Resurgence of Hope

Seems like forever since I have blogged. We have been out of town. Went to a conference with Mark. A long way to sit in a motel room and/or walk the dog.

I have been watching "I Can Make You Thin" on TLC. It is Intuitive Eating taken to the next level. I am hooked. If you have been reading for a while you know I tried Intuitive Eating months ago with small success. I am a rebellious believer in the addiction/compulsion model of eating. I rage against being controlled by sugar (who doesn't), and, if I start eating sugar I do not seem to be able to stop. I hate being a sugar addict. It is like being in prison with no hope of parole.

Enter a man offering early release. If Paul McKenna is to be believed food can become a non issue in my life. I can eat like a person without a compulsion. Yeah right, pull the other one.

I have now watched two episodes. The first episode focused on his four cardinal rules for weight loss, "Don't starve, eat when hungry, eat what you like, eat consciously." Nothing I haven't heard before. This time however the rules hit home. "Don't starve," okayyyyy, I believe I have conquered that one. "Eat when hungry," see above. "Eat what you like," I am not eating what I like. But woman will die on a diet of cheesecake and M&M's. "Eat consciously." Took me awhile to even figure out what this meant. Yes I see the irony.

I think about (long for, dream about, obsess over) food much of the time when I am not eating. After I eat I perceverate on my gastronomic sins. The only time I don't think about food, is when I am eating. In terms of emotional eating this explains a lot...but I digress. According to Paul if you eat consciously you can tell when you are full (see above pulling statement) and will eat less. How to eat consciously? First, no distractions when eating. No t.v., book, phone, computer or loud environments, and sit down. Second, put down knife and fork between each bite. Third, chew each bite ten-twenty times. Fourth, taste and enjoy the food you so desperately wanted. I have been doing this. It is really frustrating and boring. Mark decided to try it with me. He says we will now have to get up an hour earlier to be able to finish breakfast. We also have had to come up with much more meal time conversation. And it is working. I eat less at each meal because I feel full. It is a miracle. I guess I did hear from God.

I will write about my reaction to episode two "Emotional Eating" tomorrow.

Take care of yourselves. Love Bea