Normal Eating

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31 Comments

Comment by Janice on September 2, 2009 at 7:05am

Eating Normal is HARD!

Comment by Farrah on August 8, 2009 at 12:49pm

I don't have the book but I agree with the concept (and will need to find the book).

My newest weightloss blog about my journey to a healthier, sexier, happier me...Transforming Me http://farrah.tbfreviews.net.

Comment by Susan on August 7, 2009 at 3:35pm

Jen, it is very important to me (in legalizing) to really pay close attention to how the food tastes AND how I feel after eating it. Honestly, there are many foods I've denied myself for years that I found I never really cared to eat again -- just about anything from HOstess, most store-bought cookies, many kinds of ice cream, any cake with store-bought frosting...I could go on and on.

When I really tasted the foods, I found that many things tasted very artificial, chemical-y, greasy, etc. I also found that I felt awful after eating some of them -- tired, jittery, anxious, etc. I noticed that on a day when I ate --say a package of Twinkies -- I was okay, but the next day I'd feel tired, draggy, and want to eat a bunch more sugar. I decided I'd rather not ever eat a Twinkie again if it is going to make me feel that way.

Comment by willpower on August 7, 2009 at 3:16pm

Hi group!

Well, this looks like exactly where I belong. Thanks Janice and earlier Tanie for mentioning this group and leaving comments on my posts...this is exactly how I want to train myself to eat for life. No special diets - just normal food the normal way. Looking forward to it!

Comment by RollerCoaster on August 6, 2009 at 8:47pm

Janice, I totally think that's the key. I had a friend just ask me about this. She said "so just lie to myself to make myself feel better?". I had to laugh! It was kind of a cynical way to look at it but I think it's more like "Reframe my thoughts so they are more accurate". Are cupcakes really bad? No, they aren't, they are pretty and taste good and have almost no nutritional value whatsoever, but they aren't bad :)

Comment by Janice on August 5, 2009 at 2:24pm

RollerCoaster I so agree with you abour rephrasing how you describe food. I used to make really negative comments to myself when my clothes were too tight or the scale did not read what I wanted it to. Or if I ate something "bad." Since reading Normal Eating books, I have really made an effort to change my language about my food and my appearance. It is really helping me!

Comment by RollerCoaster on August 2, 2009 at 6:16pm

Hi Jen, I defnitely think this is a huge struggle, legalizing all foods. I think it's wonderful that you are baking yourself your favorite chocolate chip cookies! When read that it made me smile. :) In my experience, the change is slow so don't expect it to happen overnight. What I do is change what I say. Whenever I say "bad food" I rephrase it to be "unhealthy" or "less healthy" food. And whenever I say "good food" I rephrase to "healthy" or "healthier" food. It seems small but it really does help that anxious feeling you have inside when you want something you have considered "bad" in the past. When you think about it logically, unhealthy and healthy food is really a more accurate statement anyway!

The more you do this the easier and more automatic it will become and before you know it, you will stop saying "good" and "bad" food and stop thinking of food that way at all. The anxiety about eating certain foods will go away, too, and you will be able to eat what you want and feel good about it! And you most likely won't overeat those foods as much or crave them the way you used to.

Good luck and be patient with yourself. You should be very proud!

Comment by Christine on July 20, 2009 at 5:28pm

oh, and here is one on intuitve eating!

Comment by Christine on July 20, 2009 at 5:23pm

Hey everyone. I just read this NYTimes article and it made me think of our group! Very interesting...

Comment by Christine on July 13, 2009 at 1:29pm

Hi everyone!

I have been struggling a bit with my eating--doing lots of nibbling and eating until I feel naseous--I know it is stress eating. We spent last weekend with my family and this weekend with my in-laws--just lots of funky family dynamics. I guess just being conscious of it is a good start?

Hope all is well!

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