Re: Re: excited but really scared - help?

[Guest guest]

Hi !You will be grateful you started this journey, I promise! I agree with Abby that the yearning for being " light and free " is lean towards diet-land, as in only if I'm light/thin will things be good. Because the thing is that being " free " (I'm going to emphasize the freedom--from a bad relationship with food!--rather than the lightness here) is not in opposition to " the next bites of the chocolate or graham crackers. " Those next bites are not bad, those next bites should be savored! But I do see what you mean, turning to those bites do deal with emotional issues and not savoring them will get you nowhere. 

Patience is hard, but you have to try and use it and be gentle with yourself. Our issues with food are usually deeply entrenched and take time to learn about and heal from. And one thing that IE is NOT about is perfection. Just b/c you have discovered IE doesn't mean you won't ever eat emotionally again, or rush through a meal, or eat crackers standing at the counter, or have a mini-binge on chocolate kisses. It does mean that you will NOT do these things out of habit or as a coping mechanism. When you do do these things you will be able to identify first, that they are happening, second why they are happening, and lastly, how to react in better ways. And most importantly, you will be able to embrace these moments not as a discretion, or as a slip-up in your Intuitive Eating lifestyle, but as a given of life and an opportunity to learn about yourself. THAT'S that sort of patience that you need to have with yourself--patience and forgiveness.

I have been working on Intuitive Eating for two years and still struggle with a lot of these things and learning about myself. I think it's great that you're really listening to the advice in the book--like about going and buying previously banned foods. My greatest regret is that I never accepted that this journey would take time, and thought I " had it in the bag " and was ahead of the game, and never gave myself the opportunity to really explore those steps and tips. Good job and starting at the beginning and really embracing things, you'll be better off in the long run for it!

- Casey

 

Hi ,

I don't know about others, but it doesn't help me, personally, to think about how I want to feel later this season. That still sounds kind of diet-y to me. " light and free " sounds a lot like " thin " or " lost weight " or at least " not having gained weight. "

I think about how I might feel in an hour or two, though.

I think it helps to keep yourself in the present. Think about how your body feels internally. the future will take care of itself.

I know setting yourself free is scary and hard! Try to be patient with yourself. Unfortunately, I don't think there's any way to skip that phase. and it may or may not include weight gain. stay present in your body and eat consciously as much as you can... consciously being " how does this taste? what is the texture like? am i ENJOYING this? how does it make my body feel? right this minute? in two hours? "

good luck,

abby

IE since 11/07

>

> I am new to all this and on the one hand am feeling very hopeful about healing my relationship to food and on the other hand am finding this surprisingly (tho' really I shouldn't be surprised) terrifying.

>

> DH and I did our crazy fun shopping spree Sat. night, buying all kinds of formerly forbidden foods, in quantity.

>

> I've had moments these last few days that have been exciting. One was when I was stressed at work and admitted to myself I wasn't physically hungry and sat with the stress even tho' it was hard, instead of eating. Another was an aha moment about connecting with my physical hunger. And still another not only exciting but profound moment was when I found myself thinking it's really possible for me to learn through this approach to eating, deep down inside that my needs will be met - I had a glimpse of how profound the healing from this can be for all of life, not only about food.

>

> But then, ah, the terror. I've been struggling with once I've eaten certain foods when hungry, then I can't seem to stop even when not hungry. I go back to questioning whether I have an allergy or addiction that makes me crave more, more, more once I start, rather like an alcoholic. And yet, I so want to learn to trust my body. This just feels so right! But, I question, will I really be able to do it? It's very hard!

>

> I've often said, I have many virtues but patience has never been one of them. I want to be patient and know at the early stages of this, my behavior is likely to be expected. But it's scary. I don't want the discomfort of more weight. I don't want to have to buy new clothes.

>

> How do you get to where you decide in favor of wanting to feel light and free when hiking come spring (just my own example), instead of in favor of the next bites of the chocolate or graham crackers? I know my body wants the former. But I'm still choosing the latter.

>

> Help?

>

> Thanks for being there,

>

>

[Guest guest]

Hi !You will be grateful you started this journey, I promise! I agree with Abby that the yearning for being " light and free " is lean towards diet-land, as in only if I'm light/thin will things be good. Because the thing is that being " free " (I'm going to emphasize the freedom--from a bad relationship with food!--rather than the lightness here) is not in opposition to " the next bites of the chocolate or graham crackers. " Those next bites are not bad, those next bites should be savored! But I do see what you mean, turning to those bites do deal with emotional issues and not savoring them will get you nowhere. 

Patience is hard, but you have to try and use it and be gentle with yourself. Our issues with food are usually deeply entrenched and take time to learn about and heal from. And one thing that IE is NOT about is perfection. Just b/c you have discovered IE doesn't mean you won't ever eat emotionally again, or rush through a meal, or eat crackers standing at the counter, or have a mini-binge on chocolate kisses. It does mean that you will NOT do these things out of habit or as a coping mechanism. When you do do these things you will be able to identify first, that they are happening, second why they are happening, and lastly, how to react in better ways. And most importantly, you will be able to embrace these moments not as a discretion, or as a slip-up in your Intuitive Eating lifestyle, but as a given of life and an opportunity to learn about yourself. THAT'S that sort of patience that you need to have with yourself--patience and forgiveness.

I have been working on Intuitive Eating for two years and still struggle with a lot of these things and learning about myself. I think it's great that you're really listening to the advice in the book--like about going and buying previously banned foods. My greatest regret is that I never accepted that this journey would take time, and thought I " had it in the bag " and was ahead of the game, and never gave myself the opportunity to really explore those steps and tips. Good job and starting at the beginning and really embracing things, you'll be better off in the long run for it!

- Casey

 

Hi ,

I don't know about others, but it doesn't help me, personally, to think about how I want to feel later this season. That still sounds kind of diet-y to me. " light and free " sounds a lot like " thin " or " lost weight " or at least " not having gained weight. "

I think about how I might feel in an hour or two, though.

I think it helps to keep yourself in the present. Think about how your body feels internally. the future will take care of itself.

I know setting yourself free is scary and hard! Try to be patient with yourself. Unfortunately, I don't think there's any way to skip that phase. and it may or may not include weight gain. stay present in your body and eat consciously as much as you can... consciously being " how does this taste? what is the texture like? am i ENJOYING this? how does it make my body feel? right this minute? in two hours? "

good luck,

abby

IE since 11/07

>

> I am new to all this and on the one hand am feeling very hopeful about healing my relationship to food and on the other hand am finding this surprisingly (tho' really I shouldn't be surprised) terrifying.

>

> DH and I did our crazy fun shopping spree Sat. night, buying all kinds of formerly forbidden foods, in quantity.

>

> I've had moments these last few days that have been exciting. One was when I was stressed at work and admitted to myself I wasn't physically hungry and sat with the stress even tho' it was hard, instead of eating. Another was an aha moment about connecting with my physical hunger. And still another not only exciting but profound moment was when I found myself thinking it's really possible for me to learn through this approach to eating, deep down inside that my needs will be met - I had a glimpse of how profound the healing from this can be for all of life, not only about food.

>

> But then, ah, the terror. I've been struggling with once I've eaten certain foods when hungry, then I can't seem to stop even when not hungry. I go back to questioning whether I have an allergy or addiction that makes me crave more, more, more once I start, rather like an alcoholic. And yet, I so want to learn to trust my body. This just feels so right! But, I question, will I really be able to do it? It's very hard!

>

> I've often said, I have many virtues but patience has never been one of them. I want to be patient and know at the early stages of this, my behavior is likely to be expected. But it's scary. I don't want the discomfort of more weight. I don't want to have to buy new clothes.

>

> How do you get to where you decide in favor of wanting to feel light and free when hiking come spring (just my own example), instead of in favor of the next bites of the chocolate or graham crackers? I know my body wants the former. But I'm still choosing the latter.

>

> Help?

>

> Thanks for being there,

>

>

[Guest guest]

Hi !You will be grateful you started this journey, I promise! I agree with Abby that the yearning for being " light and free " is lean towards diet-land, as in only if I'm light/thin will things be good. Because the thing is that being " free " (I'm going to emphasize the freedom--from a bad relationship with food!--rather than the lightness here) is not in opposition to " the next bites of the chocolate or graham crackers. " Those next bites are not bad, those next bites should be savored! But I do see what you mean, turning to those bites do deal with emotional issues and not savoring them will get you nowhere. 

Patience is hard, but you have to try and use it and be gentle with yourself. Our issues with food are usually deeply entrenched and take time to learn about and heal from. And one thing that IE is NOT about is perfection. Just b/c you have discovered IE doesn't mean you won't ever eat emotionally again, or rush through a meal, or eat crackers standing at the counter, or have a mini-binge on chocolate kisses. It does mean that you will NOT do these things out of habit or as a coping mechanism. When you do do these things you will be able to identify first, that they are happening, second why they are happening, and lastly, how to react in better ways. And most importantly, you will be able to embrace these moments not as a discretion, or as a slip-up in your Intuitive Eating lifestyle, but as a given of life and an opportunity to learn about yourself. THAT'S that sort of patience that you need to have with yourself--patience and forgiveness.

I have been working on Intuitive Eating for two years and still struggle with a lot of these things and learning about myself. I think it's great that you're really listening to the advice in the book--like about going and buying previously banned foods. My greatest regret is that I never accepted that this journey would take time, and thought I " had it in the bag " and was ahead of the game, and never gave myself the opportunity to really explore those steps and tips. Good job and starting at the beginning and really embracing things, you'll be better off in the long run for it!

- Casey

 

Hi ,

I don't know about others, but it doesn't help me, personally, to think about how I want to feel later this season. That still sounds kind of diet-y to me. " light and free " sounds a lot like " thin " or " lost weight " or at least " not having gained weight. "

I think about how I might feel in an hour or two, though.

I think it helps to keep yourself in the present. Think about how your body feels internally. the future will take care of itself.

I know setting yourself free is scary and hard! Try to be patient with yourself. Unfortunately, I don't think there's any way to skip that phase. and it may or may not include weight gain. stay present in your body and eat consciously as much as you can... consciously being " how does this taste? what is the texture like? am i ENJOYING this? how does it make my body feel? right this minute? in two hours? "

good luck,

abby

IE since 11/07

>

> I am new to all this and on the one hand am feeling very hopeful about healing my relationship to food and on the other hand am finding this surprisingly (tho' really I shouldn't be surprised) terrifying.

>

> DH and I did our crazy fun shopping spree Sat. night, buying all kinds of formerly forbidden foods, in quantity.

>

> I've had moments these last few days that have been exciting. One was when I was stressed at work and admitted to myself I wasn't physically hungry and sat with the stress even tho' it was hard, instead of eating. Another was an aha moment about connecting with my physical hunger. And still another not only exciting but profound moment was when I found myself thinking it's really possible for me to learn through this approach to eating, deep down inside that my needs will be met - I had a glimpse of how profound the healing from this can be for all of life, not only about food.

>

> But then, ah, the terror. I've been struggling with once I've eaten certain foods when hungry, then I can't seem to stop even when not hungry. I go back to questioning whether I have an allergy or addiction that makes me crave more, more, more once I start, rather like an alcoholic. And yet, I so want to learn to trust my body. This just feels so right! But, I question, will I really be able to do it? It's very hard!

>

> I've often said, I have many virtues but patience has never been one of them. I want to be patient and know at the early stages of this, my behavior is likely to be expected. But it's scary. I don't want the discomfort of more weight. I don't want to have to buy new clothes.

>

> How do you get to where you decide in favor of wanting to feel light and free when hiking come spring (just my own example), instead of in favor of the next bites of the chocolate or graham crackers? I know my body wants the former. But I'm still choosing the latter.

>

> Help?

>

> Thanks for being there,

>

>

[Guest guest]

Hi Sunny,I absolutely know that people have very real reasons they want to lose weight. And whether it's because their doctor ordered them to, or because they simply feel miserable the way they look... it's still extremely real and painful and urgent. I REALLY do recognize this. 

the issue is HOW are you going to address these issues? what is the best way for you to address your diabetes? what others are saying is that, whatever the reason, no matter how critically important it is... when you are focused on " I absolutely must lose weight, " ... you are in that diet mentality. 

I think the other point is that we all came to IE because we observed that dieting doesn't work. If you ask IE to promise weight loss, well, then it's a diet. The IE diet.It's not that you can't want or even need to lose weight... it's that you have to commit to not making that your first priority. if you want to lose weight through IE, you HAVE to learn to trust your body. and that means letting your body eat when it's hungry, stop when it's full, and eat what it wants to eat. you have to believe that doing this CAN help you find your natural weight... in due time. 

and in order to do that, you have to get your head out of the way. as long as your brain is running the show, directing your body... you can't eat intuitively. the whole meaning of " intuitive " is going with your GUT, not your head. 

i really do understand that you want and need to lose weight. and i do hear how frustrating it is that you feel like people are saying " just forget about the weight. " but i think what we are saying is that it's going to be very, very difficult to lose weight via IE as long as that is what you remain focused on, while also being committed to IE.

i recommend checking out McKenna's book I Can Make You Thin. it is very IE oriented, but does also promise weight loss. so it's the most IE you can get while still focusing on weight loss. it may not be a permanent solution, but for me, it didn't do any damage to my psyche. what i found was that it gave me some mental " space " , if that makes sense, to take the weight loss issue off the table and to be able to focus on IE without my obsessive weight concerns. 

i do think that telling someone to stop thinking about their weight when they are very, very focused on it isn't very helpful. so maybe McKenna can help you get there. it was very helpful to me. 

i hope that this helps. at the very least, i do want you to feel " heard. "  best,abby

 

I can see what you are saying but if we worry about our weight then that is sort of defeating the point of IE. I know that I am MUCH happier not worrying about my weight and I definitely have a weight issue. But, I concentrate on other things like being active everyday and eatting enough vegetables and fruits so that I can be healthy. I try to only eat when I am hungry and then stop when I am full. I believe that if everyone does that they do not have to worry about their weight in order to lose weight. That is all I was saying. I understand that losing weight is important but it shouldn't be in our mind...living a healthy stress free lifestyle is what we need to concentrate on...and on how beautiful we are with or without the extra weight. Alot of people...myself included...speak about all the yummy food we get to eat but no one really talks about eatting nutritional food. We have to remember that even though yes...we can eat anything want...we still should eat some healthy food. I make sure to eat two veges and one fruit everyday and to do some sort of exercise everyday...and get plenty of sleep. I gained weight at first but I can tell it is coming back off now that I give myself permission to eat what and when I want...that doesn't mean that we should just eat all the time....that is just what most of us did when we first started IE. Anyway, I guess what I am saying is that if we concentrate on eatting healthy and staying active we will lose weight but we can do that without actually thinking about our weight. Do you agree?

Be blessed,

Dawn

[Guest guest]

Hi Sunny,I absolutely know that people have very real reasons they want to lose weight. And whether it's because their doctor ordered them to, or because they simply feel miserable the way they look... it's still extremely real and painful and urgent. I REALLY do recognize this. 

the issue is HOW are you going to address these issues? what is the best way for you to address your diabetes? what others are saying is that, whatever the reason, no matter how critically important it is... when you are focused on " I absolutely must lose weight, " ... you are in that diet mentality. 

I think the other point is that we all came to IE because we observed that dieting doesn't work. If you ask IE to promise weight loss, well, then it's a diet. The IE diet.It's not that you can't want or even need to lose weight... it's that you have to commit to not making that your first priority. if you want to lose weight through IE, you HAVE to learn to trust your body. and that means letting your body eat when it's hungry, stop when it's full, and eat what it wants to eat. you have to believe that doing this CAN help you find your natural weight... in due time. 

and in order to do that, you have to get your head out of the way. as long as your brain is running the show, directing your body... you can't eat intuitively. the whole meaning of " intuitive " is going with your GUT, not your head. 

i really do understand that you want and need to lose weight. and i do hear how frustrating it is that you feel like people are saying " just forget about the weight. " but i think what we are saying is that it's going to be very, very difficult to lose weight via IE as long as that is what you remain focused on, while also being committed to IE.

i recommend checking out McKenna's book I Can Make You Thin. it is very IE oriented, but does also promise weight loss. so it's the most IE you can get while still focusing on weight loss. it may not be a permanent solution, but for me, it didn't do any damage to my psyche. what i found was that it gave me some mental " space " , if that makes sense, to take the weight loss issue off the table and to be able to focus on IE without my obsessive weight concerns. 

i do think that telling someone to stop thinking about their weight when they are very, very focused on it isn't very helpful. so maybe McKenna can help you get there. it was very helpful to me. 

i hope that this helps. at the very least, i do want you to feel " heard. "  best,abby

 

I can see what you are saying but if we worry about our weight then that is sort of defeating the point of IE. I know that I am MUCH happier not worrying about my weight and I definitely have a weight issue. But, I concentrate on other things like being active everyday and eatting enough vegetables and fruits so that I can be healthy. I try to only eat when I am hungry and then stop when I am full. I believe that if everyone does that they do not have to worry about their weight in order to lose weight. That is all I was saying. I understand that losing weight is important but it shouldn't be in our mind...living a healthy stress free lifestyle is what we need to concentrate on...and on how beautiful we are with or without the extra weight. Alot of people...myself included...speak about all the yummy food we get to eat but no one really talks about eatting nutritional food. We have to remember that even though yes...we can eat anything want...we still should eat some healthy food. I make sure to eat two veges and one fruit everyday and to do some sort of exercise everyday...and get plenty of sleep. I gained weight at first but I can tell it is coming back off now that I give myself permission to eat what and when I want...that doesn't mean that we should just eat all the time....that is just what most of us did when we first started IE. Anyway, I guess what I am saying is that if we concentrate on eatting healthy and staying active we will lose weight but we can do that without actually thinking about our weight. Do you agree?

Be blessed,

Dawn

[Guest guest]

YES!!! I do agree with you Dawn, and in fact I LOVE the way this was written. Thank you so much for the thoughtfulness put into it. I've seen so many people come in new and ask for help in the weight arena that they were pretty much promised in every IE book you pick up. Many, like me and you, do go a bit crazy with the freedom we are finally allowing ourselves around food and we find we have gained. Others just hear that they can eat anything they want and fear the binge that seemingly has to follow. It's natural to come here to the IE support group to ask how to manage the weight. Yet most often instead of hearing your wonderful suggestions to do just that successfully, the answers come back with the judgmental sounding "That's diet mentality, you'll never get anywhere with that, no one will love you if you don't love your overweight self, don't pay attention to it...all negative and none of it helpful to a newbie just trying to navigate their way through ideas that are pretty crazy sounding after a lifetime of restrictive and disordered eating. That's what I am hoping to point out to the group in general.

I really find mixed messages in hearing the diet mentality thing too. I just have to point out that I've read a couple books now on IE and am working my way through a couple more and there are certainly some rules to IE. Call them principles, rules, guidelines, whatever...they are the basis of IE which is another program. If the principles are not followed, the program will not work. But there are rules and can't that also be called diet mentality? Now to be sure, the IE program is pure common sense but is every bit of a lifestyle change as any other. See what I mean? So I really do appreciate the helpful advice you have given in your note below. This is what we who are worried about weight must hear over and over and must work on with in ourselves. Trying to stick to the principles, honoring our hunger and our bodies, by eating only when hungry, stopping when full, choosing foods that make our body feel good instead of sick and sluggish, move and get some activity every day, these are the things that we need to be reminded to do along with any other helpful and productive suggestions others have found work for them. And like anything else worth doing, it may be hard at times to achieve it all at the same time.

So thanks again. This note goes right up there with Katcha's message last week about "I feel Uncomfortable" instead of I feel like a fatty today.

Best!

Sunny

Re: excited but really scared - help?

I can see what you are saying but if we worry about our weight then that is sort of defeating the point of IE. I know that I am MUCH happier not worrying about my weight and I definitely have a weight issue. But, I concentrate on other things like being active everyday and eatting enough vegetables and fruits so that I can be healthy. I try to only eat when I am hungry and then stop when I am full. I believe that if everyone does that they do not have to worry about their weight in order to lose weight. That is all I was saying. I understand that losing weight is important but it shouldn't be in our mind...living a healthy stress free lifestyle is what we need to concentrate on...and on how beautiful we are with or without the extra weight. Alot of people...myself included...speak about all the yummy food we get to eat but no one really talks about eatting nutritional food. We have to remember that even though yes...we can eat anything want...we still should eat some healthy food. I make sure to eat two veges and one fruit everyday and to do some sort of exercise everyday...and get plenty of sleep. I gained weight at first but I can tell it is coming back off now that I give myself permission to eat what and when I want...that doesn't mean that we should just eat all the time....that is just what most of us did when we first started IE. Anyway, I guess what I am saying is that if we concentrate on eatting healthy and staying active we will lose weight but we can do that without actually thinking about our weight. Do you agree?

Be blessed, Dawn

------------------------------------

[Guest guest]

YES!!! I do agree with you Dawn, and in fact I LOVE the way this was written. Thank you so much for the thoughtfulness put into it. I've seen so many people come in new and ask for help in the weight arena that they were pretty much promised in every IE book you pick up. Many, like me and you, do go a bit crazy with the freedom we are finally allowing ourselves around food and we find we have gained. Others just hear that they can eat anything they want and fear the binge that seemingly has to follow. It's natural to come here to the IE support group to ask how to manage the weight. Yet most often instead of hearing your wonderful suggestions to do just that successfully, the answers come back with the judgmental sounding "That's diet mentality, you'll never get anywhere with that, no one will love you if you don't love your overweight self, don't pay attention to it...all negative and none of it helpful to a newbie just trying to navigate their way through ideas that are pretty crazy sounding after a lifetime of restrictive and disordered eating. That's what I am hoping to point out to the group in general.

I really find mixed messages in hearing the diet mentality thing too. I just have to point out that I've read a couple books now on IE and am working my way through a couple more and there are certainly some rules to IE. Call them principles, rules, guidelines, whatever...they are the basis of IE which is another program. If the principles are not followed, the program will not work. But there are rules and can't that also be called diet mentality? Now to be sure, the IE program is pure common sense but is every bit of a lifestyle change as any other. See what I mean? So I really do appreciate the helpful advice you have given in your note below. This is what we who are worried about weight must hear over and over and must work on with in ourselves. Trying to stick to the principles, honoring our hunger and our bodies, by eating only when hungry, stopping when full, choosing foods that make our body feel good instead of sick and sluggish, move and get some activity every day, these are the things that we need to be reminded to do along with any other helpful and productive suggestions others have found work for them. And like anything else worth doing, it may be hard at times to achieve it all at the same time.

So thanks again. This note goes right up there with Katcha's message last week about "I feel Uncomfortable" instead of I feel like a fatty today.

Best!

Sunny

Re: excited but really scared - help?

I can see what you are saying but if we worry about our weight then that is sort of defeating the point of IE. I know that I am MUCH happier not worrying about my weight and I definitely have a weight issue. But, I concentrate on other things like being active everyday and eatting enough vegetables and fruits so that I can be healthy. I try to only eat when I am hungry and then stop when I am full. I believe that if everyone does that they do not have to worry about their weight in order to lose weight. That is all I was saying. I understand that losing weight is important but it shouldn't be in our mind...living a healthy stress free lifestyle is what we need to concentrate on...and on how beautiful we are with or without the extra weight. Alot of people...myself included...speak about all the yummy food we get to eat but no one really talks about eatting nutritional food. We have to remember that even though yes...we can eat anything want...we still should eat some healthy food. I make sure to eat two veges and one fruit everyday and to do some sort of exercise everyday...and get plenty of sleep. I gained weight at first but I can tell it is coming back off now that I give myself permission to eat what and when I want...that doesn't mean that we should just eat all the time....that is just what most of us did when we first started IE. Anyway, I guess what I am saying is that if we concentrate on eatting healthy and staying active we will lose weight but we can do that without actually thinking about our weight. Do you agree?

Be blessed, Dawn

------------------------------------

[Guest guest]

YES!!! I do agree with you Dawn, and in fact I LOVE the way this was written. Thank you so much for the thoughtfulness put into it. I've seen so many people come in new and ask for help in the weight arena that they were pretty much promised in every IE book you pick up. Many, like me and you, do go a bit crazy with the freedom we are finally allowing ourselves around food and we find we have gained. Others just hear that they can eat anything they want and fear the binge that seemingly has to follow. It's natural to come here to the IE support group to ask how to manage the weight. Yet most often instead of hearing your wonderful suggestions to do just that successfully, the answers come back with the judgmental sounding "That's diet mentality, you'll never get anywhere with that, no one will love you if you don't love your overweight self, don't pay attention to it...all negative and none of it helpful to a newbie just trying to navigate their way through ideas that are pretty crazy sounding after a lifetime of restrictive and disordered eating. That's what I am hoping to point out to the group in general.

I really find mixed messages in hearing the diet mentality thing too. I just have to point out that I've read a couple books now on IE and am working my way through a couple more and there are certainly some rules to IE. Call them principles, rules, guidelines, whatever...they are the basis of IE which is another program. If the principles are not followed, the program will not work. But there are rules and can't that also be called diet mentality? Now to be sure, the IE program is pure common sense but is every bit of a lifestyle change as any other. See what I mean? So I really do appreciate the helpful advice you have given in your note below. This is what we who are worried about weight must hear over and over and must work on with in ourselves. Trying to stick to the principles, honoring our hunger and our bodies, by eating only when hungry, stopping when full, choosing foods that make our body feel good instead of sick and sluggish, move and get some activity every day, these are the things that we need to be reminded to do along with any other helpful and productive suggestions others have found work for them. And like anything else worth doing, it may be hard at times to achieve it all at the same time.

So thanks again. This note goes right up there with Katcha's message last week about "I feel Uncomfortable" instead of I feel like a fatty today.

Best!

Sunny

Re: excited but really scared - help?

I can see what you are saying but if we worry about our weight then that is sort of defeating the point of IE. I know that I am MUCH happier not worrying about my weight and I definitely have a weight issue. But, I concentrate on other things like being active everyday and eatting enough vegetables and fruits so that I can be healthy. I try to only eat when I am hungry and then stop when I am full. I believe that if everyone does that they do not have to worry about their weight in order to lose weight. That is all I was saying. I understand that losing weight is important but it shouldn't be in our mind...living a healthy stress free lifestyle is what we need to concentrate on...and on how beautiful we are with or without the extra weight. Alot of people...myself included...speak about all the yummy food we get to eat but no one really talks about eatting nutritional food. We have to remember that even though yes...we can eat anything want...we still should eat some healthy food. I make sure to eat two veges and one fruit everyday and to do some sort of exercise everyday...and get plenty of sleep. I gained weight at first but I can tell it is coming back off now that I give myself permission to eat what and when I want...that doesn't mean that we should just eat all the time....that is just what most of us did when we first started IE. Anyway, I guess what I am saying is that if we concentrate on eatting healthy and staying active we will lose weight but we can do that without actually thinking about our weight. Do you agree?

Be blessed, Dawn

------------------------------------

[Guest guest]

Thanks Abby for your comments on this too. I in fact started out with the McKenna series and I agree, it is very helpful in getting started. However I don't believe for one second that it's as much into IE as you can get as long as weight loss is on your mind. And yeah, we pretty much have to agree to disagree on that one. I feel I've come a long long way into IE in the 6 months or so since I've been interested in learning as much as I can about it. It's why I came to this list and where I learned about the IE related books I had never heard of, since I only knew "I Can Make You Thin". Since all this began some very wonderful things are indeed happening in my relationship with food and my very disordered thinking about food. And yes, I'm finding that if you do practice the principles of IE with commitment, it does indeed lead to weight loss. And for me, it's ok to think about that, strive for that and still be able to live the IE way.

Best!

Sunny

Re: Re: excited but really scared - help?

Hi Sunny,

I absolutely know that people have very real reasons they want to lose weight. And whether it's because their doctor ordered them to, or because they simply feel miserable the way they look... it's still extremely real and painful and urgent. I REALLY do recognize this.

the issue is HOW are you going to address these issues? what is the best way for you to address your diabetes?

what others are saying is that, whatever the reason, no matter how critically important it is... when you are focused on "I absolutely must lose weight," ... you are in that diet mentality.

I think the other point is that we all came to IE because we observed that dieting doesn't work. If you ask IE to promise weight loss, well, then it's a diet. The IE diet.

It's not that you can't want or even need to lose weight... it's that you have to commit to not making that your first priority. if you want to lose weight through IE, you HAVE to learn to trust your body. and that means letting your body eat when it's hungry, stop when it's full, and eat what it wants to eat. you have to believe that doing this CAN help you find your natural weight... in due time.

and in order to do that, you have to get your head out of the way. as long as your brain is running the show, directing your body... you can't eat intuitively. the whole meaning of "intuitive" is going with your GUT, not your head.

i really do understand that you want and need to lose weight. and i do hear how frustrating it is that you feel like people are saying "just forget about the weight."

but i think what we are saying is that it's going to be very, very difficult to lose weight via IE as long as that is what you remain focused on, while also being committed to IE.

i recommend checking out McKenna's book I Can Make You Thin. it is very IE oriented, but does also promise weight loss. so it's the most IE you can get while still focusing on weight loss. it may not be a permanent solution, but for me, it didn't do any damage to my psyche. what i found was that it gave me some mental "space", if that makes sense, to take the weight loss issue off the table and to be able to focus on IE without my obsessive weight concerns.

i do think that telling someone to stop thinking about their weight when they are very, very focused on it isn't very helpful. so maybe McKenna can help you get there. it was very helpful to me.

i hope that this helps. at the very least, i do want you to feel "heard."

best,

abby

I can see what you are saying but if we worry about our weight then that is sort of defeating the point of IE. I know that I am MUCH happier not worrying about my weight and I definitely have a weight issue. But, I concentrate on other things like being active everyday and eatting enough vegetables and fruits so that I can be healthy. I try to only eat when I am hungry and then stop when I am full. I believe that if everyone does that they do not have to worry about their weight in order to lose weight. That is all I was saying. I understand that losing weight is important but it shouldn't be in our mind...living a healthy stress free lifestyle is what we need to concentrate on...and on how beautiful we are with or without the extra weight. Alot of people...myself included...speak about all the yummy food we get to eat but no one really talks about eatting nutritional food. We have to remember that even though yes...we can eat anything want...we still should eat some healthy food. I make sure to eat two veges and one fruit everyday and to do some sort of exercise everyday...and get plenty of sleep. I gained weight at first but I can tell it is coming back off now that I give myself permission to eat what and when I want...that doesn't mean that we should just eat all the time....that is just what most of us did when we first started IE. Anyway, I guess what I am saying is that if we concentrate on eatting healthy and staying active we will lose weight but we can do that without actually thinking about our weight. Do you agree?

Be blessed,

Dawn

[Guest guest]

Thanks Abby for your comments on this too. I in fact started out with the McKenna series and I agree, it is very helpful in getting started. However I don't believe for one second that it's as much into IE as you can get as long as weight loss is on your mind. And yeah, we pretty much have to agree to disagree on that one. I feel I've come a long long way into IE in the 6 months or so since I've been interested in learning as much as I can about it. It's why I came to this list and where I learned about the IE related books I had never heard of, since I only knew "I Can Make You Thin". Since all this began some very wonderful things are indeed happening in my relationship with food and my very disordered thinking about food. And yes, I'm finding that if you do practice the principles of IE with commitment, it does indeed lead to weight loss. And for me, it's ok to think about that, strive for that and still be able to live the IE way.

Best!

Sunny

Re: Re: excited but really scared - help?

Hi Sunny,

I absolutely know that people have very real reasons they want to lose weight. And whether it's because their doctor ordered them to, or because they simply feel miserable the way they look... it's still extremely real and painful and urgent. I REALLY do recognize this.

the issue is HOW are you going to address these issues? what is the best way for you to address your diabetes?

what others are saying is that, whatever the reason, no matter how critically important it is... when you are focused on "I absolutely must lose weight," ... you are in that diet mentality.

I think the other point is that we all came to IE because we observed that dieting doesn't work. If you ask IE to promise weight loss, well, then it's a diet. The IE diet.

It's not that you can't want or even need to lose weight... it's that you have to commit to not making that your first priority. if you want to lose weight through IE, you HAVE to learn to trust your body. and that means letting your body eat when it's hungry, stop when it's full, and eat what it wants to eat. you have to believe that doing this CAN help you find your natural weight... in due time.

and in order to do that, you have to get your head out of the way. as long as your brain is running the show, directing your body... you can't eat intuitively. the whole meaning of "intuitive" is going with your GUT, not your head.

i really do understand that you want and need to lose weight. and i do hear how frustrating it is that you feel like people are saying "just forget about the weight."

but i think what we are saying is that it's going to be very, very difficult to lose weight via IE as long as that is what you remain focused on, while also being committed to IE.

i recommend checking out McKenna's book I Can Make You Thin. it is very IE oriented, but does also promise weight loss. so it's the most IE you can get while still focusing on weight loss. it may not be a permanent solution, but for me, it didn't do any damage to my psyche. what i found was that it gave me some mental "space", if that makes sense, to take the weight loss issue off the table and to be able to focus on IE without my obsessive weight concerns.

i do think that telling someone to stop thinking about their weight when they are very, very focused on it isn't very helpful. so maybe McKenna can help you get there. it was very helpful to me.

i hope that this helps. at the very least, i do want you to feel "heard."

best,

abby

I can see what you are saying but if we worry about our weight then that is sort of defeating the point of IE. I know that I am MUCH happier not worrying about my weight and I definitely have a weight issue. But, I concentrate on other things like being active everyday and eatting enough vegetables and fruits so that I can be healthy. I try to only eat when I am hungry and then stop when I am full. I believe that if everyone does that they do not have to worry about their weight in order to lose weight. That is all I was saying. I understand that losing weight is important but it shouldn't be in our mind...living a healthy stress free lifestyle is what we need to concentrate on...and on how beautiful we are with or without the extra weight. Alot of people...myself included...speak about all the yummy food we get to eat but no one really talks about eatting nutritional food. We have to remember that even though yes...we can eat anything want...we still should eat some healthy food. I make sure to eat two veges and one fruit everyday and to do some sort of exercise everyday...and get plenty of sleep. I gained weight at first but I can tell it is coming back off now that I give myself permission to eat what and when I want...that doesn't mean that we should just eat all the time....that is just what most of us did when we first started IE. Anyway, I guess what I am saying is that if we concentrate on eatting healthy and staying active we will lose weight but we can do that without actually thinking about our weight. Do you agree?

Be blessed,

Dawn

[Guest guest]

Sunny,I definitely do not think that McKenna is fully IE. So we don't disagree. I was just saying that his book might be a good compromise if you feel like you really need to focus on weight loss. Which is what it sounded like from your previous post.

But now it sounds like perhaps that's not what you are saying. Which is great.Abby

 

Thanks Abby for your comments on this too.  I in fact started out with the McKenna series and I agree, it is very helpful in getting started.  However I don't believe for one second that it's as much into IE as you can get as long as weight loss is on your mind. And yeah, we pretty much have to agree to disagree on that one. I feel I've come a long long way into IE in the 6 months or so since I've been interested in learning as much as I can about it. It's why I came to this list and where I learned about the IE related books I had never heard of, since I only knew " I Can Make You Thin " .  Since all this began some very wonderful things are indeed happening in my relationship with food and my very disordered thinking about food. And yes, I'm finding that if you do practice the principles of IE with commitment, it does indeed lead to weight loss. And for me, it's ok to think about that, strive for that and still be able to live the IE way.

 

Best!

 

Sunny

Re: Re: excited but really scared - help?

Hi Sunny,

I absolutely know that people have very real reasons they want to lose weight. And whether it's because their doctor ordered them to, or because they simply feel miserable the way they look... it's still extremely real and painful and urgent. I REALLY do recognize this. 

the issue is HOW are you going to address these issues? what is the best way for you to address your diabetes? 

what others are saying is that, whatever the reason, no matter how critically important it is... when you are focused on " I absolutely must lose weight, " ... you are in that diet mentality. 

I think the other point is that we all came to IE because we observed that dieting doesn't work. If you ask IE to promise weight loss, well, then it's a diet. The IE diet.

It's not that you can't want or even need to lose weight... it's that you have to commit to not making that your first priority. if you want to lose weight through IE, you HAVE to learn to trust your body. and that means letting your body eat when it's hungry, stop when it's full, and eat what it wants to eat. you have to believe that doing this CAN help you find your natural weight... in due time. 

and in order to do that, you have to get your head out of the way. as long as your brain is running the show, directing your body... you can't eat intuitively. the whole meaning of " intuitive " is going with your GUT, not your head. 

i really do understand that you want and need to lose weight. and i do hear how frustrating it is that you feel like people are saying " just forget about the weight. "

but i think what we are saying is that it's going to be very, very difficult to lose weight via IE as long as that is what you remain focused on, while also being committed to IE.

i recommend checking out McKenna's book I Can Make You Thin. it is very IE oriented, but does also promise weight loss. so it's the most IE you can get while still focusing on weight loss. it may not be a permanent solution, but for me, it didn't do any damage to my psyche. what i found was that it gave me some mental " space " , if that makes sense, to take the weight loss issue off the table and to be able to focus on IE without my obsessive weight concerns. 

i do think that telling someone to stop thinking about their weight when they are very, very focused on it isn't very helpful. so maybe McKenna can help you get there. it was very helpful to me. 

i hope that this helps. at the very least, i do want you to feel " heard. "  

best,

abby

 

I can see what you are saying but if we worry about our weight then that is sort of defeating the point of IE. I know that I am MUCH happier not worrying about my weight and I definitely have a weight issue. But, I concentrate on other things like being active everyday and eatting enough vegetables and fruits so that I can be healthy. I try to only eat when I am hungry and then stop when I am full. I believe that if everyone does that they do not have to worry about their weight in order to lose weight. That is all I was saying. I understand that losing weight is important but it shouldn't be in our mind...living a healthy stress free lifestyle is what we need to concentrate on...and on how beautiful we are with or without the extra weight. Alot of people...myself included...speak about all the yummy food we get to eat but no one really talks about eatting nutritional food. We have to remember that even though yes...we can eat anything want...we still should eat some healthy food. I make sure to eat two veges and one fruit everyday and to do some sort of exercise everyday...and get plenty of sleep. I gained weight at first but I can tell it is coming back off now that I give myself permission to eat what and when I want...that doesn't mean that we should just eat all the time....that is just what most of us did when we first started IE. Anyway, I guess what I am saying is that if we concentrate on eatting healthy and staying active we will lose weight but we can do that without actually thinking about our weight. Do you agree?

Be blessed,

Dawn

[Guest guest]

Ah, I think i see what you see, yes, I still need to lose weight and a great deal of it at that, so yes, it still figures prominently in my life but by committing seriously to the IE principles in the book, IE, I believe I am finally on the path to that life goal. My post(s) on this matter weren't so much about me, but more for all of the new ones who think and feel like me (including me a few months ago) who come here for help in finding that weight loss. Some of us have been making friends and chatting privately as friends. So what I was voicing was a kind of group frustration with hearing the 'diet mentality mantra. And I was also pointing out that Dawn's post saying what she concentrates on is so much more helpful advice to those who are so new and so in need of real help just to begin to understand this new and exciting life with IE in it.

Sunny

Re: Re: excited but really scared - help?

Hi Sunny,

I absolutely know that people have very real reasons they want to lose weight. And whether it's because their doctor ordered them to, or because they simply feel miserable the way they look... it's still extremely real and painful and urgent. I REALLY do recognize this.

the issue is HOW are you going to address these issues? what is the best way for you to address your diabetes?

what others are saying is that, whatever the reason, no matter how critically important it is... when you are focused on "I absolutely must lose weight," ... you are in that diet mentality.

I think the other point is that we all came to IE because we observed that dieting doesn't work. If you ask IE to promise weight loss, well, then it's a diet. The IE diet.

It's not that you can't want or even need to lose weight... it's that you have to commit to not making that your first priority. if you want to lose weight through IE, you HAVE to learn to trust your body. and that means letting your body eat when it's hungry, stop when it's full, and eat what it wants to eat. you have to believe that doing this CAN help you find your natural weight... in due time.

and in order to do that, you have to get your head out of the way. as long as your brain is running the show, directing your body... you can't eat intuitively. the whole meaning of "intuitive" is going with your GUT, not your head.

i really do understand that you want and need to lose weight. and i do hear how frustrating it is that you feel like people are saying "just forget about the weight."

but i think what we are saying is that it's going to be very, very difficult to lose weight via IE as long as that is what you remain focused on, while also being committed to IE.

i recommend checking out McKenna's book I Can Make You Thin. it is very IE oriented, but does also promise weight loss. so it's the most IE you can get while still focusing on weight loss. it may not be a permanent solution, but for me, it didn't do any damage to my psyche. what i found was that it gave me some mental "space", if that makes sense, to take the weight loss issue off the table and to be able to focus on IE without my obsessive weight concerns.

i do think that telling someone to stop thinking about their weight when they are very, very focused on it isn't very helpful. so maybe McKenna can help you get there. it was very helpful to me.

i hope that this helps. at the very least, i do want you to feel "heard."

best,

abby

I can see what you are saying but if we worry about our weight then that is sort of defeating the point of IE. I know that I am MUCH happier not worrying about my weight and I definitely have a weight issue. But, I concentrate on other things like being active everyday and eatting enough vegetables and fruits so that I can be healthy. I try to only eat when I am hungry and then stop when I am full. I believe that if everyone does that they do not have to worry about their weight in order to lose weight. That is all I was saying. I understand that losing weight is important but it shouldn't be in our mind...living a healthy stress free lifestyle is what we need to concentrate on...and on how beautiful we are with or without the extra weight. Alot of people...myself included...speak about all the yummy food we get to eat but no one really talks about eatting nutritional food. We have to remember that even though yes...we can eat anything want...we still should eat some healthy food. I make sure to eat two veges and one fruit everyday and to do some sort of exercise everyday...and get plenty of sleep. I gained weight at first but I can tell it is coming back off now that I give myself permission to eat what and when I want...that doesn't mean that we should just eat all the time....that is just what most of us did when we first started IE. Anyway, I guess what I am saying is that if we concentrate on eatting healthy and staying active we will lose weight but we can do that without actually thinking about our weight. Do you agree?

Be blessed,

Dawn

[Guest guest]

Ah, I think i see what you see, yes, I still need to lose weight and a great deal of it at that, so yes, it still figures prominently in my life but by committing seriously to the IE principles in the book, IE, I believe I am finally on the path to that life goal. My post(s) on this matter weren't so much about me, but more for all of the new ones who think and feel like me (including me a few months ago) who come here for help in finding that weight loss. Some of us have been making friends and chatting privately as friends. So what I was voicing was a kind of group frustration with hearing the 'diet mentality mantra. And I was also pointing out that Dawn's post saying what she concentrates on is so much more helpful advice to those who are so new and so in need of real help just to begin to understand this new and exciting life with IE in it.

Sunny

Re: Re: excited but really scared - help?

Hi Sunny,

I absolutely know that people have very real reasons they want to lose weight. And whether it's because their doctor ordered them to, or because they simply feel miserable the way they look... it's still extremely real and painful and urgent. I REALLY do recognize this.

the issue is HOW are you going to address these issues? what is the best way for you to address your diabetes?

what others are saying is that, whatever the reason, no matter how critically important it is... when you are focused on "I absolutely must lose weight," ... you are in that diet mentality.

I think the other point is that we all came to IE because we observed that dieting doesn't work. If you ask IE to promise weight loss, well, then it's a diet. The IE diet.

It's not that you can't want or even need to lose weight... it's that you have to commit to not making that your first priority. if you want to lose weight through IE, you HAVE to learn to trust your body. and that means letting your body eat when it's hungry, stop when it's full, and eat what it wants to eat. you have to believe that doing this CAN help you find your natural weight... in due time.

and in order to do that, you have to get your head out of the way. as long as your brain is running the show, directing your body... you can't eat intuitively. the whole meaning of "intuitive" is going with your GUT, not your head.

i really do understand that you want and need to lose weight. and i do hear how frustrating it is that you feel like people are saying "just forget about the weight."

but i think what we are saying is that it's going to be very, very difficult to lose weight via IE as long as that is what you remain focused on, while also being committed to IE.

i recommend checking out McKenna's book I Can Make You Thin. it is very IE oriented, but does also promise weight loss. so it's the most IE you can get while still focusing on weight loss. it may not be a permanent solution, but for me, it didn't do any damage to my psyche. what i found was that it gave me some mental "space", if that makes sense, to take the weight loss issue off the table and to be able to focus on IE without my obsessive weight concerns.

i do think that telling someone to stop thinking about their weight when they are very, very focused on it isn't very helpful. so maybe McKenna can help you get there. it was very helpful to me.

i hope that this helps. at the very least, i do want you to feel "heard."

best,

abby

I can see what you are saying but if we worry about our weight then that is sort of defeating the point of IE. I know that I am MUCH happier not worrying about my weight and I definitely have a weight issue. But, I concentrate on other things like being active everyday and eatting enough vegetables and fruits so that I can be healthy. I try to only eat when I am hungry and then stop when I am full. I believe that if everyone does that they do not have to worry about their weight in order to lose weight. That is all I was saying. I understand that losing weight is important but it shouldn't be in our mind...living a healthy stress free lifestyle is what we need to concentrate on...and on how beautiful we are with or without the extra weight. Alot of people...myself included...speak about all the yummy food we get to eat but no one really talks about eatting nutritional food. We have to remember that even though yes...we can eat anything want...we still should eat some healthy food. I make sure to eat two veges and one fruit everyday and to do some sort of exercise everyday...and get plenty of sleep. I gained weight at first but I can tell it is coming back off now that I give myself permission to eat what and when I want...that doesn't mean that we should just eat all the time....that is just what most of us did when we first started IE. Anyway, I guess what I am saying is that if we concentrate on eatting healthy and staying active we will lose weight but we can do that without actually thinking about our weight. Do you agree?

Be blessed,

Dawn

[Guest guest]

Ah, I think i see what you see, yes, I still need to lose weight and a great deal of it at that, so yes, it still figures prominently in my life but by committing seriously to the IE principles in the book, IE, I believe I am finally on the path to that life goal. My post(s) on this matter weren't so much about me, but more for all of the new ones who think and feel like me (including me a few months ago) who come here for help in finding that weight loss. Some of us have been making friends and chatting privately as friends. So what I was voicing was a kind of group frustration with hearing the 'diet mentality mantra. And I was also pointing out that Dawn's post saying what she concentrates on is so much more helpful advice to those who are so new and so in need of real help just to begin to understand this new and exciting life with IE in it.

Sunny

Re: Re: excited but really scared - help?

Hi Sunny,

I absolutely know that people have very real reasons they want to lose weight. And whether it's because their doctor ordered them to, or because they simply feel miserable the way they look... it's still extremely real and painful and urgent. I REALLY do recognize this.

the issue is HOW are you going to address these issues? what is the best way for you to address your diabetes?

what others are saying is that, whatever the reason, no matter how critically important it is... when you are focused on "I absolutely must lose weight," ... you are in that diet mentality.

I think the other point is that we all came to IE because we observed that dieting doesn't work. If you ask IE to promise weight loss, well, then it's a diet. The IE diet.

It's not that you can't want or even need to lose weight... it's that you have to commit to not making that your first priority. if you want to lose weight through IE, you HAVE to learn to trust your body. and that means letting your body eat when it's hungry, stop when it's full, and eat what it wants to eat. you have to believe that doing this CAN help you find your natural weight... in due time.

and in order to do that, you have to get your head out of the way. as long as your brain is running the show, directing your body... you can't eat intuitively. the whole meaning of "intuitive" is going with your GUT, not your head.

i really do understand that you want and need to lose weight. and i do hear how frustrating it is that you feel like people are saying "just forget about the weight."

but i think what we are saying is that it's going to be very, very difficult to lose weight via IE as long as that is what you remain focused on, while also being committed to IE.

i recommend checking out McKenna's book I Can Make You Thin. it is very IE oriented, but does also promise weight loss. so it's the most IE you can get while still focusing on weight loss. it may not be a permanent solution, but for me, it didn't do any damage to my psyche. what i found was that it gave me some mental "space", if that makes sense, to take the weight loss issue off the table and to be able to focus on IE without my obsessive weight concerns.

i do think that telling someone to stop thinking about their weight when they are very, very focused on it isn't very helpful. so maybe McKenna can help you get there. it was very helpful to me.

i hope that this helps. at the very least, i do want you to feel "heard."

best,

abby

I can see what you are saying but if we worry about our weight then that is sort of defeating the point of IE. I know that I am MUCH happier not worrying about my weight and I definitely have a weight issue. But, I concentrate on other things like being active everyday and eatting enough vegetables and fruits so that I can be healthy. I try to only eat when I am hungry and then stop when I am full. I believe that if everyone does that they do not have to worry about their weight in order to lose weight. That is all I was saying. I understand that losing weight is important but it shouldn't be in our mind...living a healthy stress free lifestyle is what we need to concentrate on...and on how beautiful we are with or without the extra weight. Alot of people...myself included...speak about all the yummy food we get to eat but no one really talks about eatting nutritional food. We have to remember that even though yes...we can eat anything want...we still should eat some healthy food. I make sure to eat two veges and one fruit everyday and to do some sort of exercise everyday...and get plenty of sleep. I gained weight at first but I can tell it is coming back off now that I give myself permission to eat what and when I want...that doesn't mean that we should just eat all the time....that is just what most of us did when we first started IE. Anyway, I guess what I am saying is that if we concentrate on eatting healthy and staying active we will lose weight but we can do that without actually thinking about our weight. Do you agree?

Be blessed,

Dawn

[Guest guest]

I don't know if this is true to not but I read somewhere that the only time you can double fat cells is when you are prego. Other than that they just get bigger.

To: IntuitiveEating_Support Sent: Thu, April 7, 2011 5:24:25 PMSubject: Re: Re: excited but really scared - help?

Well, that certainly is interesting. I'm a bit skeptical about those results though, but only because when I have lost weight in the past, on various diets, so the food choices were somewhat different from time to time, and yet I had to lower both my BP meds and my diabetic meds. My cholesterol has always been amazing, especially when given my degree of obesity, but I guess I just have lucky genes. So for me, losing weight has dropped the BP and diabetic markers. I can go with the "healthy lifestyle" some of the time but other times I am positive the diet I chose wasn't a particularly healthy choice if not downright dangerous. I know many patients (I am a retired nurse) who also had their BP and Diabetic meds dramatically reduced if not discontinued, when they lost weight but I can't attest to the food and behavior choices they made to lose the weight so I have to believe losing weight does make a difference in the

health markers. I'm not sure how liposuction would be able to change the medical aspects anyway. I do know that they can't remove much fat at a time without causing a dangerous kind of shock to the body. That's why people can't just go in and have a bunch of fat removed through Lipo and get thin. It's only for removing a little bit from problem spots, reshaping the area, not reducing it by much and that may be why it doesn't change the markers? That makes sense to me. One thing I did find extremely interesting about lipo, that makes sense but I hadn't thought of it until told by a plastics guy, when they remove those fat cells, through lipo, surgery, whatever, those cells are gone forever and new ones will never replace them. Remaining fat cells can get bigger, and the fat has to go somewhere for storage, so you pay to get a flat tummy but your rump may suddenly get larger than it has been in the past,

proportionately, but apparently you're born with a set number of the little suckers.

Sunny

Re: excited but really scared - help?

Don't worry about the future. That is still a diet mentality. If you are thinking about your weight then you are thinking like a dieter. YOu really have to learn to lose all that before you can really do this right. BUT...that takes time and it is IS VERY scarey at times! That is totally normal. When I first started all I could think was, "Wow, I am soooo going to gain weight eatting all this stuff." And as far as not being able to stop...that is because you have dieted for soooooo long. Your body is still trying to get all it wants now because it is scared it won't get more later. Just remind yourself constantly that you can eat ANYTHING at ANY TIME. I know it feels like you can't stop at this point but I promise...as you lose that diet mentality....it does go away. If you don't worry about numbers at all you will start to eat what you body needs. Just listen to your hunger and don't worry about your weight. And YES...I did gain a little weight when I started. I could feel i

t in my cloths. But, with time it will even out and you will be at a healthy weight for you. It may not be the 'goal weight' you had set when you were dieting but that dieting is done so forget that weight now. Be blessed, Dawn

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[Guest guest]

I don't know if this is true to not but I read somewhere that the only time you can double fat cells is when you are prego. Other than that they just get bigger.

To: IntuitiveEating_Support Sent: Thu, April 7, 2011 5:24:25 PMSubject: Re: Re: excited but really scared - help?

Well, that certainly is interesting. I'm a bit skeptical about those results though, but only because when I have lost weight in the past, on various diets, so the food choices were somewhat different from time to time, and yet I had to lower both my BP meds and my diabetic meds. My cholesterol has always been amazing, especially when given my degree of obesity, but I guess I just have lucky genes. So for me, losing weight has dropped the BP and diabetic markers. I can go with the "healthy lifestyle" some of the time but other times I am positive the diet I chose wasn't a particularly healthy choice if not downright dangerous. I know many patients (I am a retired nurse) who also had their BP and Diabetic meds dramatically reduced if not discontinued, when they lost weight but I can't attest to the food and behavior choices they made to lose the weight so I have to believe losing weight does make a difference in the

health markers. I'm not sure how liposuction would be able to change the medical aspects anyway. I do know that they can't remove much fat at a time without causing a dangerous kind of shock to the body. That's why people can't just go in and have a bunch of fat removed through Lipo and get thin. It's only for removing a little bit from problem spots, reshaping the area, not reducing it by much and that may be why it doesn't change the markers? That makes sense to me. One thing I did find extremely interesting about lipo, that makes sense but I hadn't thought of it until told by a plastics guy, when they remove those fat cells, through lipo, surgery, whatever, those cells are gone forever and new ones will never replace them. Remaining fat cells can get bigger, and the fat has to go somewhere for storage, so you pay to get a flat tummy but your rump may suddenly get larger than it has been in the past,

proportionately, but apparently you're born with a set number of the little suckers.

Sunny

Re: excited but really scared - help?

Don't worry about the future. That is still a diet mentality. If you are thinking about your weight then you are thinking like a dieter. YOu really have to learn to lose all that before you can really do this right. BUT...that takes time and it is IS VERY scarey at times! That is totally normal. When I first started all I could think was, "Wow, I am soooo going to gain weight eatting all this stuff." And as far as not being able to stop...that is because you have dieted for soooooo long. Your body is still trying to get all it wants now because it is scared it won't get more later. Just remind yourself constantly that you can eat ANYTHING at ANY TIME. I know it feels like you can't stop at this point but I promise...as you lose that diet mentality....it does go away. If you don't worry about numbers at all you will start to eat what you body needs. Just listen to your hunger and don't worry about your weight. And YES...I did gain a little weight when I started. I could feel i

t in my cloths. But, with time it will even out and you will be at a healthy weight for you. It may not be the 'goal weight' you had set when you were dieting but that dieting is done so forget that weight now. Be blessed, Dawn

------------------------------------

[Guest guest]

I don't know if this is true to not but I read somewhere that the only time you can double fat cells is when you are prego. Other than that they just get bigger.

To: IntuitiveEating_Support Sent: Thu, April 7, 2011 5:24:25 PMSubject: Re: Re: excited but really scared - help?

Well, that certainly is interesting. I'm a bit skeptical about those results though, but only because when I have lost weight in the past, on various diets, so the food choices were somewhat different from time to time, and yet I had to lower both my BP meds and my diabetic meds. My cholesterol has always been amazing, especially when given my degree of obesity, but I guess I just have lucky genes. So for me, losing weight has dropped the BP and diabetic markers. I can go with the "healthy lifestyle" some of the time but other times I am positive the diet I chose wasn't a particularly healthy choice if not downright dangerous. I know many patients (I am a retired nurse) who also had their BP and Diabetic meds dramatically reduced if not discontinued, when they lost weight but I can't attest to the food and behavior choices they made to lose the weight so I have to believe losing weight does make a difference in the

health markers. I'm not sure how liposuction would be able to change the medical aspects anyway. I do know that they can't remove much fat at a time without causing a dangerous kind of shock to the body. That's why people can't just go in and have a bunch of fat removed through Lipo and get thin. It's only for removing a little bit from problem spots, reshaping the area, not reducing it by much and that may be why it doesn't change the markers? That makes sense to me. One thing I did find extremely interesting about lipo, that makes sense but I hadn't thought of it until told by a plastics guy, when they remove those fat cells, through lipo, surgery, whatever, those cells are gone forever and new ones will never replace them. Remaining fat cells can get bigger, and the fat has to go somewhere for storage, so you pay to get a flat tummy but your rump may suddenly get larger than it has been in the past,

proportionately, but apparently you're born with a set number of the little suckers.

Sunny

Re: excited but really scared - help?

Don't worry about the future. That is still a diet mentality. If you are thinking about your weight then you are thinking like a dieter. YOu really have to learn to lose all that before you can really do this right. BUT...that takes time and it is IS VERY scarey at times! That is totally normal. When I first started all I could think was, "Wow, I am soooo going to gain weight eatting all this stuff." And as far as not being able to stop...that is because you have dieted for soooooo long. Your body is still trying to get all it wants now because it is scared it won't get more later. Just remind yourself constantly that you can eat ANYTHING at ANY TIME. I know it feels like you can't stop at this point but I promise...as you lose that diet mentality....it does go away. If you don't worry about numbers at all you will start to eat what you body needs. Just listen to your hunger and don't worry about your weight. And YES...I did gain a little weight when I started. I could feel i

t in my cloths. But, with time it will even out and you will be at a healthy weight for you. It may not be the 'goal weight' you had set when you were dieting but that dieting is done so forget that weight now. Be blessed, Dawn

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