Anyone want to join a thread about Eating Less.

[bumblingbovine]

I read this book by Gillian Riley a while ago and it made so much sense. She has a website here
www.eatingless.com

I may even go to a seminar but I think the book has most of whast you need in it. There is a chapter free on the website to get an idea of the tone


She talks about stopping overeating and says that focussing on weight is completely counterproductive. I really would like to try this but thought it would be useful to have some support.

I have been thinking about this for a while but issues with my ds have got in the way. The other thread on fat/overeating has reminded me

I will need to dig the book out agin but the key thing she talks about is setting some realistic limits on the what, the amount and when you will eat and then sticking to them.

The idea is to "stop overeating" not to "lose weight". In fact you can stop overeating much more easily than you can lose weight and it happens quicker.

So my food plan would be to

Eat 3 balanced meals a day (one portion only - no seconds)every day. This would be
Breakfast between 7am and 9am
Lunch between 12pm and 2pm
Dinner between 6pm and 8pm

To have a maximum of 1 snack a day which should be of a reasonable size and reasonably healthy

Dessert if eaten should be fruit or yoghurt during the week but can be something less healthy at the weekend for dessert if I want it

Success would be sticking to the food plan each day. Weight would not come into it.
everybody's foodplan would be different to suit them

We could check in every few days (or daily) with how we have done or if we are having trouble with cravings and wanting to eat more.

Does anyone want to try this?

[Italiangreyhound]

Did anyone else see this thread. It poses a really intersting question.

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/big_slim_whatever_weight_loss_club/1311089-Do-you-become-more-invisible-the-larger-you-become

Do hope all is well.

[Italiangreyhound]

Iva what happened with the bullying case?

Was it you Iva going back to Slimming world?

Erebus, Steeltowngirl, Winedog, Marian, Projectbabyweight, Malory and CraftyKaz - how is it all going?

Hugs to all

[Italiangreyhound]

Hi ladies, it's been a while. How is everyone and what are you all up to?

[Italiangreyhound]

projectbabyweight doing a bit better now, I really sympathise with you about the impulse eating. Try and stop when you feel the impulse and think about why you want to eat! I have found if I can get through the impulse it is easier!

All the best.

[projectbabyweight]

Sorry Italiangreyhound, I've been slow to write again. I'm still impulse eating, not really badly but more than I'd like.

I need to limit the amount of tasty stuff I keep in the house, which I know is avoiding the issue somewhat, but it would be a good habit to get into.

How are you doing?

[Italiangreyhound]

Hi, where has everyone gone? Hope you are all OK.

[Italiangreyhound]

Yes projectbabyweight it is something about food, it has us all in its grip! But I do feel that loosening the grip can happen. I used to impulse eat but now I find it so much easier not to. I did a course called New ID.

www.newid.info/

I do feel it helped me.

If you need rules then I think it is perfectly OK to make up your own sensible rules for healthy eating. I can't advise you about that because they would not be your own but an example might be to eat one healthy portion of dinner and not have seconds, to avoid dessert except at the weekend or something like that!

[projectbabyweight]

Hi all. I'm actually doing pretty badly, despite the optimism in my last post. I find it difficult to eat sensibly when there are no rules, so I'm overeating. I still think the book makes complete sense though. I just wish it would sink in!

Iva it's interesting when you said you deny your responsibility to yourself and rebel against rules, and this creates/maintains a helpless mentality. I bet in other ways you've got good willpower and can put up with short-term pain for long-term gain. It's something about food isn't it?! Good luck at Slimming World.

[IvaNighSpare]

Hi all! Just a quickie, will update later. Going back to the Slimming World group tonight, will report in after.
Italian the decision on the case has been deferred to Sept 7th, will let you know more when I do.
Take care all, will check in again tonight.

[Italiangreyhound]

*Iva& any news on the bullying case?


Crafty how is it going?

Are you still around?

Erebus, Steeltowngirl, Marian, Winedog, and Malory how are you all feeling?

[Italiangreyhound]

How is it going? are you all OK?

I am feeling better and eating less, it is a struggle at times and I feel the best thing is to really decide that that is what I am going to do in each situation. One biscuit and no more, or no biscuit or whatever and just avoid the tin/table whatever after that. Some how I know when I am struggling and I weaken. I almost need to fool myself I am stronger than I am and say to myself that's it, no more etc BUT always acknowledge that tomorrow is another day and I can eat more tomorrow, try that new cereal etc whatever, but just for now I am making a CHOICE not to pig out etc. Tough but I do love that I am not paying anyone £5 a week to tell me what to eat and I am working it out myself, feels liberating!

[Italiangreyhound]

YES Projectbabyweight I do belive as you get better at it (healthy eating, not impulse eating - in my case) then I think it does get easier, more the normal, natural choice.

Personaly, I also feel it is a lifetime thing not a one week on and one week off kind of thing. So I could think to myslef I can have a cake tomorrow if I want it, I don't need to have it today because today won't be the last ever chance to eat cake! Where as in the past I always acted like if I missed that chance to eat something then I was denying myslf, missing out. Now I know good health is the reward for sendible eating. Today I had one and a half slices of toast because I really did not want 2. Breakthrough for me!

Good luck to all.

[projectbabyweight]

I've had a breakthrough, of sorts. Instead of thinking I'm "on a diet/following a plan (such as Eating Less)" or "I'm not but should be", I'm beginning to get my head round eating better as an ongoing thing.

Otherwise it's all too wrapped up in being good or naughty, which seems a bit childlike, and can make me overeat in anticipation of being strict on Monday, for example.

I read something really interesting the other day. It happened to be for people with narcissistic mothers, but maybe could apply to others too. It was about not being able to develop a sense of inner authority because it would be too threatening to a controlling/otherwise disturbed parent. This would lead to not having "the courage of your convictions", e.g. making a decision and sticking to it. And I think it's tied up with not feeling important.

I'd like to have more of a sense of being important enough to put the effort in (to eat better) and be able to trust myself to not let it slide because I can't be bothered, or giving into immediate gratification.

Like Gillian says, if you keep in mind the long-term benefit, and respect how important it is to you, then it might be easier to resist addictive eating. Plus if the theory is true, it should get easier as you keep on facing the temptation and resisting it. Hope so anyway!

[Italiangreyhound]

Hi Projectbabyweight it is not dead, it is just sleeping! So wake it up!

Welcome and please do join us.


Iva nice to hear from you.

Crafty how is it going?

Are you still around, Erebus, Steeltowngirl, Marian, Winedog, and Malory - have I missed anyone?

Taking my blood pressure at home these days! It is a bit high and we are still trying to get pregnant so if we succeed it could be harmful in pregnancy to have high blood pressure (I had it last time). Actually being worried about my blood pressure has done wonders for my weight. I have already managed to avoid a doughnut and some chocolate fingers (which said on the box 'One may lead to another' or some other crapola!). I weighed myself and have lost a pound in a day, which I feel must be impossible!

I have got to admit that FOR ME weighing myself have proved to be the only sure way of knowing how much I am carrying extra. Due to irritable bowel my tummy bloats in and out regularly, which makes it hard to tell what is going on! I have had a real problem with food for years and impulse eat but I am trying now to control it, not because of wanting to look good but just to be healthy. So Gillian Riley's comments in the book 'Eating Less' are very helpful. She is all about health and not about looks, which suits me. As I say, I do weigh myself (which she does not recommend) but the book also talks about changing the way you think about food, making positive choices to avoid things that are harmful and so making new brain patterns. I do think it is the best way to go and better than a diet. I don't need a diet to tell me chocolate fingers are not a health food!

[IvaNighSpare]

Hey - stop press - the book's being released on Kindle at the end of the month. Yaaaayyy!!

[projectbabyweight]

Hi Italiangreyhound, I was just reading this thread and wondering if it had died a death when you posted.

Can I join? I've read the book and really think it's the way to go, but I haven't fully committed to it yet (lazy). I've only got half a stone or so to lose, but the bigger issue for me is wanting to feel less out of control around food.

How are you finding it?

[Italiangreyhound]

Hey ladies, its gone all quite again. Where are you all and how are you doing?

Come out and share, whatever the tales, we can cope.

Crafty, Erebus, Steeltowngirl, Iva, Marian, Winedog, and Malory - have I missed anyone?

love to all.

[Italiangreyhound]

13'12 not 12!

[Italiangreyhound]

Good luck ladies, it's good to hear that things are going well, Iva keep going honey.

My body always swings back to my weight, of 13'12. It's almost like clockwork, no matter what I lose i always end up back at 12'12. Why is that?

Hugs to all.

[CraftyKaz]

Forever Thanks for your advice - I've bought 'Adore Yourself Slim' on your recommendation - it makes Destination Dream Weight seem like a fun journey! At first I wasn't able to bring myself to write in the book but now I have covered it in wrapping paper it seems more like a journal and I shall be filling in all the graphs etc. I'll read the Dukan book to find out more about the risk of regaining. I borrow a lot of diet/self help books from the library but it gets a bit embarrassing as I know most of the librarians! I've assumed the Dukan diet was like Atkins (which I only managed a morning on!) and so I've never read it.

Iva Good luck on your journey - I'm just starting out on mine (again!) but like you I started regaining within a week of getting to my goal weight last time. I have been at goal weight several times before, usually with Weight Watchers and once with Sure Slim. Sureslim was the most spectactular rebound. I'm changing my habits this time - even making my kitchen a nicer place to prep meals and I've changed my morning routine so my day starts on a positive note. One thing I learnt from Sure Slim was to make my Healthy Eating a priority and not to leave meal prep to the last minute.

[IvaNighSpare]

Hi everyone,
Italiangreyhound thank you so much for the lovely, kind, supportive words.
I was all geared up to go back to Slimming World then found out that the consultant was on holiday so it was just a weigh-in session at the mo. I hope I can keep the momentum going till they return.
Self Sabotage...hmmmm.....I think it's the whole "f*ck it" attitude I get, as if I'm rebelling against somebody oppressing me. 'They' say I can't eat something so I'm bloody well going to....Bit bonkers really because nobody is sitting on my shoulder telling what or what not to eat. I think it may be my way of denying my own responsibility to myself, if I can apportion blame, I have something to rebel against. I wonder if that's why I villified the Slimming World thing so much, it gave me a convenient outlet for the anger and shame I didn't want to direct at myself, and reinforced the helplessness and victim mentality I hid behind.
crazykaz the whole "5 days for each pound lost" theory intrigues me. Considering, at my best I had lost 77lbs, that put me 'at risk' for over a year. I could hardly maintain for a week let alone any longer. If, sorry when I start losing the weight again, maybe I should bear that in mind.
Anyhoo, keep up the good work folks

[foreverondiet]

crazykaz I am a bit obsessed in the "putting it back on question" - I agree that the body is programmed to regain it and I agree with Dukan's theory that you are at risk for 5 days for each pound lost. As I lost over 50lbs I am at risk for around 8 months, and so during this time I continue to be very careful, but do enjoy the "celebration meals" plus eat more than I did on the strict part of teh weight loss diet. I'm about 3 months into this period, and am doing well (haven't gained) but do lapse every so often and eat when not hungry but now good at recognising this and get back on track immediately, generally the same day.

There are other tips I have gleaned in respect of this - eg switching to clean lowish carb diet, attempting to gain lean body mass (muscle), weighing regularly and only eating when hungry. I reread Gillian (and Paul Mckenna) often.

[Italiangreyhound]

Thinking of you all, ladies, any news?

[Italiangreyhound]

Iva if you find support and encouragement in your group then go for it. Also try and build up your self esteem so that you can know you really are worth it. You are worth healthy eating; you are worth looking after yourself and worth exercise. I have started to think I need to go running a bit as well as walking. I honestly think whatever works for you is good. Just make sure you go into it thinking this is a long term plan, a long-term solution and not a quick fix.

My hubby has moved the sales back into the bathroom and I am itching to weigh myself to know how much I weigh! To be honest I?d rather get my eating under control first!

I think if you can also weigh up the eating good things, healthy things rather than just low calorie things, that is good.

Iva I wish you all the very best, you are a super person, so encouraging and you really do deserve for this to all work out.

If you want to, and if you can bare to, please do give some idea why you think you self sabotage? But only if you want to.

CraftyKaz welcome.

Erebus, Steeltowngirl, Winedog, Marian and Malory

Hugs to all

[CraftyKaz]

Iva - I'm new to this thread but I too had lost a lot of weight (with Sure Slim) only to put it all on again hating myself all the time. Then I came across a book by Dr Amanada Sainsbury-Salis called The Don't Go Hungry Diet. She is an Australian scientist and studied Weight loss at a university in Geneva. She had weight problems too. Anyway, she discovered what she calls the 'Famine Reaction'. Our bodies are programmed to search out food and put weight back on otherwise we would have died out years ago! This is why so many people lose weight only to put it all back on and we blame ourselves. Amanada's answer is to lose weight a little at a time, maintaining your loss before losing more and to only eat when hungry. The 'only eat when hungry' is where I struggle and find Gillian's advice helpful but Amanda has been useful in explaining why the weight went back on.