Week 3, Intuitive Eating Challenge for Isabelle & Lilly

Isabelle:

This week I was sent a copy of 'Shift Your Mindset' by Lysa and Gina, and I do think it has helped to get me back on track.  Although I definitely cannot honestly say I have trusted my instincts all the time in terms of eating my this week, it has been a definite improvement from last week.

I find that I am catching myself out sometimes - like I will be walking to the cupboard for a second or third biscuit and suddenly hear in my head 'Hey, I'm not hungry anymore - I should just have it later when I am hungry'.  Although this hasn't worked to deter me from the fridge every time, it has worked more of the time than it usually does!  So this is progress! I think I have become much better at only eating when I am hungry, it's the stopping when I'm satisfied that has become more of an issue!  I'm still struggling to see that whatever food is in front of me is not going anywhere, and I could have it later, but I am definitely acknowledging the fact now, and saying this to myself so that I can at least resist for awhile longer than usual!  

The next few weeks will be interesting - university has finished for the semester and I won't be in the usual routine while studying for exams, so I'm hoping I don't fall into old habits and don't think of food as a distraction / procrastination technique!  I'm going to work really hard to focus on stopping when I am full, and maintaining the smaller portion sizes because I do think that this really helps me psychologically.  I've never really been one for seconds but finishing what is on my plate (when my eyes were always too big for my stomach) left me stuffing myself to the brim.  

This week, I am pleased to announce that I have lost another 300g - so I am down to 77.5.  Not a big loss, but a loss all the same!

Lilly:

The 3 principles are simple and straightforward but they require a massive shift in thinking. I realised this during the week that I’d left dieting behind when 2 friends wanted to tell me how many calories they had consumed that day and my reaction was to stare at them as if they were crazy.

However, it became evident to me there are two mental aspects still holding me back. What’s with my emotional attachment to the scale? And why do I still willingly choose to overeat or justify food, especially junk food, when I’m not feeling like it? 

Deep down, I’ve forgotten reality. I’ve adopted a ‘greediness’ approach to life without a job, but it doesn’t make sense. How does eating more now help me for later, when I’m hungry and have no food? It means I spend more money purchasing food. I’m no Einstein but that seems illogical. 

However, on a pleasing note, this week as ‘weigh day’ approached I noticed that the numbers didn’t matter to me anymore. That felt very liberating.

One down, one to go. 

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