Signs of progress!

[Guest guest]

Hi everyone,

I was encouraged last week by seeing some definite signs of progress, so I

thought I

would share with you.

I started eating intuitively 2.5 months ago. Two weeks after I started, I went

to a hotel

resort/casino for a few days. I usually go there about every two months when my

brother

gives me a respite from taking care of my mother, who has late stage

Alzheimer's. In the

past, I was living a life of " on " or " off " , where I would eat low carb for a

couple of months,

and then have a respite and eat like there was no tomorrow for about a week. And

then I

would feel so guilty about blowing the diet and gaining weight that I would

continue to eat

everything in sight for another week or so. Then I would go back to low carb for

about 6

weeks until it was time for another blowout.

When I went to the hotel/casino two months ago I.E. was still brand new to me. I

ordered

all my old favorites at the hotel and in the various restaurants. I was blown

away by the

portion sizes and would only eat about half the meal. Of course, in the past, I

had ordered

these dishes BECAUSE of the huge portions, wanting to make sure I would have

enough.

But even after only two weeks of intuitive eating, I had learned to enjoy eating

only to the

point of fullness because I did not like the way I felt when I ate beyond that

point. But my

eyes and mind were still MUCH bigger than my stomach. I also recall stopping to

eat some

junk food about every two hours on the 8 hour trip down, something I always have

done

on a long trip due to boredom or anxiety or both. And on the way home, I stopped

at a

bakery and bought a whole pie and managed to eat about 2/3 of it on the way

home,

stopping every two hours for another slice!

Okay, so last week I took the same trip, after having two more months of

Intuitive Eating

under my belt. I was amazed at the number of changes I observed in my eating

habits.

Rather than eating junk food every two hours on the trip, I ate one satisfying

meal on the

trip, which I ate slowly and enjoyed. (In the past, I would just be in a hurry

and shove

some food down my throat and be off again.) I had planned to stop for coffee and

donuts

near the end of the trip to keep me awake but I wasn't hungry, so I just got the

coffee

instead. (Amazing!)

When it was time to go for a meal at the hotel or in the restaurants, I was no

longer drawn

to the restaurants I used to frequent for the very same reason I used to

frequent them!

Their portions are just too large and since I was at a hotel, I could not take

the leftovers

home. Instead, I chose restaurants that served smaller portions. I also

frequently would

order just an appetizer and salad, or a sandwich, rather than a whole meal. And

on the

trip home, I stopped and bought a pie at that same bakery, but managed to get

the whole

pie home intact! I have been home a couple of days and there is still a piece

left!

I am really glad I had this opportunity to see how far I have come with my

intuitive eating.

Here, at home, I have very little awareness or appreciation of that fact, I

suppose because

the progress has been very gradual and not something I notice on a day to day

basis. Also,

the longer time goes on, the more I forget how I used to eat. Being back at this

vacation

spot really reminded me of the massive amounts of food I used to eat.

I am so grateful that I discovered this program and this group and that I no

longer have to

live that crazy life of restrict and binge, restrict and binge anymore.

B.