Re: gaining weight and freaking out!! Help!!

[Guest guest]

Hi there,

Sorry you are going through a rough time! I hope it will help to be told that if your experience is not universal, it's certainly incredibly common!

I know it's hard, but try not to panic. Think what else you have gained along with those five pounds... peace? Tranquility? Trust in yourself? Try to remember how you felt when the rush of your last diet wore off. There must be a reason you abandoned dieting and came to IE... if dieting worked well for you, and made you feel good about yourself, you wouldn't be here.

Both your body and your mind are going through a huge change right now, getting used to IE. If you were restricting calories before, your metabolism will have slowed down, and may cause weight gain initially. As you continue to feed your hunger and stop when full, this should ease off. Likewise, your brain probably isn't fullly accustomed to getting to decide what you eat, without regard to rules, so it may be testing limits, and saying " really? I can really have cookie dough three times a day??? Are you SURE??? " With time, as you reinforce that you can eat whatever you crave (ideally waiting for hunger first), your cravings for greasy or sugary or whatever " junk food " rings your bell should ease a bit. You may still want a piece of cake every night but you won't wish for the whole cake... and somewhere down the road, if you listen very closely, you may find yourself craving a salad instead!

The IE authors talk about practicing " gentle nutrition " which I take to mean that I will have the " healthier " option if it's as appealing, or nearly as appetizing, as the " less healthy one. " But if I have a craving, I definitely satisfy it... I find that avoiding that food only makes me crave it more, and eat more of it when I do give in. 

I think it's perfectly fine to strive to eat when hungry, and to stop when full, and to strive to eat more fruits, veggies, whole grains, etc... as long as you are gentle and non-punitive about it.

Finally, changing any habit takes a huge effort at first. The longer you practice the new habit, the easier it becomes, until it's automatic. So don't despair! And if you need to revert back to old behaviors now and then, it's okay! Two steps forward and one step back still gets you there eventually. Aiming for perfection can backfire.

I hope this helps a little. Hang in there, and keep on posting! This is hard stuff for everyone. But it does get easier, I promise!

Best,

Abby

 

I'm up prob 5 pds since I started eating this way! In a lot of ways I feel a lot calmer around food....but since stepping on the scale I just want to run back to counting calories! I need to lose 30 pds..and I honestly don't know what to think right now. I know my mind is warped by these thoughts, I know my slef worth is not determined by that number....but I can't seem to stop these thoughts of feeling worthless and like a failure! I wish I could just not think about food every minute of every day. I can't imagine what I could be doing with all this time and energy I spend thinking about food, dieting, ways to loose weight etc! Its so frustrating! I could really use some words of advice here ladies...Help!!!!!

[Guest guest]

Hi there,

Sorry you are going through a rough time! I hope it will help to be told that if your experience is not universal, it's certainly incredibly common!

I know it's hard, but try not to panic. Think what else you have gained along with those five pounds... peace? Tranquility? Trust in yourself? Try to remember how you felt when the rush of your last diet wore off. There must be a reason you abandoned dieting and came to IE... if dieting worked well for you, and made you feel good about yourself, you wouldn't be here.

Both your body and your mind are going through a huge change right now, getting used to IE. If you were restricting calories before, your metabolism will have slowed down, and may cause weight gain initially. As you continue to feed your hunger and stop when full, this should ease off. Likewise, your brain probably isn't fullly accustomed to getting to decide what you eat, without regard to rules, so it may be testing limits, and saying " really? I can really have cookie dough three times a day??? Are you SURE??? " With time, as you reinforce that you can eat whatever you crave (ideally waiting for hunger first), your cravings for greasy or sugary or whatever " junk food " rings your bell should ease a bit. You may still want a piece of cake every night but you won't wish for the whole cake... and somewhere down the road, if you listen very closely, you may find yourself craving a salad instead!

The IE authors talk about practicing " gentle nutrition " which I take to mean that I will have the " healthier " option if it's as appealing, or nearly as appetizing, as the " less healthy one. " But if I have a craving, I definitely satisfy it... I find that avoiding that food only makes me crave it more, and eat more of it when I do give in. 

I think it's perfectly fine to strive to eat when hungry, and to stop when full, and to strive to eat more fruits, veggies, whole grains, etc... as long as you are gentle and non-punitive about it.

Finally, changing any habit takes a huge effort at first. The longer you practice the new habit, the easier it becomes, until it's automatic. So don't despair! And if you need to revert back to old behaviors now and then, it's okay! Two steps forward and one step back still gets you there eventually. Aiming for perfection can backfire.

I hope this helps a little. Hang in there, and keep on posting! This is hard stuff for everyone. But it does get easier, I promise!

Best,

Abby

 

I'm up prob 5 pds since I started eating this way! In a lot of ways I feel a lot calmer around food....but since stepping on the scale I just want to run back to counting calories! I need to lose 30 pds..and I honestly don't know what to think right now. I know my mind is warped by these thoughts, I know my slef worth is not determined by that number....but I can't seem to stop these thoughts of feeling worthless and like a failure! I wish I could just not think about food every minute of every day. I can't imagine what I could be doing with all this time and energy I spend thinking about food, dieting, ways to loose weight etc! Its so frustrating! I could really use some words of advice here ladies...Help!!!!!

[Guest guest]

Hi there,

Sorry you are going through a rough time! I hope it will help to be told that if your experience is not universal, it's certainly incredibly common!

I know it's hard, but try not to panic. Think what else you have gained along with those five pounds... peace? Tranquility? Trust in yourself? Try to remember how you felt when the rush of your last diet wore off. There must be a reason you abandoned dieting and came to IE... if dieting worked well for you, and made you feel good about yourself, you wouldn't be here.

Both your body and your mind are going through a huge change right now, getting used to IE. If you were restricting calories before, your metabolism will have slowed down, and may cause weight gain initially. As you continue to feed your hunger and stop when full, this should ease off. Likewise, your brain probably isn't fullly accustomed to getting to decide what you eat, without regard to rules, so it may be testing limits, and saying " really? I can really have cookie dough three times a day??? Are you SURE??? " With time, as you reinforce that you can eat whatever you crave (ideally waiting for hunger first), your cravings for greasy or sugary or whatever " junk food " rings your bell should ease a bit. You may still want a piece of cake every night but you won't wish for the whole cake... and somewhere down the road, if you listen very closely, you may find yourself craving a salad instead!

The IE authors talk about practicing " gentle nutrition " which I take to mean that I will have the " healthier " option if it's as appealing, or nearly as appetizing, as the " less healthy one. " But if I have a craving, I definitely satisfy it... I find that avoiding that food only makes me crave it more, and eat more of it when I do give in. 

I think it's perfectly fine to strive to eat when hungry, and to stop when full, and to strive to eat more fruits, veggies, whole grains, etc... as long as you are gentle and non-punitive about it.

Finally, changing any habit takes a huge effort at first. The longer you practice the new habit, the easier it becomes, until it's automatic. So don't despair! And if you need to revert back to old behaviors now and then, it's okay! Two steps forward and one step back still gets you there eventually. Aiming for perfection can backfire.

I hope this helps a little. Hang in there, and keep on posting! This is hard stuff for everyone. But it does get easier, I promise!

Best,

Abby

 

I'm up prob 5 pds since I started eating this way! In a lot of ways I feel a lot calmer around food....but since stepping on the scale I just want to run back to counting calories! I need to lose 30 pds..and I honestly don't know what to think right now. I know my mind is warped by these thoughts, I know my slef worth is not determined by that number....but I can't seem to stop these thoughts of feeling worthless and like a failure! I wish I could just not think about food every minute of every day. I can't imagine what I could be doing with all this time and energy I spend thinking about food, dieting, ways to loose weight etc! Its so frustrating! I could really use some words of advice here ladies...Help!!!!!

[Guest guest]

I would really encourage you to do what you can to limit or eliminate

weighing yourself. Looking at a number just tends to put you in the

restriction frame of mind. I know I've gained some, lost some, gained

some over the past few months with IE, but without a number staring me

in the face I'm not too bothered by it. This is a long-term

experience, and a little blip upwards isn't a disaster. I also know

that I've been on diets on and off for decades (ulp!) now and the end

result is that I'm much heavier than I was when I started out.

Restriction doesn't work. I know it doesn't work. I'm not thin now,

but for the most part I'm much more at peace with myself than before.

Sohni

I'm up prob 5 pds since I started eating this way! In a lot of

ways I feel a lot calmer around food....but since stepping on the scale

I just want to run back to counting calories! I need to lose 30

pds..and I honestly don't know what to think right now. I know my mind

is warped by these thoughts, I know my slef worth is not determined by

that number....but I can't seem to stop these thoughts of feeling

worthless and like a failure! I wish I could just not think about food

every minute of every day. I can't imagine what I could be doing with

all this time and energy I spend thinking about food, dieting, ways to

loose weight etc! Its so frustrating! I could really use some words of

advice here ladies...Help!!!!!

[Guest guest]

I would really encourage you to do what you can to limit or eliminate

weighing yourself. Looking at a number just tends to put you in the

restriction frame of mind. I know I've gained some, lost some, gained

some over the past few months with IE, but without a number staring me

in the face I'm not too bothered by it. This is a long-term

experience, and a little blip upwards isn't a disaster. I also know

that I've been on diets on and off for decades (ulp!) now and the end

result is that I'm much heavier than I was when I started out.

Restriction doesn't work. I know it doesn't work. I'm not thin now,

but for the most part I'm much more at peace with myself than before.

Sohni

I'm up prob 5 pds since I started eating this way! In a lot of

ways I feel a lot calmer around food....but since stepping on the scale

I just want to run back to counting calories! I need to lose 30

pds..and I honestly don't know what to think right now. I know my mind

is warped by these thoughts, I know my slef worth is not determined by

that number....but I can't seem to stop these thoughts of feeling

worthless and like a failure! I wish I could just not think about food

every minute of every day. I can't imagine what I could be doing with

all this time and energy I spend thinking about food, dieting, ways to

loose weight etc! Its so frustrating! I could really use some words of

advice here ladies...Help!!!!!

[Guest guest]

I would really encourage you to do what you can to limit or eliminate

weighing yourself. Looking at a number just tends to put you in the

restriction frame of mind. I know I've gained some, lost some, gained

some over the past few months with IE, but without a number staring me

in the face I'm not too bothered by it. This is a long-term

experience, and a little blip upwards isn't a disaster. I also know

that I've been on diets on and off for decades (ulp!) now and the end

result is that I'm much heavier than I was when I started out.

Restriction doesn't work. I know it doesn't work. I'm not thin now,

but for the most part I'm much more at peace with myself than before.

Sohni

I'm up prob 5 pds since I started eating this way! In a lot of

ways I feel a lot calmer around food....but since stepping on the scale

I just want to run back to counting calories! I need to lose 30

pds..and I honestly don't know what to think right now. I know my mind

is warped by these thoughts, I know my slef worth is not determined by

that number....but I can't seem to stop these thoughts of feeling

worthless and like a failure! I wish I could just not think about food

every minute of every day. I can't imagine what I could be doing with

all this time and energy I spend thinking about food, dieting, ways to

loose weight etc! Its so frustrating! I could really use some words of

advice here ladies...Help!!!!!

[Guest guest]

When I read your post yesterday, I didn't immediately respond because I am also

new to IE and didn't feel that I had much to contribute. But last night I was

reading Geneen Roth's " Breaking Free From Emotional Eating " book. In chapter 2,

Geneen talks about her first year after she decided to stop dieting. In the

first 6 months, she gained 15 lbs., then her weight began to level off. It took

her about nine months before she began to lose weight, and then it gradually

continued to decline.

She also describes what she was eating at first, which was mostly cookies and

cookie dough. After that, she began to crave vegetables, so that speaks to the

bodies wisdom and the fact that even if we initially allow foods that are less

nutritious and higher in calories, that eventually we will tire of that and seek

more balance.

I too want to lose weight, but after years on and off WW and losing and gaining

back the same 30 lbs. (and gaining more each time), I realize that there has to

be a better way and IE makes so much sense to me. It is harder than I thought

it would be, but I am enjoying the freedom of experimenting with other foods

that were previously off limits. I am finding it challenging to stop when I'm

full, especially when I'm eating something I really enjoy, or to turn down

offered goodies at work because I'm not hungry. But I am determined to stick

with it, even if it means staying at my current weight for a while, or even

gaining some as you have experienced.

One thing I have noticed is just how much awareness I have now around my eating.

There are still many times when I consciously choose to overeat, but it is a

thoughtful decision in that I make a choice to do it, rather than just eating

mindlessly. I see that as growth!

Hope Geneen's experience, and the support you will receive from all of us, will

help you.

PJ

>

> I'm up prob 5 pds since I started eating this way! In a lot of ways I feel a

lot calmer around food....but since stepping on the scale I just want to run

back to counting calories!

[Guest guest]

When I read your post yesterday, I didn't immediately respond because I am also

new to IE and didn't feel that I had much to contribute. But last night I was

reading Geneen Roth's " Breaking Free From Emotional Eating " book. In chapter 2,

Geneen talks about her first year after she decided to stop dieting. In the

first 6 months, she gained 15 lbs., then her weight began to level off. It took

her about nine months before she began to lose weight, and then it gradually

continued to decline.

She also describes what she was eating at first, which was mostly cookies and

cookie dough. After that, she began to crave vegetables, so that speaks to the

bodies wisdom and the fact that even if we initially allow foods that are less

nutritious and higher in calories, that eventually we will tire of that and seek

more balance.

I too want to lose weight, but after years on and off WW and losing and gaining

back the same 30 lbs. (and gaining more each time), I realize that there has to

be a better way and IE makes so much sense to me. It is harder than I thought

it would be, but I am enjoying the freedom of experimenting with other foods

that were previously off limits. I am finding it challenging to stop when I'm

full, especially when I'm eating something I really enjoy, or to turn down

offered goodies at work because I'm not hungry. But I am determined to stick

with it, even if it means staying at my current weight for a while, or even

gaining some as you have experienced.

One thing I have noticed is just how much awareness I have now around my eating.

There are still many times when I consciously choose to overeat, but it is a

thoughtful decision in that I make a choice to do it, rather than just eating

mindlessly. I see that as growth!

Hope Geneen's experience, and the support you will receive from all of us, will

help you.

PJ

>

> I'm up prob 5 pds since I started eating this way! In a lot of ways I feel a

lot calmer around food....but since stepping on the scale I just want to run

back to counting calories!