~Intuitive Eating~

[Bobbin]

I wanted to say Hi to anyone who's still working on IE! I've been at it for almost a year now, and I am just so happy. I started last July, and did really well for about 6 weeks until I got scared about my upcoming vacation. At that point I did Atkins for the last time, and lasted a whopping 2 days before I went into full blown binge mode. Since then, I eat what I want, when I want, and only try to avoid stuffing myself.

When I first started this WOE, I immediately gained 20 lbs. I expected this, because every time I go off Atkins and start eating normally again, the weight just piles on quick. After I gained that weight (literally in one month) I stopped gaining, and have held steady at the weight I'm at now ever since. I think another reason I gained so quickly is because I had been training for a triathlon last summer, and after it was over (the end of July) I just completely stopped working out.

Now, I just try my hardest to eat whole, natural, healthy foods most of the time, but I don't beat myself up over a fast food lunch, or an ice cream dinner occasionally. The key really is to make all food legal, so it loses it's magic.

I'm starting to work out again, as I want to do another triathlon in 6 weeks, and I miss how good I felt working out. I have a feeling that the extra weight I gained at the beginning will drop off fairly quickly now. I just wanted to let anyone who's considering this know that it can work. You CAN lose your obsession with diets, the scale, and everything deprivation-related if you just stick with it. You'll have a much better state of mind when you really embrace the changes....and you won't balloon up in weight as much as you think you will. Good luck!!!

[Kissa]

Thanks for dropping by Bobbin, it really helps to here how well some of you have been doing.

I haven't gained at all so I am delighted but I would like to lose a little bit still.

I too am enjoying the freedom from diet rules!

[Kissa]

Happy Independence Day to you all.

I am down a pound and it is sticking!

This is so freeing for me, I know I keep saying that but it really is. I do find it a little odd not eating with DH some evenings, like last night. But he doesn't seem to mind so why should I?

He is still getting his mind around my eating this way as he is so used to me being on a diet. He is a natural slimmy and therefore does IE without knowing it.

I really hope I will live this way forever.

[alaskanlaughter]

i was just browsing around when i found this thread...i didnt know this WOE had a name and i think its great!....ive often done IE because it seems so easy for me to handle...im currently doing calorie counting primarily and LC secondarily because i need to get a handle on my portions and on how many calories im eating...i mostly post over in the century club portion

i really like the idea of listening to your body and eating when you're hungry and eating WHAT you truly want...so many of my calories in the past have been consumed eating the right things and then eating more...and more...while trying to satisfy a craving for something im not supposed to have...and then i found that i eat far LESS calories if i just eat the darn thing im craving to begin with LOL

so anyhow, i want to work on that some more and just thought i'd post in here

[violettfem]

Hello? Anyone here?

[kristinaInWa2003]

well, it was asked above why it's so quiet....for me, our family has been very busy going a lot of places. which involves a lot of eating out and it's really messed me upWe're camping right now and I have wifi but the computer is about ready to die (battery) so I'll just say I'm still here, just not very much right now as we're kind of busy Bumblebee I hope you read here and say hi occasionally...I'm sad that you left

[lmwestfa]

I stumbled upon this just now.

A big change for me occurred. I'm going on vacation tomorrow and I am not stressing about food for once. I didn't have a cheat meal, nor am I even thinking about gorging myself for a change.

For years, I would do ok with my WOE and then a holiday or a vacation would come and I would toss the WOE out the window.

I lose slowly this way, but it is staying off,...which is just a huge deal to me.

[Kissa]

Hi there, I miss a day or two and it all happens!

I am still continuing with IE and mostly doing well. Have a house full over th e next few days, hope it goes okay.

It amazes me how seldom I a actually feel hungry. Anyone else finding that?

Paul Mckenna is my life saver.

[lmwestfa]

Kissa, I know what you mean! When I first started, I was bummed out at how often I am not actually hunger. I was stuffing myself pointlessly for years!!

[Kissa]

I am so glad to hear you found that out too.

Tricky when you are feeding friends, which I am about to do!

[Karennic]

I am new to this thread. I got the IE book last year and tried it, and some issues came up that stumped me so I went on to the next diet. But now I am revisiting this WOE mostly because I can't stand my diet-obsessed head anymore .

I am finding the same thing to be true, that I am eating way less because I am just not hungry. Go Figure. I was also stuffing myself with food trying to follow this program or that program. Ironically I was trying to follow programs that would not make me go hungry but now that I am actually following my hunger, I find that I am eating way less. Does that make any sense??

Anyways, I am glad to be here. Happy Friday

[dae_tona]

Not being hungry when you are not obsessing & trying to follow one diet plan makes a lot of sense.

I have found-when I am not obsessing, not counting anything, not stressing, etc.-I tend to be a lot less hungry & eat less than when I am obsessing, counting everything & stressing.

That is probably why I could not get satisfied yesterday with what I ate. I was stressing & obsessing way too much. It seems-anytime I put myself on one certain plan-this happens to me. But if I let go of all the rules of any plan, then I'm happier with less.

But this is one reason today is my last day on this board for awhile. I just have to stop obsessing.

I wish all you in IE the best of luck!

And remember: If hunger is not the problem, then food is not the solution.

Dyan

[Karennic]

Dae Tona:

Best of luck to you! I know the feeling of just needing to take a break from all of this.

[Kissa]

Everyone I respect seems to be leaving the boards! HEEELLLPPP!

[Karennic]

Yesterday I overate at lunch time. This would normally send me into binge mode and I would continue to eat the rest of the day, and indulge in all the things I normally don't "allow" myself to have. But yesterday I had an awareness of it all. I overate and I had something that triggers cravings. The awareness of what was going on, which is definitely a pattern, allowed me to talk myself through it and avoid a binge. I think being aware of what is going on is half the battle.

How are you doing Kissa? I see you lost a lot of weight, did you do it on Atkins? Congratulations .

[Kissa]

Thanks Karen. Yes I did it on Atkins and I have to confess that I have gone back onto induction as I allowed things to get out of control.

My ambition is to do IE for life, but life has a way of taking over sometimes!

Sounds as if you are doing really well.

[Dabbadooey]

I'm not dieting anymore. All I have done this year is jump from one diet to another. Like someone posted earlier I have a whole bookshelf of diet books. I'll stay on a diet a couple days and them go into full binge mode. It's just not worth it! I hope this thread can be rejuvenated. I will be happy to start a new one in August and keep up with it.

[lmwestfa]

C'mon IErs!! Unite!

I'm back from vacay. I had the first vacation where I didn't gain anything. In fact, I lost 1 lb from all the walking.

[jjcanada]

Hi Everyone,

I picked up this book at the start of summer and it really has changed my thinking but I have a looooong way to go in this journey.
I was "dieting" more or less for over a year and I am no better or worse of in terms of health, weight OR mental clarity. Infact, all it has done is screwed up my relationship with food and eating even more.

I look forward to getting to know all of you and hopefully begin a fun and constructive thread!
jj

[Dabbadooey]

I'm currently reading Geneen Roth's When Food Is Love. I had picked this up before, but didn't click with it. It's better on the second try.

[Heab]

Hi everyone. I've been doing IE for a week now, and finding my way. Tonight the boys and I went to Sonic after the park. I got a blast. Normally I would get a large and eat it all, even if I wasn't really hungry for all of it. Tonight I got a regular, and ate just over half (probably one or two bites more that I really needed) and gave my kids the rest. I think this is going to work great, as long as I continue to listen to my body.

[lmwestfa]

WTG Heab at Sonic!

I've added walking to my regimen. When I was in Italy, everybody seemed to walk/ride everywhere. It really opened my eyes to how inactive I am. Since Monday, I have been walking 2 miles a day.

Regarding eating... Things are going well.
However, I need to refine my eating behavior on weekends. I don't eat as much as I used to, but I am still not heeding hunger signals as well as I should. I haven't gained, though.

Also, I have decided to not buy any more potato chips. I just can't seem to leave them alone.

[Heab]

Good for you with the walking! I'm going to try and do work on my gazelle 3 times a week, need to get my ankle looser. Tomorrow I'm also going to start the 100 push up challenge! Yesterday I didn't listen to my body like I should, but today has been better.

[skeeweeaka]

Hey just ran across this thread, is anyone still doing IE... It sounds like a fabulous way to eat for life... I, too, have been from one diet to another and stall very quickly and lose my patience.... I've been dieting since I was a teenager and am terrribly tired of it...I want to get healthy and stop obsessing over my weight. I know whole foods are the answer.... Generally, three meals a day is good for me, on my current regimen I was trying for five meals a day and that is stressful trying to keep up with it, particularly if I am not hungry....

TJ

[RW City Sue]

Hi skee, I see you are over here looking for the IE people also. I so hope this thread has not died out. I use IE along with IF. I read a book on IE a few years ago--I'll have to go look around for it again. IE worked awhile for me but I lost my way; so far it has been helpful to use it once again when I am having trouble figuring out what to eat on IF.

Hope some of the former regulars here are encouraged to come back...

I'll be looking for ya all.

Sue

[Kissa]

Not really doing IE at the moment, though I guess it is IE within LC choices.

Good to see some action here.

[Dedee62]

I just started practicing the IE way of eating 6 days ago and have lost 5 lbs. It's amazing how little food I actually need.

[Kissa]

Wow, well done!