Introduction

[Guest guest]

> Anyone know anything about T's? Preterm labor? Increased risk of

> rupture? What if the baby implants in one of the arms? How about T-

> shaped uteri and early mc?

Hi -Just wanted to say hello and welcome. I'm a UU, so I can't

offer you much specific info. (But, since you mentioned it, I could

definitely answer PTL questions! Fire away if interested!) I did

want to tell you that there is a list of members under " Database. "

I'm sure that there are a few T-shaped gals how post from time to

time. Hopefully you could get in touch with someone who can be of

more help.

>My mother's losses were also due to IC so it's possible that I just

>inherited funny equipment.

I know that there's no definite evidence, but my mom is SU and I

have a cousin (male) who was born with one kidney. Coincidence,

maybe, but I'm personally convinced that there's some link! Who

knows?

Glad that you found us!

UU, 30

[Guest guest]

Hi--

I am not sure if you were referring to me or another ...I recently

went for a consult at Yale and saw Paidas in the perinatology

department. You?

36, BU/SU?

Resection in a few weeks?

In a message dated 10/26/04 8:13:19 AM Eastern Standard Time,

susan@... writes:

> Also, , I'm at Yale too. Who're you seeing?

>

[Guest guest]

Hi--

I am not sure if you were referring to me or another ...I recently

went for a consult at Yale and saw Paidas in the perinatology

department. You?

36, BU/SU?

Resection in a few weeks?

In a message dated 10/26/04 8:13:19 AM Eastern Standard Time,

susan@... writes:

> Also, , I'm at Yale too. Who're you seeing?

>

[Guest guest]

Nice to hear this. I am in nursing school right now and almost felt it was

impossible to do IE during this time. I fooled myself by " rejoining " weight

watchers only to eat mire in the last few weeks. Will I ever learn...lol.

>

> Hello everyone! I am excited to have just joined this community and thought

I'd post a little bit about myself. I am an RN in my mid-twenties and committed

myself to IE a couple months ago. I first read the book several years ago, but

until now I could not fully let go of restrictive eating. My weight has gone up

and down since my early teens and through the many cycles of dieting and

overeating, I became terrified of being " fat " and developed a very negative body

image. Even when I reached my " ideal " weight last October (I was exercising a

lot to train for a triathlon), there were only brief moments when I felt happy

with the way my body looked. Since October, I've gone through several major

life changes and in the process gained some weight. Of course, at first this

was a crisis! All I wanted to do was start counting calories again and get rid

of the new weight as fast as possible. But a bigger part of me was way too

tired of the cycle. So I re-read IE and found more great books on body image

and food/weight issues, and am working towards practicing a loving, nurturing

way of eating and appreciating my body.

>

> Of course, one of my goals is still to lose weight and my biggest challenge is

reminding myself that this goal is secondary to the goals of IE. I still keep a

close eye on my body weight and size and honestly, I am a little afraid that I

won't lose any weight with IE. Some days I am very tempted to bring back some

form of restrictive eating just " for a few weeks " or until " I lose X pounds. "

But thankfully, I have very supportive people in my life and they help me stay

committed to this process.

>

> That was more than a little bit about myself, but thank you for listening to

my story!

>

[Guest guest]

Hi ,Welcome to the group!Thanks very much for sharing your story so openly and bravely. (And the warning to those with ED was a nice touch.)Although I have not had your experiences, I am here to say that NO, you are NOT broken! you WILL re-learn the hunger and fullness signals that you were born with! it may take a little while, but it will happen. if you can TRY to let go of fears of weight gain, i think the process goes a lot faster. trust that your body, when given the reins, will know what to do... not the first day out, but soon thereafter. the sooner you trust, the faster it will happen!

have you read Women, Food, and God? i found it to be a big eye opener and extremely helpful for me. i am one that is a very regular exerciser also... and used IE to tweak my relationship with exercise a bit. i think i exercise with the same frequency now as i did before, but had a time period where it was a lot less... and now i give myself permission to exercise for much shorter periods of time. it has been really liberating... i enjoy exercise so much more now! sometimes giving yourself permission NOT to exercise makes you realize how much you really do like it! for me, i gave up running for three months (one winter), and then started back with VERY short runs. i enjoyed running more than I had in a decade! now i am pregnant and i use the elliptical instead. i am very nervous about what it will be like to run again after pregnancy, especially since the elliptical is so easy, mentally (it's in my living room) but i am HOPING that i will enjoy it even more because it was taken away from me for a while.

it sounds like you are making excellent progress with the IE book, and letting yourself eat what you want this last month. that's EXCELLENT! and good for you for not taking on too many things to start with. i think slow steady progress is the way to go!

i look forward to hearing more from you.all the best,abbyIE since 11/08

 

Hi! I apologize in advance for what will be a long post. I'm going to talk about my weight and background by means of introduction. If you have an ED and find this sort of thing triggering please skip it. No offense will be taken!

I grew up in a lower-middle class family. My stepfather was a terrible person and used control over food as a means of punishment and abuse. If I didn't finish my veggies I was beaten or grounded. Most of my summers as a kid were spent locked in my room due to not finishing a single meal. I had to eat what he served up at meal times, no more and no less. I was malnourished, tiny, and hungry most of the time. I lied to the teachers and other adults who asked if " everything was ok at home " and told them I was just naturally skinny. I didn't want my stepfather to find out I said something and beat me.

Fast forward to the age of 25. My thyroid went south and this tiny little thing went from 100 to 150 lbs. I'm 5'4 " on a good day and very small boned. I straightened out the thyroid but had trouble losing the weight. I had never dieted before and was a complete couch potato. At a doctor's suggestion I started the Atkin's diet, lost most of the weight, and started exercising.

Fast forward again to the age of 33. I was exercising very regularly and keeping myself fit and healthy. If the weight started sneaking up I'd calorie count or exercise more. But it wasn't fun. Eating was frustrating and exercise was becoming a chore.

Then the thyroid went south again and I returned to college for a second degree. I'm almost at my heaviest now. I knew something had to give when I tried starting a running program again, injured myself on the second day out, and have been completely sedentary with a knee injury for 6 months. I'm 35 and trying to learn how to eat when I'm hungry and stop when I'm full. After years of therapy I still find vegetables repulsive. I can't bear the thought of low-carb dieting again. I love to cook and eat. I just want to be comfortable so I can hop on a bike or go for an occassional jog. I don't know that I'd be characterized as a binge eater, but I've definitely got issues with food, especially the foods I was denied as a child. Portion control is a problem; probably also due to childhood deprivation.

I just finished chapter 11 of Intuitive Eating. I've been allowing myself to eat unabashedly for a month or so. I think I'm ready to start working with the hunger scale and listen to my body. It's scary, though. What if my childhood left my signals completely broken? Will I spend the next 10 years eating pizza every day? Can I get to a point where I don't go to bed bloated and sickly full every night? Am I the only one who fantasizes about living in a country where I can't pig out all of the time? I'm tired of the first-world guilt.

I'm here for reassurance. I need to know that there's hope for food sanity someday.

Thanks for reading my long-winded post. I hope I can contribute and find solace here.

[Guest guest]

First of all, thank you for being so candid and honest.  It seems like you have had a lot to over come and still do.  I guess you well aware that diets don't work by now, other wise we would all be thin I think.  I too tried the Akins diet and lost weight.  Now I find out  I was losing muscle, not fat.  Great!.   The low carb too is a deprivation mentality that can't be sustained for any length of time by many people.  It is hard getting rid of the diet mentality after years of being on one, counting calories, etc.  You know. I find it hard to be comfortable or even accepting of the statement that there are no forbidden foods.  I just finished noting that after eating a pice of pie today, I feel guilty.  I guess it will take time, lots of time.  At first on IE I felt so free of limitations, forbidden foods, and guilt, shame and all the rest.  I ate Hot Fudge Sundae's most every day for a couple of weeks.  And yes I am sure I gained weight because I had to get bigger clothes.  And boy were they comfortable. I'm told this process of IE over time will bring us to our natural weight, not necessarily our desired/hoped for weight. I am 5ft 1 and weigh around 180 now.  I never will weigh 110 again.  That was 40 years ago and before 4 pregnancies. Remember to be kind to yourself and gentle.  Keep writing in too.  You will get a lot out of this site.  Sandy

 

Hi! I apologize in advance for what will be a long post. I'm going to talk about my weight and background by means of introduction. If you have an ED and find this sort of thing triggering please skip it. No offense will be taken!

I grew up in a lower-middle class family. My stepfather was a terrible person and used control over food as a means of punishment and abuse. If I didn't finish my veggies I was beaten or grounded. Most of my summers as a kid were spent locked in my room due to not finishing a single meal. I had to eat what he served up at meal times, no more and no less. I was malnourished, tiny, and hungry most of the time. I lied to the teachers and other adults who asked if " everything was ok at home " and told them I was just naturally skinny. I didn't want my stepfather to find out I said something and beat me.

Fast forward to the age of 25. My thyroid went south and this tiny little thing went from 100 to 150 lbs. I'm 5'4 " on a good day and very small boned. I straightened out the thyroid but had trouble losing the weight. I had never dieted before and was a complete couch potato. At a doctor's suggestion I started the Atkin's diet, lost most of the weight, and started exercising.

Fast forward again to the age of 33. I was exercising very regularly and keeping myself fit and healthy. If the weight started sneaking up I'd calorie count or exercise more. But it wasn't fun. Eating was frustrating and exercise was becoming a chore.

Then the thyroid went south again and I returned to college for a second degree. I'm almost at my heaviest now. I knew something had to give when I tried starting a running program again, injured myself on the second day out, and have been completely sedentary with a knee injury for 6 months. I'm 35 and trying to learn how to eat when I'm hungry and stop when I'm full. After years of therapy I still find vegetables repulsive. I can't bear the thought of low-carb dieting again. I love to cook and eat. I just want to be comfortable so I can hop on a bike or go for an occassional jog. I don't know that I'd be characterized as a binge eater, but I've definitely got issues with food, especially the foods I was denied as a child. Portion control is a problem; probably also due to childhood deprivation.

I just finished chapter 11 of Intuitive Eating. I've been allowing myself to eat unabashedly for a month or so. I think I'm ready to start working with the hunger scale and listen to my body. It's scary, though. What if my childhood left my signals completely broken? Will I spend the next 10 years eating pizza every day? Can I get to a point where I don't go to bed bloated and sickly full every night? Am I the only one who fantasizes about living in a country where I can't pig out all of the time? I'm tired of the first-world guilt.

I'm here for reassurance. I need to know that there's hope for food sanity someday.

Thanks for reading my long-winded post. I hope I can contribute and find solace here.

[Guest guest]

First of all, thank you for being so candid and honest.  It seems like you have had a lot to over come and still do.  I guess you well aware that diets don't work by now, other wise we would all be thin I think.  I too tried the Akins diet and lost weight.  Now I find out  I was losing muscle, not fat.  Great!.   The low carb too is a deprivation mentality that can't be sustained for any length of time by many people.  It is hard getting rid of the diet mentality after years of being on one, counting calories, etc.  You know. I find it hard to be comfortable or even accepting of the statement that there are no forbidden foods.  I just finished noting that after eating a pice of pie today, I feel guilty.  I guess it will take time, lots of time.  At first on IE I felt so free of limitations, forbidden foods, and guilt, shame and all the rest.  I ate Hot Fudge Sundae's most every day for a couple of weeks.  And yes I am sure I gained weight because I had to get bigger clothes.  And boy were they comfortable. I'm told this process of IE over time will bring us to our natural weight, not necessarily our desired/hoped for weight. I am 5ft 1 and weigh around 180 now.  I never will weigh 110 again.  That was 40 years ago and before 4 pregnancies. Remember to be kind to yourself and gentle.  Keep writing in too.  You will get a lot out of this site.  Sandy

 

Hi! I apologize in advance for what will be a long post. I'm going to talk about my weight and background by means of introduction. If you have an ED and find this sort of thing triggering please skip it. No offense will be taken!

I grew up in a lower-middle class family. My stepfather was a terrible person and used control over food as a means of punishment and abuse. If I didn't finish my veggies I was beaten or grounded. Most of my summers as a kid were spent locked in my room due to not finishing a single meal. I had to eat what he served up at meal times, no more and no less. I was malnourished, tiny, and hungry most of the time. I lied to the teachers and other adults who asked if " everything was ok at home " and told them I was just naturally skinny. I didn't want my stepfather to find out I said something and beat me.

Fast forward to the age of 25. My thyroid went south and this tiny little thing went from 100 to 150 lbs. I'm 5'4 " on a good day and very small boned. I straightened out the thyroid but had trouble losing the weight. I had never dieted before and was a complete couch potato. At a doctor's suggestion I started the Atkin's diet, lost most of the weight, and started exercising.

Fast forward again to the age of 33. I was exercising very regularly and keeping myself fit and healthy. If the weight started sneaking up I'd calorie count or exercise more. But it wasn't fun. Eating was frustrating and exercise was becoming a chore.

Then the thyroid went south again and I returned to college for a second degree. I'm almost at my heaviest now. I knew something had to give when I tried starting a running program again, injured myself on the second day out, and have been completely sedentary with a knee injury for 6 months. I'm 35 and trying to learn how to eat when I'm hungry and stop when I'm full. After years of therapy I still find vegetables repulsive. I can't bear the thought of low-carb dieting again. I love to cook and eat. I just want to be comfortable so I can hop on a bike or go for an occassional jog. I don't know that I'd be characterized as a binge eater, but I've definitely got issues with food, especially the foods I was denied as a child. Portion control is a problem; probably also due to childhood deprivation.

I just finished chapter 11 of Intuitive Eating. I've been allowing myself to eat unabashedly for a month or so. I think I'm ready to start working with the hunger scale and listen to my body. It's scary, though. What if my childhood left my signals completely broken? Will I spend the next 10 years eating pizza every day? Can I get to a point where I don't go to bed bloated and sickly full every night? Am I the only one who fantasizes about living in a country where I can't pig out all of the time? I'm tired of the first-world guilt.

I'm here for reassurance. I need to know that there's hope for food sanity someday.

Thanks for reading my long-winded post. I hope I can contribute and find solace here.

[Guest guest]

Hi, , thanks for your post, great hearing from you! Sorry you went through what you did. It takes time to unlearn the mistreatment, me, too, I'm learning as well to love myself. It took me a loooonnng time, I hope your time is shorter than mine was to learn how to love yourself. I was also unabashed for a considerable amount of time after I started learning about the IE concept. I did gain weight, however, I am finally beginning to listen to my body signals. Don't be afraid -- you'll get there! Abby and the others give great support. I hope I can be a help also. Tai

[Guest guest]

Hi, , thanks for your post, great hearing from you! Sorry you went through what you did. It takes time to unlearn the mistreatment, me, too, I'm learning as well to love myself. It took me a loooonnng time, I hope your time is shorter than mine was to learn how to love yourself. I was also unabashed for a considerable amount of time after I started learning about the IE concept. I did gain weight, however, I am finally beginning to listen to my body signals. Don't be afraid -- you'll get there! Abby and the others give great support. I hope I can be a help also. Tai

[Guest guest]

Sandy, I had an interesting experience I wish to share with you. I went out for lunch and ordered what I thought I wanted. (A Reuben sandwich -- for those who may not know what that is, it is corned beef with sauerkraut & melted swiss cheese & thousand island dressing) For the lunch special, they had soup and sandwich. I decided I would have a broth with veggies and few noodles. I gave specific instructions to the waitress, she followed my order. I had half of the sandwich and realized that it was packed with salt. I mean, it was really salty, too salty. So I did something very unusual for me. I did not eat the other half. Believe me, if it was so good I would have had a bigger struggle on my hands, but I realized I was not hungry any more anyway. So for one of the few

times in my life, I refused to eat. I did not feel bad about it (much) and I didn't take it home. Tai

To: IntuitiveEating_Support Sent: Monday, June 13, 2011 3:57 PMSubject: Re: Introduction

First of all, thank you for being so candid and honest. It seems like you have had a lot to over come and still do. I guess you well aware that diets don't work by now, other wise we would all be thin I think. I too tried the Akins diet and lost weight. Now I find out I was losing muscle, not fat. Great!. The low carb too is a deprivation mentality that can't be sustained for any length of time by many people. It is hard getting rid of the diet mentality after years of being on one, counting calories, etc. You know. I find it hard to be comfortable or even accepting of the statement that there are no forbidden foods. I just finished noting that after eating a pice of pie today, I feel guilty. I guess it will take time, lots of time. At first on IE I felt so free of limitations, forbidden foods, and guilt, shame and all the rest. I ate Hot Fudge Sundae's most every

day for a couple of weeks. And yes I am sure I gained weight because I had to get bigger clothes. And boy were they comfortable. I'm told this process of IE over time will bring us to our natural weight, not necessarily our desired/hoped for weight. I am 5ft 1 and weigh around 180 now. I never will weigh 110 again. That was 40 years ago and before 4 pregnancies. Remember to be kind to yourself and gentle. Keep writing in too. You will get a lot out of this site. Sandy

Hi! I apologize in advance for what will be a long post. I'm going to talk about my weight and background by means of introduction. If you have an ED and find this sort of thing triggering please skip it. No offense will be taken!I grew up in a lower-middle class family. My stepfather was a terrible person and used control over food as a means of punishment and abuse. If I didn't finish my veggies I was beaten or grounded. Most of my summers as a kid were spent locked in my room due to not finishing a single meal. I had to eat what he served up at meal times, no more and no less. I was malnourished, tiny, and hungry most of the time. I lied to the teachers and other adults who asked if "everything was ok at home" and told them I was just naturally skinny. I didn't want my stepfather to find out I said something and beat me.Fast forward to the age of 25. My thyroid went south and this tiny little thing went from 100 to 150 lbs. I'm

5'4" on a good day and very small boned. I straightened out the thyroid but had trouble losing the weight. I had never dieted before and was a complete couch potato. At a doctor's suggestion I started the Atkin's diet, lost most of the weight, and started exercising.Fast forward again to the age of 33. I was exercising very regularly and keeping myself fit and healthy. If the weight started sneaking up I'd calorie count or exercise more. But it wasn't fun. Eating was frustrating and exercise was becoming a chore.Then the thyroid went south again and I returned to college for a second degree. I'm almost at my heaviest now. I knew something had to give when I tried starting a running program again, injured myself on the second day out, and have been completely sedentary with a knee injury for 6 months. I'm 35 and trying to learn how to eat when I'm hungry and stop when I'm full. After years of therapy I still find vegetables repulsive. I

can't bear the thought of low-carb dieting again. I love to cook and eat. I just want to be comfortable so I can hop on a bike or go for an occassional jog. I don't know that I'd be characterized as a binge eater, but I've definitely got issues with food, especially the foods I was denied as a child. Portion control is a problem; probably also due to childhood deprivation.I just finished chapter 11 of Intuitive Eating. I've been allowing myself to eat unabashedly for a month or so. I think I'm ready to start working with the hunger scale and listen to my body. It's scary, though. What if my childhood left my signals completely broken? Will I spend the next 10 years eating pizza every day? Can I get to a point where I don't go to bed bloated and sickly full every night? Am I the only one who fantasizes about living in a country where I can't pig out all of the time? I'm tired of the first-world guilt.I'm here for reassurance. I need to

know that there's hope for food sanity someday.Thanks for reading my long-winded post. I hope I can contribute and find solace here.

[Guest guest]

Sandy, I had an interesting experience I wish to share with you. I went out for lunch and ordered what I thought I wanted. (A Reuben sandwich -- for those who may not know what that is, it is corned beef with sauerkraut & melted swiss cheese & thousand island dressing) For the lunch special, they had soup and sandwich. I decided I would have a broth with veggies and few noodles. I gave specific instructions to the waitress, she followed my order. I had half of the sandwich and realized that it was packed with salt. I mean, it was really salty, too salty. So I did something very unusual for me. I did not eat the other half. Believe me, if it was so good I would have had a bigger struggle on my hands, but I realized I was not hungry any more anyway. So for one of the few

times in my life, I refused to eat. I did not feel bad about it (much) and I didn't take it home. Tai

To: IntuitiveEating_Support Sent: Monday, June 13, 2011 3:57 PMSubject: Re: Introduction

First of all, thank you for being so candid and honest. It seems like you have had a lot to over come and still do. I guess you well aware that diets don't work by now, other wise we would all be thin I think. I too tried the Akins diet and lost weight. Now I find out I was losing muscle, not fat. Great!. The low carb too is a deprivation mentality that can't be sustained for any length of time by many people. It is hard getting rid of the diet mentality after years of being on one, counting calories, etc. You know. I find it hard to be comfortable or even accepting of the statement that there are no forbidden foods. I just finished noting that after eating a pice of pie today, I feel guilty. I guess it will take time, lots of time. At first on IE I felt so free of limitations, forbidden foods, and guilt, shame and all the rest. I ate Hot Fudge Sundae's most every

day for a couple of weeks. And yes I am sure I gained weight because I had to get bigger clothes. And boy were they comfortable. I'm told this process of IE over time will bring us to our natural weight, not necessarily our desired/hoped for weight. I am 5ft 1 and weigh around 180 now. I never will weigh 110 again. That was 40 years ago and before 4 pregnancies. Remember to be kind to yourself and gentle. Keep writing in too. You will get a lot out of this site. Sandy

Hi! I apologize in advance for what will be a long post. I'm going to talk about my weight and background by means of introduction. If you have an ED and find this sort of thing triggering please skip it. No offense will be taken!I grew up in a lower-middle class family. My stepfather was a terrible person and used control over food as a means of punishment and abuse. If I didn't finish my veggies I was beaten or grounded. Most of my summers as a kid were spent locked in my room due to not finishing a single meal. I had to eat what he served up at meal times, no more and no less. I was malnourished, tiny, and hungry most of the time. I lied to the teachers and other adults who asked if "everything was ok at home" and told them I was just naturally skinny. I didn't want my stepfather to find out I said something and beat me.Fast forward to the age of 25. My thyroid went south and this tiny little thing went from 100 to 150 lbs. I'm

5'4" on a good day and very small boned. I straightened out the thyroid but had trouble losing the weight. I had never dieted before and was a complete couch potato. At a doctor's suggestion I started the Atkin's diet, lost most of the weight, and started exercising.Fast forward again to the age of 33. I was exercising very regularly and keeping myself fit and healthy. If the weight started sneaking up I'd calorie count or exercise more. But it wasn't fun. Eating was frustrating and exercise was becoming a chore.Then the thyroid went south again and I returned to college for a second degree. I'm almost at my heaviest now. I knew something had to give when I tried starting a running program again, injured myself on the second day out, and have been completely sedentary with a knee injury for 6 months. I'm 35 and trying to learn how to eat when I'm hungry and stop when I'm full. After years of therapy I still find vegetables repulsive. I

can't bear the thought of low-carb dieting again. I love to cook and eat. I just want to be comfortable so I can hop on a bike or go for an occassional jog. I don't know that I'd be characterized as a binge eater, but I've definitely got issues with food, especially the foods I was denied as a child. Portion control is a problem; probably also due to childhood deprivation.I just finished chapter 11 of Intuitive Eating. I've been allowing myself to eat unabashedly for a month or so. I think I'm ready to start working with the hunger scale and listen to my body. It's scary, though. What if my childhood left my signals completely broken? Will I spend the next 10 years eating pizza every day? Can I get to a point where I don't go to bed bloated and sickly full every night? Am I the only one who fantasizes about living in a country where I can't pig out all of the time? I'm tired of the first-world guilt.I'm here for reassurance. I need to

know that there's hope for food sanity someday.Thanks for reading my long-winded post. I hope I can contribute and find solace here.

[Guest guest]

Thanks for the kind words, Tai, and Abby. It's good to know I'm not alone. Abby, thanks for letting me know that there is a light at the end of the tunnel. I stopped weighing myself, but I gained a pants size while eating what I wanted. I'm a little bummed about that. Initially I thought I'd go crazy for sweets, but that craving passed after a couple of days of donuts, ice cream, and Ghiradelli. Then I bought a big bag of those frozen fried chicken sandwiches; another forbidden food. I ate them every morning for breakfast and occasionally for lunch or dinner. After a couple of days I found I wasn't overeating, I would eat until I was full then stop. I swung by KFC two days ago for dinner. I realized that all I wanted was the chicken. Not the bread, the potatoes, or any of the other stuff. So I ordered two pieces of chicken. Again I was

full, but not stuffed. As ridiculous as the chicken caper is, my Food Anthropologist figured out a few things:1. I didn't continue to overeat when presented with a forbidden food. I finally convinced some unconscious part of me that I can have it whenever I want. I don't need to eat 5-6 pieces at a time.2. I eat a lot of low-nutrient foods because they are paired with the item I'm craving. Sometimes I eat a whole sandwich when I'm really just craving some chicken. This leads to overeating side dishes I wasn't interested in to begin with.3. I crave savory, salty protein pretty frequently, especially in the morning. This is important because it's the opposite of how most American breakfasts work. I don't want a smoothie or cereal, I want protein to start off my day.4. When I include protein in my breakfast I actually make it to lunch without hitting up the vending machine. This is a Big Deal. It turns out all of those diet breakfasts like the low-fat yogurt and fruit just weren't giving me what I needed. Not to say that those are bad breakfasts; they

work for plenty of people. But, I eat less when I eat what I want. That was a big eye opener.5. Now that I have this info, I can play around with it. I can tell the Food Police to go away and eat fish or a handful of nuts for breakfast if I want to. That's very liberating.

Hi! I apologize in advance for what will be a long post. I'm going to talk about my weight and background by means of introduction. If you have an ED and find this sort of thing triggering please skip it. No offense will be taken!

I grew up in a lower-middle class family. My stepfather was a terrible person and used control over food as a means of punishment and abuse. If I didn't finish my veggies I was beaten or grounded. Most of my summers as a kid were spent locked in my room due to not finishing a single meal. I had to eat what he served up at meal times, no more and no less. I was malnourished, tiny, and hungry most of the time. I lied to the teachers and other adults who asked if "everything was ok at home" and told them I was just naturally skinny. I didn't want my stepfather to find out I said something and beat me.

Fast forward to the age of 25. My thyroid went south and this tiny little thing went from 100 to 150 lbs. I'm 5'4" on a good day and very small boned. I straightened out the thyroid but had trouble losing the weight. I had never dieted before and was a complete couch potato. At a doctor's suggestion I started the Atkin's diet, lost most of the weight, and started exercising.

Fast forward again to the age of 33. I was exercising very regularly and keeping myself fit and healthy. If the weight started sneaking up I'd calorie count or exercise more. But it wasn't fun. Eating was frustrating and exercise was becoming a chore.

Then the thyroid went south again and I returned to college for a second degree. I'm almost at my heaviest now. I knew something had to give when I tried starting a running program again, injured myself on the second day out, and have been completely sedentary with a knee injury for 6 months. I'm 35 and trying to learn how to eat when I'm hungry and stop when I'm full. After years of therapy I still find vegetables repulsive. I can't bear the thought of low-carb dieting again. I love to cook and eat. I just want to be comfortable so I can hop on a bike or go for an occassional jog. I don't know that I'd be characterized as a binge eater, but I've definitely got issues with food, especially the foods I was denied as a child. Portion control is a problem; probably also due to childhood deprivation.

I just finished chapter 11 of Intuitive Eating. I've been allowing myself to eat unabashedly for a month or so. I think I'm ready to start working with the hunger scale and listen to my body. It's scary, though. What if my childhood left my signals completely broken? Will I spend the next 10 years eating pizza every day? Can I get to a point where I don't go to bed bloated and sickly full every night? Am I the only one who fantasizes about living in a country where I can't pig out all of the time? I'm tired of the first-world guilt.

I'm here for reassurance. I need to know that there's hope for food sanity someday.

Thanks for reading my long-winded post. I hope I can contribute and find solace here.

[Guest guest]

Thanks for the kind words, Tai, and Abby. It's good to know I'm not alone. Abby, thanks for letting me know that there is a light at the end of the tunnel. I stopped weighing myself, but I gained a pants size while eating what I wanted. I'm a little bummed about that. Initially I thought I'd go crazy for sweets, but that craving passed after a couple of days of donuts, ice cream, and Ghiradelli. Then I bought a big bag of those frozen fried chicken sandwiches; another forbidden food. I ate them every morning for breakfast and occasionally for lunch or dinner. After a couple of days I found I wasn't overeating, I would eat until I was full then stop. I swung by KFC two days ago for dinner. I realized that all I wanted was the chicken. Not the bread, the potatoes, or any of the other stuff. So I ordered two pieces of chicken. Again I was

full, but not stuffed. As ridiculous as the chicken caper is, my Food Anthropologist figured out a few things:1. I didn't continue to overeat when presented with a forbidden food. I finally convinced some unconscious part of me that I can have it whenever I want. I don't need to eat 5-6 pieces at a time.2. I eat a lot of low-nutrient foods because they are paired with the item I'm craving. Sometimes I eat a whole sandwich when I'm really just craving some chicken. This leads to overeating side dishes I wasn't interested in to begin with.3. I crave savory, salty protein pretty frequently, especially in the morning. This is important because it's the opposite of how most American breakfasts work. I don't want a smoothie or cereal, I want protein to start off my day.4. When I include protein in my breakfast I actually make it to lunch without hitting up the vending machine. This is a Big Deal. It turns out all of those diet breakfasts like the low-fat yogurt and fruit just weren't giving me what I needed. Not to say that those are bad breakfasts; they

work for plenty of people. But, I eat less when I eat what I want. That was a big eye opener.5. Now that I have this info, I can play around with it. I can tell the Food Police to go away and eat fish or a handful of nuts for breakfast if I want to. That's very liberating.

Hi! I apologize in advance for what will be a long post. I'm going to talk about my weight and background by means of introduction. If you have an ED and find this sort of thing triggering please skip it. No offense will be taken!

I grew up in a lower-middle class family. My stepfather was a terrible person and used control over food as a means of punishment and abuse. If I didn't finish my veggies I was beaten or grounded. Most of my summers as a kid were spent locked in my room due to not finishing a single meal. I had to eat what he served up at meal times, no more and no less. I was malnourished, tiny, and hungry most of the time. I lied to the teachers and other adults who asked if "everything was ok at home" and told them I was just naturally skinny. I didn't want my stepfather to find out I said something and beat me.

Fast forward to the age of 25. My thyroid went south and this tiny little thing went from 100 to 150 lbs. I'm 5'4" on a good day and very small boned. I straightened out the thyroid but had trouble losing the weight. I had never dieted before and was a complete couch potato. At a doctor's suggestion I started the Atkin's diet, lost most of the weight, and started exercising.

Fast forward again to the age of 33. I was exercising very regularly and keeping myself fit and healthy. If the weight started sneaking up I'd calorie count or exercise more. But it wasn't fun. Eating was frustrating and exercise was becoming a chore.

Then the thyroid went south again and I returned to college for a second degree. I'm almost at my heaviest now. I knew something had to give when I tried starting a running program again, injured myself on the second day out, and have been completely sedentary with a knee injury for 6 months. I'm 35 and trying to learn how to eat when I'm hungry and stop when I'm full. After years of therapy I still find vegetables repulsive. I can't bear the thought of low-carb dieting again. I love to cook and eat. I just want to be comfortable so I can hop on a bike or go for an occassional jog. I don't know that I'd be characterized as a binge eater, but I've definitely got issues with food, especially the foods I was denied as a child. Portion control is a problem; probably also due to childhood deprivation.

I just finished chapter 11 of Intuitive Eating. I've been allowing myself to eat unabashedly for a month or so. I think I'm ready to start working with the hunger scale and listen to my body. It's scary, though. What if my childhood left my signals completely broken? Will I spend the next 10 years eating pizza every day? Can I get to a point where I don't go to bed bloated and sickly full every night? Am I the only one who fantasizes about living in a country where I can't pig out all of the time? I'm tired of the first-world guilt.

I'm here for reassurance. I need to know that there's hope for food sanity someday.

Thanks for reading my long-winded post. I hope I can contribute and find solace here.

[Guest guest]

Way to go, Tai!

It's hard to realize and accept when an exciting food idea turns out not to live up to our expectations... and harder still to let that food go! The good news is that it DOES get easier with time.

Good for you!

Abby

> Sandy, I had an interesting experience I wish to share with you. I went out for lunch and ordered what I thought I wanted. (A Reuben sandwich -- for those who may not know what that is, it is corned beef with sauerkraut & melted swiss cheese & thousand island dressing) For the lunch special, they had soup and sandwich. I decided I would have a broth with veggies and few noodles. I gave specific instructions to the waitress, she followed my order. I had half of the sandwich and realized that it was packed with salt. I mean, it was really salty, too salty. So I did something very unusual for me. I did not eat the other half. Believe me, if it was so good I would have had a bigger struggle on my hands, but I realized I was not hungry any more anyway. So for one of the few times in my life, I refused to eat. I did not feel bad about it (much) and I didn't take it home. Tai

>  > > > To: IntuitiveEating_Support

> Sent: Monday, June 13, 2011 3:57 PM> Subject: Re: Introduction> > >   > First of all, thank you for being so candid and honest.  It seems like you have had a lot to over come and still do.  I guess you well aware that diets don't work by now, other wise we would all be thin I think.  I too tried the Akins diet and lost weight.  Now I find out  I was losing muscle, not fat.  Great!.   The low carb too is a deprivation mentality that can't be sustained for any length of time by many people.  It is hard getting rid of the diet mentality after years of being on one, counting calories, etc.  You know. I find it hard to be comfortable or even accepting of the statement that there are no forbidden foods.  I just finished noting that after eating a pice of pie today, I feel guilty.  I guess it will take time, lots of time.  At first on IE I felt so free of limitations, forbidden foods, and guilt, shame and all the rest.  I ate Hot Fudge Sundae's most every day for a couple of weeks.  And yes I am sure I gained weight

> because I had to get bigger clothes.  And boy were they comfortable. I'm told this process of IE over time will bring us to our natural weight, not necessarily our desired/hoped for weight. I am 5ft 1 and weigh around 180 now.  I never will weigh 110 again.  That was 40 years ago and before 4 pregnancies. Remember to be kind to yourself and gentle.  Keep writing in too.  You will get a lot out of this site.  Sandy

> > > > >   >>Hi! I apologize in advance for what will be a long post. I'm going to talk about my weight and background by means of introduction. If you have an ED and find this sort of thing triggering please skip it. No offense will be taken!

>>>>I grew up in a lower-middle class family. My stepfather was a terrible person and used control over food as a means of punishment and abuse. If I didn't finish my veggies I was beaten or grounded. Most of my summers as a kid were spent locked in my room due to not finishing a single meal. I had to eat what he served up at meal times, no more and no less. I was malnourished, tiny, and hungry most of the time. I lied to the teachers and other adults who asked if " everything was ok at home " and told them I was just naturally skinny. I didn't want my stepfather to find out I said something and beat me.

>>>>Fast forward to the age of 25. My thyroid went south and this tiny little thing went from 100 to 150 lbs. I'm 5'4 " on a good day and very small boned. I straightened out the thyroid but had trouble losing the weight. I had never dieted before and was a complete couch potato. At a doctor's suggestion I started the Atkin's diet, lost most of the weight, and started exercising.

>>>>Fast forward again to the age of 33. I was exercising very regularly and keeping myself fit and healthy. If the weight started sneaking up I'd calorie count or exercise more. But it wasn't fun. Eating was frustrating and exercise was becoming a chore.

>>>>Then the thyroid went south again and I returned to college for a second degree. I'm almost at my heaviest now. I knew something had to give when I tried starting a running program again, injured myself on the second day out, and have been completely sedentary with a knee injury for 6 months. I'm 35 and trying to learn how to eat when I'm hungry and stop when I'm full. After years of therapy I still find vegetables repulsive. I can't bear the thought of low-carb dieting again. I love to cook and eat. I just want to be comfortable so I can hop on a bike or go for an occassional jog. I don't know that I'd be characterized as a binge eater, but I've definitely got issues with food, especially the foods I was denied as a child. Portion control is a problem; probably also due to childhood deprivation.

>>>>I just finished chapter 11 of Intuitive Eating. I've been allowing myself to eat unabashedly for a month or so. I think I'm ready to start working with the hunger scale and listen to my body. It's scary, though. What if my childhood left my signals completely broken? Will I spend the next 10 years eating pizza every day? Can I get to a point where I don't go to bed bloated and sickly full every night? Am I the only one who fantasizes about living in a country where I can't pig out all of the time? I'm tired of the first-world guilt.

>>>>I'm here for reassurance. I need to know that there's hope for food sanity someday.>>>>Thanks for reading my long-winded post. I hope I can contribute and find solace here.

>>>>>>>>>

[Guest guest]

Way to go, Tai!

It's hard to realize and accept when an exciting food idea turns out not to live up to our expectations... and harder still to let that food go! The good news is that it DOES get easier with time.

Good for you!

Abby

> Sandy, I had an interesting experience I wish to share with you. I went out for lunch and ordered what I thought I wanted. (A Reuben sandwich -- for those who may not know what that is, it is corned beef with sauerkraut & melted swiss cheese & thousand island dressing) For the lunch special, they had soup and sandwich. I decided I would have a broth with veggies and few noodles. I gave specific instructions to the waitress, she followed my order. I had half of the sandwich and realized that it was packed with salt. I mean, it was really salty, too salty. So I did something very unusual for me. I did not eat the other half. Believe me, if it was so good I would have had a bigger struggle on my hands, but I realized I was not hungry any more anyway. So for one of the few times in my life, I refused to eat. I did not feel bad about it (much) and I didn't take it home. Tai

>  > > > To: IntuitiveEating_Support

> Sent: Monday, June 13, 2011 3:57 PM> Subject: Re: Introduction> > >   > First of all, thank you for being so candid and honest.  It seems like you have had a lot to over come and still do.  I guess you well aware that diets don't work by now, other wise we would all be thin I think.  I too tried the Akins diet and lost weight.  Now I find out  I was losing muscle, not fat.  Great!.   The low carb too is a deprivation mentality that can't be sustained for any length of time by many people.  It is hard getting rid of the diet mentality after years of being on one, counting calories, etc.  You know. I find it hard to be comfortable or even accepting of the statement that there are no forbidden foods.  I just finished noting that after eating a pice of pie today, I feel guilty.  I guess it will take time, lots of time.  At first on IE I felt so free of limitations, forbidden foods, and guilt, shame and all the rest.  I ate Hot Fudge Sundae's most every day for a couple of weeks.  And yes I am sure I gained weight

> because I had to get bigger clothes.  And boy were they comfortable. I'm told this process of IE over time will bring us to our natural weight, not necessarily our desired/hoped for weight. I am 5ft 1 and weigh around 180 now.  I never will weigh 110 again.  That was 40 years ago and before 4 pregnancies. Remember to be kind to yourself and gentle.  Keep writing in too.  You will get a lot out of this site.  Sandy

> > > > >   >>Hi! I apologize in advance for what will be a long post. I'm going to talk about my weight and background by means of introduction. If you have an ED and find this sort of thing triggering please skip it. No offense will be taken!

>>>>I grew up in a lower-middle class family. My stepfather was a terrible person and used control over food as a means of punishment and abuse. If I didn't finish my veggies I was beaten or grounded. Most of my summers as a kid were spent locked in my room due to not finishing a single meal. I had to eat what he served up at meal times, no more and no less. I was malnourished, tiny, and hungry most of the time. I lied to the teachers and other adults who asked if " everything was ok at home " and told them I was just naturally skinny. I didn't want my stepfather to find out I said something and beat me.

>>>>Fast forward to the age of 25. My thyroid went south and this tiny little thing went from 100 to 150 lbs. I'm 5'4 " on a good day and very small boned. I straightened out the thyroid but had trouble losing the weight. I had never dieted before and was a complete couch potato. At a doctor's suggestion I started the Atkin's diet, lost most of the weight, and started exercising.

>>>>Fast forward again to the age of 33. I was exercising very regularly and keeping myself fit and healthy. If the weight started sneaking up I'd calorie count or exercise more. But it wasn't fun. Eating was frustrating and exercise was becoming a chore.

>>>>Then the thyroid went south again and I returned to college for a second degree. I'm almost at my heaviest now. I knew something had to give when I tried starting a running program again, injured myself on the second day out, and have been completely sedentary with a knee injury for 6 months. I'm 35 and trying to learn how to eat when I'm hungry and stop when I'm full. After years of therapy I still find vegetables repulsive. I can't bear the thought of low-carb dieting again. I love to cook and eat. I just want to be comfortable so I can hop on a bike or go for an occassional jog. I don't know that I'd be characterized as a binge eater, but I've definitely got issues with food, especially the foods I was denied as a child. Portion control is a problem; probably also due to childhood deprivation.

>>>>I just finished chapter 11 of Intuitive Eating. I've been allowing myself to eat unabashedly for a month or so. I think I'm ready to start working with the hunger scale and listen to my body. It's scary, though. What if my childhood left my signals completely broken? Will I spend the next 10 years eating pizza every day? Can I get to a point where I don't go to bed bloated and sickly full every night? Am I the only one who fantasizes about living in a country where I can't pig out all of the time? I'm tired of the first-world guilt.

>>>>I'm here for reassurance. I need to know that there's hope for food sanity someday.>>>>Thanks for reading my long-winded post. I hope I can contribute and find solace here.

>>>>>>>>>

[Guest guest]

<<Good for you!

Abby>>

Thanks. :-) Tai

[Guest guest]

<<Good for you!

Abby>>

Thanks. :-) Tai

[Guest guest]

Good for you. Sandy

 

Sandy, I had an interesting experience I wish to share with you. I went out for lunch and ordered what I thought I wanted. (A Reuben sandwich -- for those who may not know what that is, it is corned beef with sauerkraut & melted swiss cheese & thousand island dressing) For the lunch special, they had soup and sandwich. I decided I would have a broth with veggies and few noodles. I gave specific instructions to the waitress, she followed my order. I had half of the sandwich and realized that it was packed with salt. I mean, it was really salty, too salty. So I did something very unusual for me. I did not eat the other half. Believe me, if it was so good I would have had a bigger struggle on my hands, but I realized I was not hungry any more anyway. So for one of the few

times in my life, I refused to eat. I did not feel bad about it (much) and I didn't take it home. Tai

 

To: IntuitiveEating_Support Sent: Monday, June 13, 2011 3:57 PM

Subject: Re: Introduction

 

First of all, thank you for being so candid and honest.  It seems like you have had a lot to over come and still do.  I guess you well aware that diets don't work by now, other wise we would all be thin I think.  I too tried the Akins diet and lost weight.  Now I find out  I was losing muscle, not fat.  Great!.   The low carb too is a deprivation mentality that can't be sustained for any length of time by many people.  It is hard getting rid of the diet mentality after years of being on one, counting calories, etc.  You know. I find it hard to be comfortable or even accepting of the statement that there are no forbidden foods.  I just finished noting that after eating a pice of pie today, I feel guilty.  I guess it will take time, lots of time.  At first on IE I felt so free of limitations, forbidden foods, and guilt, shame and all the rest.  I ate Hot Fudge Sundae's most every

day for a couple of weeks.  And yes I am sure I gained weight because I had to get bigger clothes.  And boy were they comfortable. I'm told this process of IE over time will bring us to our natural weight, not necessarily our desired/hoped for weight. I am 5ft 1 and weigh around 180 now.  I never will weigh 110 again.  That was 40 years ago and before 4 pregnancies. Remember to be kind to yourself and gentle.  Keep writing in too.  You will get a lot out of this site.  Sandy

 

Hi! I apologize in advance for what will be a long post. I'm going to talk about my weight and background by means of introduction. If you have an ED and find this sort of thing triggering please skip it. No offense will be taken!

I grew up in a lower-middle class family. My stepfather was a terrible person and used control over food as a means of punishment and abuse. If I didn't finish my veggies I was beaten or grounded. Most of my summers as a kid were spent locked in my room due to not finishing a single meal. I had to eat what he served up at meal times, no more and no less. I was malnourished, tiny, and hungry most of the time. I lied to the teachers and other adults who asked if " everything was ok at home " and told them I was just naturally skinny. I didn't want my stepfather to find out I said something and beat me.

Fast forward to the age of 25. My thyroid went south and this tiny little thing went from 100 to 150 lbs. I'm

5'4 " on a good day and very small boned. I straightened out the thyroid but had trouble losing the weight. I had never dieted before and was a complete couch potato. At a doctor's suggestion I started the Atkin's diet, lost most of the weight, and started exercising.

Fast forward again to the age of 33. I was exercising very regularly and keeping myself fit and healthy. If the weight started sneaking up I'd calorie count or exercise more. But it wasn't fun. Eating was frustrating and exercise was becoming a chore.

Then the thyroid went south again and I returned to college for a second degree. I'm almost at my heaviest now. I knew something had to give when I tried starting a running program again, injured myself on the second day out, and have been completely sedentary with a knee injury for 6 months. I'm 35 and trying to learn how to eat when I'm hungry and stop when I'm full. After years of therapy I still find vegetables repulsive. I

can't bear the thought of low-carb dieting again. I love to cook and eat. I just want to be comfortable so I can hop on a bike or go for an occassional jog. I don't know that I'd be characterized as a binge eater, but I've definitely got issues with food, especially the foods I was denied as a child. Portion control is a problem; probably also due to childhood deprivation.

I just finished chapter 11 of Intuitive Eating. I've been allowing myself to eat unabashedly for a month or so. I think I'm ready to start working with the hunger scale and listen to my body. It's scary, though. What if my childhood left my signals completely broken? Will I spend the next 10 years eating pizza every day? Can I get to a point where I don't go to bed bloated and sickly full every night? Am I the only one who fantasizes about living in a country where I can't pig out all of the time? I'm tired of the first-world guilt.

I'm here for reassurance. I need to

know that there's hope for food sanity someday.Thanks for reading my long-winded post. I hope I can contribute and find solace here.

[Guest guest]

Good for you. Sandy

 

Sandy, I had an interesting experience I wish to share with you. I went out for lunch and ordered what I thought I wanted. (A Reuben sandwich -- for those who may not know what that is, it is corned beef with sauerkraut & melted swiss cheese & thousand island dressing) For the lunch special, they had soup and sandwich. I decided I would have a broth with veggies and few noodles. I gave specific instructions to the waitress, she followed my order. I had half of the sandwich and realized that it was packed with salt. I mean, it was really salty, too salty. So I did something very unusual for me. I did not eat the other half. Believe me, if it was so good I would have had a bigger struggle on my hands, but I realized I was not hungry any more anyway. So for one of the few

times in my life, I refused to eat. I did not feel bad about it (much) and I didn't take it home. Tai

 

To: IntuitiveEating_Support Sent: Monday, June 13, 2011 3:57 PM

Subject: Re: Introduction

 

First of all, thank you for being so candid and honest.  It seems like you have had a lot to over come and still do.  I guess you well aware that diets don't work by now, other wise we would all be thin I think.  I too tried the Akins diet and lost weight.  Now I find out  I was losing muscle, not fat.  Great!.   The low carb too is a deprivation mentality that can't be sustained for any length of time by many people.  It is hard getting rid of the diet mentality after years of being on one, counting calories, etc.  You know. I find it hard to be comfortable or even accepting of the statement that there are no forbidden foods.  I just finished noting that after eating a pice of pie today, I feel guilty.  I guess it will take time, lots of time.  At first on IE I felt so free of limitations, forbidden foods, and guilt, shame and all the rest.  I ate Hot Fudge Sundae's most every

day for a couple of weeks.  And yes I am sure I gained weight because I had to get bigger clothes.  And boy were they comfortable. I'm told this process of IE over time will bring us to our natural weight, not necessarily our desired/hoped for weight. I am 5ft 1 and weigh around 180 now.  I never will weigh 110 again.  That was 40 years ago and before 4 pregnancies. Remember to be kind to yourself and gentle.  Keep writing in too.  You will get a lot out of this site.  Sandy

 

Hi! I apologize in advance for what will be a long post. I'm going to talk about my weight and background by means of introduction. If you have an ED and find this sort of thing triggering please skip it. No offense will be taken!

I grew up in a lower-middle class family. My stepfather was a terrible person and used control over food as a means of punishment and abuse. If I didn't finish my veggies I was beaten or grounded. Most of my summers as a kid were spent locked in my room due to not finishing a single meal. I had to eat what he served up at meal times, no more and no less. I was malnourished, tiny, and hungry most of the time. I lied to the teachers and other adults who asked if " everything was ok at home " and told them I was just naturally skinny. I didn't want my stepfather to find out I said something and beat me.

Fast forward to the age of 25. My thyroid went south and this tiny little thing went from 100 to 150 lbs. I'm

5'4 " on a good day and very small boned. I straightened out the thyroid but had trouble losing the weight. I had never dieted before and was a complete couch potato. At a doctor's suggestion I started the Atkin's diet, lost most of the weight, and started exercising.

Fast forward again to the age of 33. I was exercising very regularly and keeping myself fit and healthy. If the weight started sneaking up I'd calorie count or exercise more. But it wasn't fun. Eating was frustrating and exercise was becoming a chore.

Then the thyroid went south again and I returned to college for a second degree. I'm almost at my heaviest now. I knew something had to give when I tried starting a running program again, injured myself on the second day out, and have been completely sedentary with a knee injury for 6 months. I'm 35 and trying to learn how to eat when I'm hungry and stop when I'm full. After years of therapy I still find vegetables repulsive. I

can't bear the thought of low-carb dieting again. I love to cook and eat. I just want to be comfortable so I can hop on a bike or go for an occassional jog. I don't know that I'd be characterized as a binge eater, but I've definitely got issues with food, especially the foods I was denied as a child. Portion control is a problem; probably also due to childhood deprivation.

I just finished chapter 11 of Intuitive Eating. I've been allowing myself to eat unabashedly for a month or so. I think I'm ready to start working with the hunger scale and listen to my body. It's scary, though. What if my childhood left my signals completely broken? Will I spend the next 10 years eating pizza every day? Can I get to a point where I don't go to bed bloated and sickly full every night? Am I the only one who fantasizes about living in a country where I can't pig out all of the time? I'm tired of the first-world guilt.

I'm here for reassurance. I need to

know that there's hope for food sanity someday.Thanks for reading my long-winded post. I hope I can contribute and find solace here.

[Guest guest]

That's interesting, , because I have recently found myself eating last night's dinner for breakfast and enjoying it. I usually have the same breakfast because that's what I like. I also went to town on sweets for about a year, and suddenly just stopped. TaiTo: IntuitiveEating_Support Sent: Monday, June 13, 2011 5:32 PMSubject: Re: Introduction

Thanks for the kind words, Tai, and Abby. It's good to know I'm not alone. Abby, thanks for letting me know that there is a light at the end of the tunnel. I stopped weighing myself, but I gained a pants size while eating what I wanted. I'm a little bummed about that. Initially I thought I'd go crazy for sweets, but that craving passed after a couple of days of donuts, ice cream, and Ghiradelli. Then I bought a big bag of those frozen fried chicken sandwiches; another forbidden food. I ate them every morning for breakfast and occasionally for lunch or dinner. After a couple of days I found I wasn't overeating, I would eat until I was full then stop. I swung by KFC two days ago for dinner. I realized that all I wanted was the chicken. Not the bread, the potatoes, or any of the other stuff. So I ordered two pieces of chicken.

Again I was

full, but not stuffed. As ridiculous as the chicken caper is, my Food Anthropologist figured out a few things:1. I didn't continue to overeat when presented with a forbidden food. I finally convinced some unconscious part of me that I can have it whenever I want. I don't need to eat 5-6 pieces at a time.2. I eat a lot of low-nutrient foods because they are paired with the item I'm craving. Sometimes I eat a whole sandwich when I'm really just craving some chicken. This leads to overeating side dishes I wasn't interested in to begin with.3. I crave savory, salty protein pretty frequently, especially in the morning. This is important because it's the opposite of how most American breakfasts work. I don't want a smoothie or cereal, I want protein to start off my day.4. When I include protein in my breakfast I actually make it to lunch without hitting up the vending machine. This is a Big Deal. It turns out all of those diet breakfasts like the low-fat yogurt and fruit just weren't giving me what I needed. Not to say that those are bad breakfasts; they

work for plenty of people. But, I eat less when I eat what I want. That was a big eye opener.5. Now that I have this info, I can play around with it. I can tell the Food Police to go away and eat fish or a handful of nuts for breakfast if I want to. That's very liberating.

Hi! I apologize in advance for what will be a long post. I'm going to talk about my weight and background by means of introduction. If you have an ED and find this sort of thing triggering please skip it. No offense will be taken!

I grew up in a lower-middle class family. My stepfather was a terrible person and used control over food as a means of punishment and abuse. If I didn't finish my veggies I was beaten or grounded. Most of my summers as a kid were spent locked in my room due to not finishing a single meal. I had to eat what he served up at meal times, no more and no less. I was malnourished, tiny, and hungry most of the time. I lied to the teachers and other adults who asked if "everything was ok at home" and told them I was just naturally skinny. I didn't want my stepfather to find out I said something and beat me.

Fast forward to the age of 25. My thyroid went south and this tiny little thing went from 100 to 150 lbs. I'm 5'4" on a good day and very small boned. I straightened out the thyroid but had trouble losing the weight. I had never dieted before and was a complete couch potato. At a doctor's suggestion I started the Atkin's diet, lost most of the weight, and started exercising.

Fast forward again to the age of 33. I was exercising very regularly and keeping myself fit and healthy. If the weight started sneaking up I'd calorie count or exercise more. But it wasn't fun. Eating was frustrating and exercise was becoming a chore.

Then the thyroid went south again and I returned to college for a second degree. I'm almost at my heaviest now. I knew something had to give when I tried starting a running program again, injured myself on the second day out, and have been completely sedentary with a knee injury for 6 months. I'm 35 and trying to learn how to eat when I'm hungry and stop when I'm full. After years of therapy I still find vegetables repulsive. I can't bear the thought of low-carb dieting again. I love to cook and eat. I just want to be comfortable so I can hop on a bike or go for an occassional jog. I don't know that I'd be characterized as a binge eater, but I've definitely got issues with food, especially the foods I was denied as a child. Portion control is a problem; probably also due to childhood deprivation.

I just finished chapter 11 of Intuitive Eating. I've been allowing myself to eat unabashedly for a month or so. I think I'm ready to start working with the hunger scale and listen to my body. It's scary, though. What if my childhood left my signals completely broken? Will I spend the next 10 years eating pizza every day? Can I get to a point where I don't go to bed bloated and sickly full every night? Am I the only one who fantasizes about living in a country where I can't pig out all of the time? I'm tired of the first-world guilt.

I'm here for reassurance. I need to know that there's hope for food sanity someday.

Thanks for reading my long-winded post. I hope I can contribute and find solace here.

[Guest guest]

That's interesting, , because I have recently found myself eating last night's dinner for breakfast and enjoying it. I usually have the same breakfast because that's what I like. I also went to town on sweets for about a year, and suddenly just stopped. TaiTo: IntuitiveEating_Support Sent: Monday, June 13, 2011 5:32 PMSubject: Re: Introduction

Thanks for the kind words, Tai, and Abby. It's good to know I'm not alone. Abby, thanks for letting me know that there is a light at the end of the tunnel. I stopped weighing myself, but I gained a pants size while eating what I wanted. I'm a little bummed about that. Initially I thought I'd go crazy for sweets, but that craving passed after a couple of days of donuts, ice cream, and Ghiradelli. Then I bought a big bag of those frozen fried chicken sandwiches; another forbidden food. I ate them every morning for breakfast and occasionally for lunch or dinner. After a couple of days I found I wasn't overeating, I would eat until I was full then stop. I swung by KFC two days ago for dinner. I realized that all I wanted was the chicken. Not the bread, the potatoes, or any of the other stuff. So I ordered two pieces of chicken.

Again I was

full, but not stuffed. As ridiculous as the chicken caper is, my Food Anthropologist figured out a few things:1. I didn't continue to overeat when presented with a forbidden food. I finally convinced some unconscious part of me that I can have it whenever I want. I don't need to eat 5-6 pieces at a time.2. I eat a lot of low-nutrient foods because they are paired with the item I'm craving. Sometimes I eat a whole sandwich when I'm really just craving some chicken. This leads to overeating side dishes I wasn't interested in to begin with.3. I crave savory, salty protein pretty frequently, especially in the morning. This is important because it's the opposite of how most American breakfasts work. I don't want a smoothie or cereal, I want protein to start off my day.4. When I include protein in my breakfast I actually make it to lunch without hitting up the vending machine. This is a Big Deal. It turns out all of those diet breakfasts like the low-fat yogurt and fruit just weren't giving me what I needed. Not to say that those are bad breakfasts; they

work for plenty of people. But, I eat less when I eat what I want. That was a big eye opener.5. Now that I have this info, I can play around with it. I can tell the Food Police to go away and eat fish or a handful of nuts for breakfast if I want to. That's very liberating.

Hi! I apologize in advance for what will be a long post. I'm going to talk about my weight and background by means of introduction. If you have an ED and find this sort of thing triggering please skip it. No offense will be taken!

I grew up in a lower-middle class family. My stepfather was a terrible person and used control over food as a means of punishment and abuse. If I didn't finish my veggies I was beaten or grounded. Most of my summers as a kid were spent locked in my room due to not finishing a single meal. I had to eat what he served up at meal times, no more and no less. I was malnourished, tiny, and hungry most of the time. I lied to the teachers and other adults who asked if "everything was ok at home" and told them I was just naturally skinny. I didn't want my stepfather to find out I said something and beat me.

Fast forward to the age of 25. My thyroid went south and this tiny little thing went from 100 to 150 lbs. I'm 5'4" on a good day and very small boned. I straightened out the thyroid but had trouble losing the weight. I had never dieted before and was a complete couch potato. At a doctor's suggestion I started the Atkin's diet, lost most of the weight, and started exercising.

Fast forward again to the age of 33. I was exercising very regularly and keeping myself fit and healthy. If the weight started sneaking up I'd calorie count or exercise more. But it wasn't fun. Eating was frustrating and exercise was becoming a chore.

Then the thyroid went south again and I returned to college for a second degree. I'm almost at my heaviest now. I knew something had to give when I tried starting a running program again, injured myself on the second day out, and have been completely sedentary with a knee injury for 6 months. I'm 35 and trying to learn how to eat when I'm hungry and stop when I'm full. After years of therapy I still find vegetables repulsive. I can't bear the thought of low-carb dieting again. I love to cook and eat. I just want to be comfortable so I can hop on a bike or go for an occassional jog. I don't know that I'd be characterized as a binge eater, but I've definitely got issues with food, especially the foods I was denied as a child. Portion control is a problem; probably also due to childhood deprivation.

I just finished chapter 11 of Intuitive Eating. I've been allowing myself to eat unabashedly for a month or so. I think I'm ready to start working with the hunger scale and listen to my body. It's scary, though. What if my childhood left my signals completely broken? Will I spend the next 10 years eating pizza every day? Can I get to a point where I don't go to bed bloated and sickly full every night? Am I the only one who fantasizes about living in a country where I can't pig out all of the time? I'm tired of the first-world guilt.

I'm here for reassurance. I need to know that there's hope for food sanity someday.

Thanks for reading my long-winded post. I hope I can contribute and find solace here.

[Guest guest]

I really like that a lot. Thanks.  Sandy

 

Hi Sandy,My sister is an NLP practitioner. She says it is very important to be clear about our wording when we are making changes. She told me that we talk about " releasing " or " letting go " of weight instead of " losing " weight because we tend to want to find the stuff we've lost.

Carole

To: IntuitiveEating_Support

Sent:

Tue, June 14, 2011 8:27:55 AMSubject: Re: Introduction

 

I loved the use of your word " release " rather than " lose " .  It resonates with me as a process of letting go, a gentle letting go.  And it seems less like a " diet " word.  Sandy

[Guest guest]

Welcome Nic...what would you say you have concentrated on the most to achieve those kinds of "releases"? I need to buckle down and follow the program with much more commitment but for some reason my disordered eating is much harder to overcome than I thought It would be. I'd love to know the secret to your success.

Sunny

Introduction

Hi I would like to introduce myself my name is (Nic for short) I came across intuitive eating about 3 years ago and have released 30 kilos, I don't think I am at my natural weight just yet as I continue to release weight each week.

I look forward to getting to know you all.

Regards,

Nic

[Guest guest]

Hello,I just joined this group and would like to introduce myself. My name is Bill and I found this group via the Intuitive Eating website. I joined because I have had great success with Intuitive Eating in the past and would like to get back to that way of eating again. I was first introduced to the concept of Intuitive Eating several years ago when I read Eating Awareness Training by Molly Groger. It really worked for me for several years, but I kind of fell off the wagon a couple of years ago, and the extra pounds have been coming back. My hope is that by joining and contributing to this group, I can return to a sensible and sane way of eating.Thanks,Bill

[Guest guest]

Welcome Bill! Honored to be sharing your resumption of IE practices. That's the

wonderfulness of IE - its never really gone from us, just dormant patiently

waiting for us to use it. And you aren't the only guy in this mainly hen house!

Looking forward to your posts as well as keeping us gals attuned to IE being a

human need too.

BEST wishes -

Katcha

IEing since March 2007

>

> Hello,

> I just joined this group and would like to introduce myself. My name is

> Bill and I found this group via the Intuitive Eating website. I joined

> because I have had great success with Intuitive Eating in the past and

> would like to get back to that way of eating again. I was first

> introduced to the concept of Intuitive Eating several years ago when I

> read Eating Awareness Training by Molly Groger. It really worked for me

> for several years, but I kind of fell off the wagon a couple of years

> ago, and the extra pounds have been coming back. My hope is that by

> joining and contributing to this group, I can return to a sensible and

> sane way of eating.

> Thanks,Bill

>