"Eating Less" (Gillian Riley)- CAN you do it if you're not 'addicted' to food?

[erebus]

A serious question.

I am reading the book and can see entirely where the reasoning comes from and how it could result in serious life long better eating, but I am finding a bit that the book does seem to be aimed at people who can easily eat an entire tub of ice-cream; who cannot stop and 2 or 3 biscuits but eat the whole packet, who feel they have no control over what they eat, and so on.

Do you think this is the case?

I have been on a diet, complete with scales watching, for a month and have lost 12 lbs (from an initial 13 stone). Naturally I am worried about the unsustainability of my weight loss. I have done it via a process of thinking mindfully about what I eat, reducing my portions and eating more slowly. However, there's no doubt about it, it IS restrictive in that I don't go near chocolate and restrict my pinot to 2 glasses a week. I am worried that this 'denial' aspect will be my undoing. I'm not sure I am anywhere near recognising eating chocolate, for example, as being entirely my choice- "I can eat as much as I like!"- yet not doing so because of the consequences Gillian wants you to consider, rather than me actually thinking "I'm not eating chocolate because I've banned it".

I, as yet, am still feeling 'looking thinner' as a major motivator, over 'increasing my self-esteem', for instance. My self-esteem is perfectly OK! I am working on 'to promote better health/ a healthier, fitter old age' as motivators but boy, the lure of the scales and the mirror is H-U-G-E!

I am also keeping my diet quiet from work colleagues and I don't even discuss it with DH (obviously he knows I'm eating differently and has recognised I've lost a bit of weight!), something I have been doing anyway, and a tactic Gillian recommends, so I am following some of the advice!

Anyone else having problems finding 'the fit' between Gillian and where they're at?

Hi erebus you posed a question at the top - you said ?Can you do (Eating Less" (Gillian Riley) it if you're not 'addicted' to food??

I think yes.

I think it is also about whether you are actually enjoying the food and whether you feel kind of addicted to it.

I think you can go for healthy, normal eating no matter what point you start but maybe you will need to be nice to yourself on route! Maybe having lots of tempting food around is not helpful. But my ideal eventually is to have food in the house that I find tempting but not to eat it all the time. I would never want to push anyone into having it around if they could not handle it and I do struggle. My friend?s husband eats a lot so she has to buy her kids treats that he doesn?t like! I have even asked my hubby to hide my kid?s sweets! But the long term goal is to eat normally and so to be able to go past a shop, be in place with food and not over eat (well, my long term goal).

I agree with Foreveronadiet in that it is good to be hungry when it is meal time. the advice/suggestion "If I am hungry in-between meals (I'll have a drink.. if still hungry) I'll have a yoghurt or piece of fruit or similar and that will keep me going until next meal." That is helpful.

Those of us who are driven to eat by things other than physical hunger are not usually interested in fruit and yoghurt, more biscuits and crisps! In my opinion having something healthy when hungry is a great way of working out if it is physical hunger or another kind of hunger! So erebus your thread is about 'CAN you do it if you're not 'addicted' to food?' I think yes you can but also if you are eating too much then maybe there is a bit of an addiction there. I mean all of us are a bit addicted to something aren?t we, too much TV, too much wine or food or sugar or whatever. I don?t mean all of us in the world I mean all of us who are trying to lose weight!

I used to smoke and would have said I was not addicted but couldn?t give up! Even though I knew it was bad for me.(I ended up having a miraculous giving up in church, throwing away my cigarettes and never smoking again and not even wanting to smoke again! (in fact now I hate the smell of it!) But that was a one off, with the food thing it has been a much longer drawn out process and I am learning my way through it!).

All the best.

Hello

Wasn't sure whether to post or not, as I can see from the other thread that a few of you are getting something from Eating Less.

I just wanted to say that I went on the seminar last year. It was amazing to meet a group of women (some thin, and others fat like me) that were also looking for an answer. We all kept touch for a little while after, but it became apparent that most people weren't "winning" with her book/method. There was actually somebody who came to the session who'd be to a previous seminar and it was clearly working for her.

However, I did find some of it useful:

• The idea that you could actually experience the "feeling/urge" to overeat and not do anything about it - that was a new one to me!
• That diet clubs are often mad & bring the worse out in you - that isn't to say I haven't been back to one but I think it encourages you to try to take a balanced view.

I am currently combining therapy, a personal trainer and will try Slimming World again. For me, my perfectionism is the reason I reach for food, or rather my failings to live up to my rather high standards. And for the first time in my life I have been able to stand there and "feel the feeling" and not feel that eating is the answer to feeling better. However, how that then translates into a healthier weight and relationship with food is another thing!

Good luck, I truly believe that everybody is different and that there will be people who have succeeded with Gillian.

WS

Watersign76 good to hear your comments. I am so pleased for you that you have felt that desire to over-eat and not given in to it. How positive. I am sure seeing a counseller does help. Please do let us know how you get on. Did you go to the seminar in the UK (is she English?). She sounds English in the video clips I found.

I have never been to slimming world. Some people rave about it, some do not. Does it ever address the reasons why people over-eat? The feelings behind the food? Just curious.

All the best.

Hello everyone and a warm "welcome" to Watersign (are you an Aquarian like me?)
I'm only part way through the book but have tried this week to apply some of the theory, mainly trying to be mindful of what I'm eating and indeed whether I actually want it in the first place.
Not sure if I'm losing any weight but feel quite good about myself thus far.
Had some wine last night but did stop a moment and ask myself if I wanted it - mindful of the empty calories! However I decided I did want it and indulged in 3 glasses, enjoying a TV programme with my husband.
Watersign - I had several campaigns with SW over the years, very successfully at first but less so as time went on.
I unfortunately got a bit obsessed with the weekly weigh ins and on weigh in day would often eat nothing at all until after class. Regrettably too, I had a number of bulimic episodes. Eventually I had to admit to myself that SW was no longer a good idea for me. Having said that, the eating plans did work for me for decent periods of time.
I've acquired GR's CD this week and started to listen to it. It's in 10 x 10 minute sections and I've listened to 7 of them. As with the book, I feel GR does tend to go over the same points again and again but I am going to stick with it as I do feel that eating too much of everything is the crux of the problem for me, not so much the type of food, which is generally healthy.
I'd love to go to one of the seminars but can't currently afford to, so will press on with book and CD.
I find everyone's comments on this topic so interesting and supportive and I do hope we can keep it going.
Warmest wishes to you all
STG

SteelTownGirl I don't currently have the book so please do feel free to share what you are learning. I am all ears!

Italian, hi, have you seen this sample chapter from the book - it gives you a flavour (no pun intended)!
I'm having an okay weekend; I find it harder to be mindful when all the family is around and I'm out and about with my husband.
Planning a healthy-ish Sunday lunch anyway!
The portion size website is useful - I know my portions are far too generous.
Hope you're having a good day x

www.eatingless.com/downloads/eatingless-free-sample.pdf

Just back from church and gearing up for lunch, I felt hungry as I arrived home and ate two cherry tomatoes. If anyone would have told me two cherry tomatoes would have staved off hunger I would have said they were mad, but combined with a cup of good coffee, they did! My old self would have been troughing into a packed of crisps by now!

Thanks for the sample chapter, will read it.

Oh Steeltowngirl I like this one,
"MYTH: Avoid temptations and keep yourself busy to stop thinking
about food. As you may already know, this strategy will only take
you so far. As with any problem in life, evading it doesn?t resolve it
in the long term."

I think that is so true, you can't avoid food problems forever. What have you found is an answer to this? Or are you still looking?

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