Something I found Helpful

[Guest guest]

I've had the Intuitive Eating book checked out of the library for three weeks

but hadn't gotten to it. Found out last night I had to return it today, so I

picked it up and read through as much as I could.

While I agree that there are many first steps, such as beginning just to notice

our feelings and become more aware of what we are experiencing, for me, the

" roles " they mention in the book have been extremely helpful.

The ones we want to move away from are the Food Police (always on the lookout

for diet infractions), Diet Rebel, and Nutrition Informant (keeps the nutrition

" rules " always in the forefront.

Look at these great roles we can assume to take care of ourself:

Food Anthropologist -- The part of us that simply observes without judgement.

Just the facts, ma'am. " I noticed I still felt hungry after that snack. " " I

noticed I wasn't hungry when I woke up.)

The Nurturer -- a compassionate, gentle voice that I daresay many of us with a

diet mentality have almost rendered mute with our shouting it down. " I can

understand that you would want to eat right now -- that's a very human

response. "

Rebel Ally -- the part of us that can learn to use our mouths for words

(expressing ourselves) instead of eating (stuffing our feelings)

Nutrition Ally -- What the Nutrition Informant becomes when the Food Police have

been FIRED!

I've been stumbling along with IE for a few weeks now and thought I was allowing

myself all foods, but I was only pretending to allow it because the Food Police

and Nutrition Informant were still alive and well and screaming at me most of

the day.

What a different day I have had today as I have simply observed. For instance,

I'm kind of like a Pavlovian dog when it comes to PIZZA. I allowed the

Anthropologist last night to notice the following: " I notice that the word PIZZA

-- just the word itself -- is associated with many, many good memories. Special

times with my dad, with my family, college days and lovely times at Giordano's

in Chicago, watching football on Sundays, and many other special memories. " Just

NOTICING that without judging myself for liking fattening cheese, or eating too

much white flour (ETC!) was so pleasant. Without the guilt, I got to remember

all those times, and the I let the Nurturer tell me that it's no wonder I love

pizza so much with those kinds of memories attached to it.

This time, though, I didn't need to eat any pizza, whereas when the Food Police

get into the picture, my Diet Rebel dials up Domino's right away. Major

difference for me.

Thanks for all the encouragement that is shared in this group.