Guest guest Posted July 31, 2011 Report Share Posted July 31, 2011 I joined your group about a week ago and have been reading, reading, reading ever since. I am about 1/2 way thru the IE book by the two nutritionists and thought since I am now taking baby steps in the process I should jump in to the group with two feet and introduce myself. My name is Marilyn. I am a middle aged housewife and mother who has been attempting to control my weight my whole life. I had weight loss surgery 10 years ago and had success with getting my excess weight off; however, the surgery does NOT deal with your head and I have been doing some version of diet or diet rebellion to maintain my weightloss ever since. I am tired of my first thought in the morning being about food. I am tired of feeling guilty for eating all those formerly forbidden foods after " lights out " , so hubby and kids would not witness my out of control eating. I love the idea of giving myself permission to eat all my favorite foods, as I love to cook and bake but in the past would either avoid it or give it all away....then scrounge in the kitchen for some " second best " substitute and eat WAY MORE than if I just allowed myself what I really wanted in the first place. Right now I am focusing on feeling hunger and satisfaction and bringing what I used to think of as " trigger foods " into the house and allowing myself to eat them. As a matter of fact, I just got back from Walmart where I bought my favorite cookie; I am putting them in a special cookie jar (antique, it used to be in my grandma's house when I was a girl) and looking forward to seeing how I handle them this week. Just reading your posts this week has helped me...helped me feel ok with giving up exercise for a bit (I was using it as justification for eating more and/or using it to " offset " what I considered being bad with my eating) and having a blueberry scone from Starbucks for lunch if I wanted one. Oh, and while I haven't given up the scale I have scaled back on it's usage....I was a daily weigher; now, once a week. Maybe eventually I will give it up. Marilyn Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 31, 2011 Report Share Posted July 31, 2011 Marilyn, so glad to hear from you and that you are making such progress. What you wrote helps me to remember so many things and to check in with myself to see how I am doing. Good luck with the cookies and remember if you " over eat " them do it with awareness and not judgement(hard to do). Sandy I joined your group about a week ago and have been reading, reading, reading ever since. I am about 1/2 way thru the IE book by the two nutritionists and thought since I am now taking baby steps in the process I should jump in to the group with two feet and introduce myself. My name is Marilyn. I am a middle aged housewife and mother who has been attempting to control my weight my whole life. I had weight loss surgery 10 years ago and had success with getting my excess weight off; however, the surgery does NOT deal with your head and I have been doing some version of diet or diet rebellion to maintain my weightloss ever since. I am tired of my first thought in the morning being about food. I am tired of feeling guilty for eating all those formerly forbidden foods after " lights out " , so hubby and kids would not witness my out of control eating. I love the idea of giving myself permission to eat all my favorite foods, as I love to cook and bake but in the past would either avoid it or give it all away....then scrounge in the kitchen for some " second best " substitute and eat WAY MORE than if I just allowed myself what I really wanted in the first place. Right now I am focusing on feeling hunger and satisfaction and bringing what I used to think of as " trigger foods " into the house and allowing myself to eat them. As a matter of fact, I just got back from Walmart where I bought my favorite cookie; I am putting them in a special cookie jar (antique, it used to be in my grandma's house when I was a girl) and looking forward to seeing how I handle them this week. Just reading your posts this week has helped me...helped me feel ok with giving up exercise for a bit (I was using it as justification for eating more and/or using it to " offset " what I considered being bad with my eating) and having a blueberry scone from Starbucks for lunch if I wanted one. Oh, and while I haven't given up the scale I have scaled back on it's usage....I was a daily weigher; now, once a week. Maybe eventually I will give it up. Marilyn Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 31, 2011 Report Share Posted July 31, 2011 Marilyn, do enjoy those cookies! One little thought popped into my head and I wanted to share it with you in case you wanted to Hmmmm it for yourself. Regarding 'handling' something - especially like this greatly 'charged' item like previously 'forbidden' cookie - does that conjure up 'control' or potential success/failure thoughts? If so maybe saying that you are looking forward to 'observing' how you interact with them could be a more potential positive for that experience? Just a thought.BEST to you, KatchaIEing since March 2007> Right now I am focusing on feeling hunger and satisfaction and bringing what I used to think of as "trigger foods" into the house and allowing myself to eat them. As a matter of fact, I just got back from Walmart where I bought my favorite cookie; I am putting them in a special cookie jar (antique, it used to be in my grandma's house when I was a girl) and looking forward to seeing how I handle them this week. > Marilyn> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 31, 2011 Report Share Posted July 31, 2011 Marilyn, do enjoy those cookies! One little thought popped into my head and I wanted to share it with you in case you wanted to Hmmmm it for yourself. Regarding 'handling' something - especially like this greatly 'charged' item like previously 'forbidden' cookie - does that conjure up 'control' or potential success/failure thoughts? If so maybe saying that you are looking forward to 'observing' how you interact with them could be a more potential positive for that experience? Just a thought.BEST to you, KatchaIEing since March 2007> Right now I am focusing on feeling hunger and satisfaction and bringing what I used to think of as "trigger foods" into the house and allowing myself to eat them. As a matter of fact, I just got back from Walmart where I bought my favorite cookie; I am putting them in a special cookie jar (antique, it used to be in my grandma's house when I was a girl) and looking forward to seeing how I handle them this week. > Marilyn> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 1, 2011 Report Share Posted August 1, 2011 Marilyn and Katcha, just a thought. Sometimes the foods that seem to be irresistible, once made allowable, are no longer as irresistible. I have found that to be true in many cases. For instance, I found ice cream "irresistible," and soon after I realized it was all right for me to eat as much as I want, I no longer crave the ice cream without cessation. I bought ice cream when I started IE a few months ago and I ate some of it. Then, for some inexplicable but wonderful change, the ice cream stayed so long in the freezer I finally threw it out and have not bought any since for the house. I may have it outside the house when desiring something sweet. Another thing: some foods that I once considered irresistible no longer hold their overwhelming constant craving over me. Some foods really do not taste as good as I imagined once they became all right for me to eat. Therefore, I stopped eating them as I realized I really don't like them that much anyway. TaiTo: IntuitiveEating_Support Sent: Monday, August 1, 2011 11:24 AMSubject: Re: Introducing myself Yes, Katcha I do still struggle with finding kinder words to use in the process; so thanks for that. Marilyn > > > Right now I am focusing on feeling hunger and satisfaction and > bringing what I used to think of as "trigger foods" into the house and > allowing myself to eat them. As a matter of fact, I just got back from > Walmart where I bought my favorite cookie; I am putting them in a > special cookie jar (antique, it used to be in my grandma's house when I > was a girl) and looking forward to seeing how I handle them this week. > > > Marilyn > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 21, 2012 Report Share Posted January 21, 2012 , glad you are here and enjoyed your post. Most of us have done that roller coaster and will never diet again. But it isn't easy. Great to have the book/books and this group. Looking to hearing from you again. Sandy Hi all, My name is , I'm 36 years old, married with three children (9 & 7YO boys, 4YO girl). Here is what brought me here, and I will warn you in advance that I can be rather long-winded ... As a child I was always chubbier than my grade school friends and classmates. Not obese, but chubby enough that I couldn't wear jeans unless they had elastic in the waist and chubby enough to be made fun of from time-to-time by even the girl I considered my best friend. I was unhappy about not looking " normal " and felt like I didn't fit in. These feelings became more painful as I got older and became interested in boys. Finally, at the age of 14 my mother got tired of hearing me complain about my weight and let me join Weight Watchers (she was a lifetime member.) I went from 145 lbs to 120 lbs in about 4 months and received a lot of attention from my peers for this accomplishment, and got my first boyfriend. Life was good! What I didn't realize at the time, however, was that I had just hopped on the weight-loss roller coaster and would continue to ride it for more than 20 years. Of course, I gradually regained the weight I lost on that first diet, and thus completed my first diet-binge-gain cycle. I have repeated this cycle many, many times since then. Over the years I have used Weight Watchers several times, done Craig a few times, done a little of this and that, and most recently utilized a clean eating approach. I lost 40 lbs in 2009 by following clean eating principles, which basically involved avoiding processed foods and eating primarily whole foods, combining protein and complex carbs at every meal, and eating 5-6 small meals throughout the day, spaced about 2.5-3 hours apart. I also exercised 5-6 days each week for roughly an hour each session, combining weight training and cardio. During this time I achieved a number of fitness goals I set for myself, including running several half marathons, a full marathon, and competing in a triathlon. I maintained my weight loss using this philosophy for the longest I ever have, about a year and a half, and felt great on it. It was a very healthy way of life, and I definitely thought of it as a lifestyle change and not a diet. But I regained most of the weight I lost in the last half of 2011 when my emotional demons got the better of me: I saw a picture of myself at my goal weight and I hated the way I looked in the picture. I spent the summer and fall of 2011 bingeing off and on, struggling to get back the positive mental state I had lost, and by Nov. had regained 30 lbs. This was extremely disappointing, I had thought I had the clean eating lifestyle down and anticipated being able to maintain my weight loss indefinitely. But even that, it turns out, could be unraveled if I lost my focus. Obviously, my relationship with food had not been healed, merely controlled. Earlier this month I spied the book Intuitive Eating on a friend's bookshelf and borrowed it from her. As I read it, it struck a chord with me. Not for the first time I considered how much more time I would have in my life - my brain - for more meaningful, fulfilling things if I was not constantly thinking about food, planning what I would/should eat, worrying about how I looked, etc., and putting off true happiness for when I was in my goal range. Many times over the years I have thought, if only I hadn't gone on that first diet would I effortlessly be at a healthy weight now? It is definitely scary starting off into intuitive eating...completely foreign, uncharted territory. Given that I was chubby even as a child, does this mean that I should expect to still be chubby even once intuitive eating becomes natural? That possibility is disturbing to me. However, isn't the definition of insanity doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results? By that definition, and given my history, any program started with the primary goal of losing weight is sure to eventually lead to regain of said weight. Why would I want to put myself through that again? If you're still with me, thanks for hanging in there! I look forward to getting to know the members of this group and drawing encouragement from your experiences and sharing my own insights as I learn intuitive eating. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 21, 2012 Report Share Posted January 21, 2012 , glad you are here and enjoyed your post. Most of us have done that roller coaster and will never diet again. But it isn't easy. Great to have the book/books and this group. Looking to hearing from you again. Sandy Hi all, My name is , I'm 36 years old, married with three children (9 & 7YO boys, 4YO girl). Here is what brought me here, and I will warn you in advance that I can be rather long-winded ... As a child I was always chubbier than my grade school friends and classmates. Not obese, but chubby enough that I couldn't wear jeans unless they had elastic in the waist and chubby enough to be made fun of from time-to-time by even the girl I considered my best friend. I was unhappy about not looking " normal " and felt like I didn't fit in. These feelings became more painful as I got older and became interested in boys. Finally, at the age of 14 my mother got tired of hearing me complain about my weight and let me join Weight Watchers (she was a lifetime member.) I went from 145 lbs to 120 lbs in about 4 months and received a lot of attention from my peers for this accomplishment, and got my first boyfriend. Life was good! What I didn't realize at the time, however, was that I had just hopped on the weight-loss roller coaster and would continue to ride it for more than 20 years. Of course, I gradually regained the weight I lost on that first diet, and thus completed my first diet-binge-gain cycle. I have repeated this cycle many, many times since then. Over the years I have used Weight Watchers several times, done Craig a few times, done a little of this and that, and most recently utilized a clean eating approach. I lost 40 lbs in 2009 by following clean eating principles, which basically involved avoiding processed foods and eating primarily whole foods, combining protein and complex carbs at every meal, and eating 5-6 small meals throughout the day, spaced about 2.5-3 hours apart. I also exercised 5-6 days each week for roughly an hour each session, combining weight training and cardio. During this time I achieved a number of fitness goals I set for myself, including running several half marathons, a full marathon, and competing in a triathlon. I maintained my weight loss using this philosophy for the longest I ever have, about a year and a half, and felt great on it. It was a very healthy way of life, and I definitely thought of it as a lifestyle change and not a diet. But I regained most of the weight I lost in the last half of 2011 when my emotional demons got the better of me: I saw a picture of myself at my goal weight and I hated the way I looked in the picture. I spent the summer and fall of 2011 bingeing off and on, struggling to get back the positive mental state I had lost, and by Nov. had regained 30 lbs. This was extremely disappointing, I had thought I had the clean eating lifestyle down and anticipated being able to maintain my weight loss indefinitely. But even that, it turns out, could be unraveled if I lost my focus. Obviously, my relationship with food had not been healed, merely controlled. Earlier this month I spied the book Intuitive Eating on a friend's bookshelf and borrowed it from her. As I read it, it struck a chord with me. Not for the first time I considered how much more time I would have in my life - my brain - for more meaningful, fulfilling things if I was not constantly thinking about food, planning what I would/should eat, worrying about how I looked, etc., and putting off true happiness for when I was in my goal range. Many times over the years I have thought, if only I hadn't gone on that first diet would I effortlessly be at a healthy weight now? It is definitely scary starting off into intuitive eating...completely foreign, uncharted territory. Given that I was chubby even as a child, does this mean that I should expect to still be chubby even once intuitive eating becomes natural? That possibility is disturbing to me. However, isn't the definition of insanity doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results? By that definition, and given my history, any program started with the primary goal of losing weight is sure to eventually lead to regain of said weight. Why would I want to put myself through that again? If you're still with me, thanks for hanging in there! I look forward to getting to know the members of this group and drawing encouragement from your experiences and sharing my own insights as I learn intuitive eating. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 21, 2012 Report Share Posted January 21, 2012 , glad you are here and enjoyed your post. Most of us have done that roller coaster and will never diet again. But it isn't easy. Great to have the book/books and this group. Looking to hearing from you again. Sandy Hi all, My name is , I'm 36 years old, married with three children (9 & 7YO boys, 4YO girl). Here is what brought me here, and I will warn you in advance that I can be rather long-winded ... As a child I was always chubbier than my grade school friends and classmates. Not obese, but chubby enough that I couldn't wear jeans unless they had elastic in the waist and chubby enough to be made fun of from time-to-time by even the girl I considered my best friend. I was unhappy about not looking " normal " and felt like I didn't fit in. These feelings became more painful as I got older and became interested in boys. Finally, at the age of 14 my mother got tired of hearing me complain about my weight and let me join Weight Watchers (she was a lifetime member.) I went from 145 lbs to 120 lbs in about 4 months and received a lot of attention from my peers for this accomplishment, and got my first boyfriend. Life was good! What I didn't realize at the time, however, was that I had just hopped on the weight-loss roller coaster and would continue to ride it for more than 20 years. Of course, I gradually regained the weight I lost on that first diet, and thus completed my first diet-binge-gain cycle. I have repeated this cycle many, many times since then. Over the years I have used Weight Watchers several times, done Craig a few times, done a little of this and that, and most recently utilized a clean eating approach. I lost 40 lbs in 2009 by following clean eating principles, which basically involved avoiding processed foods and eating primarily whole foods, combining protein and complex carbs at every meal, and eating 5-6 small meals throughout the day, spaced about 2.5-3 hours apart. I also exercised 5-6 days each week for roughly an hour each session, combining weight training and cardio. During this time I achieved a number of fitness goals I set for myself, including running several half marathons, a full marathon, and competing in a triathlon. I maintained my weight loss using this philosophy for the longest I ever have, about a year and a half, and felt great on it. It was a very healthy way of life, and I definitely thought of it as a lifestyle change and not a diet. But I regained most of the weight I lost in the last half of 2011 when my emotional demons got the better of me: I saw a picture of myself at my goal weight and I hated the way I looked in the picture. I spent the summer and fall of 2011 bingeing off and on, struggling to get back the positive mental state I had lost, and by Nov. had regained 30 lbs. This was extremely disappointing, I had thought I had the clean eating lifestyle down and anticipated being able to maintain my weight loss indefinitely. But even that, it turns out, could be unraveled if I lost my focus. Obviously, my relationship with food had not been healed, merely controlled. Earlier this month I spied the book Intuitive Eating on a friend's bookshelf and borrowed it from her. As I read it, it struck a chord with me. Not for the first time I considered how much more time I would have in my life - my brain - for more meaningful, fulfilling things if I was not constantly thinking about food, planning what I would/should eat, worrying about how I looked, etc., and putting off true happiness for when I was in my goal range. Many times over the years I have thought, if only I hadn't gone on that first diet would I effortlessly be at a healthy weight now? It is definitely scary starting off into intuitive eating...completely foreign, uncharted territory. Given that I was chubby even as a child, does this mean that I should expect to still be chubby even once intuitive eating becomes natural? That possibility is disturbing to me. However, isn't the definition of insanity doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results? By that definition, and given my history, any program started with the primary goal of losing weight is sure to eventually lead to regain of said weight. Why would I want to put myself through that again? If you're still with me, thanks for hanging in there! I look forward to getting to know the members of this group and drawing encouragement from your experiences and sharing my own insights as I learn intuitive eating. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 21, 2012 Report Share Posted January 21, 2012 Welcome, ! I'm in the early stages of Intuitive Eating, too, and what you said resonated with me. I started dieting in my teens, and I can't even count how many diets and "programs" I've been on. I just finished reading the IE book for the second time -- I read it several years ago, thought it made a lot of sense, and never tried to utilize the approach. I'm starting to think of this process as "finding balance" -- letting my mind and body settle into the equilibrium with food and eating that I know is there, somewhere inside me. My relationship with food has gotten so distorted and blown out of proportion that I have no idea what a healthy relationship with food would be like for me. Since the age of 14, I've used food as comfort, stress relief, a means of rebellion, and a way of distracting myself from things I haven't wanted to face. I've also used it as a bludgeon to beat myself with. I think I just need to let myself settle down for a while, take a look at what's going on inside, and see if the pendulum will finally stop careening back and forth. I find meditation extremely helpful in getting myself centered, but I don't do it regularly. I'm going to try to be more regular with my meditation practice. I'm also trying to use gentle, kind self-talk, to counteract my tendency to fall into self-dislike. I think it's going to take a while to find a place of balance and equilibrium, so I'm going to try to be patient with the process. Anyway, it's good to have you here! Sue Hi all, My name is , I'm 36 years old, married with three children (9 & 7YO boys, 4YO girl). Here is what brought me here, and I will warn you in advance that I can be rather long-winded ... As a child I was always chubbier than my grade school friends and classmates. Not obese, but chubby enough that I couldn't wear jeans unless they had elastic in the waist and chubby enough to be made fun of from time-to-time by even the girl I considered my best friend. I was unhappy about not looking "normal" and felt like I didn't fit in. These feelings became more painful as I got older and became interested in boys. Finally, at the age of 14 my mother got tired of hearing me complain about my weight and let me join Weight Watchers (she was a lifetime member.) I went from 145 lbs to 120 lbs in about 4 months and received a lot of attention from my peers for this accomplishment, and got my first boyfriend. Life was good! What I didn't realize at the time, however, was that I had just hopped on the weight-loss roller coaster and would continue to ride it for more than 20 years. Of course, I gradually regained the weight I lost on that first diet, and thus completed my first diet-binge-gain cycle. I have repeated this cycle many, many times since then. Over the years I have used Weight Watchers several times, done Craig a few times, done a little of this and that, and most recently utilized a clean eating approach. I lost 40 lbs in 2009 by following clean eating principles, which basically involved avoiding processed foods and eating primarily whole foods, combining protein and complex carbs at every meal, and eating 5-6 small meals throughout the day, spaced about 2.5-3 hours apart. I also exercised 5-6 days each week for roughly an hour each session, combining weight training and cardio. During this time I achieved a number of fitness goals I set for myself, including running several half marathons, a full marathon, and competing in a triathlon. I maintained my weight loss using this philosophy for the longest I ever have, about a year and a half, and felt great on it. It was a very healthy way of life, and I definitely thought of it as a lifestyle change and not a diet. But I regained most of the weight I lost in the last half of 2011 when my emotional demons got the better of me: I saw a picture of myself at my goal weight and I hated the way I looked in the picture. I spent the summer and fall of 2011 bingeing off and on, struggling to get back the positive mental state I had lost, and by Nov. had regained 30 lbs. This was extremely disappointing, I had thought I had the clean eating lifestyle down and anticipated being able to maintain my weight loss indefinitely. But even that, it turns out, could be unraveled if I lost my focus. Obviously, my relationship with food had not been healed, merely controlled. Earlier this month I spied the book Intuitive Eating on a friend's bookshelf and borrowed it from her. As I read it, it struck a chord with me. Not for the first time I considered how much more time I would have in my life - my brain - for more meaningful, fulfilling things if I was not constantly thinking about food, planning what I would/should eat, worrying about how I looked, etc., and putting off true happiness for when I was in my goal range. Many times over the years I have thought, if only I hadn't gone on that first diet would I effortlessly be at a healthy weight now? It is definitely scary starting off into intuitive eating...completely foreign, uncharted territory. Given that I was chubby even as a child, does this mean that I should expect to still be chubby even once intuitive eating becomes natural? That possibility is disturbing to me. However, isn't the definition of insanity doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results? By that definition, and given my history, any program started with the primary goal of losing weight is sure to eventually lead to regain of said weight. Why would I want to put myself through that again? If you're still with me, thanks for hanging in there! I look forward to getting to know the members of this group and drawing encouragement from your experiences and sharing my own insights as I learn intuitive eating. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 21, 2012 Report Share Posted January 21, 2012 Welcome, ! I'm in the early stages of Intuitive Eating, too, and what you said resonated with me. I started dieting in my teens, and I can't even count how many diets and "programs" I've been on. I just finished reading the IE book for the second time -- I read it several years ago, thought it made a lot of sense, and never tried to utilize the approach. I'm starting to think of this process as "finding balance" -- letting my mind and body settle into the equilibrium with food and eating that I know is there, somewhere inside me. My relationship with food has gotten so distorted and blown out of proportion that I have no idea what a healthy relationship with food would be like for me. Since the age of 14, I've used food as comfort, stress relief, a means of rebellion, and a way of distracting myself from things I haven't wanted to face. I've also used it as a bludgeon to beat myself with. I think I just need to let myself settle down for a while, take a look at what's going on inside, and see if the pendulum will finally stop careening back and forth. I find meditation extremely helpful in getting myself centered, but I don't do it regularly. I'm going to try to be more regular with my meditation practice. I'm also trying to use gentle, kind self-talk, to counteract my tendency to fall into self-dislike. I think it's going to take a while to find a place of balance and equilibrium, so I'm going to try to be patient with the process. Anyway, it's good to have you here! Sue Hi all, My name is , I'm 36 years old, married with three children (9 & 7YO boys, 4YO girl). Here is what brought me here, and I will warn you in advance that I can be rather long-winded ... As a child I was always chubbier than my grade school friends and classmates. Not obese, but chubby enough that I couldn't wear jeans unless they had elastic in the waist and chubby enough to be made fun of from time-to-time by even the girl I considered my best friend. I was unhappy about not looking "normal" and felt like I didn't fit in. These feelings became more painful as I got older and became interested in boys. Finally, at the age of 14 my mother got tired of hearing me complain about my weight and let me join Weight Watchers (she was a lifetime member.) I went from 145 lbs to 120 lbs in about 4 months and received a lot of attention from my peers for this accomplishment, and got my first boyfriend. Life was good! What I didn't realize at the time, however, was that I had just hopped on the weight-loss roller coaster and would continue to ride it for more than 20 years. Of course, I gradually regained the weight I lost on that first diet, and thus completed my first diet-binge-gain cycle. I have repeated this cycle many, many times since then. Over the years I have used Weight Watchers several times, done Craig a few times, done a little of this and that, and most recently utilized a clean eating approach. I lost 40 lbs in 2009 by following clean eating principles, which basically involved avoiding processed foods and eating primarily whole foods, combining protein and complex carbs at every meal, and eating 5-6 small meals throughout the day, spaced about 2.5-3 hours apart. I also exercised 5-6 days each week for roughly an hour each session, combining weight training and cardio. During this time I achieved a number of fitness goals I set for myself, including running several half marathons, a full marathon, and competing in a triathlon. I maintained my weight loss using this philosophy for the longest I ever have, about a year and a half, and felt great on it. It was a very healthy way of life, and I definitely thought of it as a lifestyle change and not a diet. But I regained most of the weight I lost in the last half of 2011 when my emotional demons got the better of me: I saw a picture of myself at my goal weight and I hated the way I looked in the picture. I spent the summer and fall of 2011 bingeing off and on, struggling to get back the positive mental state I had lost, and by Nov. had regained 30 lbs. This was extremely disappointing, I had thought I had the clean eating lifestyle down and anticipated being able to maintain my weight loss indefinitely. But even that, it turns out, could be unraveled if I lost my focus. Obviously, my relationship with food had not been healed, merely controlled. Earlier this month I spied the book Intuitive Eating on a friend's bookshelf and borrowed it from her. As I read it, it struck a chord with me. Not for the first time I considered how much more time I would have in my life - my brain - for more meaningful, fulfilling things if I was not constantly thinking about food, planning what I would/should eat, worrying about how I looked, etc., and putting off true happiness for when I was in my goal range. Many times over the years I have thought, if only I hadn't gone on that first diet would I effortlessly be at a healthy weight now? It is definitely scary starting off into intuitive eating...completely foreign, uncharted territory. Given that I was chubby even as a child, does this mean that I should expect to still be chubby even once intuitive eating becomes natural? That possibility is disturbing to me. However, isn't the definition of insanity doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results? By that definition, and given my history, any program started with the primary goal of losing weight is sure to eventually lead to regain of said weight. Why would I want to put myself through that again? If you're still with me, thanks for hanging in there! I look forward to getting to know the members of this group and drawing encouragement from your experiences and sharing my own insights as I learn intuitive eating. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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