Re: Doctor says LOSE WEIGHT

[Guest guest]

OH and I feel I should add that right after the doctors appt. I got

VERY anxious. I went straight to a store and bought a bag of chips

and a package of cookies. I ate it to soothe myself. i did not eat

mindfully or really taste the food. I " last supper "

eating...thinking " I am going to have to diet!!! "

>

> Hey all. I am wondering if anyone has had an experience similar to

> mine and what your suggestions would be.

>

> Before I started IE I saw my doctor for a routine check up. My

> primiary complaint was that I was periodically experiencing an

achy

> feeling in my knees, as well as my lower back. My doctor felt that

> this was due to weight gain. I had gained 20 pounds in one year (I

> was 10 pounds overweight prior to the 20 pound weight gain). She

> told me to begin making better food choices/excercising. Soooo, I

> began IE. I have gained 6 pounds since starting IE, making me 36

> pounds overweight. Lately, my back, knees and legs hurt more than

> ever. I can't sit for too long without being in pain, my knees and

> hips " pop " all of the time and I either can't fall asleep or stay

> asleep due to the pain. My lower back constantly feels tight and

> tingly, my thighs and knees ache throughout the day...it's

horrible.

> It has put me in a bad mental state. I am only 29!!!!

>

> So I returned to the doctor today and she wanted to know why I had

> not lost weight. I last saw her five months ago. She seemed

shocked

> that I had gained 6 pounds rather than losing. She urged me to

lose

> weight and told me that likely my increase in pain has to do with

my

> weight gain. How the heck to I incorporate this into IE? If my

> doctor is telling me to lose for health reasons, then I feel I

> should go back to dieting if I am just gaining on IE. Any input?

> Sorry this was so wordy. Thank you!

>

> DAWN

>

[Guest guest]

Dawn,

I don't believe that weight gain is inevitable when you start IE.

Although, exercise-feel the difference or what I like to call my

movement practice is principle 9, I saw how important it was for me to

incorporate this principle from the beginning. I am a food user. Those

excess calories is energy I'm storing in my body until I use it. So,

for me stemming the tide of gaining weight from using food or

releasing my excess weight is more about finding movement, activity,

and engagement in the world that inspires me. That I'm investing the

excess energy store or that I may store in things that I enjoy doing.

I also was starting to have problems with my knees and achiness in my

joints. You know what? My knees and the rest of my body has responded

so well to me actually giving them needed attention...moving,

massaging myself in those places, stretching...etc.

I really had to work with myself on my resistance against " exercise. "

I had completely abandoned the whole exercise thing. Though, every few

months I would have this urge to go for a long walk. I had this urge

in January. I ended up walking for like 2.5 hours. That night I had

foot blisters galore. I realized that my marathon walk was probably

due to a stored up need to move my body. When I gave my body a chance

to move, it would go nuts and try to move as much as possible. In some

way, I had been suppressing my natural desire to move due to

resistance against all the anti-fat/diet/pro-exercise propaganda. I

discovered that " movement " worked better for me as a concept. Over the

past several months my usage of food has decreased greatly and at the

same time my movement practice has been essential for physical and

emotional balance. After almost 8 months, I realize that this movement

that I'm doing is really maintenance and taking care of myself. While

I've only transformed a few pounds of my excess store, I feel so much

more confident and committed that this is the best path for me. I've

been walking or moving in some intential way almost everyday to see

how my body responds. I gotta head to work or I might write a little

more. Keep practicing the principles that really matter for your

situation.

Latoya.

I should go back to dieting if I am just gaining

on IE. Any input? Sorry this was so wordy. Thank you!

>

> DAWN

[Guest guest]

dawnrodes wrote:

> My

> primiary complaint was that I was periodically experiencing an achy

> feeling in my knees, as well as my lower back.

[...]

> Lately, my back, knees and legs hurt more than

> ever. I can't sit for too long without being in pain, my knees and

> hips " pop " all of the time and I either can't fall asleep or stay

> asleep due to the pain. My lower back constantly feels tight and

> tingly, my thighs and knees ache throughout the day...it's horrible.

> It has put me in a bad mental state. I am only 29!!!!

I think your complaints should be evaluated further. I don't know what

kind of physical exam or X-rays you had (if any), but what you're

writing down here is something I would evaluate further if I were your

doctor. What was the diagnosis btw?

Can't fall asleep because of pain? Can't sit because of pain? Tingling?

Hurting thighs? " Popping " knees and hips (not sure what you mean here

though)? A patient who is only 30 lbs overweight at the age of 29

exeriencing such symptoms MUST be evaluted further before blaming it on

" being overweight " !

Reards

s.

[Guest guest]

My doctor is always telling me to lose weight. Everything I go there for she'll tell me to lose weight. Well I haven't lost any yet! I gained quite a bit of weight when I started IE but for the last year my weight has been pretty much stable. It goes up a few pounds but then it goes down a few pounds. I started working out at a gym last spring and though I haven't really lost any weight, I feel a lot stronger. I suggest you find some form of exercise that you like and do it regularly. I was having weird leg pains last winter a lot and my doctore thought I had bursitis in my hip. Regular exercise has helped it...I hardly ever have the pain anymore. And keep following IE! Yes you may not lose weight in the short term but eventually you will if your body is meant to. And doesn't it

feel a lot better to be doing IE than a crazy diet?

Kipkabob

(Intuitive eating since September 2006)

Subject: Doctor says "LOSE WEIGHT"To: IntuitiveEating_Support Received: Friday, November 14, 2008, 2:21 AM

Hey all. I am wondering if anyone has had an experience similar to mine and what your suggestions would be. Before I started IE I saw my doctor for a routine check up. My primiary complaint was that I was periodically experiencing an achy feeling in my knees, as well as my lower back. My doctor felt that this was due to weight gain. I had gained 20 pounds in one year (I was 10 pounds overweight prior to the 20 pound weight gain). She told me to begin making better food choices/excercising . Soooo, I began IE. I have gained 6 pounds since starting IE, making me 36 pounds overweight. Lately, my back, knees and legs hurt more than ever. I can't sit for too long without being in pain, my knees and hips "pop" all of the time and I either can't fall asleep or stay asleep due to the pain. My lower back constantly feels tight and tingly, my thighs and knees ache throughout the day...it's horrible.

It has put me in a bad mental state. I am only 29!!!! So I returned to the doctor today and she wanted to know why I had not lost weight. I last saw her five months ago. She seemed shocked that I had gained 6 pounds rather than losing. She urged me to lose weight and told me that likely my increase in pain has to do with my weight gain. How the heck to I incorporate this into IE? If my doctor is telling me to lose for health reasons, then I feel I should go back to dieting if I am just gaining on IE. Any input? Sorry this was so wordy. Thank you!DAWN

Now with a new friend-happy design! Try the new Yahoo! Canada Messenger

[Guest guest]

Hi Dawn,

My suggestion is to get a second opinion from a different doctor about your back and leg pain. I know I'm not a doctor, but 6 lbs is not a lot to gain - I'm wondering if that is really causing your pain, or if something else is going on. Esp since you are so young! I'm 42 and have been as much as 45 lbs overweight but not had any back/leg/body pains.

Maybe a second opinion is in order. Just my thoughts - hit the delete if you want!!

Good luck!

Kim

IE since Aug 08

..com>Subject: Doctor says "LOSE WEIGHT"To: IntuitiveEating_Support Date: Friday, November 14, 2008, 2:21 AM

Hey all. I am wondering if anyone has had an experience similar to mine and what your suggestions would be. Before I started IE I saw my doctor for a routine check up. My primiary complaint was that I was periodically experiencing an achy feeling in my knees, as well as my lower back. My doctor felt that this was due to weight gain. I had gained 20 pounds in one year (I was 10 pounds overweight prior to the 20 pound weight gain). She told me to begin making better food choices/excercising . Soooo, I began IE. I have gained 6 pounds since starting IE, making me 36 pounds overweight. Lately, my back, knees and legs hurt more than ever. I can't sit for too long without being in pain, my knees and hips "pop" all of the time and I either can't fall asleep or stay asleep due to the pain. My lower back constantly feels tight and tingly, my thighs and knees ache throughout the day...it's horrible.

It has put me in a bad mental state. I am only 29!!!! So I returned to the doctor today and she wanted to know why I had not lost weight. I last saw her five months ago. She seemed shocked that I had gained 6 pounds rather than losing. She urged me to lose weight and told me that likely my increase in pain has to do with my weight gain. How the heck to I incorporate this into IE? If my doctor is telling me to lose for health reasons, then I feel I should go back to dieting if I am just gaining on IE. Any input? Sorry this was so wordy. Thank you!DAWN

[Guest guest]

Dawn,

Hopefully you were gentle w/yourself about that eating. Of course you needed to soothe yourself! Stick w/IE - the peace of mind and body acceptance is wonderful. I personally have only gained a few lbs w/IE and I"m still legalizing some foods and trying to discover my fullness point. I also still use food for comfort occasionally. I'm learning new coping skills and I've been able to use them more often. Hang in there Dawn!!

Kim

IE since Aug 08

Subject: Re: Doctor says "LOSE WEIGHT"To: IntuitiveEating_Support Date: Friday, November 14, 2008, 2:25 AM

OH and I feel I should add that right after the doctors appt. I got VERY anxious. I went straight to a store and bought a bag of chips and a package of cookies. I ate it to soothe myself. i did not eat mindfully or really taste the food. I "last supper" eating...thinking "I am going to have to diet!!!">> Hey all. I am wondering if anyone has had an experience similar to > mine and what your suggestions would be. > > Before I started IE I saw my doctor for a routine check up. My > primiary complaint was that I was periodically experiencing an achy > feeling in my knees, as well as my lower back. My doctor felt that > this was due to weight gain. I had gained 20 pounds in one year (I

> was 10 pounds overweight prior to the 20 pound weight gain). She > told me to begin making better food choices/excercising . Soooo, I > began IE. I have gained 6 pounds since starting IE, making me 36 > pounds overweight. Lately, my back, knees and legs hurt more than > ever. I can't sit for too long without being in pain, my knees and > hips "pop" all of the time and I either can't fall asleep or stay > asleep due to the pain. My lower back constantly feels tight and > tingly, my thighs and knees ache throughout the day...it's horrible. > It has put me in a bad mental state. I am only 29!!!! > > So I returned to the doctor today and she wanted to know why I had > not lost weight. I last saw her five months ago. She seemed shocked > that I had gained 6 pounds rather than losing. She urged me to lose > weight and told me that likely my increase

in pain has to do with my > weight gain. How the heck to I incorporate this into IE? If my > doctor is telling me to lose for health reasons, then I feel I > should go back to dieting if I am just gaining on IE. Any input? > Sorry this was so wordy. Thank you!> > DAWN>

[Guest guest]

Maybe you will have to educate her about IE - most doctors tell us to

lose weight, but there is no proven weight loss method. If there

were, we would go on one diet and never need another! Bye bye diet

industry! Perhaps you want to consult a nutritionist to support you

on your journey. The IE website has listings of IE-friendly

practitioners. I found it helpful to be able to say " I am under a

nutritionist's care " I have not had to say this to my own doctor, as

she has always treated me as a colleague in the treatment of my body -

lending her expertise in what is my journey to understanding my body

and its functioning.

Hope this helps!

>

> Hey all. I am wondering if anyone has had an experience similar to

> mine and what your suggestions would be.

>

> Before I started IE I saw my doctor for a routine check up. My

> primiary complaint was that I was periodically experiencing an achy

> feeling in my knees, as well as my lower back. My doctor felt that

> this was due to weight gain. I had gained 20 pounds in one year (I

> was 10 pounds overweight prior to the 20 pound weight gain). She

> told me to begin making better food choices/excercising. Soooo, I

> began IE. I have gained 6 pounds since starting IE, making me 36

> pounds overweight. Lately, my back, knees and legs hurt more than

> ever. I can't sit for too long without being in pain, my knees and

> hips " pop " all of the time and I either can't fall asleep or stay

> asleep due to the pain. My lower back constantly feels tight and

> tingly, my thighs and knees ache throughout the day...it's

horrible.

> It has put me in a bad mental state. I am only 29!!!!

>

> So I returned to the doctor today and she wanted to know why I had

> not lost weight. I last saw her five months ago. She seemed shocked

> that I had gained 6 pounds rather than losing. She urged me to lose

> weight and told me that likely my increase in pain has to do with

my

> weight gain. How the heck to I incorporate this into IE? If my

> doctor is telling me to lose for health reasons, then I feel I

> should go back to dieting if I am just gaining on IE. Any input?

> Sorry this was so wordy. Thank you!

>

> DAWN

>

[Guest guest]

Dawn,

I had one other thought on the way to work this morning.

Isn't there some research that it's harmful to lose weight quickly and

gain it back again? This is usually what happens with diets...we lose

weight quickly through deprivation and working ourselves out and then

only gain the weight back. If you do choose to stay with this doctor,

I'd ask her, would she rather you lose weight quickly to just gain it

back or to transform your life over time...which is, for me, really

what practicing IE is about. I have some angst about doctors

myself...I've switched to a naturopathic physician because of the lack

of care I've felt with most traditional mds, who seem to have some

anti-fat/pro-diet biases.

Practicing the IE principles is helping me learn how to stay in

balance...how to maintain balance and therefore a certain weight

range. My past lifestyle has usually resulted in imbalance...gaining

weight slowly or gaining weight fast or dieting/exercising, losing

weight fast, and then gaining it back again. One of my concerns about

" losing weight " before starting IE, was that I felt that I'd probably

just gain it back anyway...so what's the point? I'm transforming my

excess weight relatively slowly at this point and now I'm so much more

confident that I can maintain physical balance over time by practicing

these principles.

Latoya

[Guest guest]

latoyajw wrote:

> Isn't there some research that it's harmful to lose weight quickly and

> gain it back again? This is usually what happens with diets...we lose

> weight quickly through deprivation and working ourselves out and then

> only gain the weight back.

But this is EXACTLY where the problem is: people usually think that

diets work and that it's OUR FAULT ALONE when we gain back the weight.

You can tell people (including so-called " professionals " , including

nutritionists) that it's almost inevitable to gain back weight after

losing it fast until your tongue starts bleeding and falls out - the

fact that we're gaining back weight is OUR FAULT seen from their point

of view.

As soon as you will tell them that weight gain usually occurs after

diets you can see an angry and impatient expression in their eyes and

the usual speech you're going to get back is: " Yes, but this is only

because people have no discipline and fall back into old habits because

of this! If only they would have the willpower, they would keep the

weight off. DUH! "

So their point of view is: when losing weight fast and keeping it off

(without the gaining back fast because of the " lack of discipline and

compliance and commitment) everything is fine. And it's quite impossible

to convince them from the opposite.

Regards

s.

[Guest guest]

I work in the medical world (i'm a pediatric nurse practitioner) and i can promise you that typical medical practitioners learn basically NOTHING about health vis a vis nutrition.

we basically get taught the pyramid (the old one), and that's it. for 1 hour.

so consider your provider to be as well educated about nutrition as your average lay consumer! only one who " gets " to speak with more authority, despite their ignorance.

i feel like i've been revolutionized by the things i've been reading about IE in the last few weeks. i've never heard of anything like it in the medical literature.

and to those that reccomended paul mckenna -- THANK YOU!!! (i'm not talking as a medical provider now, i am saying thank you for ME.)

to those that havent' read his stuff, check it out!

but anyway, one tactic that you might try... i have a patient with asthma who is also about 350 pounds. he kept missing his appointments for his asthma follow up, but then he would stop by (my clinic is in a public school) to get a cup of cold water. i would nag him about coming to his appointments, to no avail. finally one day i pulled him into my office and said " is the reason that you dont come to your appointments because i talk to you about losing weight? " he said " yes. " (and i thought i was being super respectful and gentle when i talked to him about it! but clearly it was still too much for him.) so i said, " ok, i'll make you a deal. if i promise not to talk to you about your weight, will you promise not to skip your asthma appointments? " he said yes. and now he stops by all the time just to make sure he hasn't missed an appointment!

so i think anyone who has issues with their medical providers nagging them about weight loss and making them uncomfortable should say " look, i am trying to work on dealing with my weight in my own healthy way. i need you to promise to leave me alone about it, or i will not come back here again, and may not get health care at all. "

i think that will get them to shut up!

because NO health care is so much worse, from the health care providers viewpoint. for me, at least i can manage my patients asthma, and i wouldn't get to manage his weight situation either way.

also, is every medical provider you know of healthy weight, a non-smoker, and a regular exerciser???

i hope that is helpful.

i also agree with the others that being 30 pounds overweight at age 29 shouldn't cause so much pain. could it be a cop-out for your doctor?

and i like the suggestion for gentle movement/exercise as well.

good luck!

latoyajw wrote:> Isn't there some research that it's harmful to lose weight quickly and> gain it back again? This is usually what happens with diets...we lose

> weight quickly through deprivation and working ourselves out and then> only gain the weight back. But this is EXACTLY where the problem is: people usually think thatdiets work and that it's OUR FAULT ALONE when we gain back the weight.

You can tell people (including so-called " professionals " , includingnutritionists) that it's almost inevitable to gain back weight afterlosing it fast until your tongue starts bleeding and falls out - the

fact that we're gaining back weight is OUR FAULT seen from their pointof view.As soon as you will tell them that weight gain usually occurs afterdiets you can see an angry and impatient expression in their eyes and

the usual speech you're going to get back is: " Yes, but this is onlybecause people have no discipline and fall back into old habits becauseof this! If only they would have the willpower, they would keep the

weight off. DUH! " So their point of view is: when losing weight fast and keeping it off(without the gaining back fast because of the " lack of discipline andcompliance and commitment) everything is fine. And it's quite impossible

to convince them from the opposite.Regardss.

[Guest guest]

Abigail & Styxia thanks so much for your valuable insights. I totally

agree - the nagging will NOT work to improve the situation AND the

medical profession is woefully behind in its thinking and methods

regarding working with weight challenges. I have felt like NOT going

to my doctor's office for just that reason. What I would like to say

to all doctors is - YES, calories in vs. body usage (including

exercise) = body 'size'. HOWEVER that is NOT the sum total of ALL the

factors in play!!!

This is what IE brings to those of us who get to know it - that

emotions, habits, triggers etc. play as much a part as simply what and

how much is eaten - WHY needs to be addressed too. AND sure

restriction = reduction but NO ONE wants to live their lives in a

constant straight jacket of restriction. Is it any wonder why the

minute the restriction stops the 'results' goes out the window too???

Katcha

IEing since March 2007

[Guest guest]

Abigail,

I found the four principles from Mckenna's I Can Make You Thin book

(which is a ambitious claim):

When you are hungry, EAT

EAT WHAT YOU WANT

Eat CONSCIOUSLY and enjoy every mouthful

When You Think You Are Full, STOP Eating

To me, these principles are already included within IE. So, I'm

wandering if you can share what extra insight you're gaining from

Mckenna's materials?

Thanks!

Latoya

In IntuitiveEating_Support , " Abigail Wolfson "

wrote: and to those that reccomended paul

mckenna -- THANK YOU!!! (i'm not talking as a medical provider now,

i am saying thank you for ME.)

to those that havent' read his stuff, check it out!

[Guest guest]

your question made me smile... because i see what you mean.

i guess it's not so different.

maybe i just liked his promise that it would cause weight loss!

(which, while it might be wrong, is still comforting to hear!)

i also liked that he had some ideas for ways to work on your brain to change how you think about food and negative self talk. positive visualization, other things with a sort of hypnosis bent to it.

i dont know if it will work!

i feel cautiously optimistic.. but i get that that's the same way we start diets!

but i guess it seems like in line with everything i was already learning about with IE, only makes me more confident.

i do think the confidence is helpful.

others on here had mentioned him and said he was helpful, which was how i got interested (i just got the book in the mail on friday).

so i am not sure if you think he's a bad idea, or just extraneous, but that's my honest answer.

Abigail,I found the four principles from Mckenna's I Can Make You Thin book (which is a ambitious claim):When you are hungry, EAT EAT WHAT YOU WANT Eat CONSCIOUSLY and enjoy every mouthful

When You Think You Are Full, STOP Eating To me, these principles are already included within IE. So, I'm wandering if you can share what extra insight you're gaining from Mckenna's materials?

Thanks!LatoyaIn IntuitiveEating_Support , " Abigail Wolfson " wrote: and to those that reccomended paul

mckenna -- THANK YOU!!! (i'm not talking as a medical provider now, i am saying thank you for ME.)to those that havent' read his stuff, check it out!

-- Abigail C. Wolfson, CPNP

LICH School Based Health CenterBNS/BCS610 Henry Street, Room 209Brooklyn, NY 11231 (fax)

[Guest guest]

Abby,

I was just curious and I really appreciate your honesty. After you

read the book, I'd be interested to learn about any additional

thoughts that you have. I did go to Mckenna's website and was a bit

put off by the claim of " I " can make you thin... " I " can make you

rich...Though it's possible to find value in alot of different

approaches. I've had some exposure to NLP, which seems central to his

program. I've read so many different diet/personal transformation

books that I tend to like to get actual input from others or have a

physical look at a book and its table of contents to see if there is

actually something new and useful before I purchase.

Confidence is definitely helpful and important!

Latoya

>

> your question made me smile... because i see what you mean.