Re: don't know what to do....

[Guest guest]

Jeni, Welcome. Glad to have you here and thanks for such an honest posting. I too have a hard time with sweets although I don't think quite as much as you do.  But I sure understand that you are having a hard time believing IE will work for you. Especially since it asks that you accept the fact the there is no forbidden food.  When  I first started on this I did eat a lot of sweets, all those forbidden foods that I wanted for years of dieting, like hot fudge sundaes, and chocolate. I ate the sundaes just about everyday until I got so sick of them that I no longer even cared for them.  Oh I know I can still have them, I just don't right now.  And yes I did gain weight.  Now I have reached a point where I am embracing more of the IE principles.  The ones I had overlooked.  As has been mentioned in this group, it is probably best to go easy and start with one or two, like " eat when you are hungry and stop when you are full " . I was eating the sweets just when ever I felt like it.  And I now am also thinking about " honoring my body " and feeding it what it needs. But all of this is a process and being gentle with yourself is also key, although hard to do. Eating with full awareness and no judgement is especially challenging.  I been dieting for over 50 years so I am not going to unlearn all that in a few weeks. I think this IE is more challenging then a diet because it doesn't have " rules " like exact rules of when to eat(3x a day), or what(no carbs, all carbs, etc.)  or how much( one ounce of chicken, 3/4 plate of salad, etc.). I hope I am making sense.  Another thing here is to take what fits for you and leave the rest. Please keep in touch.  We learn so much from each other and I am sure you will get a lot of good responses.  Again thanks for your honest post.  Sandy

 

Hi everyone,

I need help. I feel like I'm in a never-ending vicious cycle. I've been aware of intuitive eating for a few years now. I've read books about it as well as about emotional eating. I feel like I know how to do it, yet I guess I just can't commit to giving it a real shot. I'm not really sure why. My biggest excuse I think is that I feel like I have a sugar addiction and IE won't work for me because that food gives me such intense cravings that I binge just about every time I eat it. So, IE ends up turning into " intuitive eating as long as I don't eat this or that food " , which I'm sure is NOT intuitive eating. This also gives such a power to certain foods (mainly sweets) that I am honestly scared of them. I feel absolutely out of control. I feel helpless and I don't know what to do.

I've been trying to diet on and off for several months...no, i take that back, it's been many years. I've had small successes where I've avoided sugar for a few weeks and I've felt so much more in control of my life and happy. But now I can't even make it half a day without it. It's sad that it's turned into a drug for me.

I feel like this is rock bottom. I'm SO mentally drained by this obsession that it's stealing my life away from me. It's stealing my happiness. With my limited financial resources, getting counseling is out of the question.

Can anyone please share some advice that may help? I'm so tired of hating myself and I want my life back...

Thank you,

J

[Guest guest]

Jeni, Welcome. Glad to have you here and thanks for such an honest posting. I too have a hard time with sweets although I don't think quite as much as you do.  But I sure understand that you are having a hard time believing IE will work for you. Especially since it asks that you accept the fact the there is no forbidden food.  When  I first started on this I did eat a lot of sweets, all those forbidden foods that I wanted for years of dieting, like hot fudge sundaes, and chocolate. I ate the sundaes just about everyday until I got so sick of them that I no longer even cared for them.  Oh I know I can still have them, I just don't right now.  And yes I did gain weight.  Now I have reached a point where I am embracing more of the IE principles.  The ones I had overlooked.  As has been mentioned in this group, it is probably best to go easy and start with one or two, like " eat when you are hungry and stop when you are full " . I was eating the sweets just when ever I felt like it.  And I now am also thinking about " honoring my body " and feeding it what it needs. But all of this is a process and being gentle with yourself is also key, although hard to do. Eating with full awareness and no judgement is especially challenging.  I been dieting for over 50 years so I am not going to unlearn all that in a few weeks. I think this IE is more challenging then a diet because it doesn't have " rules " like exact rules of when to eat(3x a day), or what(no carbs, all carbs, etc.)  or how much( one ounce of chicken, 3/4 plate of salad, etc.). I hope I am making sense.  Another thing here is to take what fits for you and leave the rest. Please keep in touch.  We learn so much from each other and I am sure you will get a lot of good responses.  Again thanks for your honest post.  Sandy

 

Hi everyone,

I need help. I feel like I'm in a never-ending vicious cycle. I've been aware of intuitive eating for a few years now. I've read books about it as well as about emotional eating. I feel like I know how to do it, yet I guess I just can't commit to giving it a real shot. I'm not really sure why. My biggest excuse I think is that I feel like I have a sugar addiction and IE won't work for me because that food gives me such intense cravings that I binge just about every time I eat it. So, IE ends up turning into " intuitive eating as long as I don't eat this or that food " , which I'm sure is NOT intuitive eating. This also gives such a power to certain foods (mainly sweets) that I am honestly scared of them. I feel absolutely out of control. I feel helpless and I don't know what to do.

I've been trying to diet on and off for several months...no, i take that back, it's been many years. I've had small successes where I've avoided sugar for a few weeks and I've felt so much more in control of my life and happy. But now I can't even make it half a day without it. It's sad that it's turned into a drug for me.

I feel like this is rock bottom. I'm SO mentally drained by this obsession that it's stealing my life away from me. It's stealing my happiness. With my limited financial resources, getting counseling is out of the question.

Can anyone please share some advice that may help? I'm so tired of hating myself and I want my life back...

Thank you,

J

[Guest guest]

Hi Jeni,

I've been doing this since the end of February when I said enough was enough and

gave up on dieting. At the beginning, I ate A LOT of sweets.. I mean almost

every meal, sometimes more than once at night. I also started exercising for

fun at the same time. I didn't see any weight gain from it, but there sure

wasn't any weight loss either. But then again, i'm not exercising for weight

loss, i'm exercising for mental health because I just feel better when I do some

type of exercise.

After awhile, I got sick of eating sweets all the time. I realized that they

weren't tasting as good as they used to. Now I still eat sweets when I want,

but I've noticed that I only really want the good quality stuff and a lot of

variety. I don't want the same thing over and over.

--

Liz

---- jeni4305 wrote:

> Hi everyone,

>

> I need help. I feel like I'm in a never-ending vicious cycle. I've been

aware of intuitive eating for a few years now. I've read books about it as well

as about emotional eating. I feel like I know how to do it, yet I guess I just

can't commit to giving it a real shot. I'm not really sure why. My biggest

excuse I think is that I feel like I have a sugar addiction and IE won't work

for me because that food gives me such intense cravings that I binge just about

every time I eat it. So, IE ends up turning into " intuitive eating as long as I

don't eat this or that food " , which I'm sure is NOT intuitive eating. This also

gives such a power to certain foods (mainly sweets) that I am honestly scared of

them. I feel absolutely out of control. I feel helpless and I don't know what

to do.

>

> I've been trying to diet on and off for several months...no, i take that back,

it's been many years. I've had small successes where I've avoided sugar for a

few weeks and I've felt so much more in control of my life and happy. But now I

can't even make it half a day without it. It's sad that it's turned into a drug

for me.

>

> I feel like this is rock bottom. I'm SO mentally drained by this obsession

that it's stealing my life away from me. It's stealing my happiness. With my

limited financial resources, getting counseling is out of the question.

>

> Can anyone please share some advice that may help? I'm so tired of hating

myself and I want my life back...

>

> Thank you,

>

> J

>

[Guest guest]

Liz, great reminders about the exercising for fun too, and that IE is not mainly for weight loss but for learning to eat intuitively and taking care of oneself.  I wonder if I could look at this a an EXCITING  journey and wonder at all the things I learn along the way. I am going to try that. Thanks for you comments.  Sandy

 

Hi Jeni,

I've been doing this since the end of February when I said enough was enough and gave up on dieting. At the beginning, I ate A LOT of sweets.. I mean almost every meal, sometimes more than once at night. I also started exercising for fun at the same time. I didn't see any weight gain from it, but there sure wasn't any weight loss either. But then again, i'm not exercising for weight loss, i'm exercising for mental health because I just feel better when I do some type of exercise.

After awhile, I got sick of eating sweets all the time. I realized that they weren't tasting as good as they used to. Now I still eat sweets when I want, but I've noticed that I only really want the good quality stuff and a lot of variety. I don't want the same thing over and over.

--

Liz

---- jeni4305 wrote:

> Hi everyone,

>

> I need help. I feel like I'm in a never-ending vicious cycle. I've been aware of intuitive eating for a few years now. I've read books about it as well as about emotional eating. I feel like I know how to do it, yet I guess I just can't commit to giving it a real shot. I'm not really sure why. My biggest excuse I think is that I feel like I have a sugar addiction and IE won't work for me because that food gives me such intense cravings that I binge just about every time I eat it. So, IE ends up turning into " intuitive eating as long as I don't eat this or that food " , which I'm sure is NOT intuitive eating. This also gives such a power to certain foods (mainly sweets) that I am honestly scared of them. I feel absolutely out of control. I feel helpless and I don't know what to do.

>

> I've been trying to diet on and off for several months...no, i take that back, it's been many years. I've had small successes where I've avoided sugar for a few weeks and I've felt so much more in control of my life and happy. But now I can't even make it half a day without it. It's sad that it's turned into a drug for me.

>

> I feel like this is rock bottom. I'm SO mentally drained by this obsession that it's stealing my life away from me. It's stealing my happiness. With my limited financial resources, getting counseling is out of the question.

>

> Can anyone please share some advice that may help? I'm so tired of hating myself and I want my life back...

>

> Thank you,

>

> J

>

[Guest guest]

Liz, great reminders about the exercising for fun too, and that IE is not mainly for weight loss but for learning to eat intuitively and taking care of oneself.  I wonder if I could look at this a an EXCITING  journey and wonder at all the things I learn along the way. I am going to try that. Thanks for you comments.  Sandy

 

Hi Jeni,

I've been doing this since the end of February when I said enough was enough and gave up on dieting. At the beginning, I ate A LOT of sweets.. I mean almost every meal, sometimes more than once at night. I also started exercising for fun at the same time. I didn't see any weight gain from it, but there sure wasn't any weight loss either. But then again, i'm not exercising for weight loss, i'm exercising for mental health because I just feel better when I do some type of exercise.

After awhile, I got sick of eating sweets all the time. I realized that they weren't tasting as good as they used to. Now I still eat sweets when I want, but I've noticed that I only really want the good quality stuff and a lot of variety. I don't want the same thing over and over.

--

Liz

---- jeni4305 wrote:

> Hi everyone,

>

> I need help. I feel like I'm in a never-ending vicious cycle. I've been aware of intuitive eating for a few years now. I've read books about it as well as about emotional eating. I feel like I know how to do it, yet I guess I just can't commit to giving it a real shot. I'm not really sure why. My biggest excuse I think is that I feel like I have a sugar addiction and IE won't work for me because that food gives me such intense cravings that I binge just about every time I eat it. So, IE ends up turning into " intuitive eating as long as I don't eat this or that food " , which I'm sure is NOT intuitive eating. This also gives such a power to certain foods (mainly sweets) that I am honestly scared of them. I feel absolutely out of control. I feel helpless and I don't know what to do.

>

> I've been trying to diet on and off for several months...no, i take that back, it's been many years. I've had small successes where I've avoided sugar for a few weeks and I've felt so much more in control of my life and happy. But now I can't even make it half a day without it. It's sad that it's turned into a drug for me.

>

> I feel like this is rock bottom. I'm SO mentally drained by this obsession that it's stealing my life away from me. It's stealing my happiness. With my limited financial resources, getting counseling is out of the question.

>

> Can anyone please share some advice that may help? I'm so tired of hating myself and I want my life back...

>

> Thank you,

>

> J

>

[Guest guest]

Welcome Jeni! While you may feel that you are living in the middle of a

whirlwind at this moment, hopefully you can find a latch onto point for yourself

right here in this group.

I too 'knew' allllll about not dieting, but couldn't seem to 'get' it for

myself. Looking back this was probably a combo of perfectionism and diet

mentality that kept me held back. It also may be that when I finally joined here

I was READY to do what I needed to do. I hadn't read the IE book when I joined

so felt somewhat out of the loop with terms or suggested practices, but I

decided to 1) immerse myself in this undertaking and 2) let myself be my own

guide in terms of what I would do. I felt that legalizing food made the most

sense for me so I tackled that ONE aspect first. And as I did that I was

absorbing ideas and suggestions from the posts of other members that I could and

slowly did incorporate into my own practices as I was ready and able to do so.

I made my own discovery about sweets - that these could and did set me up for a

roller coaster ride of highs and lows ultimately creating a self feeding

mechanism for more and more of the same. When I ate sweets with fats and/or

protein that could extend digestion, this whipsawing subsided and stopped

running my life to its command.

So take a slow deep breath, decide what it is that YOU want to get from IE and

wade right in. You don't have to swim the English Channel on the first lap, just

come to enjoy the water, find your preferred stroke or even just float along if

that suits you. I think you will find that if you gift yourself time, be gentle

with your expectations for yourself, you will soon feel like " Hey, I can and am

doing some great baby steps in IE. "

Looking forward to reading more from you.

BEST wishes, Katcha

IEing since March 2007

>

> Hi everyone,

>

> I need help. I feel like I'm in a never-ending vicious cycle. I've been

aware of intuitive eating for a few years now. I've read books about it as well

as about emotional eating. I feel like I know how to do it, yet I guess I just

can't commit to giving it a real shot. I'm not really sure why. My biggest

excuse I think is that I feel like I have a sugar addiction and IE won't work

for me because that food gives me such intense cravings that I binge just about

every time I eat it. So, IE ends up turning into " intuitive eating as long as I

don't eat this or that food " , which I'm sure is NOT intuitive eating. This also

gives such a power to certain foods (mainly sweets) that I am honestly scared of

them. I feel absolutely out of control. I feel helpless and I don't know what

to do.

>

> I've been trying to diet on and off for several months...no, i take that back,

it's been many years. I've had small successes where I've avoided sugar for a

few weeks and I've felt so much more in control of my life and happy. But now I

can't even make it half a day without it. It's sad that it's turned into a drug

for me.

>

> I feel like this is rock bottom. I'm SO mentally drained by this obsession

that it's stealing my life away from me. It's stealing my happiness. With my

limited financial resources, getting counseling is out of the question.

>

> Can anyone please share some advice that may help? I'm so tired of hating

myself and I want my life back...

>

> Thank you,

>

> J

>

[Guest guest]

Welcome Jeni! While you may feel that you are living in the middle of a

whirlwind at this moment, hopefully you can find a latch onto point for yourself

right here in this group.

I too 'knew' allllll about not dieting, but couldn't seem to 'get' it for

myself. Looking back this was probably a combo of perfectionism and diet

mentality that kept me held back. It also may be that when I finally joined here

I was READY to do what I needed to do. I hadn't read the IE book when I joined

so felt somewhat out of the loop with terms or suggested practices, but I

decided to 1) immerse myself in this undertaking and 2) let myself be my own

guide in terms of what I would do. I felt that legalizing food made the most

sense for me so I tackled that ONE aspect first. And as I did that I was

absorbing ideas and suggestions from the posts of other members that I could and

slowly did incorporate into my own practices as I was ready and able to do so.

I made my own discovery about sweets - that these could and did set me up for a

roller coaster ride of highs and lows ultimately creating a self feeding

mechanism for more and more of the same. When I ate sweets with fats and/or

protein that could extend digestion, this whipsawing subsided and stopped

running my life to its command.

So take a slow deep breath, decide what it is that YOU want to get from IE and

wade right in. You don't have to swim the English Channel on the first lap, just

come to enjoy the water, find your preferred stroke or even just float along if

that suits you. I think you will find that if you gift yourself time, be gentle

with your expectations for yourself, you will soon feel like " Hey, I can and am

doing some great baby steps in IE. "

Looking forward to reading more from you.

BEST wishes, Katcha

IEing since March 2007

>

> Hi everyone,

>

> I need help. I feel like I'm in a never-ending vicious cycle. I've been

aware of intuitive eating for a few years now. I've read books about it as well

as about emotional eating. I feel like I know how to do it, yet I guess I just

can't commit to giving it a real shot. I'm not really sure why. My biggest

excuse I think is that I feel like I have a sugar addiction and IE won't work

for me because that food gives me such intense cravings that I binge just about

every time I eat it. So, IE ends up turning into " intuitive eating as long as I

don't eat this or that food " , which I'm sure is NOT intuitive eating. This also

gives such a power to certain foods (mainly sweets) that I am honestly scared of

them. I feel absolutely out of control. I feel helpless and I don't know what

to do.

>

> I've been trying to diet on and off for several months...no, i take that back,

it's been many years. I've had small successes where I've avoided sugar for a

few weeks and I've felt so much more in control of my life and happy. But now I

can't even make it half a day without it. It's sad that it's turned into a drug

for me.

>

> I feel like this is rock bottom. I'm SO mentally drained by this obsession

that it's stealing my life away from me. It's stealing my happiness. With my

limited financial resources, getting counseling is out of the question.

>

> Can anyone please share some advice that may help? I'm so tired of hating

myself and I want my life back...

>

> Thank you,

>

> J

>

[Guest guest]

Welcome Jeni! While you may feel that you are living in the middle of a

whirlwind at this moment, hopefully you can find a latch onto point for yourself

right here in this group.

I too 'knew' allllll about not dieting, but couldn't seem to 'get' it for

myself. Looking back this was probably a combo of perfectionism and diet

mentality that kept me held back. It also may be that when I finally joined here

I was READY to do what I needed to do. I hadn't read the IE book when I joined

so felt somewhat out of the loop with terms or suggested practices, but I

decided to 1) immerse myself in this undertaking and 2) let myself be my own

guide in terms of what I would do. I felt that legalizing food made the most

sense for me so I tackled that ONE aspect first. And as I did that I was

absorbing ideas and suggestions from the posts of other members that I could and

slowly did incorporate into my own practices as I was ready and able to do so.

I made my own discovery about sweets - that these could and did set me up for a

roller coaster ride of highs and lows ultimately creating a self feeding

mechanism for more and more of the same. When I ate sweets with fats and/or

protein that could extend digestion, this whipsawing subsided and stopped

running my life to its command.

So take a slow deep breath, decide what it is that YOU want to get from IE and

wade right in. You don't have to swim the English Channel on the first lap, just

come to enjoy the water, find your preferred stroke or even just float along if

that suits you. I think you will find that if you gift yourself time, be gentle

with your expectations for yourself, you will soon feel like " Hey, I can and am

doing some great baby steps in IE. "

Looking forward to reading more from you.

BEST wishes, Katcha

IEing since March 2007

>

> Hi everyone,

>

> I need help. I feel like I'm in a never-ending vicious cycle. I've been

aware of intuitive eating for a few years now. I've read books about it as well

as about emotional eating. I feel like I know how to do it, yet I guess I just

can't commit to giving it a real shot. I'm not really sure why. My biggest

excuse I think is that I feel like I have a sugar addiction and IE won't work

for me because that food gives me such intense cravings that I binge just about

every time I eat it. So, IE ends up turning into " intuitive eating as long as I

don't eat this or that food " , which I'm sure is NOT intuitive eating. This also

gives such a power to certain foods (mainly sweets) that I am honestly scared of

them. I feel absolutely out of control. I feel helpless and I don't know what

to do.

>

> I've been trying to diet on and off for several months...no, i take that back,

it's been many years. I've had small successes where I've avoided sugar for a

few weeks and I've felt so much more in control of my life and happy. But now I

can't even make it half a day without it. It's sad that it's turned into a drug

for me.

>

> I feel like this is rock bottom. I'm SO mentally drained by this obsession

that it's stealing my life away from me. It's stealing my happiness. With my

limited financial resources, getting counseling is out of the question.

>

> Can anyone please share some advice that may help? I'm so tired of hating

myself and I want my life back...

>

> Thank you,

>

> J

>

[Guest guest]

Katcha, I loved your analogy to swimming the English channel and perhaps just floating along.  Sandy

 

Welcome Jeni! While you may feel that you are living in the middle of a whirlwind at this moment, hopefully you can find a latch onto point for yourself right here in this group.

I too 'knew' allllll about not dieting, but couldn't seem to 'get' it for myself. Looking back this was probably a combo of perfectionism and diet mentality that kept me held back. It also may be that when I finally joined here I was READY to do what I needed to do. I hadn't read the IE book when I joined so felt somewhat out of the loop with terms or suggested practices, but I decided to 1) immerse myself in this undertaking and 2) let myself be my own guide in terms of what I would do. I felt that legalizing food made the most sense for me so I tackled that ONE aspect first. And as I did that I was absorbing ideas and suggestions from the posts of other members that I could and slowly did incorporate into my own practices as I was ready and able to do so.

I made my own discovery about sweets - that these could and did set me up for a roller coaster ride of highs and lows ultimately creating a self feeding mechanism for more and more of the same. When I ate sweets with fats and/or protein that could extend digestion, this whipsawing subsided and stopped running my life to its command.

So take a slow deep breath, decide what it is that YOU want to get from IE and wade right in. You don't have to swim the English Channel on the first lap, just come to enjoy the water, find your preferred stroke or even just float along if that suits you. I think you will find that if you gift yourself time, be gentle with your expectations for yourself, you will soon feel like " Hey, I can and am doing some great baby steps in IE. "

Looking forward to reading more from you.

BEST wishes, Katcha

IEing since March 2007

>

> Hi everyone,

>

> I need help. I feel like I'm in a never-ending vicious cycle. I've been aware of intuitive eating for a few years now. I've read books about it as well as about emotional eating. I feel like I know how to do it, yet I guess I just can't commit to giving it a real shot. I'm not really sure why. My biggest excuse I think is that I feel like I have a sugar addiction and IE won't work for me because that food gives me such intense cravings that I binge just about every time I eat it. So, IE ends up turning into " intuitive eating as long as I don't eat this or that food " , which I'm sure is NOT intuitive eating. This also gives such a power to certain foods (mainly sweets) that I am honestly scared of them. I feel absolutely out of control. I feel helpless and I don't know what to do.

>

> I've been trying to diet on and off for several months...no, i take that back, it's been many years. I've had small successes where I've avoided sugar for a few weeks and I've felt so much more in control of my life and happy. But now I can't even make it half a day without it. It's sad that it's turned into a drug for me.

>

> I feel like this is rock bottom. I'm SO mentally drained by this obsession that it's stealing my life away from me. It's stealing my happiness. With my limited financial resources, getting counseling is out of the question.

>

> Can anyone please share some advice that may help? I'm so tired of hating myself and I want my life back...

>

> Thank you,

>

> J

>

[Guest guest]

Katcha, I loved your analogy to swimming the English channel and perhaps just floating along.  Sandy

 

Welcome Jeni! While you may feel that you are living in the middle of a whirlwind at this moment, hopefully you can find a latch onto point for yourself right here in this group.

I too 'knew' allllll about not dieting, but couldn't seem to 'get' it for myself. Looking back this was probably a combo of perfectionism and diet mentality that kept me held back. It also may be that when I finally joined here I was READY to do what I needed to do. I hadn't read the IE book when I joined so felt somewhat out of the loop with terms or suggested practices, but I decided to 1) immerse myself in this undertaking and 2) let myself be my own guide in terms of what I would do. I felt that legalizing food made the most sense for me so I tackled that ONE aspect first. And as I did that I was absorbing ideas and suggestions from the posts of other members that I could and slowly did incorporate into my own practices as I was ready and able to do so.

I made my own discovery about sweets - that these could and did set me up for a roller coaster ride of highs and lows ultimately creating a self feeding mechanism for more and more of the same. When I ate sweets with fats and/or protein that could extend digestion, this whipsawing subsided and stopped running my life to its command.

So take a slow deep breath, decide what it is that YOU want to get from IE and wade right in. You don't have to swim the English Channel on the first lap, just come to enjoy the water, find your preferred stroke or even just float along if that suits you. I think you will find that if you gift yourself time, be gentle with your expectations for yourself, you will soon feel like " Hey, I can and am doing some great baby steps in IE. "

Looking forward to reading more from you.

BEST wishes, Katcha

IEing since March 2007

>

> Hi everyone,

>

> I need help. I feel like I'm in a never-ending vicious cycle. I've been aware of intuitive eating for a few years now. I've read books about it as well as about emotional eating. I feel like I know how to do it, yet I guess I just can't commit to giving it a real shot. I'm not really sure why. My biggest excuse I think is that I feel like I have a sugar addiction and IE won't work for me because that food gives me such intense cravings that I binge just about every time I eat it. So, IE ends up turning into " intuitive eating as long as I don't eat this or that food " , which I'm sure is NOT intuitive eating. This also gives such a power to certain foods (mainly sweets) that I am honestly scared of them. I feel absolutely out of control. I feel helpless and I don't know what to do.

>

> I've been trying to diet on and off for several months...no, i take that back, it's been many years. I've had small successes where I've avoided sugar for a few weeks and I've felt so much more in control of my life and happy. But now I can't even make it half a day without it. It's sad that it's turned into a drug for me.

>

> I feel like this is rock bottom. I'm SO mentally drained by this obsession that it's stealing my life away from me. It's stealing my happiness. With my limited financial resources, getting counseling is out of the question.

>

> Can anyone please share some advice that may help? I'm so tired of hating myself and I want my life back...

>

> Thank you,

>

> J

>

[Guest guest]

Katcha, I loved your analogy to swimming the English channel and perhaps just floating along.  Sandy

 

Welcome Jeni! While you may feel that you are living in the middle of a whirlwind at this moment, hopefully you can find a latch onto point for yourself right here in this group.

I too 'knew' allllll about not dieting, but couldn't seem to 'get' it for myself. Looking back this was probably a combo of perfectionism and diet mentality that kept me held back. It also may be that when I finally joined here I was READY to do what I needed to do. I hadn't read the IE book when I joined so felt somewhat out of the loop with terms or suggested practices, but I decided to 1) immerse myself in this undertaking and 2) let myself be my own guide in terms of what I would do. I felt that legalizing food made the most sense for me so I tackled that ONE aspect first. And as I did that I was absorbing ideas and suggestions from the posts of other members that I could and slowly did incorporate into my own practices as I was ready and able to do so.

I made my own discovery about sweets - that these could and did set me up for a roller coaster ride of highs and lows ultimately creating a self feeding mechanism for more and more of the same. When I ate sweets with fats and/or protein that could extend digestion, this whipsawing subsided and stopped running my life to its command.

So take a slow deep breath, decide what it is that YOU want to get from IE and wade right in. You don't have to swim the English Channel on the first lap, just come to enjoy the water, find your preferred stroke or even just float along if that suits you. I think you will find that if you gift yourself time, be gentle with your expectations for yourself, you will soon feel like " Hey, I can and am doing some great baby steps in IE. "

Looking forward to reading more from you.

BEST wishes, Katcha

IEing since March 2007

>

> Hi everyone,

>

> I need help. I feel like I'm in a never-ending vicious cycle. I've been aware of intuitive eating for a few years now. I've read books about it as well as about emotional eating. I feel like I know how to do it, yet I guess I just can't commit to giving it a real shot. I'm not really sure why. My biggest excuse I think is that I feel like I have a sugar addiction and IE won't work for me because that food gives me such intense cravings that I binge just about every time I eat it. So, IE ends up turning into " intuitive eating as long as I don't eat this or that food " , which I'm sure is NOT intuitive eating. This also gives such a power to certain foods (mainly sweets) that I am honestly scared of them. I feel absolutely out of control. I feel helpless and I don't know what to do.

>

> I've been trying to diet on and off for several months...no, i take that back, it's been many years. I've had small successes where I've avoided sugar for a few weeks and I've felt so much more in control of my life and happy. But now I can't even make it half a day without it. It's sad that it's turned into a drug for me.

>

> I feel like this is rock bottom. I'm SO mentally drained by this obsession that it's stealing my life away from me. It's stealing my happiness. With my limited financial resources, getting counseling is out of the question.

>

> Can anyone please share some advice that may help? I'm so tired of hating myself and I want my life back...

>

> Thank you,

>

> J

>

[Guest guest]

Hey Liz,

Thank you for your post. I've got to say though, it sounds like science

fiction. Whenever I've allowed myself to eat sugar I've just eaten more and

more of it until I've had to stop for health reasons.

I'm happy for you and the others who've experienced this miracle. I'd like to

but honestly I'm completely despairing about it for myself.

Wow, what a bummer post I just posted. But that's where I'm at for the moment.

At the same time I'm in a really good place with my food. I haven't eaten sugar

for 7 months and I don't miss it all. Once I lost the craving I don't even

notice it. I'm also 1 month into eating 3 meals with nothing in between. It's

been hard because I always want to eat late at night ( not because I'm hungry).

I'm definitely not starving myself in any way. I'm eating whatever I want, as

much as I want. I just stay away from sugar and try not to eat too much dairy

because I'm lactose intolerant.

So, this is what I'm doing for now and I'm here trying to slowly incorporate

more and more intuitive eating into my life. The hardest part for me is mindful

eating. My favorite thing to do in the world is go completely unconscious,

shove food into my mouth and watch tv.

Have a nice day everyone and I hope to be more like you one day, Liz.

Evan

[Guest guest]

Hey Liz,

Thank you for your post. I've got to say though, it sounds like science

fiction. Whenever I've allowed myself to eat sugar I've just eaten more and

more of it until I've had to stop for health reasons.

I'm happy for you and the others who've experienced this miracle. I'd like to

but honestly I'm completely despairing about it for myself.

Wow, what a bummer post I just posted. But that's where I'm at for the moment.

At the same time I'm in a really good place with my food. I haven't eaten sugar

for 7 months and I don't miss it all. Once I lost the craving I don't even

notice it. I'm also 1 month into eating 3 meals with nothing in between. It's

been hard because I always want to eat late at night ( not because I'm hungry).

I'm definitely not starving myself in any way. I'm eating whatever I want, as

much as I want. I just stay away from sugar and try not to eat too much dairy

because I'm lactose intolerant.

So, this is what I'm doing for now and I'm here trying to slowly incorporate

more and more intuitive eating into my life. The hardest part for me is mindful

eating. My favorite thing to do in the world is go completely unconscious,

shove food into my mouth and watch tv.

Have a nice day everyone and I hope to be more like you one day, Liz.

Evan

[Guest guest]

Evan Thanks for your honest sharing.  I was in a real bad place last week, but have come out of it somewhat.  This was going to be my year for no tests/surgeries but here I am again.  I've been diagnosed with fatty liver and doc wants a biopsy.  I am blaming it on the way I ate in the first phase of IE.  Now it might be a second medication I have to go off.  I'd be glad if it were the medication and not food.  I was thinking I will have to go on a special diet. I am so glad to hear about you loss of sugar craving. Keep us posted. Sandy

 

Hey Liz,

Thank you for your post. I've got to say though, it sounds like science fiction. Whenever I've allowed myself to eat sugar I've just eaten more and more of it until I've had to stop for health reasons.

I'm happy for you and the others who've experienced this miracle. I'd like to but honestly I'm completely despairing about it for myself.

Wow, what a bummer post I just posted. But that's where I'm at for the moment.

At the same time I'm in a really good place with my food. I haven't eaten sugar for 7 months and I don't miss it all. Once I lost the craving I don't even notice it. I'm also 1 month into eating 3 meals with nothing in between. It's been hard because I always want to eat late at night ( not because I'm hungry). I'm definitely not starving myself in any way. I'm eating whatever I want, as much as I want. I just stay away from sugar and try not to eat too much dairy because I'm lactose intolerant.

So, this is what I'm doing for now and I'm here trying to slowly incorporate more and more intuitive eating into my life. The hardest part for me is mindful eating. My favorite thing to do in the world is go completely unconscious, shove food into my mouth and watch tv.

Have a nice day everyone and I hope to be more like you one day, Liz.

Evan

[Guest guest]

Evan, it's been a very long row to hoe and I'm not even at the end I can for

surely say that. It's only been in the last month or 6 weeks where I'll eat

something sweet and afterwards i'll think to myself.. Well, that didn't taste

good at all. Yes, I still ate it, but atleast I realized it.

I still have my moments and I've been known to send myself to bed at night

simply to get myself to stop eating! This will be a lifetime project for me.

--

Liz

---- Evan Unruh wrote:

> Hey Liz,

>

> Thank you for your post. I've got to say though, it sounds like science

fiction. Whenever I've allowed myself to eat sugar I've just eaten more and

more of it until I've had to stop for health reasons.

>

> I'm happy for you and the others who've experienced this miracle. I'd like to

but honestly I'm completely despairing about it for myself.

>

> Wow, what a bummer post I just posted. But that's where I'm at for the

moment.

>

> At the same time I'm in a really good place with my food. I haven't eaten

sugar for 7 months and I don't miss it all. Once I lost the craving I don't

even notice it. I'm also 1 month into eating 3 meals with nothing in between.

It's been hard because I always want to eat late at night ( not because I'm

hungry). I'm definitely not starving myself in any way. I'm eating whatever I

want, as much as I want. I just stay away from sugar and try not to eat too

much dairy because I'm lactose intolerant.

>

> So, this is what I'm doing for now and I'm here trying to slowly incorporate

more and more intuitive eating into my life. The hardest part for me is mindful

eating. My favorite thing to do in the world is go completely unconscious,

shove food into my mouth and watch tv.

>

> Have a nice day everyone and I hope to be more like you one day, Liz.

>

> Evan

>

[Guest guest]

Evan, it's been a very long row to hoe and I'm not even at the end I can for

surely say that. It's only been in the last month or 6 weeks where I'll eat

something sweet and afterwards i'll think to myself.. Well, that didn't taste

good at all. Yes, I still ate it, but atleast I realized it.

I still have my moments and I've been known to send myself to bed at night

simply to get myself to stop eating! This will be a lifetime project for me.

--

Liz

---- Evan Unruh wrote:

> Hey Liz,

>

> Thank you for your post. I've got to say though, it sounds like science

fiction. Whenever I've allowed myself to eat sugar I've just eaten more and

more of it until I've had to stop for health reasons.

>

> I'm happy for you and the others who've experienced this miracle. I'd like to

but honestly I'm completely despairing about it for myself.

>

> Wow, what a bummer post I just posted. But that's where I'm at for the

moment.

>

> At the same time I'm in a really good place with my food. I haven't eaten

sugar for 7 months and I don't miss it all. Once I lost the craving I don't

even notice it. I'm also 1 month into eating 3 meals with nothing in between.

It's been hard because I always want to eat late at night ( not because I'm

hungry). I'm definitely not starving myself in any way. I'm eating whatever I

want, as much as I want. I just stay away from sugar and try not to eat too

much dairy because I'm lactose intolerant.

>

> So, this is what I'm doing for now and I'm here trying to slowly incorporate

more and more intuitive eating into my life. The hardest part for me is mindful

eating. My favorite thing to do in the world is go completely unconscious,

shove food into my mouth and watch tv.

>

> Have a nice day everyone and I hope to be more like you one day, Liz.

>

> Evan

>

[Guest guest]

J,

Don't worry, you sound JUST like the rest of us! You are not alone. And IE can

definitely work for you too!

I just ate one - count it - one - cinnamon roll with my family, even though my

husband had two and there is still one left on the kitchen counter. I let

everyone know it's MINE and since I'm not hungry, I'll eat it when I am again.

Done. No problem. Just 3 weeks ago, before IE, I ate 3 of the 6 in the package

at one sitting, and would have eaten all of them, if I hadn't known my guys

would complain loudly if they didn't get any.

My experience while trying to limit sweets was that I'd have " just one more "

until they were all gone or I felt ill from over-stuffing.

Now I simply wait until I am TRULY hungry, eat whatever I want to eat until I

notice I am no longer hungry, then stop and wait however long until I am truly

hungry again. And it works. I eat some real food and some junk and have no

guilt. I am not making myself sick and astonishingly, I am losing weight while

being amazed at how LITTLE it really takes to relieve my hunger. Somehow, I am

not obsessing about food and not turning to food to fix my upset emotions,

although the latter is taking some kind self-talk along the lines of, " Yes, I'm

upset with my son's crazy behavior, but I am NOT hungry right now, so I am not

going to eat to try to numb the pain. Instead, I think I'll write in my

journal. " It's working! Yes, it's VERY in-the-moment and requires me to make

the healthy choice over and over again, but I am feeling SO MUCH BETTER. As I

see that it can and does work, I am willing to not eat and make myself sick from

being overfull that one time and wait for my body to indicate it NEEDS to eat

instead.

Decriminalizing all foods is key to freedom from the compulsion to overeat. Do

join us and give it a try. There is hope.

Jane

>

> Hi everyone,

>

> I need help. I feel like I'm in a never-ending vicious cycle. I've been

aware of intuitive eating for a few years now. I've read books about it as well

as about emotional eating. I feel like I know how to do it, yet I guess I just

can't commit to giving it a real shot. I'm not really sure why. My biggest

excuse I think is that I feel like I have a sugar addiction and IE won't work

for me because that food gives me such intense cravings that I binge just about

every time I eat it. So, IE ends up turning into " intuitive eating as long as I

don't eat this or that food " , which I'm sure is NOT intuitive eating. This also

gives such a power to certain foods (mainly sweets) that I am honestly scared of

them. I feel absolutely out of control. I feel helpless and I don't know what

to do.

>

> I've been trying to diet on and off for several months...no, i take that back,

it's been many years. I've had small successes where I've avoided sugar for a

few weeks and I've felt so much more in control of my life and happy. But now I

can't even make it half a day without it. It's sad that it's turned into a drug

for me.

>

> I feel like this is rock bottom. I'm SO mentally drained by this obsession

that it's stealing my life away from me. It's stealing my happiness. With my

limited financial resources, getting counseling is out of the question.

>

> Can anyone please share some advice that may help? I'm so tired of hating

myself and I want my life back...

>

> Thank you,

>

> J

>

[Guest guest]

Sandy,

What you said is so true and I needed that reminder. What we practiced for a

lifetime of overeating and dieting, we cannot possibly unlearn in a short time.

Every few meals I think all is well and then a few minutes later begin to feel

that " a bit overstuffed " feeling, kind-of nauseous, heavy, uncomfortable. And I

get frustrated with myself, but then I think back and realize I did NOT feel

that way when I stopped. I probably was eating too fast to get the signal to

stop in time. I need more awareness and more practice to find where that

stopping point really needs to be. I'm aiming for stopping when I am no longer

hungry, as opposed to when I'm full, because I am morbidly obese and that seems

to be the difference between maintenance and dropping excess weight. I want to

lose not only all the obsessing on food and the sick tummy aches and the numb

from food stuff, but also the fat which has aged me before my time with health

problems usually seen in people much older than I am. It's all about self-care,

and somehow in trying to take care of my health while dieting, I instead

punished myself and messed with my own head. I'm undoing the damage, and that I

have to do when I realize I've messed up is talk gently to myself and then wait

until my body next signals its hunger before I add any more food. Simple, but

not easy - but definitely do-able.

Jane

>

> > **

> >

> >

> > Hi everyone,

> >

> > I need help. I feel like I'm in a never-ending vicious cycle. I've been

> > aware of intuitive eating for a few years now. I've read books about it as

> > well as about emotional eating. I feel like I know how to do it, yet I guess

> > I just can't commit to giving it a real shot. I'm not really sure why. My

> > biggest excuse I think is that I feel like I have a sugar addiction and IE

> > won't work for me because that food gives me such intense cravings that I

> > binge just about every time I eat it. So, IE ends up turning into " intuitive

> > eating as long as I don't eat this or that food " , which I'm sure is NOT

> > intuitive eating. This also gives such a power to certain foods (mainly

> > sweets) that I am honestly scared of them. I feel absolutely out of control.

> > I feel helpless and I don't know what to do.

> >

> > I've been trying to diet on and off for several months...no, i take that

> > back, it's been many years. I've had small successes where I've avoided

> > sugar for a few weeks and I've felt so much more in control of my life and

> > happy. But now I can't even make it half a day without it. It's sad that

> > it's turned into a drug for me.

> >

> > I feel like this is rock bottom. I'm SO mentally drained by this obsession

> > that it's stealing my life away from me. It's stealing my happiness. With my

> > limited financial resources, getting counseling is out of the question.

> >

> > Can anyone please share some advice that may help? I'm so tired of hating

> > myself and I want my life back...

> >

> > Thank you,

> >

> > J

> >

> >

> >

>

[Guest guest]

Sandy,

What you said is so true and I needed that reminder. What we practiced for a

lifetime of overeating and dieting, we cannot possibly unlearn in a short time.

Every few meals I think all is well and then a few minutes later begin to feel

that " a bit overstuffed " feeling, kind-of nauseous, heavy, uncomfortable. And I

get frustrated with myself, but then I think back and realize I did NOT feel

that way when I stopped. I probably was eating too fast to get the signal to

stop in time. I need more awareness and more practice to find where that

stopping point really needs to be. I'm aiming for stopping when I am no longer

hungry, as opposed to when I'm full, because I am morbidly obese and that seems

to be the difference between maintenance and dropping excess weight. I want to

lose not only all the obsessing on food and the sick tummy aches and the numb

from food stuff, but also the fat which has aged me before my time with health

problems usually seen in people much older than I am. It's all about self-care,

and somehow in trying to take care of my health while dieting, I instead

punished myself and messed with my own head. I'm undoing the damage, and that I

have to do when I realize I've messed up is talk gently to myself and then wait

until my body next signals its hunger before I add any more food. Simple, but

not easy - but definitely do-able.

Jane

>

> > **

> >

> >

> > Hi everyone,

> >

> > I need help. I feel like I'm in a never-ending vicious cycle. I've been

> > aware of intuitive eating for a few years now. I've read books about it as

> > well as about emotional eating. I feel like I know how to do it, yet I guess

> > I just can't commit to giving it a real shot. I'm not really sure why. My

> > biggest excuse I think is that I feel like I have a sugar addiction and IE

> > won't work for me because that food gives me such intense cravings that I

> > binge just about every time I eat it. So, IE ends up turning into " intuitive

> > eating as long as I don't eat this or that food " , which I'm sure is NOT

> > intuitive eating. This also gives such a power to certain foods (mainly

> > sweets) that I am honestly scared of them. I feel absolutely out of control.

> > I feel helpless and I don't know what to do.

> >

> > I've been trying to diet on and off for several months...no, i take that

> > back, it's been many years. I've had small successes where I've avoided

> > sugar for a few weeks and I've felt so much more in control of my life and

> > happy. But now I can't even make it half a day without it. It's sad that

> > it's turned into a drug for me.

> >

> > I feel like this is rock bottom. I'm SO mentally drained by this obsession

> > that it's stealing my life away from me. It's stealing my happiness. With my

> > limited financial resources, getting counseling is out of the question.

> >

> > Can anyone please share some advice that may help? I'm so tired of hating

> > myself and I want my life back...

> >

> > Thank you,

> >

> > J

> >

> >

> >

>

[Guest guest]

Sandy,

What you said is so true and I needed that reminder. What we practiced for a

lifetime of overeating and dieting, we cannot possibly unlearn in a short time.

Every few meals I think all is well and then a few minutes later begin to feel

that " a bit overstuffed " feeling, kind-of nauseous, heavy, uncomfortable. And I

get frustrated with myself, but then I think back and realize I did NOT feel

that way when I stopped. I probably was eating too fast to get the signal to

stop in time. I need more awareness and more practice to find where that

stopping point really needs to be. I'm aiming for stopping when I am no longer

hungry, as opposed to when I'm full, because I am morbidly obese and that seems

to be the difference between maintenance and dropping excess weight. I want to

lose not only all the obsessing on food and the sick tummy aches and the numb

from food stuff, but also the fat which has aged me before my time with health

problems usually seen in people much older than I am. It's all about self-care,

and somehow in trying to take care of my health while dieting, I instead

punished myself and messed with my own head. I'm undoing the damage, and that I

have to do when I realize I've messed up is talk gently to myself and then wait

until my body next signals its hunger before I add any more food. Simple, but

not easy - but definitely do-able.

Jane

>

> > **

> >

> >

> > Hi everyone,

> >

> > I need help. I feel like I'm in a never-ending vicious cycle. I've been

> > aware of intuitive eating for a few years now. I've read books about it as

> > well as about emotional eating. I feel like I know how to do it, yet I guess

> > I just can't commit to giving it a real shot. I'm not really sure why. My

> > biggest excuse I think is that I feel like I have a sugar addiction and IE

> > won't work for me because that food gives me such intense cravings that I

> > binge just about every time I eat it. So, IE ends up turning into " intuitive

> > eating as long as I don't eat this or that food " , which I'm sure is NOT

> > intuitive eating. This also gives such a power to certain foods (mainly

> > sweets) that I am honestly scared of them. I feel absolutely out of control.

> > I feel helpless and I don't know what to do.

> >

> > I've been trying to diet on and off for several months...no, i take that

> > back, it's been many years. I've had small successes where I've avoided

> > sugar for a few weeks and I've felt so much more in control of my life and

> > happy. But now I can't even make it half a day without it. It's sad that

> > it's turned into a drug for me.

> >

> > I feel like this is rock bottom. I'm SO mentally drained by this obsession

> > that it's stealing my life away from me. It's stealing my happiness. With my

> > limited financial resources, getting counseling is out of the question.

> >

> > Can anyone please share some advice that may help? I'm so tired of hating

> > myself and I want my life back...

> >

> > Thank you,

> >

> > J

> >

> >

> >

>

[Guest guest]

Wow that is terrific Jane! Talk about being on a roll (giggles). Really great

work and GO gal!

Katcha

IEing since March 2007

> >

> > Hi everyone,

> >

> > I need help. I feel like I'm in a never-ending vicious cycle. I've been

aware of intuitive eating for a few years now. I've read books about it as well

as about emotional eating. I feel like I know how to do it, yet I guess I just

can't commit to giving it a real shot. I'm not really sure why. My biggest

excuse I think is that I feel like I have a sugar addiction and IE won't work

for me because that food gives me such intense cravings that I binge just about

every time I eat it. So, IE ends up turning into " intuitive eating as long as I

don't eat this or that food " , which I'm sure is NOT intuitive eating. This also

gives such a power to certain foods (mainly sweets) that I am honestly scared of

them. I feel absolutely out of control. I feel helpless and I don't know what

to do.

> >

> > I've been trying to diet on and off for several months...no, i take that

back, it's been many years. I've had small successes where I've avoided sugar

for a few weeks and I've felt so much more in control of my life and happy. But

now I can't even make it half a day without it. It's sad that it's turned into

a drug for me.

> >

> > I feel like this is rock bottom. I'm SO mentally drained by this obsession

that it's stealing my life away from me. It's stealing my happiness. With my

limited financial resources, getting counseling is out of the question.

> >

> > Can anyone please share some advice that may help? I'm so tired of hating

myself and I want my life back...

> >

> > Thank you,

> >

> > J

> >

>

[Guest guest]

Thank you for your reply Sandy. I appreciate knowing that I'm not alone in this

struggle.

It really does feel so hard to believe that this process will really work for

ME. I feel sometimes like I have been dieting so long that I can never lose the

guilt and self-hatred that needs to be lost to trust my body and become an

intuitive eater.

This morning I made a conscious decision to do my best to let go of the guilt

(associated with so many foods) and listen to my body to see when I was hungry

and how much it took to feel satisfied. A small step forward even though I had

trouble identifying hunger. I ate sweets a few times throughout the day and

reminded myself that I needed to eat these foods if I wanted them, instead of

denying them which ultimately leads to feelings of deprivation.

I must admit it felt nice to allow myself to NOT feel guilty. My mood was

better throughout the day because I didn't beat myself up over food. I bought

some ice cream to have after my dinner and although I ate past fullness, I ate

1/4 of what I normally would have. And I told myself I could have it again

tomorrow if I felt like it Usually I would eat it all and swear to be on a

strict diet the next morning!

It feels like a small step forward. I know that stress, anxiety, and worrying

are big triggers for me to binge, so I know I have a long, challenging road

ahead of me, but I want SO badly to feel in control of my life again. I really

hope I can do this!

J

>

> > **

> >

> >

> > Hi everyone,

> >

> > I need help. I feel like I'm in a never-ending vicious cycle. I've been

> > aware of intuitive eating for a few years now. I've read books about it as

> > well as about emotional eating. I feel like I know how to do it, yet I guess

> > I just can't commit to giving it a real shot. I'm not really sure why. My

> > biggest excuse I think is that I feel like I have a sugar addiction and IE

> > won't work for me because that food gives me such intense cravings that I

> > binge just about every time I eat it. So, IE ends up turning into " intuitive

> > eating as long as I don't eat this or that food " , which I'm sure is NOT

> > intuitive eating. This also gives such a power to certain foods (mainly

> > sweets) that I am honestly scared of them. I feel absolutely out of control.

> > I feel helpless and I don't know what to do.

> >

> > I've been trying to diet on and off for several months...no, i take that

> > back, it's been many years. I've had small successes where I've avoided

> > sugar for a few weeks and I've felt so much more in control of my life and

> > happy. But now I can't even make it half a day without it. It's sad that

> > it's turned into a drug for me.

> >

> > I feel like this is rock bottom. I'm SO mentally drained by this obsession

> > that it's stealing my life away from me. It's stealing my happiness. With my

> > limited financial resources, getting counseling is out of the question.

> >

> > Can anyone please share some advice that may help? I'm so tired of hating

> > myself and I want my life back...

> >

> > Thank you,

> >

> > J

> >

> >

> >

>

[Guest guest]

Thank you for your reply Sandy. I appreciate knowing that I'm not alone in this

struggle.

It really does feel so hard to believe that this process will really work for

ME. I feel sometimes like I have been dieting so long that I can never lose the

guilt and self-hatred that needs to be lost to trust my body and become an

intuitive eater.

This morning I made a conscious decision to do my best to let go of the guilt

(associated with so many foods) and listen to my body to see when I was hungry

and how much it took to feel satisfied. A small step forward even though I had

trouble identifying hunger. I ate sweets a few times throughout the day and

reminded myself that I needed to eat these foods if I wanted them, instead of

denying them which ultimately leads to feelings of deprivation.

I must admit it felt nice to allow myself to NOT feel guilty. My mood was

better throughout the day because I didn't beat myself up over food. I bought

some ice cream to have after my dinner and although I ate past fullness, I ate

1/4 of what I normally would have. And I told myself I could have it again

tomorrow if I felt like it Usually I would eat it all and swear to be on a

strict diet the next morning!

It feels like a small step forward. I know that stress, anxiety, and worrying

are big triggers for me to binge, so I know I have a long, challenging road

ahead of me, but I want SO badly to feel in control of my life again. I really

hope I can do this!

J

>

> > **

> >

> >

> > Hi everyone,

> >

> > I need help. I feel like I'm in a never-ending vicious cycle. I've been

> > aware of intuitive eating for a few years now. I've read books about it as

> > well as about emotional eating. I feel like I know how to do it, yet I guess

> > I just can't commit to giving it a real shot. I'm not really sure why. My

> > biggest excuse I think is that I feel like I have a sugar addiction and IE

> > won't work for me because that food gives me such intense cravings that I

> > binge just about every time I eat it. So, IE ends up turning into " intuitive

> > eating as long as I don't eat this or that food " , which I'm sure is NOT

> > intuitive eating. This also gives such a power to certain foods (mainly

> > sweets) that I am honestly scared of them. I feel absolutely out of control.

> > I feel helpless and I don't know what to do.

> >

> > I've been trying to diet on and off for several months...no, i take that

> > back, it's been many years. I've had small successes where I've avoided

> > sugar for a few weeks and I've felt so much more in control of my life and

> > happy. But now I can't even make it half a day without it. It's sad that

> > it's turned into a drug for me.

> >

> > I feel like this is rock bottom. I'm SO mentally drained by this obsession

> > that it's stealing my life away from me. It's stealing my happiness. With my

> > limited financial resources, getting counseling is out of the question.

> >

> > Can anyone please share some advice that may help? I'm so tired of hating

> > myself and I want my life back...

> >

> > Thank you,

> >

> > J

> >

> >

> >

>

[Guest guest]

Jeni, That doesn't seem like a SMALL step to me. I think it is a BIG step.  Good for you. Sandy

 

Thank you for your reply Sandy. I appreciate knowing that I'm not alone in this struggle.

It really does feel so hard to believe that this process will really work for ME. I feel sometimes like I have been dieting so long that I can never lose the guilt and self-hatred that needs to be lost to trust my body and become an intuitive eater.

This morning I made a conscious decision to do my best to let go of the guilt (associated with so many foods) and listen to my body to see when I was hungry and how much it took to feel satisfied. A small step forward even though I had trouble identifying hunger. I ate sweets a few times throughout the day and reminded myself that I needed to eat these foods if I wanted them, instead of denying them which ultimately leads to feelings of deprivation.

I must admit it felt nice to allow myself to NOT feel guilty. My mood was better throughout the day because I didn't beat myself up over food. I bought some ice cream to have after my dinner and although I ate past fullness, I ate 1/4 of what I normally would have. And I told myself I could have it again tomorrow if I felt like it Usually I would eat it all and swear to be on a strict diet the next morning!

It feels like a small step forward. I know that stress, anxiety, and worrying are big triggers for me to binge, so I know I have a long, challenging road ahead of me, but I want SO badly to feel in control of my life again. I really hope I can do this!

J

>

> > **

> >

> >

> > Hi everyone,

> >

> > I need help. I feel like I'm in a never-ending vicious cycle. I've been

> > aware of intuitive eating for a few years now. I've read books about it as

> > well as about emotional eating. I feel like I know how to do it, yet I guess

> > I just can't commit to giving it a real shot. I'm not really sure why. My

> > biggest excuse I think is that I feel like I have a sugar addiction and IE

> > won't work for me because that food gives me such intense cravings that I

> > binge just about every time I eat it. So, IE ends up turning into " intuitive

> > eating as long as I don't eat this or that food " , which I'm sure is NOT

> > intuitive eating. This also gives such a power to certain foods (mainly

> > sweets) that I am honestly scared of them. I feel absolutely out of control.

> > I feel helpless and I don't know what to do.

> >

> > I've been trying to diet on and off for several months...no, i take that

> > back, it's been many years. I've had small successes where I've avoided

> > sugar for a few weeks and I've felt so much more in control of my life and

> > happy. But now I can't even make it half a day without it. It's sad that

> > it's turned into a drug for me.

> >

> > I feel like this is rock bottom. I'm SO mentally drained by this obsession

> > that it's stealing my life away from me. It's stealing my happiness. With my

> > limited financial resources, getting counseling is out of the question.

> >

> > Can anyone please share some advice that may help? I'm so tired of hating

> > myself and I want my life back...

> >

> > Thank you,

> >

> > J

> >

> >

> >

>

[Guest guest]

Jeni, That doesn't seem like a SMALL step to me. I think it is a BIG step.  Good for you. Sandy

 

Thank you for your reply Sandy. I appreciate knowing that I'm not alone in this struggle.

It really does feel so hard to believe that this process will really work for ME. I feel sometimes like I have been dieting so long that I can never lose the guilt and self-hatred that needs to be lost to trust my body and become an intuitive eater.

This morning I made a conscious decision to do my best to let go of the guilt (associated with so many foods) and listen to my body to see when I was hungry and how much it took to feel satisfied. A small step forward even though I had trouble identifying hunger. I ate sweets a few times throughout the day and reminded myself that I needed to eat these foods if I wanted them, instead of denying them which ultimately leads to feelings of deprivation.

I must admit it felt nice to allow myself to NOT feel guilty. My mood was better throughout the day because I didn't beat myself up over food. I bought some ice cream to have after my dinner and although I ate past fullness, I ate 1/4 of what I normally would have. And I told myself I could have it again tomorrow if I felt like it Usually I would eat it all and swear to be on a strict diet the next morning!

It feels like a small step forward. I know that stress, anxiety, and worrying are big triggers for me to binge, so I know I have a long, challenging road ahead of me, but I want SO badly to feel in control of my life again. I really hope I can do this!

J

>

> > **

> >

> >

> > Hi everyone,

> >

> > I need help. I feel like I'm in a never-ending vicious cycle. I've been

> > aware of intuitive eating for a few years now. I've read books about it as

> > well as about emotional eating. I feel like I know how to do it, yet I guess

> > I just can't commit to giving it a real shot. I'm not really sure why. My

> > biggest excuse I think is that I feel like I have a sugar addiction and IE

> > won't work for me because that food gives me such intense cravings that I

> > binge just about every time I eat it. So, IE ends up turning into " intuitive

> > eating as long as I don't eat this or that food " , which I'm sure is NOT

> > intuitive eating. This also gives such a power to certain foods (mainly

> > sweets) that I am honestly scared of them. I feel absolutely out of control.

> > I feel helpless and I don't know what to do.

> >

> > I've been trying to diet on and off for several months...no, i take that

> > back, it's been many years. I've had small successes where I've avoided

> > sugar for a few weeks and I've felt so much more in control of my life and

> > happy. But now I can't even make it half a day without it. It's sad that

> > it's turned into a drug for me.

> >

> > I feel like this is rock bottom. I'm SO mentally drained by this obsession

> > that it's stealing my life away from me. It's stealing my happiness. With my

> > limited financial resources, getting counseling is out of the question.

> >

> > Can anyone please share some advice that may help? I'm so tired of hating

> > myself and I want my life back...

> >

> > Thank you,

> >

> > J

> >

> >

> >

>