hard to shed old ways...

[robbie]

Hi all,

This board is helping me so much. I'm a lifetime WW member, up 10 pounds and just getting back on track as of this week. In the 3 years I've been on WW, I've never addressed the role the mind plays in my weight.

I'm an emotional eater, able to lose weight through white-knuckle discipline, but I can't maintain indefinitely through sheer will power! I've realized that something *has* to change. I've got to get a grip on my eating -- and eat to live not live to eat. I've decided that CORE is the right program for me to do that -- I've ignored my body and it's signals for far too long. I lost weight on FLEX eating skinny cows all afternoon and then skipping dinner. I would portion my food thinking 'how much can I have?" instead of asking myself, "how much does my body need?"

This is a tough switch to flip, but I'm really trying to eat "mindfully." Bless you, SusieQ, for all of your posts on this subject!!

I knew I was an emotional eater, but had no idea how much I "stuffed" my emotions with food. This week has been incredibly hard. A few times I have overeaten on "CORE" food to the point of being sick, and I can't figure out WHY. WHY would I abuse my body in this way?

I'm determined to figure this out. If I'm going to be healthy for life, I believe I need to make these changes.

Thank you all, for listening!

[Rita]

Robbie - welcome!

You have to give your body time to adjust to this way of eating. It seems like everyone eats too much that first week, but you are weaning your body of the craving inducers like sugar and high fructose corn syrup. Once you stop ingesting those products you will find it easier to eat more sensible portions because you will be satisfied. Sometimes it takes 2-3 weeks to really get into core.

So - like I said - give it time. Work on the emotional side in small increments. Take one thing at a time. You can do this!

[akansan]

Hi Robbie,

I read this yesterday:

tinyurl.com/5sd6p

It's an excerpt from the new WW book, and it specifically addresses losing weight through will power. It's a great article!

I just thought I'd share and hope it helps you in your mindset as much as it did me!

[Fathelbabe29]

Hi Robbie,

That could have been me talking. Really I know what you mean - I've slimmed down to my goal weight a million times over, only by being extremely strict with myself.

I feel as though I'm a coil the more restrictive my eating the bigger the backlash...

I've been on core since 02/02 and feeling better.

See you around!

[keliCAN]

Congratulations on getting back on track before you gained all your weight back And for determining to figure this stuff out and become healthier. It is a different determination, isn't it, than just deciding to lose weight?

I've been doing Core just a few weeks now, but I can talk about how much I ate that first week. Especially the first three or four days. As long as it was on the Core list, I ate as much as I wanted. And I wanted a lot. I was always hungry. So I ate.

By the fifth day, I was eating less because I felt less like I needed to eat so much. I also found myself making better choices even among the Core foods.

And I lost over seven pounds that week. I was shocked. And I've lost every week since (though the loss was less than a pound this last week).

And I think my relationship with food is improving, little by little (just like the weight loss).

I think anyone who has gained as much weight as I have, has developed a very, very unhealthy relationship with food. For me, Core seems to be a way to learn and practice a more healthy relationship with food, as I am losing weight.

My mother can get one of those small Snickers bars (not the "fun size," but the next size up), cut it in half, and eat the other half (or just part of it), and wrap up what's left until she throws it away a day or to later. I can't understand how she does that any more than she can understand why I keep going back to the bag of Snickers bars until there are none left.

[JoJo404]

kansan, thanks for sharing that exerpt from the new ww book. I love the term "dietary disinhibition". THAT WOULD BE ME, PRE-WW. (also me occaisionally, still, LOL)

lots of good info there- makes me think the book's worth buying- although I can probably get all I need right here on MOP

robbie, you described very articulately a phase that many of us experience. Sounds like you're working on what needs work. Good for you! Keep it up and keep us posted.

[robbie]

Thank you, all, for your encouraging words! I'm taking it moment by moment, day by day. Last night my kids ate chips (a downfall for me!) and I deliberately chose to not eat them. And I survived!

I'm actually a recovering alcoholic, and this journey in many ways resembles that one. The 12 steps apply to food as well as alcohol. One major difference, of course, is that we *have* to eat. This is the tricky bit -- I'm so "all" or "nothing," and here I am trying to learn "balance" and "moderation."

The hunger / full thing is a struggle, but I'm really trying to pay attention. I don't know why I feel like I have to "fill up" at each meal -- the food will not go away. I'm still trying to figure out what "satisfied" feels like.

I can relate to so much of what everyone is saying on this board! Thank you...

[YogaBug]

Dear Robbie,

Your statement fits me to a "t." It's something that i've struggled with all my life. I can truly relate. This is my second week. I'm trying to eat mindfully, but just now I ate my lunch which was my spinach tofu soup and some baked butternut squash. I was full half way through the squash I served myself....but still ate it all. Now I am way to full and i'm contemplating eating an apple. LOL ....not really funny when you think about the irrational thinking involved. its as if we can't get enough...even though there is more than enough.

I am a child of alcoholic parents and had my own issues with alcohol when I was younger.....but mostly my issues have been with food and shopping.

I just keep telling myself that I am a beautiful work in progress. I am a beautiful spirit and human being who deserves every happiness and I love myself the way that I am today.

This board and the inspirational messages posted by everyone, especially SusieQ are a tremendous help. Thank you all.

Light, Love and Blessings