my chapter 3 comments

[Guest guest]

Hello all!

After going back and forth, thinking I should do OA etc., I've

decided not to at this time. I'm working a 12-step group for

families of addiction, and the emotional strength I gain from that

group is enough at this time. Plus, I don't subscribe to the food as

addiction for myself. Others? Who knows! I'm committed to working

this program. I may have mentioned this before, but I've been back

and forth.

Anyway, on to the discussion.

Principle 1: Reject the Diet Mentality

For the most part I've done this just fine, but I feel that I was

kind of using OA as a diet in my head...that praying for " abstinence "

would magically drop the lbs. So I'm letting that go. This past

spring I took two big grocery bags full of diet books and diet-

related-cookbooks to the used bookstore and sold them all back. I

kept one book, the McDougall Quick & Easy Cookbook, because it has

some yummy recipes that I enjoy and does not include much info on

dieting per se. But yeah...this is a process, because occasionally

something that seems " diet-like " will pop into my consciousness and I

have to wrestle with it a bit before I let it go. I threw away my

scales, too, in mid-June. Was very freeing.

Principle 2: Honor your Hunger

This I'm working with...but also working with the thought that it's

okay to actually get hungry. So I'm honoring those hunger cues by

listening for them and listening to them. Big difference from the

past " honoring hunger " by making sure I never went hungry again.

Principle 3: Make Peace with Food

Yes. I'm working on being vegan, but beyond that the foods I eat are

not limited. I believe in staying with veganism, and so far so

good. I'm not limiting foods like soy ice cream, rich foods, etc.

The vegan thing may be unconventional in Intuitive Eating land, but

it's really in line with my ethics.

Principle 4: Challenge the Food Police

Ooh...gotta work on this one. The food police are loud and

obnoxious, especially when i'm trying to push down an unpleasant

emotion...the food police can drown pain just like a cookie can.

Today I was down in the dumps, and lo and behold the food police

showed their silly little heads. Work in progress!

Principle 5: Feel your Fullness

This is a challenge...as I used to think full was stuffed. Will be

renegotiating that concept!

Gently!

Principle 6: Discover the Satisfaction Factor

Cool to learn about, I'm not there yet...

Principle 7: Cope with your emotions without using food

This one is really hard for me, as I work my butt off to avoid pain.

So here we are, challenged to face it head-on. But it's the only

option, really. For this one, one day at a time!!!

Principle 8: Respect your Body

Intuitively I know this to be true, and I trudge forward thinking of

body respect but imperfectly so!

Principle 9: Exercise--Feel the Difference.

Sometimes I'm sluggish on exercise, but I honestly think that's when

I put the " shoulds " on it. When I say I *should* be

exercising...instead of " wow I love being strong " . It's all about

the energy for me. In a way I'm lucky that my body is uncompromising

about being treated decently. Something like that!

Principle 10: Honor your Health--Gentle Nutrition

When I let go of dairy I'm better with this, which is why I think I

have a physical addiction. y'all can disagree, but I have read the

science on it. When I let that food group go I am more at peace.

Funny that!!! I'm trying to eat my fruits and veggies every day,

with quality protein. I've been eating out a lot so I've had more

white flour than usual, but that's okay too.

So there's my take on things...I'll post on the next chapter

tomorrow. Feel free to " check in "

Ciao!