Welcome Jenn. I like your wish for 2009. This year has been a lot about self-love for me. I don't think I totally knew what it would be when I decided I should investigate it. So I entered the new year with CURIOSITY about it. It is my quest...as in quest-ion.

Monday is around the corner, and I will be posting a new thread for us.

Just to start you ruminating...I will post some of the names...we can add more if you like. DOn't be afraid to list more. It certainly isn't a popularity contest. The more the merrier and if nothing else it gives us a chance to define ourselves together...to grow our group.

I may even write a blog about finding the name so that it can be all in one spot and perhaps more people will find out about this forum. Does that sound okay? Let me know if you think it is a "bad" idea...I only want to promote one another...not take away from anything.

Thanks,
Rae

i think its a great idea

WOO HOO!! I found you!

I used to hang in the forums a lot, but left quite a while ago...

I really like this concept and am actually working towards someday being able to throw out my food journal and just go by my own gut...That is my ultimate goal. To put into practice all I have learned in almost five years on this journey...

For now though, I need teh structure. Or at least I think I do!!

Names...Hmmm...I will have to give this some thought...

One of my favorite quotes is "To thine ownself be true" so I am trying to make a play on that...My cleverness is kinda low this morning...LOL...Think I need more coffee...

whoot whoot, major milestone for me in the intuitive eating... last night I noticed that my bf and daughter were both done eating, and I was mindlessly pushing the food on my plate around...

took a quick inner inventory and notice that I wasn't hungry AT ALL, so, why, then, am I sitting in front of a plate of food?? habit, dinnertime, etc. but w/out even trying, I hadn't eaten but a couple bites...

reminded me of a kid that isn't hungry and just shoves the food around

I hope this is the first in a long long line of subconscious actions that support my body's actual needs.

Dawnie, welcome, glad you found us. I think the food journal is a great idea. That is how you are taking care of yourself.

Whohhoo, Tina, great way to check in with your body!

Rae

PS. I started a new thread for this week...look for the green arrow with Self-Love/Intuition Circle. See ya there!

Remember that you don't have to eat a perfect diet to be healthy. You will not suddenly get a nutrient deficiency or gain weight from one snack, one meal, or one day of eating. It's what you eat consistently over time that matters, progress not perfection is what counts

This one really stuck with me...this was the moment I said...this is ME!! Follow the principals...work on them one at a time at your own pace...

Anyone who is interested in the principals I would suggest getting the book as it goes into deeply detail and thought as some on the principals might be hard for some people take hold...there is a Yahoo Group for Intuitive Eating and there are people who stay at a principal for a month or longer until they are ready to proceed to the next.

I hope you all enjoy this group and now a big

THANK YOU RAE FOR STARTING THIS...I never knew there were so many people that might be interested in this...I was beginning to feel that if I wasN'T "dieting" this might not be the place for me. I was here once and left because I stopped "dieting" and felt very out of place. THANK YOU!!

I LOVE that quote Ann Marie and I think this is the smartest non-diet ever. And no matter the name, this groups is for me. However, I must confess I am feeling a little blue. So, how am I going to love myself today?

Did the elliptical today and will do hard body yoga this afternoon before starting to study. Cleaning up after the weekend/Monday holiday has taken a bit longer then I thought it would.
I voted in the federal election.
I took my vitamins (I forgot them yesterday)
I will listen to my hunger and right now, NOT hungry.
I will prepare a nice salad and some kind of a protein for supper.
Essential oils to lift my spirits - grapefruit and rosemary

I just needed to love myself like this and feel good about knowing I do not have to do everything on my list today.

I am also wishing everyone a lovely day!

Well, I'm still working on the self-love, but made a major breakthrough in the intuitive eating department. Sunday, I had a small breakfast (1 cup of Smart Start Strawberry shredded wheat cereal, 1/2 cup milk and 1/2 banana) in anticipation of a lunch date with the family. Long story short, we ended up not eating until 6 pm. We ended up at a Chinese buffet. The "old" me would have gorged on the crab legs and then had at least 2 more plates of food before moving onto ice cream for dessert. This time though, I listened to my body, ate slowly and stopped when I was satisfied. I also made smarter food choices by starting with a large plate of veggie/shrimp stir-fry. Since I was able to choose the options and portions for the stir-fry, I was able to load up on the veggies and select just a few pieces of shrimp. I then had just 3-4 crab legs and a few bites of my favorite foods before ice cream for dessert. I realize it wasn't perfect, but it is a step in the right direction. I was very proud of myself, so I guess that is also a step in the right direction of self-love.

[quote][7. Honor Your Feelings Without Using Food Find ways to comfort , nurture, distract, and resolve your issues without using food. Anxiety, loneliness, boredom, anger are emotions we all experience throughout life. Each has its own trigger, and each has its own appeasement. Food won't fix any of these feelings. It may comfort for the short term, distract from the pain, or even numb you into a food hangover. But food won't solve the problem. If anything, eating for an emotional hunger will only make you feel worse in the long run. You'll ultimately have to deal with the source of the emotion, as well as the discomfort of overeating.
/QUOTE]

I did this in October of 2007 when my father suddenly passed away from a heart attack. Instead of eating away/comforting the pain I went to the gym and worked out and lifted those weights and cranked the cardio like I had never done before and it helped. I could have just as easily stuffed my face with all kinds of junk but good would that have done...it isn't going to bring him back and he was my biggest cheerleader always telling me how good I was looking so I took my pain out on the weights and elliptical.