Guest guest Posted January 26, 2010 Report Share Posted January 26, 2010 WELCOME, Diane!!! I also attended OA (and EDA) meetings for several years. As you noticed, the 12 step philosphy just encouraged my 'all or nothing' mentality. So rather than recover quickly from slight overeating, I tended to think " oh what the heck, I already screwed up. So I might just as well binge eat whatever I want before I get back on track. " I finally eliminated binges after I learned to forgive myself for small overeating excesses, stay conscious, rather than let guilt distract me from enjoying what I ate, and turn potential binges into mindful overeating. Likewise the 'powerless' mentality did not help me understand that I CHOSE to overeat. So I could learn to choose to eat moderately. Moderation is the key to avoiding extremes of thinking and/or eating. SUE > > > Hi Jen... > > > > Am proud of you for your efforts... We are, where we are comes to mind. Im new here, and have not yet introduced myself. > > > > Im Diane, and Im coming from a 12 Step OA background. I have had problems with food my whole life, and have been 200 lbs, 110 lbs, 150 lbs, and back to 130 lbs. I have not been heavy for a number of years, and my problems are more oriented with obsession and 'slips' than anything else. > > > > I have realized in tracking my food all through the day, that I had the " ability " to moderate my behavior, which is in conflict with what is enforced within 12 step groups. I guess I am not so Powerless after all... > > > > I am not ready to let go of my food plan, nor the ideals of what a positive day with food / meals consists of. I spent too many days starving myself to risk going back to that... I learned if I stayed " busy enough " , food and meals became pretty insigificant.. But then I had a different problem, and that wasn't good either. > > > > Anyway, Im enjoying listening for now, and will start the recommended reading... Grateful for your shares everyone... I certainly qualify for being here... > > > > Diane > > > > > > > > > > To: IntuitiveEating_Support > From: jentodd510@... > Date: Tue, 26 Jan 2010 20:58:25 +0000 > Subject: difficult first steps > > > > > > hi everyone, > well i have started the IE book and am really learning a lot and trying to take it all in. > my first attempts have not worked out so well! > so i hope for so wisdom from those who've been there and done that. > > i'm finding it much harder than i thought to give up calorie counting and weighing myself...i think i use those activities to soothe anxiety and help feel in control. but they are the tools of the " diet mentality " i've just learned about and they need to go. why is this so hard? > > i realized observing myself that i am using decaf coffee, which i guess has small amounts of caffeine, to fill up on during the day. i did read in IE that this is quite common. > i'm eating breakfast and lunch, but small amounts. and drinking quite a lot of decaf coffee all thru the day and evening. i get hungry but feel safest drinking decaf..,i'm afraid i'll eat all day too much! > > so that's where i'm at in my first few days. > any feedback is welcome. > thanks for listening! > jen > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 26, 2010 Report Share Posted January 26, 2010 WELCOME, Diane!!! I also attended OA (and EDA) meetings for several years. As you noticed, the 12 step philosphy just encouraged my 'all or nothing' mentality. So rather than recover quickly from slight overeating, I tended to think " oh what the heck, I already screwed up. So I might just as well binge eat whatever I want before I get back on track. " I finally eliminated binges after I learned to forgive myself for small overeating excesses, stay conscious, rather than let guilt distract me from enjoying what I ate, and turn potential binges into mindful overeating. Likewise the 'powerless' mentality did not help me understand that I CHOSE to overeat. So I could learn to choose to eat moderately. Moderation is the key to avoiding extremes of thinking and/or eating. SUE > > > Hi Jen... > > > > Am proud of you for your efforts... We are, where we are comes to mind. Im new here, and have not yet introduced myself. > > > > Im Diane, and Im coming from a 12 Step OA background. I have had problems with food my whole life, and have been 200 lbs, 110 lbs, 150 lbs, and back to 130 lbs. I have not been heavy for a number of years, and my problems are more oriented with obsession and 'slips' than anything else. > > > > I have realized in tracking my food all through the day, that I had the " ability " to moderate my behavior, which is in conflict with what is enforced within 12 step groups. I guess I am not so Powerless after all... > > > > I am not ready to let go of my food plan, nor the ideals of what a positive day with food / meals consists of. I spent too many days starving myself to risk going back to that... I learned if I stayed " busy enough " , food and meals became pretty insigificant.. But then I had a different problem, and that wasn't good either. > > > > Anyway, Im enjoying listening for now, and will start the recommended reading... Grateful for your shares everyone... I certainly qualify for being here... > > > > Diane > > > > > > > > > > To: IntuitiveEating_Support > From: jentodd510@... > Date: Tue, 26 Jan 2010 20:58:25 +0000 > Subject: difficult first steps > > > > > > hi everyone, > well i have started the IE book and am really learning a lot and trying to take it all in. > my first attempts have not worked out so well! > so i hope for so wisdom from those who've been there and done that. > > i'm finding it much harder than i thought to give up calorie counting and weighing myself...i think i use those activities to soothe anxiety and help feel in control. but they are the tools of the " diet mentality " i've just learned about and they need to go. why is this so hard? > > i realized observing myself that i am using decaf coffee, which i guess has small amounts of caffeine, to fill up on during the day. i did read in IE that this is quite common. > i'm eating breakfast and lunch, but small amounts. and drinking quite a lot of decaf coffee all thru the day and evening. i get hungry but feel safest drinking decaf..,i'm afraid i'll eat all day too much! > > so that's where i'm at in my first few days. > any feedback is welcome. > thanks for listening! > jen > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 27, 2010 Report Share Posted January 27, 2010 hi Diane,thanks for your support and welcome to the group!sounds like you are in the right place, people here are very supportive and encouraging.jenSubject: New Here....To: intuitiveeating_support Date: Tuesday, January 26, 2010, 1:39 PM Hi Jen... Am proud of you for your efforts... We are, where we are comes to mind. Im new here, and have not yet introduced myself. Im Diane, and Im coming from a 12 Step OA background. I have had problems with food my whole life, and have been 200 lbs, 110 lbs, 150 lbs, and back to 130 lbs. I have not been heavy for a number of years, and my problems are more oriented with obsession and 'slips' than anything else. I have realized in tracking my food all through the day, that I had the "ability" to moderate my behavior, which is in conflict with what is enforced within 12 step groups. I guess I am not so Powerless after all... I am not ready to let go of my food plan, nor the ideals of what a positive day with food / meals consists of. I spent too many days starving myself to risk going back to that... I learned if I stayed "busy enough", food and meals became pretty insigificant. . But then I had a different problem, and that wasn't good either. Anyway, Im enjoying listening for now, and will start the recommended reading... Grateful for your shares everyone... I certainly qualify for being here... Diane To: IntuitiveEating_ Support@yahoogro ups.comFrom: jentodd510yahoo (DOT) comDate: Tue, 26 Jan 2010 20:58:25 +0000Subject: [intuitiveEating_ Support] difficult first steps hi everyone,well i have started the IE book and am really learning a lot and trying to take it all in. my first attempts have not worked out so well!so i hope for so wisdom from those who've been there and done that.i'm finding it much harder than i thought to give up calorie counting and weighing myself...i think i use those activities to soothe anxiety and help feel in control. but they are the tools of the "diet mentality" i've just learned about and they need to go. why is this so hard?i realized observing myself that i am using decaf coffee, which i guess has small amounts of caffeine, to fill up on during the day. i did read in IE that this is quite common.i'm eating breakfast and lunch, but small amounts. and drinking quite a lot of decaf coffee all thru the day and evening. i get hungry but feel safest drinking decaf..,i'm afraid i'll eat all day too much! so that's where i'm at in my first few days.any feedback is welcome.thanks for listening!jen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 27, 2010 Report Share Posted January 27, 2010 hi Diane,thanks for your support and welcome to the group!sounds like you are in the right place, people here are very supportive and encouraging.jenSubject: New Here....To: intuitiveeating_support Date: Tuesday, January 26, 2010, 1:39 PM Hi Jen... Am proud of you for your efforts... We are, where we are comes to mind. Im new here, and have not yet introduced myself. Im Diane, and Im coming from a 12 Step OA background. I have had problems with food my whole life, and have been 200 lbs, 110 lbs, 150 lbs, and back to 130 lbs. I have not been heavy for a number of years, and my problems are more oriented with obsession and 'slips' than anything else. I have realized in tracking my food all through the day, that I had the "ability" to moderate my behavior, which is in conflict with what is enforced within 12 step groups. I guess I am not so Powerless after all... I am not ready to let go of my food plan, nor the ideals of what a positive day with food / meals consists of. I spent too many days starving myself to risk going back to that... I learned if I stayed "busy enough", food and meals became pretty insigificant. . But then I had a different problem, and that wasn't good either. Anyway, Im enjoying listening for now, and will start the recommended reading... Grateful for your shares everyone... I certainly qualify for being here... Diane To: IntuitiveEating_ Support@yahoogro ups.comFrom: jentodd510yahoo (DOT) comDate: Tue, 26 Jan 2010 20:58:25 +0000Subject: [intuitiveEating_ Support] difficult first steps hi everyone,well i have started the IE book and am really learning a lot and trying to take it all in. my first attempts have not worked out so well!so i hope for so wisdom from those who've been there and done that.i'm finding it much harder than i thought to give up calorie counting and weighing myself...i think i use those activities to soothe anxiety and help feel in control. but they are the tools of the "diet mentality" i've just learned about and they need to go. why is this so hard?i realized observing myself that i am using decaf coffee, which i guess has small amounts of caffeine, to fill up on during the day. i did read in IE that this is quite common.i'm eating breakfast and lunch, but small amounts. and drinking quite a lot of decaf coffee all thru the day and evening. i get hungry but feel safest drinking decaf..,i'm afraid i'll eat all day too much! so that's where i'm at in my first few days.any feedback is welcome.thanks for listening!jen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 27, 2010 Report Share Posted January 27, 2010 hi Diane,thanks for your support and welcome to the group!sounds like you are in the right place, people here are very supportive and encouraging.jenSubject: New Here....To: intuitiveeating_support Date: Tuesday, January 26, 2010, 1:39 PM Hi Jen... Am proud of you for your efforts... We are, where we are comes to mind. Im new here, and have not yet introduced myself. Im Diane, and Im coming from a 12 Step OA background. I have had problems with food my whole life, and have been 200 lbs, 110 lbs, 150 lbs, and back to 130 lbs. I have not been heavy for a number of years, and my problems are more oriented with obsession and 'slips' than anything else. I have realized in tracking my food all through the day, that I had the "ability" to moderate my behavior, which is in conflict with what is enforced within 12 step groups. I guess I am not so Powerless after all... I am not ready to let go of my food plan, nor the ideals of what a positive day with food / meals consists of. I spent too many days starving myself to risk going back to that... I learned if I stayed "busy enough", food and meals became pretty insigificant. . But then I had a different problem, and that wasn't good either. Anyway, Im enjoying listening for now, and will start the recommended reading... Grateful for your shares everyone... I certainly qualify for being here... Diane To: IntuitiveEating_ Support@yahoogro ups.comFrom: jentodd510yahoo (DOT) comDate: Tue, 26 Jan 2010 20:58:25 +0000Subject: [intuitiveEating_ Support] difficult first steps hi everyone,well i have started the IE book and am really learning a lot and trying to take it all in. my first attempts have not worked out so well!so i hope for so wisdom from those who've been there and done that.i'm finding it much harder than i thought to give up calorie counting and weighing myself...i think i use those activities to soothe anxiety and help feel in control. but they are the tools of the "diet mentality" i've just learned about and they need to go. why is this so hard?i realized observing myself that i am using decaf coffee, which i guess has small amounts of caffeine, to fill up on during the day. i did read in IE that this is quite common.i'm eating breakfast and lunch, but small amounts. and drinking quite a lot of decaf coffee all thru the day and evening. i get hungry but feel safest drinking decaf..,i'm afraid i'll eat all day too much! so that's where i'm at in my first few days.any feedback is welcome.thanks for listening!jen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 27, 2010 Report Share Posted January 27, 2010 hi Jeannie,i just wanted to mention i've been using Fitday for the past 2 years or more and i have found it basically just keeps me compulsive....but i do understand how difficult it is to give up! jen Hi Jen... Am proud of you for your efforts... We are, where we are comes to mind. Im new here, and have not yet introduced myself. Im Diane, and Im coming from a 12 Step OA background. I have had problems with food my whole life, and have been 200 lbs, 110 lbs, 150 lbs, and back to 130 lbs. I have not been heavy for a number of years, and my problems are more oriented with obsession and 'slips' than anything else. I have realized in tracking my food all through the day, that I had the "ability" to moderate my behavior, which is in conflict with what is enforced within 12 step groups. I guess I am not so Powerless after all... I am not ready to let go of my food plan, nor the ideals of what a positive day with food / meals consists of. I spent too many days starving myself to risk going back to that... I learned if I stayed "busy enough", food and meals became pretty insigificant. . But then I had a different problem, and that wasn't good either. Anyway, Im enjoying listening for now, and will start the recommended reading... Grateful for your shares everyone... I certainly qualify for being here... Diane To: IntuitiveEating_ Support@yahoogro ups.com From: jentodd510yahoo (DOT) com Date: Tue, 26 Jan 2010 20:58:25 +0000 Subject: [intuitiveEating_ Support] difficult first steps hi everyone, well i have started the IE book and am really learning a lot and trying to take it all in. my first attempts have not worked out so well! so i hope for so wisdom from those who've been there and done that. i'm finding it much harder than i thought to give up calorie counting and weighing myself...i think i use those activities to soothe anxiety and help feel in control. but they are the tools of the "diet mentality" i've just learned about and they need to go. why is this so hard? i realized observing myself that i am using decaf coffee, which i guess has small amounts of caffeine, to fill up on during the day. i did read in IE that this is quite common. i'm eating breakfast and lunch, but small amounts. and drinking quite a lot of decaf coffee all thru the day and evening. i get hungry but feel safest drinking decaf..,i'm afraid i'll eat all day too much! so that's where i'm at in my first few days. any feedback is welcome. thanks for listening! jen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 27, 2010 Report Share Posted January 27, 2010 hi Jeannie,i just wanted to mention i've been using Fitday for the past 2 years or more and i have found it basically just keeps me compulsive....but i do understand how difficult it is to give up! jen Hi Jen... Am proud of you for your efforts... We are, where we are comes to mind. Im new here, and have not yet introduced myself. Im Diane, and Im coming from a 12 Step OA background. I have had problems with food my whole life, and have been 200 lbs, 110 lbs, 150 lbs, and back to 130 lbs. I have not been heavy for a number of years, and my problems are more oriented with obsession and 'slips' than anything else. I have realized in tracking my food all through the day, that I had the "ability" to moderate my behavior, which is in conflict with what is enforced within 12 step groups. I guess I am not so Powerless after all... I am not ready to let go of my food plan, nor the ideals of what a positive day with food / meals consists of. I spent too many days starving myself to risk going back to that... I learned if I stayed "busy enough", food and meals became pretty insigificant. . But then I had a different problem, and that wasn't good either. Anyway, Im enjoying listening for now, and will start the recommended reading... Grateful for your shares everyone... I certainly qualify for being here... Diane To: IntuitiveEating_ Support@yahoogro ups.com From: jentodd510yahoo (DOT) com Date: Tue, 26 Jan 2010 20:58:25 +0000 Subject: [intuitiveEating_ Support] difficult first steps hi everyone, well i have started the IE book and am really learning a lot and trying to take it all in. my first attempts have not worked out so well! so i hope for so wisdom from those who've been there and done that. i'm finding it much harder than i thought to give up calorie counting and weighing myself...i think i use those activities to soothe anxiety and help feel in control. but they are the tools of the "diet mentality" i've just learned about and they need to go. why is this so hard? i realized observing myself that i am using decaf coffee, which i guess has small amounts of caffeine, to fill up on during the day. i did read in IE that this is quite common. i'm eating breakfast and lunch, but small amounts. and drinking quite a lot of decaf coffee all thru the day and evening. i get hungry but feel safest drinking decaf..,i'm afraid i'll eat all day too much! so that's where i'm at in my first few days. any feedback is welcome. thanks for listening! jen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 27, 2010 Report Share Posted January 27, 2010 hi Jeannie,i just wanted to mention i've been using Fitday for the past 2 years or more and i have found it basically just keeps me compulsive....but i do understand how difficult it is to give up! jen Hi Jen... Am proud of you for your efforts... We are, where we are comes to mind. Im new here, and have not yet introduced myself. Im Diane, and Im coming from a 12 Step OA background. I have had problems with food my whole life, and have been 200 lbs, 110 lbs, 150 lbs, and back to 130 lbs. I have not been heavy for a number of years, and my problems are more oriented with obsession and 'slips' than anything else. I have realized in tracking my food all through the day, that I had the "ability" to moderate my behavior, which is in conflict with what is enforced within 12 step groups. I guess I am not so Powerless after all... I am not ready to let go of my food plan, nor the ideals of what a positive day with food / meals consists of. I spent too many days starving myself to risk going back to that... I learned if I stayed "busy enough", food and meals became pretty insigificant. . But then I had a different problem, and that wasn't good either. Anyway, Im enjoying listening for now, and will start the recommended reading... Grateful for your shares everyone... I certainly qualify for being here... Diane To: IntuitiveEating_ Support@yahoogro ups.com From: jentodd510yahoo (DOT) com Date: Tue, 26 Jan 2010 20:58:25 +0000 Subject: [intuitiveEating_ Support] difficult first steps hi everyone, well i have started the IE book and am really learning a lot and trying to take it all in. my first attempts have not worked out so well! so i hope for so wisdom from those who've been there and done that. i'm finding it much harder than i thought to give up calorie counting and weighing myself...i think i use those activities to soothe anxiety and help feel in control. but they are the tools of the "diet mentality" i've just learned about and they need to go. why is this so hard? i realized observing myself that i am using decaf coffee, which i guess has small amounts of caffeine, to fill up on during the day. i did read in IE that this is quite common. i'm eating breakfast and lunch, but small amounts. and drinking quite a lot of decaf coffee all thru the day and evening. i get hungry but feel safest drinking decaf..,i'm afraid i'll eat all day too much! so that's where i'm at in my first few days. any feedback is welcome. thanks for listening! jen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 27, 2010 Report Share Posted January 27, 2010 I really didn't understand how much using it was fueling my food obsessions until very recently. I thought I was helping myself by tracking everything! Unfortunately that's what so many weight loss programs tell you to do, but people like me need to be thinking about food less, not more--or at least thinking about it in the present, not past/future. I can't remember which one it was, but I was looking at a program for overcoming compulsive eating patterns, and it not only had you track what you ate, but for each meal you were supposed to eat certain things (protein, grain, vegetable, etc.). I thought about it for maybe 10 seconds and decided that being that restrictive was a really bad idea, lol. Jeannie Todd wrote:  hi Jeannie, i just wanted to mention i've been using Fitday for the past 2 years or more and i have found it basically just keeps me compulsive....but i do understand how difficult it is to give up! jen  Hi Jen...  Am proud of you for your efforts... We are, where we are comes to mind.  Im new here, and have not yet introduced myself.  Im Diane, and Im coming from a 12 Step OA background. I have had problems with food my whole life, and have been 200 lbs, 110 lbs, 150 lbs, and back to 130 lbs.  I have not been heavy for a number of years, and my problems are more oriented with obsession and 'slips' than anything else.  I have realized in tracking my food all through the day, that I had the "ability" to moderate my behavior, which is in conflict with what is enforced within 12 step groups. I guess I am not so Powerless after all...   I am not ready to let go of my food plan, nor the ideals of what a positive day with food / meals consists of. I spent too many days starving myself to risk going back to that... I learned if I stayed "busy enough", food and meals became pretty insigificant. . But then I had a different problem, and that wasn't good either.  Anyway, Im enjoying listening for now, and will start the recommended reading... Grateful for your shares everyone...  I certainly qualify for being here...  Diane    To: IntuitiveEating_ Support@yahoogro ups.com From: jentodd510yahoo (DOT) com Date: Tue, 26 Jan 2010 20:58:25 +0000 Subject: [intuitiveEating_ Support] difficult first steps  hi everyone, well i have started the IE book and am really learning a lot and trying to take it all in. my first attempts have not worked out so well! so i hope for so wisdom from those who've been there and done that. i'm finding it much harder than i thought to give up calorie counting and weighing myself...i think i use those activities to soothe anxiety and help feel in control. but they are the tools of the "diet mentality" i've just learned about and they need to go. why is this so hard? i realized observing myself that i am using decaf coffee, which i guess has small amounts of caffeine, to fill up on during the day. i did read in IE that this is quite common. i'm eating breakfast and lunch, but small amounts. and drinking quite a lot of decaf coffee all thru the day and evening. i get hungry but feel safest drinking decaf..,i'm afraid i'll eat all day too much! so that's where i'm at in my first few days. any feedback is welcome. thanks for listening! jen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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