Re: Frustrated With Food Labelling

[Guest guest]

Styxia - I will have to give your post more thought before I respond

and I['m not yet sure I can reply with anything really constructive

However, I do want you to know that it may be 'quiet' here a the group

for a day or so because with Thanksgiving 'feast' happening in the US,

most people are away from their computers with family and friends.

(I'm the odd one who does 'T-day' before hand - he he) But I bet that

after this day there will be lots of remarks post on it

Take care and hope you don't feel abandoned!

ehugs, Katcha

IEing since March 2007

>

> This is going to be a post dripping with frustration.

>

> Want to continue anyway? Ok, you've been warned.

>

> .

> .

> .

>

> It's so damn frustrating that I can't stop labelling foods as " good " or

> " bad " . If I don't label them " fattening " or " non-fattening " I label them

> " healthy " and " unhealthy " and the worst of all is: IE encourages eating

> " healthy foods " (nothing wrong with healthy eating, don't get me wrong)

> because " we have to respect our bodies " and I can't cope with that.

>

> Either that or my sense of " healthy and unhealthy " is completely

> twisted. I bet if people on here would post some meals they consider

> " healthy " I'd rule out 90% of the condiments as " UNHEALTHY " in less than

> 5 seconds!

>

> I ate only unhealthy stuff during the last time and I'M HATING IT. I

> also drank too much alcohol (you know that one bottle of beer or one

> glass of wine a day) and coffee with " bad stuff in it " (cocoa powder or

> chocolate pearls and lots of milk).

>

> And the worst is this sentence that is somehow fixed in my brain: " If it

> tastes REALLY good, it CAN'T BE HEALTHY! "

>

> And:

>

> " If it's REALLY satisfying, it CAN'T BE HEALTHY! "

>

> Because healthy food doesn't taste good and is not satisfying. That's

> what 25 and more years of dieting taught me well.

>

> Yes, apples are tasting good when it's time for apples and then they're

> satisfying but I think you all know that this is not what this post is

> about.

>

> Let's look about our dinner this evening: left over rice with arrabiata

> sauce, black olives, white beans and some goat's cheese. Totally YUM!

> and satisfying but it's so unhealthy in my opinion.

>

>

> the rice: it was white basmati, not whole grain, therefore unhealthy

>

> black olives: only small amounts because of " good fats " allowed

>

> goat's cheese: totally unnecessary, salty, fatty and unhealthy

>

> the sauce: store baught and salty suff, unhealthy

>

> the white beans: the only thing I'd consider healthy

>

>

> So what would have been ok? Self-made sauce, brown rice (and less of

> it), more beans, no cheese and only a few olives as decoration.

>

> Would it have been as YUM! and satisfying? NO! Because I ate stuff like

> this before and it left me totally frustrated.

>

> It feels like there is no " real match " . Either I eat something

> satisfying and have to deal with a bad conscience or I eat something I

> consider " healthy " and it leaves me with this " diety " feeling.

>

> Oh yes, if we " love our bodies " , we SHOULD crave healthy foods and we

> SHOULD omit the unhealthy stuff because we " love our bodies " .[1]

>

> I still don't get the trick.

>

> My view of what is " healthy " or " unhealthy " food seems to be really

> warped from hanging out at vegan and raw-vegan communities and reading

> books quite a good deal. I just realised (once more) that my sense of

> " healthy " and " unhealthy " is still dominated by " fattening " and

> " non-fattening " , but this is by far not the only demon I have to deal

> with. BY FAR. I'd rather eat a full fat plain soy yoghurt than a

> fat-free, sugar-free dairy yoghurt and I'd go all animal-free regarding

> food if I could afford all the stuff that makes the vegan food yummie

> (e. g. all these expensive nuts and the condiments necessary to cook

> some of the fancy foods).

>

> And now I crave something sweet as usually after dinner. ARRRRGH.

>

> I bet that some of you have this problem or had it in the past. How do

> you deal with it?

>

> Regards

> s.

>

> [1] Yes, I have to admit that I'm dripping with sarcasm here. I'm

> frustrated beyond good or bad right now.

>

[Guest guest]

"It feels like there is no "real match". Either I eat somethingsatisfying and have to deal with a bad conscience or I eat something Iconsider "healthy" and it leaves me with this "diety" feeling.Oh yes, if we "love our bodies", we SHOULD crave healthy foods and weSHOULD omit the unhealthy stuff because we "love our bodies".I still don't get the trick."

Styxia-

I battle with this same problem at every meal I eat. And after every meal I eat. I feel like the minute I eat a meal I am either beating myself up because I didn't eat what I really wanted to eat, or I did eat what I wanted to eat and therefore should be unhappy.

The only way I've come to any peace with it is to know a few things, and to remind myself of them every, and I mean every single day.

1. I'm not perfect and never will be. Therefore it's okay if I don't always make perfect choices. I've tried for perfection in the past, and all it did was leave me even more frusterated. That's the whole reason I came to the intuitive eating process in the first place, because I wanted to escape the feeling that I wasn't good enough and that what choices I made every day with my food weren't good enough, or right enough.

2. Some days will be better and easier than others. There are some days that IE is so easy that I don't even need to think about it. Then there are days where I have to battle every minute of every day to feel like I'm even barely hanging on.

3. This is a lifelong journey for me. I didn't sign on for IE for a week, or a month. I signed on to this because I was sick of WW, and Atkins. I was sick of combining foods and being told when to eat and what to eat. I wanted to have control over my body and what I put in my mouth.

Just because I say these things doesn't mean that I always agree with them. But I am putting them in my head because I need to hear them.

Every day I face choices with my food and I make decisions. Some of them are good, some of them are bad. Some of them are better than others. I know this email probably didn't give any real answers and I apologize for that... But it felt good to write it, because it reminded me as well what I'm thankful for on this holiday. I'm thankful for this wonderful program and support group that I've found that have helped me start to make peace with food and myself.

Amy

[Guest guest]

Hi Styxia,

Hey, no one ever said Intuitive Eating is easy, right? ;-)

We all know the goal of Intuitive Eating is to develop a healthy

relationship with food, but how we do that, and what we define as a

healthy relationship is unique to each of us.

We no longer rely on some diet guru or diet book to TELL us how to

eat healthy or how much to eat or when. We each have to decide for

ourselves what type of food we consider healthy, and what ratio of

fun food and healthy food we are happy with.

When we get to Principle 10, and try to honor our health with gentle

nutrition, we each have to decide what that " gentle nutrition " will

look like. We have to decide what we consider as " healthy eating " ,

and how often we want to eat those foods. We have to take into

consideration our emotional health too, and make choices that will

not only nourish our bodies, but our spirits too. Most of us will

want to have some fun foods in order not to feel deprived or like we

are on a diet, and to feel satisfied.

Maybe it would help you to see less black and white, and more gray.

Instead of labeling food as " healthy " or " unhealthy " , maybe you can

try out some different labels, like " kind of healthy, sort of

healthy, not very healthy, could be more healthy, " , etc. And you

could challenge yourself to figure out ways to prepare dishes you

enjoy that are " kind of healthy " but also leave you feeling satisfied.

Picture yourself sitting down with these two voices your head, the

one that says, " Wow, that was delicious! " with the voice that

says, " Delicious? Do you have any idea how unhealthy that was? " and

saying, " Okay guys, how can we find a compromise here where we are

BOTH satisfied. Remember, the voice that says, " That was delicious! "

is just as important as the " That was unhealthy! " voice.

Negotiate a compromise with them with the understanding they may both

have to give a little but both can be satisfied. The possibilities

for compromise are endless. Use healthier ingredients when preparing

the dishes you like, but only to the degree that you actually still

really enjoy the food. Plan to eat healthy for so many meals a day,

or so many nights each week, or whatever feels right to you.

This is a tough issue, no question about it, and it is good that you

raised it. It is something we all have to grapple with, at some point.

>

> This is going to be a post dripping with frustration.

>

> Want to continue anyway? Ok, you've been warned.

>

> .

> .

> .

>

> It's so damn frustrating that I can't stop labelling foods

as " good " or

> " bad " . If I don't label them " fattening " or " non-fattening " I label

them

> " healthy " and " unhealthy " and the worst of all is: IE encourages

eating

> " healthy foods " (nothing wrong with healthy eating, don't get me

wrong)

> because " we have to respect our bodies " and I can't cope with that.

>

> Either that or my sense of " healthy and unhealthy " is completely

> twisted. I bet if people on here would post some meals they consider

> " healthy " I'd rule out 90% of the condiments as " UNHEALTHY " in less

than

> 5 seconds!

>

> I ate only unhealthy stuff during the last time and I'M HATING IT. I

> also drank too much alcohol (you know that one bottle of beer or one

> glass of wine a day) and coffee with " bad stuff in it " (cocoa

powder or

> chocolate pearls and lots of milk).

>

> And the worst is this sentence that is somehow fixed in my

brain: " If it

> tastes REALLY good, it CAN'T BE HEALTHY! "

>

> And:

>

> " If it's REALLY satisfying, it CAN'T BE HEALTHY! "

>

> Because healthy food doesn't taste good and is not satisfying.

That's

> what 25 and more years of dieting taught me well.

>

> Yes, apples are tasting good when it's time for apples and then

they're

> satisfying but I think you all know that this is not what this post

is

> about.

>

> Let's look about our dinner this evening: left over rice with

arrabiata

> sauce, black olives, white beans and some goat's cheese. Totally

YUM!

> and satisfying but it's so unhealthy in my opinion.

>

>

> the rice: it was white basmati, not whole grain, therefore unhealthy

>

> black olives: only small amounts because of " good fats " allowed

>

> goat's cheese: totally unnecessary, salty, fatty and unhealthy

>

> the sauce: store baught and salty suff, unhealthy

>

> the white beans: the only thing I'd consider healthy

>

>

> So what would have been ok? Self-made sauce, brown rice (and less of

> it), more beans, no cheese and only a few olives as decoration.

>

> Would it have been as YUM! and satisfying? NO! Because I ate stuff

like

> this before and it left me totally frustrated.

>

> It feels like there is no " real match " . Either I eat something

> satisfying and have to deal with a bad conscience or I eat

something I

> consider " healthy " and it leaves me with this " diety " feeling.

>

> Oh yes, if we " love our bodies " , we SHOULD crave healthy foods and

we

> SHOULD omit the unhealthy stuff because we " love our bodies " .[1]

>

> I still don't get the trick.

>

> My view of what is " healthy " or " unhealthy " food seems to be really

> warped from hanging out at vegan and raw-vegan communities and

reading

> books quite a good deal. I just realised (once more) that my sense

of

> " healthy " and " unhealthy " is still dominated by " fattening " and

> " non-fattening " , but this is by far not the only demon I have to

deal

> with. BY FAR. I'd rather eat a full fat plain soy yoghurt than a

> fat-free, sugar-free dairy yoghurt and I'd go all animal-free

regarding

> food if I could afford all the stuff that makes the vegan food

yummie

> (e. g. all these expensive nuts and the condiments necessary to cook

> some of the fancy foods).

>

> And now I crave something sweet as usually after dinner. ARRRRGH.

>

> I bet that some of you have this problem or had it in the past. How

do

> you deal with it?

>

> Regards

> s.

>

> [1] Yes, I have to admit that I'm dripping with sarcasm here. I'm

> frustrated beyond good or bad right now.

>

[Guest guest]

Oh Styxia...I can totally relate to what you wrote! I'm going through a lot of the same stuff right now. I have foods labelled as healthy or unhealthy in my mind too. But we shouldn't be labelling it at all. It's just food. Not sure how to get to that point though! I wanted to let you know you're not alone with how you are feeling.

Kipkabob

(Intuitive eating since September 2006)

Subject: Frustrated With "Food Labelling"To: "Intuitive Eating" <IntuitiveEating_Support >Received: Thursday, November 27, 2008, 2:56 PM

This is going to be a post dripping with frustration.Want to continue anyway? Ok, you've been warned....It's so damn frustrating that I can't stop labelling foods as "good" or"bad". If I don't label them "fattening" or "non-fattening" I label them"healthy" and "unhealthy" and the worst of all is: IE encourages eating"healthy foods" (nothing wrong with healthy eating, don't get me wrong)because "we have to respect our bodies" and I can't cope with that.Either that or my sense of "healthy and unhealthy" is completelytwisted. I bet if people on here would post some meals they consider"healthy" I'd rule out 90% of the condiments as "UNHEALTHY" in less than5 seconds!I ate only unhealthy stuff during the last time and I'M HATING IT. Ialso drank too much alcohol (you know that one bottle of beer or oneglass of wine a day) and coffee with "bad stuff in it" (cocoa powder

orchocolate pearls and lots of milk).And the worst is this sentence that is somehow fixed in my brain: "If ittastes REALLY good, it CAN'T BE HEALTHY!"And:"If it's REALLY satisfying, it CAN'T BE HEALTHY!"Because healthy food doesn't taste good and is not satisfying. That'swhat 25 and more years of dieting taught me well.Yes, apples are tasting good when it's time for apples and then they'resatisfying but I think you all know that this is not what this post isabout.Let's look about our dinner this evening: left over rice with arrabiatasauce, black olives, white beans and some goat's cheese. Totally YUM!and satisfying but it's so unhealthy in my opinion.the rice: it was white basmati, not whole grain, therefore unhealthyblack olives: only small amounts because of "good fats" allowedgoat's cheese: totally unnecessary, salty, fatty and unhealthythe

sauce: store baught and salty suff, unhealthythe white beans: the only thing I'd consider healthySo what would have been ok? Self-made sauce, brown rice (and less ofit), more beans, no cheese and only a few olives as decoration.Would it have been as YUM! and satisfying? NO! Because I ate stuff likethis before and it left me totally frustrated.It feels like there is no "real match". Either I eat somethingsatisfying and have to deal with a bad conscience or I eat something Iconsider "healthy" and it leaves me with this "diety" feeling.Oh yes, if we "love our bodies", we SHOULD crave healthy foods and weSHOULD omit the unhealthy stuff because we "love our bodies".[1]I still don't get the trick.My view of what is "healthy" or "unhealthy" food seems to be reallywarped from hanging out at vegan and raw-vegan communities and readingbooks quite a good deal. I just realised (once

more) that my sense of"healthy" and "unhealthy" is still dominated by "fattening" and"non-fattening" , but this is by far not the only demon I have to dealwith. BY FAR. I'd rather eat a full fat plain soy yoghurt than afat-free, sugar-free dairy yoghurt and I'd go all animal-free regardingfood if I could afford all the stuff that makes the vegan food yummie(e. g. all these expensive nuts and the condiments necessary to cooksome of the fancy foods).And now I crave something sweet as usually after dinner. ARRRRGH.I bet that some of you have this problem or had it in the past. How doyou deal with it?Regardss.[1] Yes, I have to admit that I'm dripping with sarcasm here. I'mfrustrated beyond good or bad right now.

Yahoo! Canada Toolbar : Search from anywhere on the web and bookmark your favourite sites. Download it now!

[Guest guest]

I love it july!! Thanks for sharing that and giving me a smile to

start my day Katcha

IEing since March 2007

> >

> > This is going to be a post dripping with frustration.

> >

> > Want to continue anyway? Ok, you've been warned.

> >

[Guest guest]

Kip, I've been drinking decaffeinated coffee for many years. I love

the taste and having a warm cup in the morning. I really don't need

nor miss any caffeine 'lift'!

ehugs, Katcha

IEing since March 2007

>So the last few days I've stopped drinking coffee again.  It's been

hard but I keep telling myself " you can have the coffee but it doesn't

make your body feel good. "   It puts the focus on me and my body and

that it's my choice rather than just labelling it " unhealthy. "   Thanks

again! 

>

> Kipkabob

> (Intuitive eating since September 2006)

[Guest guest]

There are all sorts of de-caf flavors to taste - French Roast

included. That ought to give you a great taste without the caffeine. I

am content with the regular coffee, but I've learned to make it to my

own taste. Which is not as thick as expresso for sure :)

ehugs, Katcha

IEing since March 2007

> >So the last few days I've stopped drinking coffee again.  It's been

> hard but I keep telling myself " you can have the coffee but it doesn't

> make your body feel good. "   It puts the focus on me and my body and

> that it's my choice rather than just labelling it " unhealthy. "   Thanks

> again! 

> >

> > Kipkabob

> > (Intuitive eating since September 2006)

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> __________________________________________________________________

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