Other side of the spectrum

[Guest guest]

Hi, McKella,

First of all, it's awesome that you don't hate your body anymore--just awesome!

I wonder if you could just "get curious" about what happens when you choose not to eat sweets for a day or two? I have found that I feel so much better when I either don't eat sweets at all (I'll have fruit instead), or have only things that I have no desire to binge on--like Panda licorice, which I do like and can keep on my counter in case I want something sweet. You might want to see what it feels like not to be on that rollercoaster of always wanting the next bite. For me, it's a great feeling, one that I choose to stay in whenever I can. The hard edge of the craving is gone in two days, period. I sort of "remember" wanting something sweet, but I no longer crave it. And then I really can make choices, not this automatic knee-jerk addicted action that happens when I'm on the fat-sugar-salt rollercoaster. I never say I can never have anything I want--I have sweets often, but I make choices that won't send me into a place where I can no longer really even think straight.

Since you've got the stress of a move to another country looming, please be extra kind to yourself. Eating well, nourishing your body with foods that actually give it nutrients, is a kindness.

And for the record, I have a hard time not eating if my husband and I have scheduled a dinner out and I'm not yet hungry. I've worked to try to eat less in anticipation of things like that, but I'm not there yet in learning how best to do this without triggering mini-binges.

All best,

Laurie

>>>I don't hate my body anymore, I don't consider any food off limits, but I still can't resist the jar of trail mix at work or the container of cookie dough in the freezer.

I think this is a combination of emotional eating and maybe a chemical addiction to food because I have such a rough time with sweets and fatty foods.<<<

[Guest guest]

Hi, Kate,

I need some clarity on the issue of getting sidetracked with theories of sugar and fat. The last thing I need is more restrictive thinking, but I find that I simply get into out-of-control eating if I eat too much of either of these, and so I make food choices that don't have so much of them, but still feel satisfying if I want something that, say, is sweet. I don't label foods as something I can never eat, but I really, truly don't want to eat them as often because I know how they make me feel: physically shaky, and then stuck back into compulsive eating. Just this morning I was listening to Geneen Roth saying that we often don't realize that when we're eating emotionally, we don't realize that we're in fact feeding our bodies, and that this feeding has an effect on how we feel afterwards (stuffed, ashamed, sugar-dizzy, etc.). So it seems she's saying being aware of how certain foods affect you when you're eating is not a bad idea. Or am I misinterpreting?

Help! I'm confused! Is what I'm doing ok? It feels ok, and not restrictive--in fact it feels liberating.

All best,

Laurie

Kate wrote:

>>>I wouldn't get sidetracked with all the food theories of sugar and fat...that's just more restrictive thinking. Everyday there is a new food theory put out in the news.<<<

[Guest guest]

Laurie, no, you're not confused at all. Seems to me you've nailed it.

Dawn

Hi, Kate,

I need some clarity on the issue of getting sidetracked with

theories of sugar and fat. The last thing I need is more restrictive

thinking, but I find that I simply get into out-of-control eating if I

eat too much of either of these, and so I make food choices that don't

have so much of them, but still feel satisfying if I want something

that, say, is sweet. I don't label foods as something I can never eat,

but I really, truly don't want to eat them as often because I know how

they make me feel: physically shaky, and then stuck back into

compulsive eating. Just this morning I was listening to Geneen Roth

saying that we often don't realize that when we're eating emotionally,

we don't realize that we're in fact feeding our bodies, and that this

feeding has an effect on how we feel afterwards (stuffed, ashamed,

sugar-dizzy, etc.). So it seems she's saying being aware of how certain

foods affect you when you're eating is not a bad idea. Or am I

misinterpreting?

Help! I'm confused! Is what I'm doing ok? It feels ok, and not

restrictive--in fact it feels liberating.

All best,

Laurie

Kate wrote:

>>>I wouldn't get sidetracked with all the food

theories of sugar and fat...that's just more restrictive thinking.

Everyday there is a new food theory put out in the news.<<<

[Guest guest]

Laurie, no, you're not confused at all. Seems to me you've nailed it.

Dawn

Hi, Kate,

I need some clarity on the issue of getting sidetracked with

theories of sugar and fat. The last thing I need is more restrictive

thinking, but I find that I simply get into out-of-control eating if I

eat too much of either of these, and so I make food choices that don't

have so much of them, but still feel satisfying if I want something

that, say, is sweet. I don't label foods as something I can never eat,

but I really, truly don't want to eat them as often because I know how

they make me feel: physically shaky, and then stuck back into

compulsive eating. Just this morning I was listening to Geneen Roth

saying that we often don't realize that when we're eating emotionally,

we don't realize that we're in fact feeding our bodies, and that this

feeding has an effect on how we feel afterwards (stuffed, ashamed,

sugar-dizzy, etc.). So it seems she's saying being aware of how certain

foods affect you when you're eating is not a bad idea. Or am I

misinterpreting?

Help! I'm confused! Is what I'm doing ok? It feels ok, and not

restrictive--in fact it feels liberating.

All best,

Laurie

Kate wrote:

>>>I wouldn't get sidetracked with all the food

theories of sugar and fat...that's just more restrictive thinking.

Everyday there is a new food theory put out in the news.<<<

[Guest guest]

Laurie, no, you're not confused at all. Seems to me you've nailed it.

Dawn

Hi, Kate,

I need some clarity on the issue of getting sidetracked with

theories of sugar and fat. The last thing I need is more restrictive

thinking, but I find that I simply get into out-of-control eating if I

eat too much of either of these, and so I make food choices that don't

have so much of them, but still feel satisfying if I want something

that, say, is sweet. I don't label foods as something I can never eat,

but I really, truly don't want to eat them as often because I know how

they make me feel: physically shaky, and then stuck back into

compulsive eating. Just this morning I was listening to Geneen Roth

saying that we often don't realize that when we're eating emotionally,

we don't realize that we're in fact feeding our bodies, and that this

feeding has an effect on how we feel afterwards (stuffed, ashamed,

sugar-dizzy, etc.). So it seems she's saying being aware of how certain

foods affect you when you're eating is not a bad idea. Or am I

misinterpreting?

Help! I'm confused! Is what I'm doing ok? It feels ok, and not

restrictive--in fact it feels liberating.

All best,

Laurie

Kate wrote:

>>>I wouldn't get sidetracked with all the food

theories of sugar and fat...that's just more restrictive thinking.

Everyday there is a new food theory put out in the news.<<<