May 11th, 2016 One Of The Golden Keys
I've had a couple of questions lately about intuitive eating. I suppose it was on my brain--because when the topic of mindful eating came up within a support exchange, I confused the two! I'm human!
As a good friend and loyal-longtime reader of this blog later described (after my confusion), mindful eating is critically important--and completely different from intuitive eating: "...mindful eating is taking the time to eat my food slowly, savoring each bite and not rushing through my meal, turning off the TV, thanking the people that brought the food to you...being conscious of what you are eating. I sometimes find that I get full and don't even eat all my food."
Spot on! Mindful eating has played an important role in what I do, too. I can't count the number of times in my past when I consumed something so fast, I didn't even realize what I was doing. Ever inhale your food? That was me most of the time, as if I was in a race of some sort. Have you ever inhaled macaroni and cheese? Dangerous and painful! Mindful eating--yes, yes, yes...very important!
My reply incorrectly used the term "mindful eating," instead of "intuitive eating," two very different things!
As I often do, after investing some thought and energy into writing something elsewhere, I'll bring it here as a topic. So, with a few edits--and some additions, I'll share it tonight.
The questions I've received lately about intuitive eating were both very similar, one asking my opinion on the topic and both asking essentially the same main question: Will I ever transition into more of an intuitive eating program?
The simple answer to that, for me, is--without hesitation: No.
Here's why:
It never worked for me. Believe me, I wanted to be an intuitive eater really really bad--I tried it after my initial 275 pound weight loss and gained a lot of weight. I wanted to be that kind of "normal," mostly because, deep down, I always resented and resisted my truth.
My normal and my truth is: I must make the effort and set the boundaries in order to lose weight--and also to maintain, where I am now. If I could intuitively eat, I don't think I would have successfully gained up to and maintained a 500 pound weight for nearly twenty years.
Now, I'm not resentful or resistant--I found acceptance--and took it further, to a full-on embrace of my truth each and every day--and instead of a drag, it's a beautiful experience--giving me a tremendous amount of life and freedom. And it isn't just because I'm measuring and weighing the food--logging everything and maintaining the integrity of my plan. The source of this life and freedom is bigger than that. It is, because I'm living in harmony with my truth, my "normal," and that is, in my opinion--one of the golden keys to this deal.
Intuitive eating works beautifully for some! It's simply one of those self-discovery things--it's the whole "finding what works for you," deal.
My word of caution is simple: The important thing is to maintain a higher level of awareness so you can honestly recognize the signs of whether it's working or not working. If chaos, instability and struggle keep interrupting your consistency--then it might be time to reevaluate. That was my biggest issue at one point during relapse/regain--I kept pushing ahead, insisting I could do it, while everything kept falling apart over and over again.
Today was a really good day. I maintained the integrity of my maintenance calorie budget, I remained abstinent from refined sugar, I met my daily water goal, I had a great workout tonight and I jazzed up my food a little bit. It was solid. I'm grateful. I'll aim for another one, tomorrow!
Today's Live-Tweet Stream:
Thank you for reading and your continued support,
Strength,
Sean
I've had a couple of questions lately about intuitive eating. I suppose it was on my brain--because when the topic of mindful eating came up within a support exchange, I confused the two! I'm human!
As a good friend and loyal-longtime reader of this blog later described (after my confusion), mindful eating is critically important--and completely different from intuitive eating: "...mindful eating is taking the time to eat my food slowly, savoring each bite and not rushing through my meal, turning off the TV, thanking the people that brought the food to you...being conscious of what you are eating. I sometimes find that I get full and don't even eat all my food."
Spot on! Mindful eating has played an important role in what I do, too. I can't count the number of times in my past when I consumed something so fast, I didn't even realize what I was doing. Ever inhale your food? That was me most of the time, as if I was in a race of some sort. Have you ever inhaled macaroni and cheese? Dangerous and painful! Mindful eating--yes, yes, yes...very important!
My reply incorrectly used the term "mindful eating," instead of "intuitive eating," two very different things!
As I often do, after investing some thought and energy into writing something elsewhere, I'll bring it here as a topic. So, with a few edits--and some additions, I'll share it tonight.
The questions I've received lately about intuitive eating were both very similar, one asking my opinion on the topic and both asking essentially the same main question: Will I ever transition into more of an intuitive eating program?
The simple answer to that, for me, is--without hesitation: No.
Here's why:
It never worked for me. Believe me, I wanted to be an intuitive eater really really bad--I tried it after my initial 275 pound weight loss and gained a lot of weight. I wanted to be that kind of "normal," mostly because, deep down, I always resented and resisted my truth.
My normal and my truth is: I must make the effort and set the boundaries in order to lose weight--and also to maintain, where I am now. If I could intuitively eat, I don't think I would have successfully gained up to and maintained a 500 pound weight for nearly twenty years.
Now, I'm not resentful or resistant--I found acceptance--and took it further, to a full-on embrace of my truth each and every day--and instead of a drag, it's a beautiful experience--giving me a tremendous amount of life and freedom. And it isn't just because I'm measuring and weighing the food--logging everything and maintaining the integrity of my plan. The source of this life and freedom is bigger than that. It is, because I'm living in harmony with my truth, my "normal," and that is, in my opinion--one of the golden keys to this deal.
Intuitive eating works beautifully for some! It's simply one of those self-discovery things--it's the whole "finding what works for you," deal.
My word of caution is simple: The important thing is to maintain a higher level of awareness so you can honestly recognize the signs of whether it's working or not working. If chaos, instability and struggle keep interrupting your consistency--then it might be time to reevaluate. That was my biggest issue at one point during relapse/regain--I kept pushing ahead, insisting I could do it, while everything kept falling apart over and over again.
Today was a really good day. I maintained the integrity of my maintenance calorie budget, I remained abstinent from refined sugar, I met my daily water goal, I had a great workout tonight and I jazzed up my food a little bit. It was solid. I'm grateful. I'll aim for another one, tomorrow!
Today's Live-Tweet Stream:
#morningdeal done?? 20 push-ups, 10 squats & 2 cups water before coffee. Coffee, please... pic.twitter.com/jUfUQ7xt3H� Sean Anderson (@SeanAAnderson) May 11, 2016
It's Wednesday already! Good morning! 2 tablespoons half&half in my dark roast. This & a couple refills. 120cal pic.twitter.com/V0QuRGLql2� Sean Anderson (@SeanAAnderson) May 11, 2016
Breakfast in MFP... pic.twitter.com/dx7iGfsS1l� Sean Anderson (@SeanAAnderson) May 11, 2016
2 whole eggs-2 egg whites w/138g avocado, 44g red pepper & 1 slice Asiago. 5.3oz apple & 4.6oz orange. 614 cal. pic.twitter.com/PJLjghUjb2� Sean Anderson (@SeanAAnderson) May 11, 2016
Small 3.5oz banana w/16g creamy natural peanut butter. Cup of coffee w/two tablespoons half & half. 196 cal. pic.twitter.com/iJTlBpCNMM� Sean Anderson (@SeanAAnderson) May 11, 2016
This strategy worked well yesterday. Might take all day-But when this 6 cup water bottle refill is done: #watergoal pic.twitter.com/xTQ1mulUuh� Sean Anderson (@SeanAAnderson) May 11, 2016
I've decided to have a big double cheeseburger & fries for lunch. Tweets coming...� Sean Anderson (@SeanAAnderson) May 11, 2016
BIG Lunch in MFP... pic.twitter.com/sEHoJE10uP� Sean Anderson (@SeanAAnderson) May 11, 2016
7.8oz99% ln grnd turkey, 1 prvlne, mstrd, onion, lettce & red peppr on Ezekiel. 220g swt.pot.fries w/oospray. 703cal pic.twitter.com/Y1jIHgaaLq� Sean Anderson (@SeanAAnderson) May 11, 2016
Two tablespoons half&half in this coffee. 40 cal. pic.twitter.com/VN7oyyxITa� Sean Anderson (@SeanAAnderson) May 12, 2016
Dinner in MFP... pic.twitter.com/wgyzccWsFb� Sean Anderson (@SeanAAnderson) May 12, 2016
Steak & Taters. When I prepare a meal at home or work, weighing each ingredient maintains calorie budget integrity. pic.twitter.com/MvWiYbd0SB� Sean Anderson (@SeanAAnderson) May 12, 2016
Meant for asparagus to be a part of this dinner party. Surprised to discover, I'm out. This plate needs some green.� Sean Anderson (@SeanAAnderson) May 12, 2016
Revised dinner in MFP... pic.twitter.com/cNo22uCEHE� Sean Anderson (@SeanAAnderson) May 12, 2016
7.3oz sirloin, 200g red potatoes, mashed w/15g sour cream, one tablespoon half&half & salt&pepper. Mini-corn. 559cal pic.twitter.com/Txr9Pt6zlW� Sean Anderson (@SeanAAnderson) May 12, 2016
Workout time. Still working on the final 2 cups of water in that giant bottle. Climbing aboard the magic elliptical. pic.twitter.com/Qm2NBwXXf2� Sean Anderson (@SeanAAnderson) May 12, 2016
Max level 20/30 min??#endorphinparty #naturalhigh #feelsamazing That big water bottle-also done. #watergoal pic.twitter.com/IvVU9PWPaV� Sean Anderson (@SeanAAnderson) May 12, 2016
225g watermelon. #lastfoodofday 68 cal. pic.twitter.com/tE47xgS9kg� Sean Anderson (@SeanAAnderson) May 12, 2016
Thank you for reading and your continued support,
Strength,
Sean
Princess Health and May 11th, 2016 One Of The Golden Keys. Princessiccia
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