1. Carrie Anderson January 6, 2020 at 7:11 pm

   Laurie, that was a very good, insightful show. You have had such a positive journey, learning what works for you, and by sharing, really helps me look at my own self and wondering what further steps I can take in my own journey.

   I have read a little bit about intuitive eating, watched some videos, bought a workbook, even bought an online program all about it, but for some reason, cannot make myself actually do the online program, or even start the workbook, lol. I know enough to know that you should eat when you are hungry, and stop when you are full. I do try to follow that rule to some extent, but only half-hearted, I would say. I remember listening to one of your episodes awhile back, when you were talking about intuitive eating, and I had just a moment thinking what it would be like to never diet again, and I felt a rush of freedom in that moment. But I pushed it back, and continued on with what I was used to… I kept telling myself I would try it when I lost the weight, haha, if that makes any sense. I wanted the quick weight loss from a diet, and then the freedom from dieting. That’s not how it’s meant to work, I don’t think!

   So now, I actually have lost the weight, through constant calorie counting, exercise, and a bit of illness, too. So, here it is, the perfect time to delve into this intuitive eating. Find out if that would work for me…But I’m too scared…too scared to find out what weight may be right for me, and not wanting to let go off my rules. You talked in your show today about that rush you got from people praising you for your weight loss after doing weight watchers. I am experiencing the same thing. Everyone at work praised me after losing weight a couple years ago, and again recently when I lost a bit more. I feel like I don’t dare put any weight back on…what will they think of me then?

   It embarrasses me that I am 53 years old, and worrying about my weight and what people think of me. I do know that it doesn’t really matter. But, somehow it still does. It’s funny how strongly we remember all the hurt feelings of our youth, and it just continues to hurt us year after year.

   I don’t know how to neatly tie this message up, but I did want to comment here and let you know your podcast is awesome, and I hope you get the feedback you are looking for!

   Thank you, Laurie!

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   1. Laurie@CompulsiveOvereatingDiary Post authorJanuary 13, 2020 at 10:25 am

      Carrie, thank you so very much for taking the time AND RISK to share your comments here for me and for others to see and hear. I can so relate to it. It is our dilemma.Our dream would be to NOT follow a program, eat what we want, without worry, exercise when it feels good to us, and yet maintain the figure of our dreams.

      I will tell you, that from my own experience and from hearing from many, many folk who have done so, most people going from weight loss through diet and exercise to create deficits, to intuitive eating will result in weight gain, because your body, naturally wants to return to a higher set point. Now many over time, some longer, some shorter, depending on all of those factors of age, activity, genetics etc., do level out at some point. Many shoot higher, then lose back down a little. Some have a gain and it sticks. It is rare that I’ve heard of someone going from dieting body to intuitive body in the same weight range. That’s the rub, right there.

      So for all of us, it’s a matter of really digging deeply inside to find what is our heart’s desire. If a certain shape and size is important enough to you to keep with your program, whatever it is that got you there, then if you have eating issues, you may pay the price of emotional discomfort and the need to focus on that goal very much. Some people find a program they love that helps with this. Cross-fit communities, the new Weight Watchers called WW now, becoming vegan…If you can find a program that is close to your nature and what you might like to eat and how you like to exercise, this can be a wonderful help with this dilemma. I have found that from time to time.

      My WW experience was great mostly because I had a wonderful sense of support from friends I made in the meeting. But the way I was eating wasn’t natural to me, and I rebelled eventually, then over time gained some, and then let embarrassment keep me from returning to that support. I always wonder how would things have been different if I had made the choice to return and deal with the initial gain. But thinking on that too much keeps me from where I am today.

      So bottom line, you are correct, there are no pat answers that work for all. I just really, really hope that you, and all of us, can see that all we do – bingeing, dieting, becoming more in tune with our feelings, is just us trying to feel good and do the best for ourselves in the moment. If we notice that what we are doing isn’t working in a way that resonates with us now, we can try something else. And sometimes it is great to get help, like some therapy to uncover our resistance and to learn some skills to cope with life outside of turning to food or body obsession. I get embarrassed sometimes too. Here I am 60 years old and still wondering if I should butter my bread – or skip my bread – or make my OWN bread. But the good news is we can have a sense of humor and compassion with ourselves. And I think that goes a long, long way, toward bringing our true dreams closer. xoxoxox

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2. Joy January 10, 2020 at 11:38 am

   hi Laurie! Loved this episode – sometimes I feel like we are the same person! I can relate to so much of what you said- the rush of losing weight and people appreciating you for it (although its been a while since that’s happened), the intimacy issues with friends and loved ones, always feeling like an outsider – like everyone else but me has their life figured out!

   I liked the affirmations at the end for the ideas they gave me – but I always have trouble with affirmations from others because it doesn’t feel like my voice :). I should probably record some of my own!

   Lastly – would love for you to continue your podcast at whatever frequency is comfortable for you – you have a great gift for words – and it would be a shame to stop sharing that with the world!

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   1. Laurie@CompulsiveOvereatingDiary Post authorJanuary 13, 2020 at 10:32 am

      Hi Joy, I think you feel we are the same because of all the surprising ways that those of us with these issues experience life in similar ways. It was SHOCKING to me to discover how many BCs there are. I truly felt I was the only odd duck out there. Thanks for the feedback on the affirmations, I get that too. But it was fun to give it a try and to show some of what I do to conquer stress in the moment now – instead of automatically seeking out the chips. xoxoxo

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