RE: Re: Been so busy!!!

[Guest guest]

Hi Everyone...

I am only a week into the "no food plan" stage, and I am very anxious and glad to be here. I am definitely overeating, but gratefully on yogurt, fruit, and other more healthy foods. I have though had small amts of chocolate, pieces of a muffin, etc.

Since I also don't want to gain weight, I tend to "behave this way". But having no food plan IS BIG STUFF... Got one book yesterday... Glad to be here, and that you are all here...

Diane

To: IntuitiveEating_Support From: jkarlen@...Date: Wed, 3 Feb 2010 14:13:10 -0600Subject: RE: Re: Been so busy!!!

I believe what you’re talking about is the gentle nutrition phase where you’re balancing the equation in that fashion.

From: IntuitiveEating_Support [mailto:IntuitiveEating_Support ] On Behalf Of Diane MelansonSent: Wednesday, February 03, 2010 1:32 PMTo: intuitiveeating_support Subject: RE: Re: Been so busy!!!

Hi Everyone... Excuse me for saying what is in my heart, but doesn't the logical fact come into all this, that if I continue to eat fried, fattening unhealthy food in excess quantities, my body will justifiably react by adding unwanted FAT TO MY BUTT ? Am I not supposed to factor in the human truth of my actions with FOODS ? Sort of confused, and baffled...Diane

To: IntuitiveEating_Support From: jkarlenkarlenDate: Wed, 3 Feb 2010 08:40:40 -0600Subject: RE: Re: Been so busy!!!

I have to jump in on this conversation because I’m starting to find myself in a mental crisis with this.

How do I know my inner compulsive overeater isn’t just living large on this idea that it can eat whatever it wants when it wants it? Last night I had brownies at two different meals and French fries at one. I didn’t feel “guilty” about it but at the same time part of me is aware that long term eating like this has to have the same consequences as all the other brownies and French fries I’ve eaten in my life.

Doesn’t there reach a point where I have to “force” myself to head towards gentle nutrition? I’m mentally good with the idea that I can eat whatever I want when I want to…or at least I think I am. Maybe I’m not until I stop having the internal debate I’m voicing here?

From: IntuitiveEating_Support [mailto:IntuitiveEating_Support ] On Behalf Of loriSent: Wednesday, February 03, 2010 8:29 AMTo: IntuitiveEating_Support Subject: Re: Re: Been so busy!!!

Hi Jen,

I completely understand where you're coming from of course because I've been feeling the same way.

In so many ways intuitive eating really does make sense and even legalizing restricted foods makes sense, and I've already done so much of legalizing! I don't regret that I can have cake and cookies and chocolate and stuff like that in the house and not gobble them up, but I did put on a lot of weight when I stopped dieting; I don't think it was from legalizing as much as it was from gaining weight after 18 yrs of dieting because I finally stopped starving myself. But I do gain some weight from legalizing foods also because I do eat more than I need for a while before I get to the point where I can have the food around and not be overly tempted to eat past a point of comfortably full.

It seems to me that, in theory, continuing to legalize the foods that I still haven't makes sense, but practically speaking I'm not going to have that food every day til I can have it around because I'm not willing to gain any more weight. I know this disagrees with the principles but I can't help feeling this way.

I'm not restricting anything, but I'm not in the mood to eat one thing for ten days in a row either; I'm at the point where I just want to be normal, lol, and I want to have an eating style that's balanced while not restricting anything. But I can't stand the thought of not having a normal, healthy, balanced eating style anymore. Chicken parm ten days in a row is not my idea of balanced, but not restricting it and having it if I really want it is also very important. right now I think I'll plan to have it once a week and then if I really, really want it I will have it more than that but I'm not bringing in 20 chicken parm dinners and eating them all week long!

Laurie

From: jentodd510 <jentodd510>To: IntuitiveEating_Support Sent: Tue, February 2, 2010 1:01:41 PMSubject: Re: Been so busy!!!

hi Laurie,i can sort of relate to what you're saying, i think, tho my circumstances are different.i've gained 20 lbs in this past year in part from becoming way more sedentary due to agoraphobia and other anxiety, perhaps due to some of the medications i'm on and from partially easing up on restricting my eating.i feel like i haven't even really begun the IE process and i've already gained weight. i feel like my body really has the starvation mode in high gear! i'm a size 18/20 and have partially accepted the way my body is now. i feel very sad and sometimes panicky thinking about becoming larger, espcially since i am not eating all that differently.anyway...mainly just wanted to say what you wrote resonated with me...good luck with your journey,jen todd> > > > > Hi Everyone,> > > I don't want you all to think I've fallen off the face of the > > > earth!!! I was very busy with paperwork and got 99% of it in; this > > > upcoming week I aught to have all the rest taken care of and then > > > the stress will be just waiting to see how things go.> > >> > > I am sorry, I haven't even had time to read any of your emails!!> > >> > > As far as food goes..wow..it' s much more of a challenge when my > > > level of stress is extremely high...and I also think my harmones are > > > messing with me sometimes!!> > >> > > I have to say that I haven't had any lengthy periods of binging, and > > > I used to go five days in a row before I can stop.> > >> > > What I'm doing now instead is an improvement; I'll be fine till > > > about 6pm or so, and even then I will have waited til hungry to eat, > > > but that meal is way, way bigger than any human being would need to > > > get full; I think I'm having a big feast, lol. I have zero will to > > > stop eating!!! But then after, when I'm over-full, whereas I used > > > to continue to binge through the night and into the next day, I'm > > > not doing that. I'm not eating and just waiting til hungry the next > > > day. So big improvement from what I used to do when very stressed, > > > but still eating enough to create a bit of weight gain on a body > > > that's already big. I'm not beating myself up.> > >> > > But I am confused about the eat what you want; I am a true believer > > > that if we eat what we want enough it will lose its specialness, but > > > sometimes I think the amount I'd have to eat to get those foods to > > > be ordinary would create a bunch more weight gain. I have certain > > > foods that are still "special" and I have no will power to eat a > > > "normal" amount. Lots of foods, that I used to restrict, I can > > > have and not overeat, but certain foods like a great Italian > > > restaurant version of chicken parm......well, that is too hard to > > > stop eating right now. I think the goal is balance; I don't think I > > > want to be a health extremist, but I sure want to eat a large > > > variety of healthy foods but I sure can't restrict the chicken parm > > > cause you can bet that will lead to an all out binge of it unless I > > > avoid it forever. But I don't really want to have it ten times in > > > a row til it seems ordinary because that will be another 20 Lb > > > weight gain cause I don't stop at a> > > normal amount.> > >> > > I know my goal is a healthy, balanced way of eating where no food is > > > restricted but sometimes I don't know in the moment whether to have > > > the chicken parm AGAIN to make it more ordinary, or whether to pick > > > the salad because it's so good for me. If I could just have a > > > normal balance of variety of foods that would be great, but then > > > there are foods that are still "special" so how can I be the normal > > > eater I want to be around those foods?> > >> > > I still don't feel like I have all the answers!!!> > >> > > Laurie> > >> >>

[Guest guest]

Dear Abby...

Thank you Abby for your encouragement. The week was not smooth in all counts, but I certainly have no doubt of the long term value that is for sure. I went to a friends' to watch the SB last night, and let myself have corn chips, healthy crackers, and even a taste of cake being served. I ate too many corn chips, but also felt relief I didn't have to have my "weighed and measured" breakfast, and can feel the freedom to allow my stomach to tell me when and what to eat next.

Since God is the Lord of my life, I am feeling very grateful and very blessed this morning... YAHOO, I feel hope I can be healed of this terrible problem / relationship with food.

Thanks again,

Diane

To: IntuitiveEating_Support From: abigail.wolfson@...Date: Sun, 7 Feb 2010 00:18:55 -0500Subject: Re: RE: Re: Been so busy!!!

Diane,

Congratulations on your week on a no diet plan! (No eating plan sounds like a plan to not eat to me!)

It's very normal to overeat when your body is accustomed to restriction. Keep in mind that many of us also end up overeating when we are still restricting certain food groups. Do you feel like you could be overeating "safe" foods to avoid others?

Just a thought... may not apply to you.

Anyway, congratulations again on your awesome progress! And feel free to share the struggles and anxiety as well.

Best,

Abby

On Feb 4, 2010 10:59 AM, "Diane Melanson" <DMMelansonmsn> wrote:

Hi Everyone... I am only a week into the "no food plan" stage, and I am very anxious and glad to be here. I am definitely overeating, but gratefully on yogurt, fruit, and other more healthy foods. I have though had small amts of chocolate, pieces of a muffin, etc. Since I also don't want to gain weight, I tend to "behave this way". But having no food plan IS BIG STUFF... Got one book yesterday... Glad to be here, and that you are all here...

Diane ________________________________To: IntuitiveEating_Support From: j...Date: Wed, 3 Feb 2010 14:13:10 -0600

Subject: RE: Re: Been so busy!!! I believe what you’re talking about ...