Re: help needed when to stop

[Guest guest]

Tai, For me eating just a plum would not have been enough and certainly I would have been hungry again in an hour.  And 2 minutes wouldn't have been enough to experience SATISFACTION.  Another thing for me I need to have a balanced feeding including some protein and fat along with the carb to keep my blood sugar stable and carry me over for a few hours.  That's just me.  But it sounds like you didn't have the satisfaction  you wanted or were seeking. And with IE I think it is more than ok to enjoy the food/feeding. Sandy

 

Hi Jane and Sunny, and others -- this is the problem I'm having, maybe someone can help me with it. I know when I " m hungry now, and generally speaking have no problem waiting until then. OK, there are times I eat when I'm probably not hungry and might convince myself that maybe I am, but I'm not speaking of that now. The issue is when to stop. As an example, yesterday for breakfast I started out being hungry (a good thing). I had a rather large plum to start out with. Then I no longer felt hungry. BUT I wanted to eat more because sitting and eating is a pleasure for me. I don't eat to live so I can go on in life, etc. I eat also not just from need, but for the enjoyment, and if the eating experience is over in less than 2 minutes because I ate a plum, then I don't see how it's going to work. I'd appreciate

thoughts on this. Usually I wait for the " cease and desist " signal, not merely the " no more hungry " signal. Tai

[Guest guest]

Hi, Sandy. Your post makes sense, but I'm hearing that the "no longer hungry" is the point at which we should stop, not the "full" signal. So I'm having trouble here knowing when I need to stop eating. TaiTo: IntuitiveEating_Support Sent: Wednesday, August 17, 2011 10:10 AMSubject: Re: help needed

when to stop

Tai, For me eating just a plum would not have been enough and certainly I would have been hungry again in an hour. And 2 minutes wouldn't have been enough to experience SATISFACTION. Another thing for me I need to have a balanced feeding including some protein and fat along with the carb to keep my blood sugar stable and carry me over for a few hours. That's just me. But it sounds like you didn't have the satisfaction you wanted or were seeking. And with IE I think it is more than ok to enjoy the food/feeding. Sandy

Hi Jane and Sunny, and others -- this is the problem I'm having, maybe someone can help me with it. I know when I"m hungry now, and generally speaking have no problem waiting until then. OK, there are times I eat when I'm probably not hungry and might convince myself that maybe I am, but I'm not speaking of that now. The issue is when to stop. As an example, yesterday for breakfast I started out being hungry (a good thing). I had a rather large plum to start out with. Then I no longer felt hungry. BUT I wanted to eat more because sitting and eating is a pleasure for me. I don't eat to live so I can go on in life, etc. I eat also not just from need, but for the enjoyment, and if the eating experience is over in less than 2 minutes because I ate a plum, then I don't see how it's going to work. I'd appreciate

thoughts on this. Usually I wait for the "cease and desist" signal, not merely the "no more hungry" signal. Tai

[Guest guest]

Tai, I guess I try to use the hunger scale(although not formerly anymore) and to also include the satisfaction in that.  I will go read those sections again. Did that " no longer hungry " idea come from a different book or what?  Boy I spend too much time on my computer. I just love being here though.  I'd better go move a little. Sandy

 

Hi, Sandy. Your post makes sense, but I'm hearing that the " no longer hungry " is the point at which we should stop, not the " full " signal. So I'm having trouble here knowing when I need to stop eating. Tai

To: IntuitiveEating_Support

Sent: Wednesday, August 17, 2011 10:10 AMSubject: Re: help needed

when to stop

 

Tai, For me eating just a plum would not have been enough and certainly I would have been hungry again in an hour.  And 2 minutes wouldn't have been enough to experience SATISFACTION.  Another thing for me I need to have a balanced feeding including some protein and fat along with the carb to keep my blood sugar stable and carry me over for a few hours.  That's just me.  But it sounds like you didn't have the satisfaction  you wanted or were seeking. And with IE I think it is more than ok to enjoy the food/feeding. Sandy

 

Hi Jane and Sunny, and others -- this is the problem I'm having, maybe someone can help me with it. I know when I " m hungry now, and generally speaking have no problem waiting until then. OK, there are times I eat when I'm probably not hungry and might convince myself that maybe I am, but I'm not speaking of that now. The issue is when to stop. As an example, yesterday for breakfast I started out being hungry (a good thing). I had a rather large plum to start out with. Then I no longer felt hungry. BUT I wanted to eat more because sitting and eating is a pleasure for me. I don't eat to live so I can go on in life, etc. I eat also not just from need, but for the enjoyment, and if the eating experience is over in less than 2 minutes because I ate a plum, then I don't see how it's going to work. I'd appreciate

thoughts on this. Usually I wait for the " cease and desist " signal, not merely the " no more hungry " signal. Tai

[Guest guest]

Hi TaiI'm in full agreement with earlier posts, I'd also like to share that in the first 6 months or so of IE, I really had a difficult time identifying what "satisfied" felt like. I knew what "stuffed" felt like, but I was very unclear about "satisfied". It took me quite a while to become familiar with it as I found it to be a very subtle experience. Today, particularly with "break-fast," I also include protein and carb in my meal, as well as a healthy fat. I've learned that my body appreciates being fed in this way. The difference for me today, is that once having sat down to eat, I eat this well-rounded meal until satisfied. Sometimes I am able to finish it,

sometimes I am not. On the days when I reach saiety more quickly than I would like to, I pause, close my eyes and settle into what's going on in my "body," not in my "mind". I then remind myself that I can eat again when I'm hungry again, no matter what. Namaste,

[Guest guest]

Hi TaiI'm in full agreement with earlier posts, I'd also like to share that in the first 6 months or so of IE, I really had a difficult time identifying what "satisfied" felt like. I knew what "stuffed" felt like, but I was very unclear about "satisfied". It took me quite a while to become familiar with it as I found it to be a very subtle experience. Today, particularly with "break-fast," I also include protein and carb in my meal, as well as a healthy fat. I've learned that my body appreciates being fed in this way. The difference for me today, is that once having sat down to eat, I eat this well-rounded meal until satisfied. Sometimes I am able to finish it,

sometimes I am not. On the days when I reach saiety more quickly than I would like to, I pause, close my eyes and settle into what's going on in my "body," not in my "mind". I then remind myself that I can eat again when I'm hungry again, no matter what. Namaste,

[Guest guest]

Hi TaiI'm in full agreement with earlier posts, I'd also like to share that in the first 6 months or so of IE, I really had a difficult time identifying what "satisfied" felt like. I knew what "stuffed" felt like, but I was very unclear about "satisfied". It took me quite a while to become familiar with it as I found it to be a very subtle experience. Today, particularly with "break-fast," I also include protein and carb in my meal, as well as a healthy fat. I've learned that my body appreciates being fed in this way. The difference for me today, is that once having sat down to eat, I eat this well-rounded meal until satisfied. Sometimes I am able to finish it,

sometimes I am not. On the days when I reach saiety more quickly than I would like to, I pause, close my eyes and settle into what's going on in my "body," not in my "mind". I then remind myself that I can eat again when I'm hungry again, no matter what. Namaste,

[Guest guest]

Hi Tai, I laughed when I read your description of eating when you're probably not hungry. It is so easy to convince ourselves that we are hungry isn't it? I think that's where the food enjoyment comes in. We like it, we want it, so we are hungry aren't we? Just a little? Well, if food is supposed to be just fuel according to the books, and it's supposed to taste so much better if we are actually hungry, wouldn't that give you more enjoyment of the food with less consumed? Don't forget, you can always eat if you're hungry. Eating a carrot when you're not hungry is overeating, but eating a slice of carrot cake when you are hungry is not. I totally believe that statement. If I had a plum for breakfast I would still be hungry after eating it. Like Sandy said, I also need something more substantial, with protein and fat to balance the carbs. What I do is wait a few minutes after finishing what I think I wanted and see am I really no longer hungry or do I still feel a bit empty or even a slight gnawing feeling in the pit of my stomach and if I do, I will eat more. I also try to pair up carbs and protein as often as possible because I am diabetic and it just works better that way to keep my blood sugars stable. I would have had a little Greek yogurt with that plum I think, or a stick of some nice co-jack cheese, or a bit of havarti cheese.

Waiting for the cease and desist signal is waaaay too full for me. I really don't like to feel uncomfortable after eating and I never have liked it. I can't distinguish full very well until it seems like it's too late. I seem to feel fuller 15-20 minutes after I stop eating. The hunger scale is too subjective. There's too much room for fooling myself about how hungry or full I am. So I wait til I feel hunger before I eat, whenever possible...and if it's not possible to wait for true hunger, then I eat and get over it. There are times when we are going somewhere and won't have food for a while, so I will eat something before leaving, to hold me off until food will be available. But lately, I've really been trying to wait for true hunger. I'm not talking about starving either. Just hungry. Plain and simple. Either I am hungry or I am not. That part is pretty easy now. Then I eat what I want to eat out of what I have available to me at the moment. I don't have the patience to make myself crazy about trying to figure out what I might really want. I look in the fridge (or the menu), see what we have, and decide what sounds good based upon the time I have, the effort it will take and what appeals the most without giving it a lot of thought. Every few bites, I really check in with myself. Do I still feel hunger...maybe not, for me a few bites takes the edge off and I don't feel actual hunger...but at the same time i still feel a slight gnawing or a hollow feeling...I have a few more bites and check in again. When I feel completely neutral, I am no longer hungry and I am not full. That's where I'm happiest and that's what my body seems to love since it is releasing weight and making me feel comfortable and cared for at the same time.

So what happens if I do get hungry in a couple hours or even sooner? Well, hungry is hungry right? I start the choosing process again...what looks good, what sounds good, what is quick or what do I have time to prepare. I eat very little packaged food so how long it will take really makes a difference to me sometimes. After choosing what appeals, I eat. No reason you can't eat again, if you're hungry. Eating for the enjoyment of eating is not that important to me anymore but is was, extremely important, and not that long ago. I don't know exactly when it changed or why. It just has. Sweet things are too sweet to be very enjoyable now so I mostly am choosing to eat real food. I've been on a veggie kick lately but that might have to do with the local Farmer's Market and my community garden both being in full swing. But I'm releasing weight now Tai and that feels so much better to me than eating just for eating sake ever did. I'm so committed to the IE lifestyle and I have to be committed to weight loss too, for my own sake. I'm just figuring out how the two can work well together so it's becoming quite easy to stop when I'm no longer hungry . It just feels so right inside.

Good luck to you.

Sunny

help needed when to stop

Hi Jane and Sunny, and others -- this is the problem I'm having, maybe someone can help me with it. I know when I"m hungry now, and generally speaking have no problem waiting until then. OK, there are times I eat when I'm probably not hungry and might convince myself that maybe I am, but I'm not speaking of that now. The issue is when to stop. As an example, yesterday for breakfast I started out being hungry (a good thing). I had a rather large plum to start out with. Then I no longer felt hungry. BUT I wanted to eat more because sitting and eating is a pleasure for me. I don't eat to live so I can go on in life, etc. I eat also not just from need, but for the enjoyment, and if the eating experience is over in less than 2 minutes because I ate a plum, then I don't see how it's going to work. I'd appreciate thoughts on this. Usually I wait for the "cease and desist" signal, not merely the "no more hungry" signal. Tai

[Guest guest]

Sunny, this is a very helpful and encouraging post. I hope everyone who needs

some clarity (like ME) reads it. I am happy to hear of your success. It helps me

to keep going!

>

>

> Hi Tai, I laughed when I read your description of eating when you're probably

not hungry. It is so easy to convince ourselves that we are hungry isn't it? I

think that's where the food enjoyment comes in. We like it, we want it, so we

are hungry aren't we? Just a little? Well, if food is supposed to be just fuel

according to the books, and it's supposed to taste so much better if we are

actually hungry, wouldn't that give you more enjoyment of the food with less

consumed? Don't forget, you can always eat if you're hungry. Eating a carrot

when you're not hungry is overeating, but eating a slice of carrot cake when you

are hungry is not. I totally believe that statement. If I had a plum for

breakfast I would still be hungry after eating it. Like Sandy said, I also need

something more substantial, with protein and fat to balance the carbs. What I do

is wait a few minutes after finishing what I think I wanted and see am I really

no longer hungry or do I still feel a bit empty or even a slight gnawing feeling

in the pit of my stomach and if I do, I will eat more. I also try to pair up

carbs and protein as often as possible because I am diabetic and it just works

better that way to keep my blood sugars stable. I would have had a little Greek

yogurt with that plum I think, or a stick of some nice co-jack cheese, or a bit

of havarti cheese.

>

> Waiting for the cease and desist signal is waaaay too full for me. I really

don't like to feel uncomfortable after eating and I never have liked it. I

can't distinguish full very well until it seems like it's too late. I seem to

feel fuller 15-20 minutes after I stop eating. The hunger scale is too

subjective. There's too much room for fooling myself about how hungry or full I

am. So I wait til I feel hunger before I eat, whenever possible...and if it's

not possible to wait for true hunger, then I eat and get over it. There are

times when we are going somewhere and won't have food for a while, so I will eat

something before leaving, to hold me off until food will be available. But

lately, I've really been trying to wait for true hunger. I'm not talking about

starving either. Just hungry. Plain and simple. Either I am hungry or I am

not. That part is pretty easy now. Then I eat what I want to eat out of what I

have available to me at the moment. I don't have the patience to make myself

crazy about trying to figure out what I might really want. I look in the fridge

(or the menu), see what we have, and decide what sounds good based upon the time

I have, the effort it will take and what appeals the most without giving it a

lot of thought. Every few bites, I really check in with myself. Do I still feel

hunger...maybe not, for me a few bites takes the edge off and I don't feel

actual hunger...but at the same time i still feel a slight gnawing or a hollow

feeling...I have a few more bites and check in again. When I feel completely

neutral, I am no longer hungry and I am not full. That's where I'm happiest and

that's what my body seems to love since it is releasing weight and making me

feel comfortable and cared for at the same time.

>

> So what happens if I do get hungry in a couple hours or even sooner? Well,

hungry is hungry right? I start the choosing process again...what looks good,

what sounds good, what is quick or what do I have time to prepare. I eat very

little packaged food so how long it will take really makes a difference to me

sometimes. After choosing what appeals, I eat. No reason you can't eat again,

if you're hungry. Eating for the enjoyment of eating is not that important to me

anymore but is was, extremely important, and not that long ago. I don't know

exactly when it changed or why. It just has. Sweet things are too sweet to be

very enjoyable now so I mostly am choosing to eat real food. I've been on a

veggie kick lately but that might have to do with the local Farmer's Market and

my community garden both being in full swing. But I'm releasing weight now Tai

and that feels so much better to me than eating just for eating sake ever did.

I'm so committed to the IE lifestyle and I have to be committed to weight loss

too, for my own sake. I'm just figuring out how the two can work well together

so it's becoming quite easy to stop when I'm no longer hungry . It just feels

so right inside.

>

> Good luck to you.

>

> Sunny

>

>

> help needed when to stop

>

>

>

>

>

> Hi Jane and Sunny, and others -- this is the problem I'm having, maybe someone

can help me with it. I know when I " m hungry now, and generally speaking have no

problem waiting until then. OK, there are times I eat when I'm probably not

hungry and might convince myself that maybe I am, but I'm not speaking of that

now. The issue is when to stop. As an example, yesterday for breakfast I started

out being hungry (a good thing). I had a rather large plum to start out with.

Then I no longer felt hungry. BUT I wanted to eat more because sitting and

eating is a pleasure for me. I don't eat to live so I can go on in life, etc. I

eat also not just from need, but for the enjoyment, and if the eating experience

is over in less than 2 minutes because I ate a plum, then I don't see how it's

going to work. I'd appreciate thoughts on this. Usually I wait for the " cease

and desist " signal, not merely the " no more hungry " signal. Tai

>

[Guest guest]

Sunny,

I related to so much of what you were saying. May I ask how long you've been

doing IE and what your path has been (which guidelines did you start with, did

you gain weight legalizing all foods, what have your struggles been)?

Jane

>

>

> Hi Tai, I laughed when I read your description of eating when you're probably

not hungry. It is so easy to convince ourselves that we are hungry isn't it? I

think that's where the food enjoyment comes in. We like it, we want it, so we

are hungry aren't we? Just a little? Well, if food is supposed to be just fuel

according to the books, and it's supposed to taste so much better if we are

actually hungry, wouldn't that give you more enjoyment of the food with less

consumed? Don't forget, you can always eat if you're hungry. Eating a carrot

when you're not hungry is overeating, but eating a slice of carrot cake when you

are hungry is not. I totally believe that statement. If I had a plum for

breakfast I would still be hungry after eating it. Like Sandy said, I also need

something more substantial, with protein and fat to balance the carbs. What I do

is wait a few minutes after finishing what I think I wanted and see am I really

no longer hungry or do I still feel a bit empty or even a slight gnawing feeling

in the pit of my stomach and if I do, I will eat more. I also try to pair up

carbs and protein as often as possible because I am diabetic and it just works

better that way to keep my blood sugars stable. I would have had a little Greek

yogurt with that plum I think, or a stick of some nice co-jack cheese, or a bit

of havarti cheese.

>

> Waiting for the cease and desist signal is waaaay too full for me. I really

don't like to feel uncomfortable after eating and I never have liked it. I

can't distinguish full very well until it seems like it's too late. I seem to

feel fuller 15-20 minutes after I stop eating. The hunger scale is too

subjective. There's too much room for fooling myself about how hungry or full I

am. So I wait til I feel hunger before I eat, whenever possible...and if it's

not possible to wait for true hunger, then I eat and get over it. There are

times when we are going somewhere and won't have food for a while, so I will eat

something before leaving, to hold me off until food will be available. But

lately, I've really been trying to wait for true hunger. I'm not talking about

starving either. Just hungry. Plain and simple. Either I am hungry or I am

not. That part is pretty easy now. Then I eat what I want to eat out of what I

have available to me at the moment. I don't have the patience to make myself

crazy about trying to figure out what I might really want. I look in the fridge

(or the menu), see what we have, and decide what sounds good based upon the time

I have, the effort it will take and what appeals the most without giving it a

lot of thought. Every few bites, I really check in with myself. Do I still feel

hunger...maybe not, for me a few bites takes the edge off and I don't feel

actual hunger...but at the same time i still feel a slight gnawing or a hollow

feeling...I have a few more bites and check in again. When I feel completely

neutral, I am no longer hungry and I am not full. That's where I'm happiest and

that's what my body seems to love since it is releasing weight and making me

feel comfortable and cared for at the same time.

>

> So what happens if I do get hungry in a couple hours or even sooner? Well,

hungry is hungry right? I start the choosing process again...what looks good,

what sounds good, what is quick or what do I have time to prepare. I eat very

little packaged food so how long it will take really makes a difference to me

sometimes. After choosing what appeals, I eat. No reason you can't eat again,

if you're hungry. Eating for the enjoyment of eating is not that important to me

anymore but is was, extremely important, and not that long ago. I don't know

exactly when it changed or why. It just has. Sweet things are too sweet to be

very enjoyable now so I mostly am choosing to eat real food. I've been on a

veggie kick lately but that might have to do with the local Farmer's Market and

my community garden both being in full swing. But I'm releasing weight now Tai

and that feels so much better to me than eating just for eating sake ever did.

I'm so committed to the IE lifestyle and I have to be committed to weight loss

too, for my own sake. I'm just figuring out how the two can work well together

so it's becoming quite easy to stop when I'm no longer hungry . It just feels

so right inside.

>

> Good luck to you.

>

> Sunny

>

>

> help needed when to stop

>

>

>

>

>

> Hi Jane and Sunny, and others -- this is the problem I'm having, maybe someone

can help me with it. I know when I " m hungry now, and generally speaking have no

problem waiting until then. OK, there are times I eat when I'm probably not

hungry and might convince myself that maybe I am, but I'm not speaking of that

now. The issue is when to stop. As an example, yesterday for breakfast I started

out being hungry (a good thing). I had a rather large plum to start out with.

Then I no longer felt hungry. BUT I wanted to eat more because sitting and

eating is a pleasure for me. I don't eat to live so I can go on in life, etc. I

eat also not just from need, but for the enjoyment, and if the eating experience

is over in less than 2 minutes because I ate a plum, then I don't see how it's

going to work. I'd appreciate thoughts on this. Usually I wait for the " cease

and desist " signal, not merely the " no more hungry " signal. Tai

>

[Guest guest]

Sunny,

I related to so much of what you were saying. May I ask how long you've been

doing IE and what your path has been (which guidelines did you start with, did

you gain weight legalizing all foods, what have your struggles been)?

Jane

>

>

> Hi Tai, I laughed when I read your description of eating when you're probably

not hungry. It is so easy to convince ourselves that we are hungry isn't it? I

think that's where the food enjoyment comes in. We like it, we want it, so we

are hungry aren't we? Just a little? Well, if food is supposed to be just fuel

according to the books, and it's supposed to taste so much better if we are

actually hungry, wouldn't that give you more enjoyment of the food with less

consumed? Don't forget, you can always eat if you're hungry. Eating a carrot

when you're not hungry is overeating, but eating a slice of carrot cake when you

are hungry is not. I totally believe that statement. If I had a plum for

breakfast I would still be hungry after eating it. Like Sandy said, I also need

something more substantial, with protein and fat to balance the carbs. What I do

is wait a few minutes after finishing what I think I wanted and see am I really

no longer hungry or do I still feel a bit empty or even a slight gnawing feeling

in the pit of my stomach and if I do, I will eat more. I also try to pair up

carbs and protein as often as possible because I am diabetic and it just works

better that way to keep my blood sugars stable. I would have had a little Greek

yogurt with that plum I think, or a stick of some nice co-jack cheese, or a bit

of havarti cheese.

>

> Waiting for the cease and desist signal is waaaay too full for me. I really

don't like to feel uncomfortable after eating and I never have liked it. I

can't distinguish full very well until it seems like it's too late. I seem to

feel fuller 15-20 minutes after I stop eating. The hunger scale is too

subjective. There's too much room for fooling myself about how hungry or full I

am. So I wait til I feel hunger before I eat, whenever possible...and if it's

not possible to wait for true hunger, then I eat and get over it. There are

times when we are going somewhere and won't have food for a while, so I will eat

something before leaving, to hold me off until food will be available. But

lately, I've really been trying to wait for true hunger. I'm not talking about

starving either. Just hungry. Plain and simple. Either I am hungry or I am

not. That part is pretty easy now. Then I eat what I want to eat out of what I

have available to me at the moment. I don't have the patience to make myself

crazy about trying to figure out what I might really want. I look in the fridge

(or the menu), see what we have, and decide what sounds good based upon the time

I have, the effort it will take and what appeals the most without giving it a

lot of thought. Every few bites, I really check in with myself. Do I still feel

hunger...maybe not, for me a few bites takes the edge off and I don't feel

actual hunger...but at the same time i still feel a slight gnawing or a hollow

feeling...I have a few more bites and check in again. When I feel completely

neutral, I am no longer hungry and I am not full. That's where I'm happiest and

that's what my body seems to love since it is releasing weight and making me

feel comfortable and cared for at the same time.

>

> So what happens if I do get hungry in a couple hours or even sooner? Well,

hungry is hungry right? I start the choosing process again...what looks good,

what sounds good, what is quick or what do I have time to prepare. I eat very

little packaged food so how long it will take really makes a difference to me

sometimes. After choosing what appeals, I eat. No reason you can't eat again,

if you're hungry. Eating for the enjoyment of eating is not that important to me

anymore but is was, extremely important, and not that long ago. I don't know

exactly when it changed or why. It just has. Sweet things are too sweet to be

very enjoyable now so I mostly am choosing to eat real food. I've been on a

veggie kick lately but that might have to do with the local Farmer's Market and

my community garden both being in full swing. But I'm releasing weight now Tai

and that feels so much better to me than eating just for eating sake ever did.

I'm so committed to the IE lifestyle and I have to be committed to weight loss

too, for my own sake. I'm just figuring out how the two can work well together

so it's becoming quite easy to stop when I'm no longer hungry . It just feels

so right inside.

>

> Good luck to you.

>

> Sunny

>

>

> help needed when to stop

>

>

>

>

>

> Hi Jane and Sunny, and others -- this is the problem I'm having, maybe someone

can help me with it. I know when I " m hungry now, and generally speaking have no

problem waiting until then. OK, there are times I eat when I'm probably not

hungry and might convince myself that maybe I am, but I'm not speaking of that

now. The issue is when to stop. As an example, yesterday for breakfast I started

out being hungry (a good thing). I had a rather large plum to start out with.

Then I no longer felt hungry. BUT I wanted to eat more because sitting and

eating is a pleasure for me. I don't eat to live so I can go on in life, etc. I

eat also not just from need, but for the enjoyment, and if the eating experience

is over in less than 2 minutes because I ate a plum, then I don't see how it's

going to work. I'd appreciate thoughts on this. Usually I wait for the " cease

and desist " signal, not merely the " no more hungry " signal. Tai

>

[Guest guest]

thanks, Sunny. I really need to be resolved throughout the day to wait for hunger signals when possible, and I have to keep working on stopping before the cease and desist signal. I must learn to be more comfortable with feeling comfortably not hungry rather than I can't eat one more bite. TaiTo: IntuitiveEating_Support Sent: Wednesday, August 17, 2011 6:46 PMSubject: Re: help needed when to stop

Sunny,

I related to so much of what you were saying. May I ask how long you've been doing IE and what your path has been (which guidelines did you start with, did you gain weight legalizing all foods, what have your struggles been)?

Jane

>

>

> Hi Tai, I laughed when I read your description of eating when you're probably not hungry. It is so easy to convince ourselves that we are hungry isn't it? I think that's where the food enjoyment comes in. We like it, we want it, so we are hungry aren't we? Just a little? Well, if food is supposed to be just fuel according to the books, and it's supposed to taste so much better if we are actually hungry, wouldn't that give you more enjoyment of the food with less consumed? Don't forget, you can always eat if you're hungry. Eating a carrot when you're not hungry is overeating, but eating a slice of carrot cake when you are hungry is not. I totally believe that statement. If I had a plum for breakfast I would still be hungry after eating it. Like Sandy said, I also need something more substantial, with protein and fat to balance the carbs. What I do is wait a few minutes after finishing what I think I wanted and see am I really no longer

hungry or do I still feel a bit empty or even a slight gnawing feeling in the pit of my stomach and if I do, I will eat more. I also try to pair up carbs and protein as often as possible because I am diabetic and it just works better that way to keep my blood sugars stable. I would have had a little Greek yogurt with that plum I think, or a stick of some nice co-jack cheese, or a bit of havarti cheese.

>

> Waiting for the cease and desist signal is waaaay too full for me. I really don't like to feel uncomfortable after eating and I never have liked it. I can't distinguish full very well until it seems like it's too late. I seem to feel fuller 15-20 minutes after I stop eating. The hunger scale is too subjective. There's too much room for fooling myself about how hungry or full I am. So I wait til I feel hunger before I eat, whenever possible...and if it's not possible to wait for true hunger, then I eat and get over it. There are times when we are going somewhere and won't have food for a while, so I will eat something before leaving, to hold me off until food will be available. But lately, I've really been trying to wait for true hunger. I'm not talking about starving either. Just hungry. Plain and simple. Either I am hungry or I am not. That part is pretty easy now. Then I eat what I want to eat out of what I have available to me at the

moment. I don't have the patience to make myself crazy about trying to figure out what I might really want. I look in the fridge (or the menu), see what we have, and decide what sounds good based upon the time I have, the effort it will take and what appeals the most without giving it a lot of thought. Every few bites, I really check in with myself. Do I still feel hunger...maybe not, for me a few bites takes the edge off and I don't feel actual hunger...but at the same time i still feel a slight gnawing or a hollow feeling...I have a few more bites and check in again. When I feel completely neutral, I am no longer hungry and I am not full. That's where I'm happiest and that's what my body seems to love since it is releasing weight and making me feel comfortable and cared for at the same time.

>

> So what happens if I do get hungry in a couple hours or even sooner? Well, hungry is hungry right? I start the choosing process again...what looks good, what sounds good, what is quick or what do I have time to prepare. I eat very little packaged food so how long it will take really makes a difference to me sometimes. After choosing what appeals, I eat. No reason you can't eat again, if you're hungry. Eating for the enjoyment of eating is not that important to me anymore but is was, extremely important, and not that long ago. I don't know exactly when it changed or why. It just has. Sweet things are too sweet to be very enjoyable now so I mostly am choosing to eat real food. I've been on a veggie kick lately but that might have to do with the local Farmer's Market and my community garden both being in full swing. But I'm releasing weight now Tai and that feels so much better to me than eating just for eating sake ever did. I'm so committed

to the IE lifestyle and I have to be committed to weight loss too, for my own sake. I'm just figuring out how the two can work well together so it's becoming quite easy to stop when I'm no longer hungry . It just feels so right inside.

>

> Good luck to you.

>

> Sunny

>

>

> help needed when to stop

>

>

>

>

>

> Hi Jane and Sunny, and others -- this is the problem I'm having, maybe someone can help me with it. I know when I"m hungry now, and generally speaking have no problem waiting until then. OK, there are times I eat when I'm probably not hungry and might convince myself that maybe I am, but I'm not speaking of that now. The issue is when to stop. As an example, yesterday for breakfast I started out being hungry (a good thing). I had a rather large plum to start out with. Then I no longer felt hungry. BUT I wanted to eat more because sitting and eating is a pleasure for me. I don't eat to live so I can go on in life, etc. I eat also not just from need, but for the enjoyment, and if the eating experience is over in less than 2 minutes because I ate a plum, then I don't see how it's going to work. I'd appreciate thoughts on this. Usually I wait for the "cease and desist" signal, not merely the "no more hungry" signal. Tai

>

[Guest guest]

thanks, Sunny. I really need to be resolved throughout the day to wait for hunger signals when possible, and I have to keep working on stopping before the cease and desist signal. I must learn to be more comfortable with feeling comfortably not hungry rather than I can't eat one more bite. TaiTo: IntuitiveEating_Support Sent: Wednesday, August 17, 2011 6:46 PMSubject: Re: help needed when to stop

Sunny,

I related to so much of what you were saying. May I ask how long you've been doing IE and what your path has been (which guidelines did you start with, did you gain weight legalizing all foods, what have your struggles been)?

Jane

>

>

> Hi Tai, I laughed when I read your description of eating when you're probably not hungry. It is so easy to convince ourselves that we are hungry isn't it? I think that's where the food enjoyment comes in. We like it, we want it, so we are hungry aren't we? Just a little? Well, if food is supposed to be just fuel according to the books, and it's supposed to taste so much better if we are actually hungry, wouldn't that give you more enjoyment of the food with less consumed? Don't forget, you can always eat if you're hungry. Eating a carrot when you're not hungry is overeating, but eating a slice of carrot cake when you are hungry is not. I totally believe that statement. If I had a plum for breakfast I would still be hungry after eating it. Like Sandy said, I also need something more substantial, with protein and fat to balance the carbs. What I do is wait a few minutes after finishing what I think I wanted and see am I really no longer

hungry or do I still feel a bit empty or even a slight gnawing feeling in the pit of my stomach and if I do, I will eat more. I also try to pair up carbs and protein as often as possible because I am diabetic and it just works better that way to keep my blood sugars stable. I would have had a little Greek yogurt with that plum I think, or a stick of some nice co-jack cheese, or a bit of havarti cheese.

>

> Waiting for the cease and desist signal is waaaay too full for me. I really don't like to feel uncomfortable after eating and I never have liked it. I can't distinguish full very well until it seems like it's too late. I seem to feel fuller 15-20 minutes after I stop eating. The hunger scale is too subjective. There's too much room for fooling myself about how hungry or full I am. So I wait til I feel hunger before I eat, whenever possible...and if it's not possible to wait for true hunger, then I eat and get over it. There are times when we are going somewhere and won't have food for a while, so I will eat something before leaving, to hold me off until food will be available. But lately, I've really been trying to wait for true hunger. I'm not talking about starving either. Just hungry. Plain and simple. Either I am hungry or I am not. That part is pretty easy now. Then I eat what I want to eat out of what I have available to me at the

moment. I don't have the patience to make myself crazy about trying to figure out what I might really want. I look in the fridge (or the menu), see what we have, and decide what sounds good based upon the time I have, the effort it will take and what appeals the most without giving it a lot of thought. Every few bites, I really check in with myself. Do I still feel hunger...maybe not, for me a few bites takes the edge off and I don't feel actual hunger...but at the same time i still feel a slight gnawing or a hollow feeling...I have a few more bites and check in again. When I feel completely neutral, I am no longer hungry and I am not full. That's where I'm happiest and that's what my body seems to love since it is releasing weight and making me feel comfortable and cared for at the same time.

>

> So what happens if I do get hungry in a couple hours or even sooner? Well, hungry is hungry right? I start the choosing process again...what looks good, what sounds good, what is quick or what do I have time to prepare. I eat very little packaged food so how long it will take really makes a difference to me sometimes. After choosing what appeals, I eat. No reason you can't eat again, if you're hungry. Eating for the enjoyment of eating is not that important to me anymore but is was, extremely important, and not that long ago. I don't know exactly when it changed or why. It just has. Sweet things are too sweet to be very enjoyable now so I mostly am choosing to eat real food. I've been on a veggie kick lately but that might have to do with the local Farmer's Market and my community garden both being in full swing. But I'm releasing weight now Tai and that feels so much better to me than eating just for eating sake ever did. I'm so committed

to the IE lifestyle and I have to be committed to weight loss too, for my own sake. I'm just figuring out how the two can work well together so it's becoming quite easy to stop when I'm no longer hungry . It just feels so right inside.

>

> Good luck to you.

>

> Sunny

>

>

> help needed when to stop

>

>

>

>

>

> Hi Jane and Sunny, and others -- this is the problem I'm having, maybe someone can help me with it. I know when I"m hungry now, and generally speaking have no problem waiting until then. OK, there are times I eat when I'm probably not hungry and might convince myself that maybe I am, but I'm not speaking of that now. The issue is when to stop. As an example, yesterday for breakfast I started out being hungry (a good thing). I had a rather large plum to start out with. Then I no longer felt hungry. BUT I wanted to eat more because sitting and eating is a pleasure for me. I don't eat to live so I can go on in life, etc. I eat also not just from need, but for the enjoyment, and if the eating experience is over in less than 2 minutes because I ate a plum, then I don't see how it's going to work. I'd appreciate thoughts on this. Usually I wait for the "cease and desist" signal, not merely the "no more hungry" signal. Tai

>

[Guest guest]

thanks, Sunny. I really need to be resolved throughout the day to wait for hunger signals when possible, and I have to keep working on stopping before the cease and desist signal. I must learn to be more comfortable with feeling comfortably not hungry rather than I can't eat one more bite. TaiTo: IntuitiveEating_Support Sent: Wednesday, August 17, 2011 6:46 PMSubject: Re: help needed when to stop

Sunny,

I related to so much of what you were saying. May I ask how long you've been doing IE and what your path has been (which guidelines did you start with, did you gain weight legalizing all foods, what have your struggles been)?

Jane

>

>

> Hi Tai, I laughed when I read your description of eating when you're probably not hungry. It is so easy to convince ourselves that we are hungry isn't it? I think that's where the food enjoyment comes in. We like it, we want it, so we are hungry aren't we? Just a little? Well, if food is supposed to be just fuel according to the books, and it's supposed to taste so much better if we are actually hungry, wouldn't that give you more enjoyment of the food with less consumed? Don't forget, you can always eat if you're hungry. Eating a carrot when you're not hungry is overeating, but eating a slice of carrot cake when you are hungry is not. I totally believe that statement. If I had a plum for breakfast I would still be hungry after eating it. Like Sandy said, I also need something more substantial, with protein and fat to balance the carbs. What I do is wait a few minutes after finishing what I think I wanted and see am I really no longer

hungry or do I still feel a bit empty or even a slight gnawing feeling in the pit of my stomach and if I do, I will eat more. I also try to pair up carbs and protein as often as possible because I am diabetic and it just works better that way to keep my blood sugars stable. I would have had a little Greek yogurt with that plum I think, or a stick of some nice co-jack cheese, or a bit of havarti cheese.

>

> Waiting for the cease and desist signal is waaaay too full for me. I really don't like to feel uncomfortable after eating and I never have liked it. I can't distinguish full very well until it seems like it's too late. I seem to feel fuller 15-20 minutes after I stop eating. The hunger scale is too subjective. There's too much room for fooling myself about how hungry or full I am. So I wait til I feel hunger before I eat, whenever possible...and if it's not possible to wait for true hunger, then I eat and get over it. There are times when we are going somewhere and won't have food for a while, so I will eat something before leaving, to hold me off until food will be available. But lately, I've really been trying to wait for true hunger. I'm not talking about starving either. Just hungry. Plain and simple. Either I am hungry or I am not. That part is pretty easy now. Then I eat what I want to eat out of what I have available to me at the

moment. I don't have the patience to make myself crazy about trying to figure out what I might really want. I look in the fridge (or the menu), see what we have, and decide what sounds good based upon the time I have, the effort it will take and what appeals the most without giving it a lot of thought. Every few bites, I really check in with myself. Do I still feel hunger...maybe not, for me a few bites takes the edge off and I don't feel actual hunger...but at the same time i still feel a slight gnawing or a hollow feeling...I have a few more bites and check in again. When I feel completely neutral, I am no longer hungry and I am not full. That's where I'm happiest and that's what my body seems to love since it is releasing weight and making me feel comfortable and cared for at the same time.

>

> So what happens if I do get hungry in a couple hours or even sooner? Well, hungry is hungry right? I start the choosing process again...what looks good, what sounds good, what is quick or what do I have time to prepare. I eat very little packaged food so how long it will take really makes a difference to me sometimes. After choosing what appeals, I eat. No reason you can't eat again, if you're hungry. Eating for the enjoyment of eating is not that important to me anymore but is was, extremely important, and not that long ago. I don't know exactly when it changed or why. It just has. Sweet things are too sweet to be very enjoyable now so I mostly am choosing to eat real food. I've been on a veggie kick lately but that might have to do with the local Farmer's Market and my community garden both being in full swing. But I'm releasing weight now Tai and that feels so much better to me than eating just for eating sake ever did. I'm so committed

to the IE lifestyle and I have to be committed to weight loss too, for my own sake. I'm just figuring out how the two can work well together so it's becoming quite easy to stop when I'm no longer hungry . It just feels so right inside.

>

> Good luck to you.

>

> Sunny

>

>

> help needed when to stop

>

>

>

>

>

> Hi Jane and Sunny, and others -- this is the problem I'm having, maybe someone can help me with it. I know when I"m hungry now, and generally speaking have no problem waiting until then. OK, there are times I eat when I'm probably not hungry and might convince myself that maybe I am, but I'm not speaking of that now. The issue is when to stop. As an example, yesterday for breakfast I started out being hungry (a good thing). I had a rather large plum to start out with. Then I no longer felt hungry. BUT I wanted to eat more because sitting and eating is a pleasure for me. I don't eat to live so I can go on in life, etc. I eat also not just from need, but for the enjoyment, and if the eating experience is over in less than 2 minutes because I ate a plum, then I don't see how it's going to work. I'd appreciate thoughts on this. Usually I wait for the "cease and desist" signal, not merely the "no more hungry" signal. Tai

>

[Guest guest]

Hi Jane, Sure you're welcome to ask anything you want of me or the group. I have been working on IE for about 6 months now I think, though the first few months we awkward and trying to stumble along finding my way. Before that, I was playing with the concept of IE but only as a weight loss tool and that didn't work so well. I first used McKenna's program, I Can Make You Thin as a guide line but there's so much more behind IE as I came to find out when I joined this list. My struggles with IE have been mainly giving up firmly engrained ideas from years of doctors, experts and diet programs telling us all the "facts" that messed us up. I also was looking for a magic bullet to weight loss. I did gain weight (22 pounds) on an already 248 pound body and at 5'3" that's a lot of weight. I whined and cried to this list about how I couldn't gain weight...well apparently I could and I did and got up to 270 which is my biggest all time record. I gained the weight by not doing the principles of honoring hunger/fullness. I had no problem legalizing everything. The food police died fairly easily. Unfortunately I wasn't ready at that moment to hear and feel my own body signals yet. Although I didn't allow myself to get full to the point of even mild discomfort, I did continue to graze and eat what I wanted. Out of that, I gained a freedom like I've never known with food. I'm no longer that neurotic mess who weighed, measured and journaled ever scrape of food. Foods weren't good or bad anymore and neither was I. That's pretty cool.

Here's the principles and where I am today with them:

1. Reject the Diet Mentality First one I did, and it was super easy for me. I knew there was something wrong with dieting all along but needed something else to replace it. IE gave me that.

2. Honor Your Hunger This one was pretty early too. I had no problem eating when I was hungry and not allowing myself to get overly hungry. But I did and sometimes still do let my imagination decide if I'm hungry or not. It's pretty easy to get lost in this one.

3. Make Peace with Food this one was up there with #1, and I took them on together in the beginning. again no bad or good food. That just made all the sense in the world to me.

4. Challenge the Food Police .This one can in 2nd after 1 & 3. It was really quite easy for me.

5. Respect Your Fullness This is where I am committed to learning now. I am finding it easier by the day but fully expect it won't always be so. I'd say this one started to click in the last 3 weeks.

6. Discover the Satisfaction Factor This is also something I am learning, gently and slowly as I go through the other steps, it just seems to strengthen on it's own.

7. Honor Your Feelings Without Using Food I haven't really gotten into this one yet. I don't seem to have a lot of emotional baggage. I think I eat mostly out of habit, boredom and compulsion. I was also a see-food-eater. Saw it, ate it, full or not. That is no longer the case so much now. Don't know when this started to change.

8. Respect Your Body I do take much better care of my body since I started seriously in with IE six months ago but I am not able to embrace my obesity. I believe I have very realistic expectations of where I'd like my weight to end up (anything under 200 will make me a whole lot healthier) and I will get there because in order to respect my body I can't allow it to remain in this shape. It's not fair to my organs or to my life.

9. Exercise--Feel the Difference Hmmm...well the weather is nice here in Portland and I am just a lot more active. I hate planned exercise and haven't found any joy in it but movement is something I can do gladly though I walk gently and do nothing that exerts, I am moving and enjoying it. I do have a medical condition that makes exertion and overheating undesirable.

10 Honor Your Health-- For me, this entails weight loss. I actually do eat very good quality foods, a lot of it organic, whole grain, lean meats, fruits, veggies, all by preference and my cholesterol numbers are fantastic for a person half my size. My doctor just said today how amazing those numbers are especially when you figure my weight and age into it. And no, she's never seen my actual weight.

So that's where I am right now. Don't let anyone tell you not to worry about gaining weight or losing it if it's important for your health. Just plug along learning the principles and working them. If you can do the hungry/not hungry earlier than I did, you'll be farther along sooner. But if you can't right now, it's ok, you will eventually. IE is a weight loss tool when you figure out what parts of it work best for you.

Sunny

help needed when to stop

> > > > > > Hi Jane and Sunny, and others -- this is the problem I'm having, maybe someone can help me with it. I know when I"m hungry now, and generally speaking have no problem waiting until then. OK, there are times I eat when I'm probably not hungry and might convince myself that maybe I am, but I'm not speaking of that now. The issue is when to stop. As an example, yesterday for breakfast I started out being hungry (a good thing). I had a rather large plum to start out with. Then I no longer felt hungry. BUT I wanted to eat more because sitting and eating is a pleasure for me. I don't eat to live so I can go on in life, etc. I eat also not just from need, but for the enjoyment, and if the eating experience is over in less than 2 minutes because I ate a plum, then I don't see how it's going to work. I'd appreciate thoughts on this. Usually I wait for the "cease and desist" signal, not merely the "no more hungry" signal. Tai

>

------------------------------------

[Guest guest]

Hi Jane, Sure you're welcome to ask anything you want of me or the group. I have been working on IE for about 6 months now I think, though the first few months we awkward and trying to stumble along finding my way. Before that, I was playing with the concept of IE but only as a weight loss tool and that didn't work so well. I first used McKenna's program, I Can Make You Thin as a guide line but there's so much more behind IE as I came to find out when I joined this list. My struggles with IE have been mainly giving up firmly engrained ideas from years of doctors, experts and diet programs telling us all the "facts" that messed us up. I also was looking for a magic bullet to weight loss. I did gain weight (22 pounds) on an already 248 pound body and at 5'3" that's a lot of weight. I whined and cried to this list about how I couldn't gain weight...well apparently I could and I did and got up to 270 which is my biggest all time record. I gained the weight by not doing the principles of honoring hunger/fullness. I had no problem legalizing everything. The food police died fairly easily. Unfortunately I wasn't ready at that moment to hear and feel my own body signals yet. Although I didn't allow myself to get full to the point of even mild discomfort, I did continue to graze and eat what I wanted. Out of that, I gained a freedom like I've never known with food. I'm no longer that neurotic mess who weighed, measured and journaled ever scrape of food. Foods weren't good or bad anymore and neither was I. That's pretty cool.

Here's the principles and where I am today with them:

1. Reject the Diet Mentality First one I did, and it was super easy for me. I knew there was something wrong with dieting all along but needed something else to replace it. IE gave me that.

2. Honor Your Hunger This one was pretty early too. I had no problem eating when I was hungry and not allowing myself to get overly hungry. But I did and sometimes still do let my imagination decide if I'm hungry or not. It's pretty easy to get lost in this one.

3. Make Peace with Food this one was up there with #1, and I took them on together in the beginning. again no bad or good food. That just made all the sense in the world to me.

4. Challenge the Food Police .This one can in 2nd after 1 & 3. It was really quite easy for me.

5. Respect Your Fullness This is where I am committed to learning now. I am finding it easier by the day but fully expect it won't always be so. I'd say this one started to click in the last 3 weeks.

6. Discover the Satisfaction Factor This is also something I am learning, gently and slowly as I go through the other steps, it just seems to strengthen on it's own.

7. Honor Your Feelings Without Using Food I haven't really gotten into this one yet. I don't seem to have a lot of emotional baggage. I think I eat mostly out of habit, boredom and compulsion. I was also a see-food-eater. Saw it, ate it, full or not. That is no longer the case so much now. Don't know when this started to change.

8. Respect Your Body I do take much better care of my body since I started seriously in with IE six months ago but I am not able to embrace my obesity. I believe I have very realistic expectations of where I'd like my weight to end up (anything under 200 will make me a whole lot healthier) and I will get there because in order to respect my body I can't allow it to remain in this shape. It's not fair to my organs or to my life.

9. Exercise--Feel the Difference Hmmm...well the weather is nice here in Portland and I am just a lot more active. I hate planned exercise and haven't found any joy in it but movement is something I can do gladly though I walk gently and do nothing that exerts, I am moving and enjoying it. I do have a medical condition that makes exertion and overheating undesirable.

10 Honor Your Health-- For me, this entails weight loss. I actually do eat very good quality foods, a lot of it organic, whole grain, lean meats, fruits, veggies, all by preference and my cholesterol numbers are fantastic for a person half my size. My doctor just said today how amazing those numbers are especially when you figure my weight and age into it. And no, she's never seen my actual weight.

So that's where I am right now. Don't let anyone tell you not to worry about gaining weight or losing it if it's important for your health. Just plug along learning the principles and working them. If you can do the hungry/not hungry earlier than I did, you'll be farther along sooner. But if you can't right now, it's ok, you will eventually. IE is a weight loss tool when you figure out what parts of it work best for you.

Sunny

help needed when to stop

> > > > > > Hi Jane and Sunny, and others -- this is the problem I'm having, maybe someone can help me with it. I know when I"m hungry now, and generally speaking have no problem waiting until then. OK, there are times I eat when I'm probably not hungry and might convince myself that maybe I am, but I'm not speaking of that now. The issue is when to stop. As an example, yesterday for breakfast I started out being hungry (a good thing). I had a rather large plum to start out with. Then I no longer felt hungry. BUT I wanted to eat more because sitting and eating is a pleasure for me. I don't eat to live so I can go on in life, etc. I eat also not just from need, but for the enjoyment, and if the eating experience is over in less than 2 minutes because I ate a plum, then I don't see how it's going to work. I'd appreciate thoughts on this. Usually I wait for the "cease and desist" signal, not merely the "no more hungry" signal. Tai

>

------------------------------------

[Guest guest]

Hi Jane, Sure you're welcome to ask anything you want of me or the group. I have been working on IE for about 6 months now I think, though the first few months we awkward and trying to stumble along finding my way. Before that, I was playing with the concept of IE but only as a weight loss tool and that didn't work so well. I first used McKenna's program, I Can Make You Thin as a guide line but there's so much more behind IE as I came to find out when I joined this list. My struggles with IE have been mainly giving up firmly engrained ideas from years of doctors, experts and diet programs telling us all the "facts" that messed us up. I also was looking for a magic bullet to weight loss. I did gain weight (22 pounds) on an already 248 pound body and at 5'3" that's a lot of weight. I whined and cried to this list about how I couldn't gain weight...well apparently I could and I did and got up to 270 which is my biggest all time record. I gained the weight by not doing the principles of honoring hunger/fullness. I had no problem legalizing everything. The food police died fairly easily. Unfortunately I wasn't ready at that moment to hear and feel my own body signals yet. Although I didn't allow myself to get full to the point of even mild discomfort, I did continue to graze and eat what I wanted. Out of that, I gained a freedom like I've never known with food. I'm no longer that neurotic mess who weighed, measured and journaled ever scrape of food. Foods weren't good or bad anymore and neither was I. That's pretty cool.

Here's the principles and where I am today with them:

1. Reject the Diet Mentality First one I did, and it was super easy for me. I knew there was something wrong with dieting all along but needed something else to replace it. IE gave me that.

2. Honor Your Hunger This one was pretty early too. I had no problem eating when I was hungry and not allowing myself to get overly hungry. But I did and sometimes still do let my imagination decide if I'm hungry or not. It's pretty easy to get lost in this one.

3. Make Peace with Food this one was up there with #1, and I took them on together in the beginning. again no bad or good food. That just made all the sense in the world to me.

4. Challenge the Food Police .This one can in 2nd after 1 & 3. It was really quite easy for me.

5. Respect Your Fullness This is where I am committed to learning now. I am finding it easier by the day but fully expect it won't always be so. I'd say this one started to click in the last 3 weeks.

6. Discover the Satisfaction Factor This is also something I am learning, gently and slowly as I go through the other steps, it just seems to strengthen on it's own.

7. Honor Your Feelings Without Using Food I haven't really gotten into this one yet. I don't seem to have a lot of emotional baggage. I think I eat mostly out of habit, boredom and compulsion. I was also a see-food-eater. Saw it, ate it, full or not. That is no longer the case so much now. Don't know when this started to change.

8. Respect Your Body I do take much better care of my body since I started seriously in with IE six months ago but I am not able to embrace my obesity. I believe I have very realistic expectations of where I'd like my weight to end up (anything under 200 will make me a whole lot healthier) and I will get there because in order to respect my body I can't allow it to remain in this shape. It's not fair to my organs or to my life.

9. Exercise--Feel the Difference Hmmm...well the weather is nice here in Portland and I am just a lot more active. I hate planned exercise and haven't found any joy in it but movement is something I can do gladly though I walk gently and do nothing that exerts, I am moving and enjoying it. I do have a medical condition that makes exertion and overheating undesirable.

10 Honor Your Health-- For me, this entails weight loss. I actually do eat very good quality foods, a lot of it organic, whole grain, lean meats, fruits, veggies, all by preference and my cholesterol numbers are fantastic for a person half my size. My doctor just said today how amazing those numbers are especially when you figure my weight and age into it. And no, she's never seen my actual weight.

So that's where I am right now. Don't let anyone tell you not to worry about gaining weight or losing it if it's important for your health. Just plug along learning the principles and working them. If you can do the hungry/not hungry earlier than I did, you'll be farther along sooner. But if you can't right now, it's ok, you will eventually. IE is a weight loss tool when you figure out what parts of it work best for you.

Sunny

help needed when to stop

> > > > > > Hi Jane and Sunny, and others -- this is the problem I'm having, maybe someone can help me with it. I know when I"m hungry now, and generally speaking have no problem waiting until then. OK, there are times I eat when I'm probably not hungry and might convince myself that maybe I am, but I'm not speaking of that now. The issue is when to stop. As an example, yesterday for breakfast I started out being hungry (a good thing). I had a rather large plum to start out with. Then I no longer felt hungry. BUT I wanted to eat more because sitting and eating is a pleasure for me. I don't eat to live so I can go on in life, etc. I eat also not just from need, but for the enjoyment, and if the eating experience is over in less than 2 minutes because I ate a plum, then I don't see how it's going to work. I'd appreciate thoughts on this. Usually I wait for the "cease and desist" signal, not merely the "no more hungry" signal. Tai

>

------------------------------------

[Guest guest]

Tai, 5 bites isn't neutral for me. It's just taking the edge off the hunger. If I stopped then I would be hungry again in 30 minutes to an hour. Then I'd be grazing all day. I find I need to eat about a fist sized portion of a denser/heavier meal and if it's lighter, like a chicken or Asian salad, It's usually about the amount it would take to fill my hands if I was holding them together like an offering basket. But it doesn't take all that long. Making a meal last 20 minutes is impossible with those amounts of food. It took me a long time to come to grips with having meals end so quickly too. But extending my eating experience was extending my waistline. Four weeks ago, my doctor prescribed a med that would mildly take the edge off the anxiety and stress I've been feeling in my life for years. That really has helped me a great deal. I no longer worry about how much I get to eat. I choose things I really like. I buy fresh ever few days and I buy whatever strikes me at the time. I shop at Asian markets where the produce and meat/fish is extremely fresh and exotic too. I enjoy the whole process now, of shopping, preparing and eating these things I really love and I need less of it. I am sometimes sad that my small dinner keeps me from being hungry most nights and I don't get much in the way of desserts any more. But I do know if I was hungry, I could have those desserts, even if it means having it for breakfast. That's allowed you know. I tell myself I can have it as soon as I'm hungry if I still want it. Most of the time I'd rather have something else when the hunger comes.

Sunny

Re: help needed when to stop

But lately, I've really been trying to wait for true hunger. I'm not talking about starving either. Just hungry. Plain and simple. Either I am hungry or I am not. That part is pretty easy now. Then I eat what I want to eat out of what I have available to me at the moment. I don't have the patience to make myself crazy about trying to figure out what I might really want. I look in the fridge (or the menu), see what we have, and decide what sounds good based upon the time I have, the effort it will take and what appeals the most without giving it a lot of thought. Every few bites, I really check in with myself. Do I still feel hunger...maybe not, for me a few bites takes the edge off and I don't feel actual hunger...but at the same time i still feel a slight gnawing or a hollow feeling...I have a few more bites and check in again. When I feel completely neutral, I am no longer hungry and I am not full. That's where I'm happiest and that's what my body seems to love since it is releasing weight and making me feel comfortable and cared for at the same time.

Sunny, I'm so glad I read this, it's really so helpful to me, I printed it out for future reference. Thanks! Judy T.

[Guest guest]

Tai, 5 bites isn't neutral for me. It's just taking the edge off the hunger. If I stopped then I would be hungry again in 30 minutes to an hour. Then I'd be grazing all day. I find I need to eat about a fist sized portion of a denser/heavier meal and if it's lighter, like a chicken or Asian salad, It's usually about the amount it would take to fill my hands if I was holding them together like an offering basket. But it doesn't take all that long. Making a meal last 20 minutes is impossible with those amounts of food. It took me a long time to come to grips with having meals end so quickly too. But extending my eating experience was extending my waistline. Four weeks ago, my doctor prescribed a med that would mildly take the edge off the anxiety and stress I've been feeling in my life for years. That really has helped me a great deal. I no longer worry about how much I get to eat. I choose things I really like. I buy fresh ever few days and I buy whatever strikes me at the time. I shop at Asian markets where the produce and meat/fish is extremely fresh and exotic too. I enjoy the whole process now, of shopping, preparing and eating these things I really love and I need less of it. I am sometimes sad that my small dinner keeps me from being hungry most nights and I don't get much in the way of desserts any more. But I do know if I was hungry, I could have those desserts, even if it means having it for breakfast. That's allowed you know. I tell myself I can have it as soon as I'm hungry if I still want it. Most of the time I'd rather have something else when the hunger comes.

Sunny

Re: help needed when to stop

But lately, I've really been trying to wait for true hunger. I'm not talking about starving either. Just hungry. Plain and simple. Either I am hungry or I am not. That part is pretty easy now. Then I eat what I want to eat out of what I have available to me at the moment. I don't have the patience to make myself crazy about trying to figure out what I might really want. I look in the fridge (or the menu), see what we have, and decide what sounds good based upon the time I have, the effort it will take and what appeals the most without giving it a lot of thought. Every few bites, I really check in with myself. Do I still feel hunger...maybe not, for me a few bites takes the edge off and I don't feel actual hunger...but at the same time i still feel a slight gnawing or a hollow feeling...I have a few more bites and check in again. When I feel completely neutral, I am no longer hungry and I am not full. That's where I'm happiest and that's what my body seems to love since it is releasing weight and making me feel comfortable and cared for at the same time.

Sunny, I'm so glad I read this, it's really so helpful to me, I printed it out for future reference. Thanks! Judy T.

[Guest guest]

Tai, 5 bites isn't neutral for me. It's just taking the edge off the hunger. If I stopped then I would be hungry again in 30 minutes to an hour. Then I'd be grazing all day. I find I need to eat about a fist sized portion of a denser/heavier meal and if it's lighter, like a chicken or Asian salad, It's usually about the amount it would take to fill my hands if I was holding them together like an offering basket. But it doesn't take all that long. Making a meal last 20 minutes is impossible with those amounts of food. It took me a long time to come to grips with having meals end so quickly too. But extending my eating experience was extending my waistline. Four weeks ago, my doctor prescribed a med that would mildly take the edge off the anxiety and stress I've been feeling in my life for years. That really has helped me a great deal. I no longer worry about how much I get to eat. I choose things I really like. I buy fresh ever few days and I buy whatever strikes me at the time. I shop at Asian markets where the produce and meat/fish is extremely fresh and exotic too. I enjoy the whole process now, of shopping, preparing and eating these things I really love and I need less of it. I am sometimes sad that my small dinner keeps me from being hungry most nights and I don't get much in the way of desserts any more. But I do know if I was hungry, I could have those desserts, even if it means having it for breakfast. That's allowed you know. I tell myself I can have it as soon as I'm hungry if I still want it. Most of the time I'd rather have something else when the hunger comes.

Sunny

Re: help needed when to stop

But lately, I've really been trying to wait for true hunger. I'm not talking about starving either. Just hungry. Plain and simple. Either I am hungry or I am not. That part is pretty easy now. Then I eat what I want to eat out of what I have available to me at the moment. I don't have the patience to make myself crazy about trying to figure out what I might really want. I look in the fridge (or the menu), see what we have, and decide what sounds good based upon the time I have, the effort it will take and what appeals the most without giving it a lot of thought. Every few bites, I really check in with myself. Do I still feel hunger...maybe not, for me a few bites takes the edge off and I don't feel actual hunger...but at the same time i still feel a slight gnawing or a hollow feeling...I have a few more bites and check in again. When I feel completely neutral, I am no longer hungry and I am not full. That's where I'm happiest and that's what my body seems to love since it is releasing weight and making me feel comfortable and cared for at the same time.

Sunny, I'm so glad I read this, it's really so helpful to me, I printed it out for future reference. Thanks! Judy T.

[Guest guest]

Hi, Sunny. thanks so much for explaining it to me. I will have to keep experimenting, I suppose, on the portions I need to keep me unhungry for a moderate amount of time. I will keep working on it but I know it will not be an overnight fix for me, because I do like to stay with a meal (I think it's the eating enjoyment and relaxation) a while and it would take no time to eat that amount of food, but maybe will look at things differently in the future. I hope so. Choosing things I really like is something I'm working on, too, and I notice if I choose something I don't like that much (like what happened today with a meal), I tend to eat more later, maybe looking for a better taste. Not sure, but I'm taking note of it. I appreciate your candor. I know I can have something later if I get hungry again. Today I ate lunch out. I went to an Italian restaurant because last night I decided I wanted pizza. They had a special, 3 slices for $6, so I decided to have one piece and take the other 2 home. I asked the waitress to wrap up 2 pieces. But I knew one slice would probably not be enough for me and so I ordered chicken parmigiana because i wanted to taste it there and figured i'd take most of it home. Didn't quite happen that way. I liked the pizza very much, but did not like the chicken parm so much. I considered myself hungry, however, and kept eating. I ate until I felt I did not need to eat any more and took the rest home. I didn't like the parm and told myself I'd never order it again. However, I had some left over and ate it later because I was too tired to prepare something. Then I had some pistachios because, I guess, I needed more until I felt like I didn't want to eat any more. I can't figure it out too well, but I am pleased I am not craving food right now, I think I feel a little hungry, but need to go to sleep so I probably won't eat

anything tonight. I really gotta get a good recipe for chicken parmigiana. Or find a restaurant that makes it more to my liking. Regards. Tai

[Guest guest]

Hi, Sunny. thanks so much for explaining it to me. I will have to keep experimenting, I suppose, on the portions I need to keep me unhungry for a moderate amount of time. I will keep working on it but I know it will not be an overnight fix for me, because I do like to stay with a meal (I think it's the eating enjoyment and relaxation) a while and it would take no time to eat that amount of food, but maybe will look at things differently in the future. I hope so. Choosing things I really like is something I'm working on, too, and I notice if I choose something I don't like that much (like what happened today with a meal), I tend to eat more later, maybe looking for a better taste. Not sure, but I'm taking note of it. I appreciate your candor. I know I can have something later if I get hungry again. Today I ate lunch out. I went to an Italian restaurant because last night I decided I wanted pizza. They had a special, 3 slices for $6, so I decided to have one piece and take the other 2 home. I asked the waitress to wrap up 2 pieces. But I knew one slice would probably not be enough for me and so I ordered chicken parmigiana because i wanted to taste it there and figured i'd take most of it home. Didn't quite happen that way. I liked the pizza very much, but did not like the chicken parm so much. I considered myself hungry, however, and kept eating. I ate until I felt I did not need to eat any more and took the rest home. I didn't like the parm and told myself I'd never order it again. However, I had some left over and ate it later because I was too tired to prepare something. Then I had some pistachios because, I guess, I needed more until I felt like I didn't want to eat any more. I can't figure it out too well, but I am pleased I am not craving food right now, I think I feel a little hungry, but need to go to sleep so I probably won't eat

anything tonight. I really gotta get a good recipe for chicken parmigiana. Or find a restaurant that makes it more to my liking. Regards. Tai

[Guest guest]

Sunny, I enjoyed your post very much. The point you brought out about how you were told, I suppose, to honor your obesity, is interesting. I guess the doctor would call me obese. I know I need to lose weight. I have gained over the years so much weight that I have come to realize if I lose that weight the sagging flesh won't go away, it will never be like I was 18 years

old and thin again at this point. Yet, I was very encouraged recently when I saw a young woman with her pack of kids in a restaurant. She was "heavy." But she looked beautiful. Maybe not to everyone, and I did notice that she was heavy. But she was an inspiration to me because she was dressed so beautifully with a cute blouse and pants, and a beautiful short and sweet haircut. I really don't think anyone in this society in their right

mind wants to be fat. If someone tells me they want to be fat, or a man says they like their women fat, I think something is wrong with them. Honestly. I cannot see loving my fat or rolls on my body. However, I am working at honoring my body by realizing who I am and showing kindness toward myself. Take care, TaiTo: IntuitiveEating_Support Sent: Wednesday, August 17, 2011 9:35 PMSubject: Re: Re:

help needed when to stop

Hi Jane, Sure you're welcome to ask anything you want of me or the group. I have been working on IE for about 6 months now I think, though the first few months we awkward and trying to stumble along finding my way. Before that, I was playing with the concept of IE but only as a weight loss tool and that didn't work so well. I first used McKenna's program, I Can Make You Thin as a guide line but there's so much more behind IE as I came to find out when I joined this list. My struggles with IE have been mainly giving up firmly engrained ideas from years of doctors, experts and diet programs telling us all the "facts" that messed us up. I also was looking for a magic bullet to weight loss. I did gain weight (22 pounds) on an already 248 pound body and at 5'3" that's a lot of weight. I whined and cried to this list about how I couldn't gain

weight...well apparently I could and I did and got up to 270 which is my biggest all time record. I gained the weight by not doing the principles of honoring hunger/fullness. I had no problem legalizing everything. The food police died fairly easily. Unfortunately I wasn't ready at that moment to hear and feel my own body signals yet. Although I didn't allow myself to get full to the point of even mild discomfort, I did continue to graze and eat what I wanted. Out of that, I gained a freedom like I've never known with food. I'm no longer that neurotic mess who weighed, measured and journaled ever scrape of food. Foods weren't good or bad anymore and neither was I. That's pretty cool.

Here's the principles and where I am today with them:

1. Reject the Diet Mentality First one I did, and it was super easy for me. I knew there was something wrong with dieting all along but needed something else to replace it. IE gave me that.

2. Honor Your Hunger This one was pretty early too. I had no problem eating when I was hungry and not allowing myself to get overly hungry. But I did and sometimes still do let my imagination decide if I'm hungry or not. It's pretty easy to get lost in this one.

3. Make Peace with Food this one was up there with #1, and I took them on together in the beginning. again no bad or good food. That just made all the sense in the world to me.

4. Challenge the Food Police .This one can in 2nd after 1 & 3. It was really quite easy for me.

5. Respect Your Fullness This is where I am committed to learning now. I am finding it easier by the day but fully expect it won't always be so. I'd say this one started to click in the last 3 weeks.

6. Discover the Satisfaction Factor This is also something I am learning, gently and slowly as I go through the other steps, it just seems to strengthen on it's own.

7. Honor Your Feelings Without Using Food I haven't really gotten into this one yet. I don't seem to have a lot of emotional baggage. I think I eat mostly out of habit, boredom and compulsion. I was also a see-food-eater. Saw it, ate it, full or not. That is no longer the case so much now. Don't know when this started to change.

8. Respect Your Body I do take much better care of my body since I started seriously in with IE six months ago but I am not able to embrace my obesity. I believe I have very realistic expectations of where I'd like my weight to end up (anything under 200 will make me a whole lot healthier) and I will get there because in order to respect my body I can't allow it to remain in this shape. It's not fair to my organs or to my life.

9. Exercise--Feel the Difference Hmmm...well the weather is nice here in Portland and I am just a lot more active. I hate planned exercise and haven't found any joy in it but movement is something I can do gladly though I walk gently and do nothing that exerts, I am moving and enjoying it. I do have a medical condition that makes exertion and overheating undesirable.

10 Honor Your Health-- For me, this entails weight loss. I actually do eat very good quality foods, a lot of it organic, whole grain, lean meats, fruits, veggies, all by preference and my cholesterol numbers are fantastic for a person half my size. My doctor just said today how amazing those numbers are especially when you figure my weight and age into it. And no, she's never seen my actual weight.

So that's where I am right now. Don't let anyone tell you not to worry about gaining weight or losing it if it's important for your health. Just plug along learning the principles and working them. If you can do the hungry/not hungry earlier than I did, you'll be farther along sooner. But if you can't right now, it's ok, you will eventually. IE is a weight loss tool when you figure out what parts of it work best for you.

Sunny

help needed when to stop

> > > > > > Hi Jane and Sunny, and others -- this is the problem I'm having, maybe someone can help me with it. I know when I"m hungry now, and generally speaking have no problem waiting until then. OK, there are times I eat when I'm probably not hungry and might convince myself that maybe I am, but I'm not speaking of that now. The issue is when to stop. As an example, yesterday for breakfast I started out being hungry (a good thing). I had a rather large plum to start out with. Then I no longer felt hungry. BUT I wanted to eat more because sitting and eating is a pleasure for me. I don't eat to live so I can go on in life, etc. I eat also not just from need, but for the enjoyment, and if the eating experience is over in less than 2 minutes because I ate a plum, then I don't see how it's going to work. I'd appreciate thoughts on this. Usually I wait for the "cease and desist" signal, not merely the "no more hungry" signal. Tai

>

------------------------------------

[Guest guest]

Sunny, I enjoyed your post very much. The point you brought out about how you were told, I suppose, to honor your obesity, is interesting. I guess the doctor would call me obese. I know I need to lose weight. I have gained over the years so much weight that I have come to realize if I lose that weight the sagging flesh won't go away, it will never be like I was 18 years

old and thin again at this point. Yet, I was very encouraged recently when I saw a young woman with her pack of kids in a restaurant. She was "heavy." But she looked beautiful. Maybe not to everyone, and I did notice that she was heavy. But she was an inspiration to me because she was dressed so beautifully with a cute blouse and pants, and a beautiful short and sweet haircut. I really don't think anyone in this society in their right

mind wants to be fat. If someone tells me they want to be fat, or a man says they like their women fat, I think something is wrong with them. Honestly. I cannot see loving my fat or rolls on my body. However, I am working at honoring my body by realizing who I am and showing kindness toward myself. Take care, TaiTo: IntuitiveEating_Support Sent: Wednesday, August 17, 2011 9:35 PMSubject: Re: Re:

help needed when to stop

Hi Jane, Sure you're welcome to ask anything you want of me or the group. I have been working on IE for about 6 months now I think, though the first few months we awkward and trying to stumble along finding my way. Before that, I was playing with the concept of IE but only as a weight loss tool and that didn't work so well. I first used McKenna's program, I Can Make You Thin as a guide line but there's so much more behind IE as I came to find out when I joined this list. My struggles with IE have been mainly giving up firmly engrained ideas from years of doctors, experts and diet programs telling us all the "facts" that messed us up. I also was looking for a magic bullet to weight loss. I did gain weight (22 pounds) on an already 248 pound body and at 5'3" that's a lot of weight. I whined and cried to this list about how I couldn't gain

weight...well apparently I could and I did and got up to 270 which is my biggest all time record. I gained the weight by not doing the principles of honoring hunger/fullness. I had no problem legalizing everything. The food police died fairly easily. Unfortunately I wasn't ready at that moment to hear and feel my own body signals yet. Although I didn't allow myself to get full to the point of even mild discomfort, I did continue to graze and eat what I wanted. Out of that, I gained a freedom like I've never known with food. I'm no longer that neurotic mess who weighed, measured and journaled ever scrape of food. Foods weren't good or bad anymore and neither was I. That's pretty cool.

Here's the principles and where I am today with them:

1. Reject the Diet Mentality First one I did, and it was super easy for me. I knew there was something wrong with dieting all along but needed something else to replace it. IE gave me that.

2. Honor Your Hunger This one was pretty early too. I had no problem eating when I was hungry and not allowing myself to get overly hungry. But I did and sometimes still do let my imagination decide if I'm hungry or not. It's pretty easy to get lost in this one.

3. Make Peace with Food this one was up there with #1, and I took them on together in the beginning. again no bad or good food. That just made all the sense in the world to me.

4. Challenge the Food Police .This one can in 2nd after 1 & 3. It was really quite easy for me.

5. Respect Your Fullness This is where I am committed to learning now. I am finding it easier by the day but fully expect it won't always be so. I'd say this one started to click in the last 3 weeks.

6. Discover the Satisfaction Factor This is also something I am learning, gently and slowly as I go through the other steps, it just seems to strengthen on it's own.

7. Honor Your Feelings Without Using Food I haven't really gotten into this one yet. I don't seem to have a lot of emotional baggage. I think I eat mostly out of habit, boredom and compulsion. I was also a see-food-eater. Saw it, ate it, full or not. That is no longer the case so much now. Don't know when this started to change.

8. Respect Your Body I do take much better care of my body since I started seriously in with IE six months ago but I am not able to embrace my obesity. I believe I have very realistic expectations of where I'd like my weight to end up (anything under 200 will make me a whole lot healthier) and I will get there because in order to respect my body I can't allow it to remain in this shape. It's not fair to my organs or to my life.

9. Exercise--Feel the Difference Hmmm...well the weather is nice here in Portland and I am just a lot more active. I hate planned exercise and haven't found any joy in it but movement is something I can do gladly though I walk gently and do nothing that exerts, I am moving and enjoying it. I do have a medical condition that makes exertion and overheating undesirable.

10 Honor Your Health-- For me, this entails weight loss. I actually do eat very good quality foods, a lot of it organic, whole grain, lean meats, fruits, veggies, all by preference and my cholesterol numbers are fantastic for a person half my size. My doctor just said today how amazing those numbers are especially when you figure my weight and age into it. And no, she's never seen my actual weight.

So that's where I am right now. Don't let anyone tell you not to worry about gaining weight or losing it if it's important for your health. Just plug along learning the principles and working them. If you can do the hungry/not hungry earlier than I did, you'll be farther along sooner. But if you can't right now, it's ok, you will eventually. IE is a weight loss tool when you figure out what parts of it work best for you.

Sunny

help needed when to stop

> > > > > > Hi Jane and Sunny, and others -- this is the problem I'm having, maybe someone can help me with it. I know when I"m hungry now, and generally speaking have no problem waiting until then. OK, there are times I eat when I'm probably not hungry and might convince myself that maybe I am, but I'm not speaking of that now. The issue is when to stop. As an example, yesterday for breakfast I started out being hungry (a good thing). I had a rather large plum to start out with. Then I no longer felt hungry. BUT I wanted to eat more because sitting and eating is a pleasure for me. I don't eat to live so I can go on in life, etc. I eat also not just from need, but for the enjoyment, and if the eating experience is over in less than 2 minutes because I ate a plum, then I don't see how it's going to work. I'd appreciate thoughts on this. Usually I wait for the "cease and desist" signal, not merely the "no more hungry" signal. Tai

>

------------------------------------

[Guest guest]

Sunny, I enjoyed your post very much. The point you brought out about how you were told, I suppose, to honor your obesity, is interesting. I guess the doctor would call me obese. I know I need to lose weight. I have gained over the years so much weight that I have come to realize if I lose that weight the sagging flesh won't go away, it will never be like I was 18 years

old and thin again at this point. Yet, I was very encouraged recently when I saw a young woman with her pack of kids in a restaurant. She was "heavy." But she looked beautiful. Maybe not to everyone, and I did notice that she was heavy. But she was an inspiration to me because she was dressed so beautifully with a cute blouse and pants, and a beautiful short and sweet haircut. I really don't think anyone in this society in their right

mind wants to be fat. If someone tells me they want to be fat, or a man says they like their women fat, I think something is wrong with them. Honestly. I cannot see loving my fat or rolls on my body. However, I am working at honoring my body by realizing who I am and showing kindness toward myself. Take care, TaiTo: IntuitiveEating_Support Sent: Wednesday, August 17, 2011 9:35 PMSubject: Re: Re:

help needed when to stop

Hi Jane, Sure you're welcome to ask anything you want of me or the group. I have been working on IE for about 6 months now I think, though the first few months we awkward and trying to stumble along finding my way. Before that, I was playing with the concept of IE but only as a weight loss tool and that didn't work so well. I first used McKenna's program, I Can Make You Thin as a guide line but there's so much more behind IE as I came to find out when I joined this list. My struggles with IE have been mainly giving up firmly engrained ideas from years of doctors, experts and diet programs telling us all the "facts" that messed us up. I also was looking for a magic bullet to weight loss. I did gain weight (22 pounds) on an already 248 pound body and at 5'3" that's a lot of weight. I whined and cried to this list about how I couldn't gain

weight...well apparently I could and I did and got up to 270 which is my biggest all time record. I gained the weight by not doing the principles of honoring hunger/fullness. I had no problem legalizing everything. The food police died fairly easily. Unfortunately I wasn't ready at that moment to hear and feel my own body signals yet. Although I didn't allow myself to get full to the point of even mild discomfort, I did continue to graze and eat what I wanted. Out of that, I gained a freedom like I've never known with food. I'm no longer that neurotic mess who weighed, measured and journaled ever scrape of food. Foods weren't good or bad anymore and neither was I. That's pretty cool.

Here's the principles and where I am today with them:

1. Reject the Diet Mentality First one I did, and it was super easy for me. I knew there was something wrong with dieting all along but needed something else to replace it. IE gave me that.

2. Honor Your Hunger This one was pretty early too. I had no problem eating when I was hungry and not allowing myself to get overly hungry. But I did and sometimes still do let my imagination decide if I'm hungry or not. It's pretty easy to get lost in this one.

3. Make Peace with Food this one was up there with #1, and I took them on together in the beginning. again no bad or good food. That just made all the sense in the world to me.

4. Challenge the Food Police .This one can in 2nd after 1 & 3. It was really quite easy for me.

5. Respect Your Fullness This is where I am committed to learning now. I am finding it easier by the day but fully expect it won't always be so. I'd say this one started to click in the last 3 weeks.

6. Discover the Satisfaction Factor This is also something I am learning, gently and slowly as I go through the other steps, it just seems to strengthen on it's own.

7. Honor Your Feelings Without Using Food I haven't really gotten into this one yet. I don't seem to have a lot of emotional baggage. I think I eat mostly out of habit, boredom and compulsion. I was also a see-food-eater. Saw it, ate it, full or not. That is no longer the case so much now. Don't know when this started to change.

8. Respect Your Body I do take much better care of my body since I started seriously in with IE six months ago but I am not able to embrace my obesity. I believe I have very realistic expectations of where I'd like my weight to end up (anything under 200 will make me a whole lot healthier) and I will get there because in order to respect my body I can't allow it to remain in this shape. It's not fair to my organs or to my life.

9. Exercise--Feel the Difference Hmmm...well the weather is nice here in Portland and I am just a lot more active. I hate planned exercise and haven't found any joy in it but movement is something I can do gladly though I walk gently and do nothing that exerts, I am moving and enjoying it. I do have a medical condition that makes exertion and overheating undesirable.

10 Honor Your Health-- For me, this entails weight loss. I actually do eat very good quality foods, a lot of it organic, whole grain, lean meats, fruits, veggies, all by preference and my cholesterol numbers are fantastic for a person half my size. My doctor just said today how amazing those numbers are especially when you figure my weight and age into it. And no, she's never seen my actual weight.

So that's where I am right now. Don't let anyone tell you not to worry about gaining weight or losing it if it's important for your health. Just plug along learning the principles and working them. If you can do the hungry/not hungry earlier than I did, you'll be farther along sooner. But if you can't right now, it's ok, you will eventually. IE is a weight loss tool when you figure out what parts of it work best for you.

Sunny

help needed when to stop

> > > > > > Hi Jane and Sunny, and others -- this is the problem I'm having, maybe someone can help me with it. I know when I"m hungry now, and generally speaking have no problem waiting until then. OK, there are times I eat when I'm probably not hungry and might convince myself that maybe I am, but I'm not speaking of that now. The issue is when to stop. As an example, yesterday for breakfast I started out being hungry (a good thing). I had a rather large plum to start out with. Then I no longer felt hungry. BUT I wanted to eat more because sitting and eating is a pleasure for me. I don't eat to live so I can go on in life, etc. I eat also not just from need, but for the enjoyment, and if the eating experience is over in less than 2 minutes because I ate a plum, then I don't see how it's going to work. I'd appreciate thoughts on this. Usually I wait for the "cease and desist" signal, not merely the "no more hungry" signal. Tai

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[Guest guest]

OK, , I'm going to think about this. TaiTo: "IntuitiveEating_Support " <IntuitiveEating_Support >Sent: Wednesday, August 17, 2011 1:16 PMSubject: Re: help needed when to stop

Hi TaiI'm in full agreement with earlier posts, I'd also like to share that in the first 6 months or so of IE, I really had a difficult time identifying what "satisfied" felt like. I knew what "stuffed" felt like, but I was very unclear about "satisfied". It took me quite a while to become familiar with it as I found it to be a very subtle experience. Today, particularly with "break-fast," I also include protein and carb in my meal, as well as a healthy fat. I've learned that my body appreciates being fed in this way. The difference for me today, is that once having sat down to eat, I eat this well-rounded meal until

satisfied. Sometimes I am able to finish it,

sometimes I am not. On the days when I reach saiety more quickly than I would like to, I pause, close my eyes and settle into what's going on in my "body," not in my "mind". I then remind myself that I can eat again when I'm hungry again, no matter what. Namaste,