Re: Balancing Intuitive Eating and Health Concerns

[Guest guest]

,

I've always hated the restrictiveness of " portion control. " I too, have Type II

Diabetes. What has shocked me about practicing IE is that when I really pay

attention to my hunger signals and when they disappear (which is a pain, because

it means I HAVE to not read while eating, and apparently can't be talking

either, drat it) the amounts I consume are remarkably small compared to what I

was used to eating. I never could wrap my mind around the idea that I only had

room for a fist-size amount of food in my stomach without stretching it out.

Now I'm seeing that must be true. When I eat much more, I feel overfull a few

minutes later and am aware of my stomach feeling heavy and uncomfortable for

more than an hour afterward. I'm beginning to put really tiny portions on my

plate and take seconds if I'm still hungry. I would never have believed I'd do

that voluntarily, but it's what feels right to take care of myself now, not

restrict myself.

Jane

>

> > **

> >

> >

> > Balancing IE and the insulin resistance that comes from PCOS is something I

> > still struggle with. The cravings for sugar/carbs...the excessive hunger

> > that is either caused by the excess insulin or the excess testosterone that

> > comes with PCOS (I've heard both cited as a reason)...both wreak havoc on my

> > desire to listen to my body

> >

> > I've found that I do better all around, in terms of IE, my symptoms, etc.

> > etc. if I do play some small attention to my food choices. The idea of " eat

> > it until you don't want it anymore " hasn't worked for me because my body

> > continues to crave the sugar, and I'm not talking the kind of cravings that

> > can be distracted by a walk or bubble bath! And I do find that I need to

> > eat at semi-regular times instead of waiting to feel hunger, otherwise the

> > insulin/blood sugar reaction makes it that much harder for me to eat

> > intuitively when I do eat next.

> >

> > I've had the best luck when I added stuff versus the diety restricting

> > food. I will add small amounts of protein throughout the day to help

> > balance out the rises in insulin, make a conscious effort to choose more

> > fruits and vegetables. I balance that with IE by not being anal about

> > it..and I find that it's easier for me to overcome the ravenous hunger, to

> > listen when my body is full or almost full, to listen when my body REALLY

> > doesn't want that next bite but my head thinks it does.

> >

> > I've seen my symptoms reduced in the past between medication, physical

> > activity (my choice to do so, not diet/ wl oriented), doing the above, and

> > IE.

> >

> > Sometimes hearing/reading everyone say, " But eat what you want! Don't eat

> > at set mealtimes! No rules! No rules whatsoever for IE! " (or at least

> > that's the impression I get) makes me rebel against having to pay any

> > attention at all to nutrition.

> >

> > Have fallen off the bandwagon in recent months in all aspects and have been

> > trying to remind myself that it IS ok to balance a few loose nutrition rules

> > with IE if that's what my body needs. Because it is what it needs. And I

> > eat more mindfully when I make a few minor adjustments to minimize the

> > insulin response.

> >

> > Thanks for bringing up the PCOS. I'd love to hear from others who are

> > trying to balance PCOS or insulin resistance with intuitive eating.

> >

> > Sara

> >

> >

> >

>