Guest guest Posted June 21, 2011 Report Share Posted June 21, 2011 I just want everyone to know that I am so grateful to have found this support group. Sometimes it feels like everyone else in the world is dieting, counting calories, and judging you if you're not. It can be lonely even if you know it is the right process for you. I didn't realize anyone else out there was doing this besides me until I discovered this group. Reading through your messages has been an enormous affirmation. I can't tell you how helpful it is. For the past month, since I finished reading IE, I have started this process. For the first time in my life that I can remember, I am actually enjoying my food and not feeling guilt for every nondiet food I eat. I am exercising for the way it makes me feel, not connected to a specific fitness goal. I have made weight loss a lower priority, and have decided I would rather live in peace with food at a higher weight than be unhappy and deprived at a lower weight. Although I have made these decisions, written them down, reread them daily to remind myself, I have had moments where I just wanted to be thin more than anything else and dieting seemed like the only viable option. I guess it's normal to have those thoughts, but it is frustrating nonetheless. As the book says, intuitive eating is a process and occasionally returning to old ways of thinking and eating is part of that process. Having been extremely goal-oriented my entire life, I think the hardest part for me is knowing that this isn't a linear journey. I would love to ask: could anyone like to tell me how long they have been following the IE program and at what point it started feeling natural, instinctual, or even easy? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 22, 2011 Report Share Posted June 22, 2011 , it's not yet instinctive to me, but here is my story: I started reading the message boards over a year ago. I realized what the IE style was saying and it took me time to get used to what it means to be hungry, and what it means to be satisfied. I never felt hungry before because I was always eating, and did not understand when to stop eating. this is the brief story. I decided that I would eat anything and everything I wanted as a result of reading about the IE process, and so I did. I gained a lot of weight. But that is not unusual, because I've been gaining and losing 50 pounds or so for many years. After about a year of eating anything and everything without cessation, I finally weighed myself and realized that IE does not mean that I have to eat anything and everything whenever I think about food. It can mean mindful eating. Right now I've progressed to understanding my body signals and what I'm doing to my body. I also know (now) that I can eat all the foods I desire, nothing is forbidden. I do not currently want to sit with a box of ice cream as if that's my desire in life and eat as much ice cream and drowning myself in it. I used to think that way. I do not any more. If I want to drown myself in a vat of ice cream, I know I can do that. But now I don't want to. But if I want to, I maybe will. Does that make sense? Tai To: IntuitiveEating_Support Sent: Wednesday, June 22, 2011 1:04 AMSubject: Thank you! I just want everyone to know that I am so grateful to have found this support group. Sometimes it feels like everyone else in the world is dieting, counting calories, and judging you if you're not. It can be lonely even if you know it is the right process for you. I didn't realize anyone else out there was doing this besides me until I discovered this group. Reading through your messages has been an enormous affirmation. I can't tell you how helpful it is.For the past month, since I finished reading IE, I have started this process. For the first time in my life that I can remember, I am actually enjoying my food and not feeling guilt for every nondiet food I eat. I am exercising for the way it makes me feel, not connected to a specific fitness goal. I have made weight loss a lower priority, and have decided I would rather live in peace with food at a higher weight than be unhappy and deprived at a lower weight.Although I have made these decisions, written them down, reread them daily to remind myself, I have had moments where I just wanted to be thin more than anything else and dieting seemed like the only viable option. I guess it's normal to have those thoughts, but it is frustrating nonetheless. As the book says, intuitive eating is a process and occasionally returning to old ways of thinking and eating is part of that process. Having been extremely goal-oriented my entire life, I think the hardest part for me is knowing that this isn't a linear journey.I would love to ask: could anyone like to tell me how long they have been following the IE program and at what point it started feeling natural, instinctual, or even easy? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 23, 2011 Report Share Posted June 23, 2011 Tai, what you say makes total sense to me. I truly used to believe I could never be satisfied no matter how much food I ate- that I would eat nonstop if I allowed myself to. And about 10 years ago, I developed bulimia because I would binge massively and then I would get sick from all that I had eaten. Thank God that is behind me- it was just a nightmare. Now I tell myself if I really want it, I can eat whatever and however much I want to. Sometimes I still overeat, but not anything like I used to and I never make myself sick. Then I don't punish myself when I overeat, I just note that I didn't feel as good when I ate more than my stomach needed. Now that I've given myself permission to eat anything I truly want and enjoy- a lot of those foods don't taste nearly as good to me. I get little sad when a food I used to covet doesn't taste that good to me- like the magic is gone- that food doesn't have the ability to get me " high " anymore. I actually had the experience yesterday of going into a bakery and being surrounded by pastries and donuts and I was astonished that I didn't want any of them. I really couldn't believe it. I checked in with myself to make sure this wasn't a diet " you can't have that " mentality- but I realized that they just didn't appeal to me at that time. I ordered a bagel instead. Then I promised myself that if I later changed my mind about wanting them - I would go back and get whatever I wanted. But that craving never came up. Today I have been craving fresh foods- so I went and ordered two salads and brought them home. They weren't as good as I thought they would be and again I felt sad. I felt cheated. But I realize part of the process is giving up how food used to be a substitute for other things. Tai- thank you for your kind words and sharing and support. I am very grateful to everyone on this site. > > , it's not yet instinctive to me, but here is my story: > Â > I started reading the message boards over a year ago. I realized what the IE style was saying and it took me time to get used to what it means to be hungry, and what it means to be satisfied. I never felt hungry before because I was always eating, and did not understand when to stop eating. this is the brief story. > Â > I decided that I would eat anything and everything I wanted as a result of reading about the IE process, and so I did. I gained a lot of weight. But that is not unusual, because I've been gaining and losing 50 pounds or so for many years. After about a year of eating anything and everything without cessation, I finally weighed myself and realized that IE does not mean that I have to eat anything and everything whenever I think about food. It can mean mindful eating. Right now I've progressed to understanding my body signals and what I'm doing to my body. I also know (now) that I can eat all the foods I desire, nothing is forbidden. I do not currently want to sit with a box of ice cream as if that's my desire in life and eat as much ice cream and drowning myself in it. I used to think that way. I do not any more. If I want to drown myself in a vat of ice cream, I know I can do that. But now I don't want to. But if I want to, I maybe will. Does that make > sense? > Â > Tai > > > To: IntuitiveEating_Support > Sent: Wednesday, June 22, 2011 1:04 AM > Subject: Thank you! > > > Â > I just want everyone to know that I am so grateful to have found this support group. Sometimes it feels like everyone else in the world is dieting, counting calories, and judging you if you're not. It can be lonely even if you know it is the right process for you. I didn't realize anyone else out there was doing this besides me until I discovered this group. Reading through your messages has been an enormous affirmation. I can't tell you how helpful it is. > > For the past month, since I finished reading IE, I have started this process. For the first time in my life that I can remember, I am actually enjoying my food and not feeling guilt for every nondiet food I eat. I am exercising for the way it makes me feel, not connected to a specific fitness goal. I have made weight loss a lower priority, and have decided I would rather live in peace with food at a higher weight than be unhappy and deprived at a lower weight. > > Although I have made these decisions, written them down, reread them daily to remind myself, I have had moments where I just wanted to be thin more than anything else and dieting seemed like the only viable option. I guess it's normal to have those thoughts, but it is frustrating nonetheless. As the book says, intuitive eating is a process and occasionally returning to old ways of thinking and eating is part of that process. Having been extremely goal-oriented my entire life, I think the hardest part for me is knowing that this isn't a linear journey. > > I would love to ask: could anyone like to tell me how long they have been following the IE program and at what point it started feeling natural, instinctual, or even easy? > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 23, 2011 Report Share Posted June 23, 2011 Tai, what you say makes total sense to me. I truly used to believe I could never be satisfied no matter how much food I ate- that I would eat nonstop if I allowed myself to. And about 10 years ago, I developed bulimia because I would binge massively and then I would get sick from all that I had eaten. Thank God that is behind me- it was just a nightmare. Now I tell myself if I really want it, I can eat whatever and however much I want to. Sometimes I still overeat, but not anything like I used to and I never make myself sick. Then I don't punish myself when I overeat, I just note that I didn't feel as good when I ate more than my stomach needed. Now that I've given myself permission to eat anything I truly want and enjoy- a lot of those foods don't taste nearly as good to me. I get little sad when a food I used to covet doesn't taste that good to me- like the magic is gone- that food doesn't have the ability to get me " high " anymore. I actually had the experience yesterday of going into a bakery and being surrounded by pastries and donuts and I was astonished that I didn't want any of them. I really couldn't believe it. I checked in with myself to make sure this wasn't a diet " you can't have that " mentality- but I realized that they just didn't appeal to me at that time. I ordered a bagel instead. Then I promised myself that if I later changed my mind about wanting them - I would go back and get whatever I wanted. But that craving never came up. Today I have been craving fresh foods- so I went and ordered two salads and brought them home. They weren't as good as I thought they would be and again I felt sad. I felt cheated. But I realize part of the process is giving up how food used to be a substitute for other things. Tai- thank you for your kind words and sharing and support. I am very grateful to everyone on this site. > > , it's not yet instinctive to me, but here is my story: > Â > I started reading the message boards over a year ago. I realized what the IE style was saying and it took me time to get used to what it means to be hungry, and what it means to be satisfied. I never felt hungry before because I was always eating, and did not understand when to stop eating. this is the brief story. > Â > I decided that I would eat anything and everything I wanted as a result of reading about the IE process, and so I did. I gained a lot of weight. But that is not unusual, because I've been gaining and losing 50 pounds or so for many years. After about a year of eating anything and everything without cessation, I finally weighed myself and realized that IE does not mean that I have to eat anything and everything whenever I think about food. It can mean mindful eating. Right now I've progressed to understanding my body signals and what I'm doing to my body. I also know (now) that I can eat all the foods I desire, nothing is forbidden. I do not currently want to sit with a box of ice cream as if that's my desire in life and eat as much ice cream and drowning myself in it. I used to think that way. I do not any more. If I want to drown myself in a vat of ice cream, I know I can do that. But now I don't want to. But if I want to, I maybe will. Does that make > sense? > Â > Tai > > > To: IntuitiveEating_Support > Sent: Wednesday, June 22, 2011 1:04 AM > Subject: Thank you! > > > Â > I just want everyone to know that I am so grateful to have found this support group. Sometimes it feels like everyone else in the world is dieting, counting calories, and judging you if you're not. It can be lonely even if you know it is the right process for you. I didn't realize anyone else out there was doing this besides me until I discovered this group. Reading through your messages has been an enormous affirmation. I can't tell you how helpful it is. > > For the past month, since I finished reading IE, I have started this process. For the first time in my life that I can remember, I am actually enjoying my food and not feeling guilt for every nondiet food I eat. I am exercising for the way it makes me feel, not connected to a specific fitness goal. I have made weight loss a lower priority, and have decided I would rather live in peace with food at a higher weight than be unhappy and deprived at a lower weight. > > Although I have made these decisions, written them down, reread them daily to remind myself, I have had moments where I just wanted to be thin more than anything else and dieting seemed like the only viable option. I guess it's normal to have those thoughts, but it is frustrating nonetheless. As the book says, intuitive eating is a process and occasionally returning to old ways of thinking and eating is part of that process. Having been extremely goal-oriented my entire life, I think the hardest part for me is knowing that this isn't a linear journey. > > I would love to ask: could anyone like to tell me how long they have been following the IE program and at what point it started feeling natural, instinctual, or even easy? > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted June 23, 2011 Report Share Posted June 23, 2011 Tai, what you say makes total sense to me. I truly used to believe I could never be satisfied no matter how much food I ate- that I would eat nonstop if I allowed myself to. And about 10 years ago, I developed bulimia because I would binge massively and then I would get sick from all that I had eaten. Thank God that is behind me- it was just a nightmare. Now I tell myself if I really want it, I can eat whatever and however much I want to. Sometimes I still overeat, but not anything like I used to and I never make myself sick. Then I don't punish myself when I overeat, I just note that I didn't feel as good when I ate more than my stomach needed. Now that I've given myself permission to eat anything I truly want and enjoy- a lot of those foods don't taste nearly as good to me. I get little sad when a food I used to covet doesn't taste that good to me- like the magic is gone- that food doesn't have the ability to get me " high " anymore. I actually had the experience yesterday of going into a bakery and being surrounded by pastries and donuts and I was astonished that I didn't want any of them. I really couldn't believe it. I checked in with myself to make sure this wasn't a diet " you can't have that " mentality- but I realized that they just didn't appeal to me at that time. I ordered a bagel instead. Then I promised myself that if I later changed my mind about wanting them - I would go back and get whatever I wanted. But that craving never came up. Today I have been craving fresh foods- so I went and ordered two salads and brought them home. They weren't as good as I thought they would be and again I felt sad. I felt cheated. But I realize part of the process is giving up how food used to be a substitute for other things. Tai- thank you for your kind words and sharing and support. I am very grateful to everyone on this site. > > , it's not yet instinctive to me, but here is my story: > Â > I started reading the message boards over a year ago. I realized what the IE style was saying and it took me time to get used to what it means to be hungry, and what it means to be satisfied. I never felt hungry before because I was always eating, and did not understand when to stop eating. this is the brief story. > Â > I decided that I would eat anything and everything I wanted as a result of reading about the IE process, and so I did. I gained a lot of weight. But that is not unusual, because I've been gaining and losing 50 pounds or so for many years. After about a year of eating anything and everything without cessation, I finally weighed myself and realized that IE does not mean that I have to eat anything and everything whenever I think about food. It can mean mindful eating. Right now I've progressed to understanding my body signals and what I'm doing to my body. I also know (now) that I can eat all the foods I desire, nothing is forbidden. I do not currently want to sit with a box of ice cream as if that's my desire in life and eat as much ice cream and drowning myself in it. I used to think that way. I do not any more. If I want to drown myself in a vat of ice cream, I know I can do that. But now I don't want to. But if I want to, I maybe will. Does that make > sense? > Â > Tai > > > To: IntuitiveEating_Support > Sent: Wednesday, June 22, 2011 1:04 AM > Subject: Thank you! > > > Â > I just want everyone to know that I am so grateful to have found this support group. Sometimes it feels like everyone else in the world is dieting, counting calories, and judging you if you're not. It can be lonely even if you know it is the right process for you. I didn't realize anyone else out there was doing this besides me until I discovered this group. Reading through your messages has been an enormous affirmation. I can't tell you how helpful it is. > > For the past month, since I finished reading IE, I have started this process. For the first time in my life that I can remember, I am actually enjoying my food and not feeling guilt for every nondiet food I eat. I am exercising for the way it makes me feel, not connected to a specific fitness goal. I have made weight loss a lower priority, and have decided I would rather live in peace with food at a higher weight than be unhappy and deprived at a lower weight. > > Although I have made these decisions, written them down, reread them daily to remind myself, I have had moments where I just wanted to be thin more than anything else and dieting seemed like the only viable option. I guess it's normal to have those thoughts, but it is frustrating nonetheless. As the book says, intuitive eating is a process and occasionally returning to old ways of thinking and eating is part of that process. Having been extremely goal-oriented my entire life, I think the hardest part for me is knowing that this isn't a linear journey. > > I would love to ask: could anyone like to tell me how long they have been following the IE program and at what point it started feeling natural, instinctual, or even easy? > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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