Re: Re: do you mostly have peace and health :-)

[Guest guest]

,I also feel like IE is workingn well for me. I hesitated to respond initially because I'm wrapped up in pregnancy right now, and it's a little hard for me to remember exactly where I was before getting pregnant. And I wonder how I will feel once pregnancy is over.

But I now eat what I want, when I want, without questioning it. I am now making some gentle, gradual changes in the foods that I eat without feeling any deprivation, and this feels GREAT. (I tell myself, " if you REALLY do want that food, of course you can have it. But if you are just picking it because you are tired and it's an easy choice, let's pick something else. you can still have it later if you change your mind and realize you do really want it. " ) 

The main thing I notice is the absence of beating myself up for my appearance (at least regarding my weight... I am very frustrated right now about pregnancy acne, but this doesn't feel nearly as " personal " as my weight did, for some reason... plus the dermatologist will help with this, and doesn't see it as a character failing!). this feels wonderful. i also am much less apt to notice the weight of other women, or to compare myself to them.

And although I never stopped exercising through my IE journey, I feel like I have a healthier relationship with it now. I took about 3 months off from running two winters ago because I just didn't enjoy it anymore... and after that, for the first time, it felt like a PRIVILEGE to run, and i enjoyed it just about every time i ran! amazing. now I am using the elliptical because of the pregnancy... and with the beautiful weather, i can't wait until i can run again! 

i hope that i will continue to be accepting of myself when i have a new postpartum body -- i am a little worried about this right now, and am practicing how i will think about it. 

i hope that some of this is helpful. best,AbbyIE since 11/08PS FWIW, despite what another poster insisted, I do not feel like my weight changed noticeably with IE. it's true that it increased when I stopped WW, but this was before IE. my weight remains higher than it used to be, before i had hormonal problems, but not in a place where it poses any issues for my health.

 

Thank you, Katcha, for taking the time to share your experience and thoughts. I'm bumbling along a little, so will just keep listening

to everyone.

Right now I'm feeling that both my body and mind appreciate some loving structure (not a diet, more like I'll have three meals and 2 snacks, but I can have whatever I want) and I might be deciding to give it that, merging it with IE - having them at times I'm hungry, stopping when I'm satisfied, trying to become willing to eat without distractions.

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> > Or in other words, I could really use to hear from some people for whom IE is mostly working!

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> > My personal goals are to be at peace with food, to not over-think about food, to eat food that doesn't make me extra tired, and to be at a weight that allows me to joyfully hike, dance, etc. without feeling that extra weight is hampering me (I know that last one will bother some people but it's my truth so feels important to say, plus I don't think it's counter to what the IE authors of books talk about).

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> > I'm pretty new here, and so far mostly hear a lot of people struggling about their food or food behaviors.

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> > I know it's important for there to be a place to share our struggles. I also understand that it would be unrealistic to think that any approach is going to lead to 100% accomplishment of my goals all of the time. But at the same time, this only makes sense to me if I know there are people out there for whom this is at least working most of the time.

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> > I'm ok with knowing it'll take some time to get there - and that it won't be a straight path - as long as I know there are folks out there who after whatever period of time, do have this kind of peace and health most of the time.

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> > If you feel you do, can you please share?

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> > Thanks!

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