Loss/Gain: -1.0 lb.
Total Loss So Far: -25 lbs
I feel good about losing the pound I gained last week. I'm still very thrilled that the numbers "209 & 210" haven't shown back up on the scale. It makes me feel like I really am down and not just in a valley of fluctuation with another mountain to come again.
Back in December I read a book called Intuitive Eating and it has become the way I am learning to eat to lose weight and be healthier.
Wikipedia defines intuitive eating as "a nutrition philosophy based on the premise that becoming more attuned to the body's natural hunger signals is a more effective way to attain a healthy weight; rather than keeping track of the amounts of energy and fats in foods or satiety levels. It's a process that is intended to create a healthy relationship with food, mind, and body. Intuitive Eating, just like the many books available today, goes by many names, including non-dieting or the non-diet approach, normal eating, wisdom eating, conscious eating and more."
That sums up best what I am working through to see my weight come off. It's not easy, but I'm learning to listen to my body and only feed it when it's hungry and then stop when it says it's had enough.
There are very good pointers in this book of how to deal with certain attitudes towards food and it even has chapters on making sure you get a balanced diet and learning to love exercise. It gives tips on eating when you're just a tad hungry (but you know it will be a long while before you have another meal) so that you don't get to a point of starvation and then overeat when food is available.
While I'm finding this whole concept to be a good fit for me there is a little bit of fear involved. To just listen to my body takes some trusting of myself and that can be scary. Plus, there's no guarantee to "lose 10 pounds by _____". However, I keep plugging along and the weight is going down again.
It's funny that along this process I'm also learning to eat only the foods I love and that make me feel the best, and some times that is a nice yummy salad or a piece of fruit. Amazing.
Thanks for enduring my long post, but I thought it might be time to update what I'm working on, what "plan" if you will, to help me reach my weight loss goals.
Have a great Friday!
Congratulations on the weight loss! That is awesome :-)
ReplyDeleteI picked up the CD for Intuitive Eating quite some time ago and then eventually found the book. I've tried to incorporate it into my eating lifestyle but what happened to me is that I wasn't eating enough calories and therefore not losing any weight. I've been now trying to get into the habit of eating every 3 hours and get my calories up to at least 1700 a day. Once I get "used" to this, then I'm going to try to go back to the intuitive pattern and eat what/when I am hungry and only until full (my body will be trained by then). I'm not sure if it makes any sense to anyone else but it is something I have to try.
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad it is working for you.
I really agree with the concept. It seems like something that you could do for life. Making vows to lose XX number of pounds by a certain date is a disaster and disappointment waiting to happen. It's not as blog-worthy dramatic but just just plodding along steadily is more likely to get you there. Like the tortoise and the hare.
ReplyDeleteCongrats on the loss! I will have to check out the book, it sounds like it has a great philosophy.
ReplyDeleteJust wanted to say how thrilled I am that you have chosen to take the Intuitive Eating journey, I know how scary it is, but please trust that your body has an enormous amount of inner wisdom about eating. You just have to tear off all of the layers of debris hiding this wisdom that were formed from the diets you have been on. To help you on your path you might want to consider taking a look at the new Intuitive Eating audio book that came out last year. It has some great practices for all of the principles. In any case, please enjoy the peace and freedom that Intuitive Eating offers you. Take care, Elyse Resch, M..S.,R.D.,F.A.D.A. Co-author of Intuitive Eating www.elyseresch.com
ReplyDeleteYAY for the loss! I'm too glad that you haven't seen those old numbers creep back up. It can be a bit unnerving to try Intuitive Eating, but it does work. As long as you are listening to the right voices - which you obviously are!
ReplyDeleteHave a great weekend!