I'm in the same boat - and I am wondering if I should even go to the> gym at all for a while, and just do walking or yoga or other more> enjoyable activities. There is something about even being in the gym> that can trigger that mentality of needing to diet and also needing> to kill myself in the gym so I can be thin. Because none of this is> true.> > There is also a trainer in my gym who always says hello to me, and> asks where I've been if I take time off. The other day he saw me and> said, "Margaret, you actually broke a sweat today!" and I was not> sure how to take that comment. Or, I recently saw him on the street> and when I told him I was going to rest instead of work out, he told> me to eat a snack and go to the gym because I would feel better!

August 27, 2008

The gym I go to does not offer classes at a time when I can take them

or I would. I would love to take Yoga, but they do it at 6:00 on a

Friday night of all things! I was thinking about freezing my

membership for a bit and taking advantage of the great fall weather

by walking outside.

> >

> > > Margaret,

> > >

> > > What I'm experiencing still does feel like " punishment " .

I'm

> still

> > > very sore and I'm pretty sure I'll be feeling this way for a

> couple of

> > > more days. I'm going to take an epsom salt bath tonight to

help.

> It's

> > > interesting that you think that a part of the reason that you

got

> sick

> > > was due to a tough diet and fitness regimen. I watched a

Biography

> > > episode about Cameron a couple of days ago. She said that

she

> > > didn't feel the best when she looked her best...but when she

felt

> > > " strong " . Feeling strong has become one of my new indicators of

> > > balanced movement for me...what activities help me

feel " strong " .

> > > Feeling stronger in different areas of my body and overall has

> helped

> > > me manage my life and stress much better. Moving as much as I

did

> > > actually left me feeling weaker!

> > >

> > > L:)

> > >

> >

>

August 27, 2008

-I can so relate, especially to the trainer. Not my trainer, but

another trainer that always did group training sessions and he and

others would always try and get me to join them. The group thing

never appealed to me. I haven't been to my Rec Center for a couple

months and really don't miss it at all. I much prefer to go for a

nice walk, tuning into my breathing and communing with nature. I

recently picked up one of the walking DVD's with Sansone (I

think that is her name). I really like it but realize just how out

of shape I have gotten. I am working just at one mile, but it's at

a pretty brisk pace and I really get to sweating and breathing.

It's only for about 10-15 min but it's just enough for me now. My

favorite is stretching afterwards and working on my flexibility. It

just feels sooooo good to stretch my tight muscles. I'm not sure I

could ever return to a gym. When I think of the treadmill and all

of those other cardio machines, I just think of rats running on a

wheel. Is that what we have become? Rats? I don't think so!

Alana

-- In IntuitiveEating_Support , " mablackst "

wrote:

>

> I'm in the same boat - and I am wondering if I should even go to

the

> gym at all for a while, and just do walking or yoga or other more

> enjoyable activities. There is something about even being in the

gym

> that can trigger that mentality of needing to diet and also

needing

> to kill myself in the gym so I can be thin. Because none of this

is

> true.

>

> There is also a trainer in my gym who always says hello to me, and

> asks where I've been if I take time off. The other day he saw me

and

> said, " Margaret, you actually broke a sweat today! " and I was not

> sure how to take that comment. Or, I recently saw him on the

street

> and when I told him I was going to rest instead of work out, he

told

> me to eat a snack and go to the gym because I would feel better!

>

> I don't know how in this country so many of us are in this

mentality

> that we need to work out a minimum of three times a week to keep

fit

> or keep our weight down. People I know who don't go to the gym

tell

> me they feel " guilty " . And as an aside - one of these people, a

woman

> I know, recently lost about 10 pounds by " eating smaller portions "

> (she's a naturally thin eater and eats whatever she wants). She

never

> works out!

>

> > >

> > > > Margaret,

> > > >

> > > > What I'm experiencing still does feel like " punishment " .

I'm

> > still

> > > > very sore and I'm pretty sure I'll be feeling this way for a

> > couple of

> > > > more days. I'm going to take an epsom salt bath tonight to

> help.

> > It's

> > > > interesting that you think that a part of the reason that

you

> got

> > sick

> > > > was due to a tough diet and fitness regimen. I watched a

> Biography

> > > > episode about Cameron a couple of days ago. She said

that

> she

> > > > didn't feel the best when she looked her best...but when she

> felt

> > > > " strong " . Feeling strong has become one of my new indicators

of

> > > > balanced movement for me...what activities help me

> feel " strong " .

> > > > Feeling stronger in different areas of my body and overall

has

> > helped

> > > > me manage my life and stress much better. Moving as much as

I

> did

> > > > actually left me feeling weaker!

> > > >

> > > > L:)

> > > >

> > >

> >

>

August 27, 2008

Try " Mega Yoga " it is a yoga book put together by a plus size model and

she shows you how to do ALL the moves with very simple adjustments. She

even makes interesting points about adjusting our bums so that we're

getting the full benefit of spine alignment and posture. Also she shows

you some neat tricks to fix boob or tummy issues.

-

August 27, 2008

Well besides living in Florida where the weather really inhibits a lot of outdoor activities in the summer, I have arthritis in my feet and knees. The elliptical trainer is the only cardio exercise I can do that doesn’t cripple me. So I use the opportunity to listen to books on tape which is an indulgence for me.