Re: Reject the Diet Mentality

[Guest guest]

That’s a great idea!  I’m all in.  From: IntuitiveEating_Support [mailto:IntuitiveEating_Support ] On Behalf Of Laurie Haight KeenanSent: Friday, November 19, 2010 12:46 PMTo: IntuitiveEating_Support Subject: Re: Reject the Diet Mentality Maybe we could make a game of it, like spotting license plates from different states when you're on a long trip. It could be a way for us to help ourselves be aware of this all-pervasive message in our culture if we share with each other things we spot that hadn't occurred to us before as being " diet mentality-speak. " It might be fun and help us lighten up about how oppressive this stuff can feel sometimes. Laurie Reject the Diet Mentality Ever since reading IE and their chapter about rejecting the diet mentality, I’ve been noticing how pervasive the diet mentality is in our society. It seems like everywhere I turn there is diet advice. People talk about losing weight, going on diets, which foods are bad and which are good. Since I’m so new to IE, it gets really hard sometimes. Is anyone else facing this?

[Guest guest]

That's not a new one for me. Being someone who was always looking for the next

best diet and who prided themselves on having an above average knowledge of

nutrition (which I read about as a way to learn how to lose weight), I was

always aware of how much was out there. Mostly because I was reading all of it

and pronouncing it either idiotic or getting ready to follow it! Agree that it

is rather annoying, now, though.

I actually have noticed something different, which is that I'm more and more

amazed at portion sizes. I mean, I always knew they were too big, but now that

I'm realizing how little it takes to satisfy me and also still very aware that I

have a hard time stopping if there's still food on my plate, I'm more and more

appalled by portion sizes. Just today I was watching the Cooking Channel and

Ray was on and she made this pasta and chicken dish and when she served

it up, I was sitting there thinking that she'd filled that plate with literally

like 3 servings of food!

I remember reading an article a while back where the author was looking at

cookbooks from the 50s and one of the things she noticed is that a recipe for a

roast chicken back in the 50s said it served 8 people. But a recipe for roast

chicken in a modern cookbook said it served 4-6. So even our cookbooks are

guilty! And I'm guessing that chickens in the 50s were probably smaller than

they are today with all the ways they've figured out how to fatten up poultry.

Also, anyone remember those tiny little juice glasses from when we were children

(those of us who are a bit older! LOL). Even as a kid, I felt like those

glasses held only like 2 sips of juice and always wanted more, but it was

probably just the right amount, really. Amazing how easy it is to get used to

these mega sizes and not even give it a second thought.

Josie

>

> Ever since reading IE and their chapter about rejecting the diet mentality,

> I've been noticing how pervasive the diet mentality is in our society. It

> seems like everywhere I turn there is diet advice. People talk about losing

> weight, going on diets, which foods are bad and which are good. Since I'm

> so new to IE, it gets really hard sometimes.

>

>

> Is anyone else facing this?

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Jumping in as a new member, but have to say I have been writing about this issue for a long time. I also collect old cookbooks and what they recommend as serving sizes are completely different than now. Also, remember the amount served during my childhood, and that we never had snacks between meals. I suppose “teatime†was our equivalent of a snack.

Because in today’s culture, we are so far removed from mindful eating, there is such a huge disconnect from what we need physically and what we need emotionally. I have been using a child’s size set of dinnerware as my reminder that I need to pay attention to the amount of food I need vs want.

My blog: The Little Bowl http://thelittlebowl.blogspot.com/

From: josiesjunkmail

Sent: Saturday, November 20, 2010 6:15 PM

To: IntuitiveEating_Support

Subject: Re: Reject the Diet Mentality

That's not a new one for me. Being someone who was always looking for the next best diet and who prided themselves on having an above average knowledge of nutrition (which I read about as a way to learn how to lose weight), I was always aware of how much was out there. Mostly because I was reading all of it and pronouncing it either idiotic or getting ready to follow it! Agree that it is rather annoying, now, though. I actually have noticed something different, which is that I'm more and more amazed at portion sizes. I mean, I always knew they were too big, but now that I'm realizing how little it takes to satisfy me and also still very aware that I have a hard time stopping if there's still food on my plate, I'm more and more appalled by portion sizes. Just today I was watching the Cooking Channel and Ray was on and she made this pasta and chicken dish and when she served it up, I was sitting there thinking that she'd filled that plate with literally like 3 servings of food!I remember reading an article a while back where the author was looking at cookbooks from the 50s and one of the things she noticed is that a recipe for a roast chicken back in the 50s said it served 8 people. But a recipe for roast chicken in a modern cookbook said it served 4-6. So even our cookbooks are guilty! And I'm guessing that chickens in the 50s were probably smaller than they are today with all the ways they've figured out how to fatten up poultry. Also, anyone remember those tiny little juice glasses from when we were children (those of us who are a bit older! LOL). Even as a kid, I felt like those glasses held only like 2 sips of juice and always wanted more, but it was probably just the right amount, really. Amazing how easy it is to get used to these mega sizes and not even give it a second thought.Josie

[Guest guest]

I, too, have difficulty stopping if there is food left on my plate.  I am trying to take/make smaller portions, and reminding myself that I can have more if I want to, but it seems to be an on-going battle for me.  Sue

 

That's not a new one for me. Being someone who was always looking for the next best diet and who prided themselves on having an above average knowledge of nutrition (which I read about as a way to learn how to lose weight), I was always aware of how much was out there. Mostly because I was reading all of it and pronouncing it either idiotic or getting ready to follow it! Agree that it is rather annoying, now, though.

I actually have noticed something different, which is that I'm more and more amazed at portion sizes. I mean, I always knew they were too big, but now that I'm realizing how little it takes to satisfy me and also still very aware that I have a hard time stopping if there's still food on my plate, I'm more and more appalled by portion sizes. Just today I was watching the Cooking Channel and Ray was on and she made this pasta and chicken dish and when she served it up, I was sitting there thinking that she'd filled that plate with literally like 3 servings of food!

I remember reading an article a while back where the author was looking at cookbooks from the 50s and one of the things she noticed is that a recipe for a roast chicken back in the 50s said it served 8 people. But a recipe for roast chicken in a modern cookbook said it served 4-6. So even our cookbooks are guilty! And I'm guessing that chickens in the 50s were probably smaller than they are today with all the ways they've figured out how to fatten up poultry. Also, anyone remember those tiny little juice glasses from when we were children (those of us who are a bit older! LOL). Even as a kid, I felt like those glasses held only like 2 sips of juice and always wanted more, but it was probably just the right amount, really. Amazing how easy it is to get used to these mega sizes and not even give it a second thought.

Josie

>

> Ever since reading IE and their chapter about rejecting the diet mentality,

> I've been noticing how pervasive the diet mentality is in our society. It

> seems like everywhere I turn there is diet advice. People talk about losing

> weight, going on diets, which foods are bad and which are good. Since I'm

> so new to IE, it gets really hard sometimes.

>

>

> Is anyone else facing this?

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

This has always been an issue for me as well. Recently I have tried using

smaller plates, bowels and cups and it has made a huge difference! If I still

don't feel satisfied, I refill and am more likely to stop when I'm satisfied and

not feel the urge to clean the entire plate as I don't feel like I'm wasting too

much - or leaving too much behind.

I was trying to watch my portions using older dishes that I had and because the

size of my plate was the standard and not my stomach, I felt like I was not

eating enough. Using smaller dishes has helped me get a better sense of how

much I actually need to feel satisfied - which to my surprise, is really not

that much!

> > >

> > > Ever since reading IE and their chapter about rejecting the diet

> > mentality,

> > > I've been noticing how pervasive the diet mentality is in our society. It

> > > seems like everywhere I turn there is diet advice. People talk about

> > losing

> > > weight, going on diets, which foods are bad and which are good. Since I'm

> > > so new to IE, it gets really hard sometimes.

> > >

> > >

> > > Is anyone else facing this?

> > >

> > >

> > >

> >

> >

> >

>

[Guest guest]

same here. I'm taking smaller portions, too but then I find myself going back

for more a fair bit. But then I remind myself the this takes time & I'm worth

putting in the time. I'm learning to have patience. ; )

mj

> > >

> > > Ever since reading IE and their chapter about rejecting the diet

> > mentality,

> > > I've been noticing how pervasive the diet mentality is in our society. It

> > > seems like everywhere I turn there is diet advice. People talk about

> > losing

> > > weight, going on diets, which foods are bad and which are good. Since I'm

> > > so new to IE, it gets really hard sometimes.

> > >

> > >

> > > Is anyone else facing this?

> > >

> > >

> > >

> >

> >

> >

>

[Guest guest]

Hi Everyone,

Yes, rejecting the diet mentality is exceedingly hard. Having been a

compulsive/secret eater and being overweight my whole life, I too have learned

the ins and outs of every diet out there. I've been trying to purge my life of

" diets " so recently, I packed up all my old diet books and donated them to the

library. I tried Nutrisystem last year and HATED the food but still was keeping

it " just in case " I would give it another try. FInally, I threw it all away (I

would have given it to a food bank but it was all outdated and it was Awful

food). I felt a bit liberated when I did that. It does amaze me now that I'm

trying to be more aware of it that it seemes everyone has " good " , " bad " and " I

can't EVER eat that " categories. We are SO brainwashed!

Love this group and all the help we give each other.

Thanks - Alison

[Guest guest]

Hi Everyone,

Yes, rejecting the diet mentality is exceedingly hard. Having been a

compulsive/secret eater and being overweight my whole life, I too have learned

the ins and outs of every diet out there. I've been trying to purge my life of

" diets " so recently, I packed up all my old diet books and donated them to the

library. I tried Nutrisystem last year and HATED the food but still was keeping

it " just in case " I would give it another try. FInally, I threw it all away (I

would have given it to a food bank but it was all outdated and it was Awful

food). I felt a bit liberated when I did that. It does amaze me now that I'm

trying to be more aware of it that it seemes everyone has " good " , " bad " and " I

can't EVER eat that " categories. We are SO brainwashed!

Love this group and all the help we give each other.

Thanks - Alison

[Guest guest]

Good for you, Alison, for tossing out the Nutrisystem faux-food! I did the same many months ago with some Fit for Life "muffins" and "cookies." Absolutely bilious stuff that I kept until it had expired, too.

Laurie

Re: Reject the Diet Mentality

Hi Everyone,

Yes, rejecting the diet mentality is exceedingly hard. Having been a compulsive/secret eater and being overweight my whole life, I too have learned the ins and outs of every diet out there. I've been trying to purge my life of "diets" so recently, I packed up all my old diet books and donated them to the library. I tried Nutrisystem last year and HATED the food but still was keeping it "just in case" I would give it another try. FInally, I threw it all away (I would have given it to a food bank but it was all outdated and it was Awful food). I felt a bit liberated when I did that. It does amaze me now that I'm trying to be more aware of it that it seemes everyone has "good", "bad" and "I can't EVER eat that" categories. We are SO brainwashed!

Love this group and all the help we give each other.

Thanks - Alison