Re: excited but really scared - help?

[Guest guest]

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 ,

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 ,

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]

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 it 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]

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 it 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]

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 it 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 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