Intuitive eating - blow the diet!

[Happyminimalist]

I'm so sick of making diet rules for myself, then blowing things!

I've just read the 'intuative eating' book and want to put it into practice. Does anyone wanted to join me or point me in the direction of other intuative eaters?

I have made notes whilst reading!!! Key points are -

• using a scale of 1 to 10, with 5 being not hungry and not full, eat while on a 3 (more then a bit nibbly, actually hungry but not ravinous)
  

• eating what I truly want. What will truly satisfy my taste buds. What ever that is! (I suspect I might briefly go a bit unhealthy, then get bored of treat foods, reverting back to the healthier foods I like)
  

• eating till I am satisfied. Stopping every so often to check how full I am. Am I still enjoying the meal? Am I satisfied? Where am I on the 1-10 scale?
  

• stop eating foods I'm not enjoying fully. If the taste doesn't live up to expectations, leave it.
  

• 'tasting foods' at special times/occasions without guilt. So thoroughly enjoying one slice of birthday cake even if I am full.
  

• eating fully aware if the food and not on automatic pilot.
  

• make peace with all foods. Eating without guilt. No diet policeing. No food is bad. No calorie counting. No fasting. No sabotage. No last meal feasting. No blowing it.
  

• focus on the present, rather then goals. Respect and appreciating my body and how well it has served me. Thinking of weight loss as secondary. Body should find its natural weight over time.
  

• introducing excerise for enjoyment and not weight loss.

[Happyminimalist]

By the way it's a great book and has really challenged my thoughts around food and dieting.

[Octopus37]

This is kind of what I am trying to do at the moment. Haven't done very well the last few days because of my mood. Was doing very well, lost about 5 pounds in three weeks, then realised I'd put 3 on, which has probably put me off. Felt like I had blown it totally yesterday and went to bed feeling awful. Haven't done so badly today, have just been eating pumpkin pie and a crispy cake from yesterday but have stopped. The book sounds great in terms of appreciating your body, tbh I just feel cross with my body for getting bigger as I am getting older and have a feeling that I am not going to like what my natural body weight is. Think I need to read this book.

[Happyminimalist]

I totally relate to what your saying. About eating beyond feeling satisfied and blowing it. The book says to stop and think about the reason you are doing it. And to try and tackle the issue itself. So if eating more through tiredness, sleep more or if eating more through rewarding, think how else can you reward yourself. Easier said then done and I'm only on day 1 .

I'm going to try and break the whole cycle. I can really see that the harder I diet, the bigger the blow out is. Going to put the scales away for a week me thinks

[Happyminimalist]

Octopus what caused you're mood?

[Octopus37]

Lots of things, struggling to get a job and being messed around by recruitment consultants, finding my kids hard going, still struggling after two bereavements and then putting on 3 pounds when I didn't think I had done that badly. Also hormonal stuff. Not doing too badly today

[Happyminimalist]

Good you're not doing too badly today. Sounds like you've had a lot in your plate though! How many kids have you? I've three and despite loving them to bits, it can be hard going at times.

What's you're target? I need to loose a stone but despite previous efforts (5:2, my fitness pal, going sugar free, running), I've never managed

[Octopus37]

I have got two kids, love them to bits too but find it hard. I would love to lose about half a stone (in an ideal world it would be a bit more but I am trying to be realistic. Think sometimes that when you have a relatively small amount to lose it can be harder. I was fairly happy with my weight until the beginning of this year (had been unhappy with it in the past and been up and down a bit, managed to lose a bit, put in back on etc). I have tried 5:2, SW and Locarb, but need it to be sustainable long term and I know the answer is to look at reasons behind my eating, hence trying to do Paul McKenna. Initially lost 5 pounds during thee weeks of eating less, was over the moon as that is a bit achievement for me. However, weighed myself on Wednesday and I had put on 3 pounds. I have set myself a goal of 8st7 by the end of November, was only 1 pound off that but now about 4 pounds off, I know that doesn't sound like a lot to lose but really not very good on that. Following on from that would be really pleased with about another 4 pounds, but will have to see how I go. Part of the problem is not wanting to accept weighing more as I get older(I am 40), never know the point whereby you should fight it versus giving up IFYSWIM.