Anyone ever actually lost weight with Intuitive Eating?

PikaKnight

I really should know better...this time 3 months ago I had it all ticking over nicely. I was working through New Rules of Lifting, had my TDEE-20% and macros worked out to the dot, read everything that Sara2k1 and Sidesteel (and you too cwolfman13!) had to say on here...and it felt awesome having that knowledge and control. I just can't get my head back into it, and I guess that reading up on IE convinced me that I was flighting my body and that the nice easy route of basically eating what you like sounded lovely (kidding myself really).

However the fact that I have trawled the internet looking for one IE weight loss success story and failed says it all really. Like you say wolfman, I think that the system needs to be reset or retrained before anyone can trust their natural eating cues.

Still, it would be interesting to see if there is anyone out there that this has worked for...? Maybe someone who has only recently had some weight problems?

Question for you, do you really think there is anything wrong with having to log all or most of the time for the rest of your life?

Here's the thing. I have issues with food to the point where I not only have issues with disordered eating, but an eating disorder as well. I've tried intuitive eating to the point where I went from one extreme to the other and back. I don't' think those will ever truly go away or that I'll "recover" (in the sense that I'll never have that problem again) from being an overeater and stress/bored/emotional eater. But I can deal with it and make it to where it's not negatively affecting me (i.e. gaining weight or working my way to the other end of the spectrum again).

Counting calories has worked in allowing me to lose weight as well as help prevent overeating/binging. It's not a 100% effective, but it's improved a lot compared to a few years ago thanks to logging everything and holding myself accountable.

If you happen to be like me, then just know that there isn't anything wrong if you aren't able to be like an "average" person in regards to intuitive eating. If tracking your food works then that works. Just like writing in a diary or taking medication for a medical/psychological issue is nothing to be ashamed of.

TL;DR : Don't drive yourself nuts trying to be like "everyone else" or "normal". Do what works for you and what will help you not just lose weight, but maintain as well.

mazmataz

Thanks for the amazing responses guys! I think that this comment really hit the nail on the head:

"For me, the psychological relationship I have with food (what is means to me, what I wanted it to do for me, etc.) was something I had to deal with before I could really commit to losing weight. I never wanted to be overweight. I just wanted to feel good. Turns out, the food did not do anything good for me, my body, my life."

If I was overeating because I can't recognise hunger signals etc, then maybe IE would work better. But it's not my body that's tricking me, it's my mind. When I overeat it's almost always with something sweet. I can take or leave savoury snacks (I've had a huge bag of chips in the cupboard that have been there so long that they're probably out of date now, but a bar of chocoloate wouldn't make it through the night!), but the little bit of dopamime that get's released in my brain when I have something sweet keeps me coming back for more.

I've not had a traumatic life, and no real reason to 'comfort eat', I just enjoy it...it's like a drug I guess. If I'm feeling a bit down or even if I've accomplished something, my condolence/reward will always be sugar. And yup, that's not my body telling me it's what it needs, it's a little high that I enjoy in my brain!

I know that MFP is generally anti-detox, but I was thinking of following a mild detox program next week just to reset my system a little and hoepfuly kill the sweet cravings...then maybe I'll be able to get back on track and actually work with my body for what it needs to be healthy. :-)

PikaKnight

Thanks for the amazing responses guys! I think that this comment really hit the nail on the head:

"For me, the psychological relationship I have with food (what is means to me, what I wanted it to do for me, etc.) was something I had to deal with before I could really commit to losing weight. I never wanted to be overweight. I just wanted to feel good. Turns out, the food did not do anything good for me, my body, my life."

If I was overeating because I can't recognise hunger signals etc, then maybe IE would work better. But it's not my body that's tricking me, it's my mind. When I overeat it's almost always with something sweet. I can take or leave savoury snacks (I've had a huge bag of chips in the cupboard that have been there so long that they're probably out of date now, but a bar of chocoloate wouldn't make it through the night!), but the little bit of dopamime that get's released in my brain when I have something sweet keeps me coming back for more.

I've not had a traumatic life, and no real reason to 'comfort eat', I just enjoy it...it's like a drug I guess. If I'm feeling a bit down or even if I've accomplished something, my condolence/reward will always be sugar. And yup, that's not my body telling me it's what it needs, it's a little high that I enjoy in my brain!

I know that MFP is generally anti-detox, but I was thinking of following a mild detox program next week just to reset my system a little and hoepfuly kill the sweet cravings...then maybe I'll be able to get back on track and actually work with my body for what it needs to be healthy. :-)

There is no resetting yourself though. Do what you will, but what you are doing isn't going to "kill" the cravings. Nothing like that (the changing of how you think, react, and deal with things, especially food since it is a necessity) is suddenly going to change in a few days or even weeks. If you want to get back on track, then get back on track. That's that. Today, log everything you eat and drink and your exercise and bam! back on track.

brpaulsn

Ok so I've been Doing IE fir just over a month now and I'm down 9 pounds, 5 inches overall in my waist thighs n hips. My pants keep falling off. I logged here at MFP for 2 years but even that wasn't working. I found this book called Have ur cupcake and ur skinny jeans too. By josie spinardi. Changed my life. Blew my mind. She gives u the cues on how to recognize hunger and cravings, the difference between habitual hunger and real hunger. I had cheesecake for breakfast today. Because I can. And no my metabolism isn't high. I've had 6 kids. I'm 34. I'm a darn food *kitten*. But it doesn't pimp me anymore. I own that. It's so awesome to be liberated. Yes it works.

themeaningofthemorning

I maintained eating intuitively. However, I think I may have lost some LBM as my BF% is clearly higher now than it was when I was counting.

I do think intuitive eating can work for MAINTENANCE as long as your lifts are in good shape and you are making a concerted effort to keep your macros in check (for example, forcing yourself to eat protein with every meal).

mrsburghart

My success story has nothing to do with weight, although I wish it did, and I'm almost certain it will eventually. I first started seeing my nutritionist about IE because I was binge eating 5-6 days a week and putting on weight like a crazy person. It wasn't necessarily the weight that had me bogged down, but the uncontrollable eating and the guilt...OH the guilt. I'm not 100% true to the principles of intuitive eating, but I found that by following them for the most part (like keeping my binge foods available and telling myself I can have them with no guilt, eating when I'm hungry, stopping when I'm full, etc) that I can now say that it's been 7 weeks since my last binge. To me, that's better than losing 5 lbs! I finally have control over my eating. I might be a bit more emotional since I have to actually feel my feelings now instead of eating them....but I'll take some teary eyes over the binging any day!

I think IE is great for people with EDs or those that just can't do the dieting anymore. It really does give you a new lease on life, and can save you time, and money. I don't think it's 100% though for people trying to lose weight. I feel like there should be a bit more direction on that...but for the most part I think it is really helpful and helps us get back in tune with our bodies. I used to eat when I wasn't hungry because that's what my "diet" told me to do. Now I eat only when hungry (which is definitely less often)...and it really is much, MUCH less stressful!

A word of advice, however, if you have thyroid problems that aren't properly regulated....you won't have hunger signals. I found this out the hard way...it was the one reason I "failed" at this in the beginning. I couldn't understand what people were talking about when they would say "vague empty feeling." I only knew I was hungry when my tummy rumbled, and by then it was too late to stop a binge.

editorgrrl

A word of advice, however, if you have thyroid problems that aren't properly regulated....you won't have hunger signals. I found this out the hard way...it was the one reason I "failed" at this in the beginning. I couldn't understand what people were talking about when they would say "vague empty feeling." I only knew I was hungry when my tummy rumbled, and by then it was too late to stop a binge.

MFP has a Hypothyroidism and Hyperthyroidism group: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/forums/show/770-hypothyroidism-and-hyperthyroidism

tennisdude2004

Hi I currently eat IE and have lost 25lb doing it.

I would point out the body isn't that great at giving hunger queues and IE does need a common sense approach and will require manual overrides from time to time.

brpaulsn

I would point out the body isn't that great at giving hunger queues and IE does need a common sense approach and will require manual overrides from time to time.

I have to agree 100%!!! I think IE starts when you're filling your plate. If you know you don't normally eat 3 eggs but you put them on your plate because you can, it's wasteful... and most of us were raised to clean our plates. When plating, plate sensibly. That's my suggestion. It is hard to get in touch with the body, but my binging is way down too. And I love it. I didn't say how much I'm down, I'm down 47.4 as of this morning. And a significant number of inches. from all over.

I wish every one good luck in their endeavors. And the biggest thing I've learned from IE is you're doing great, GREAT!

TheFitnessTutor

"One great big festering Neon distraction...I've a suggestion to keep you all occupied...."

Hazelnut79

I know that MFP is generally anti-detox, but I was thinking of following a mild detox program next week just to reset my system a little and hoepfuly kill the sweet cravings...then maybe I'll be able to get back on track and actually work with my body for what it needs to be healthy. :-)

I admit this at the risk of being bludgeoned - It sounds like I have a similar response to sweets as you, and I cut out most processed sugars for a week and it did help me reset things. I'm now able to get the same "rush" with smaller amounts of sugar. I didn't worry about fruit sugars etc., as long as I ate them in a form that included the fibre as well.

Also, I just realized you're in Vancouver - definitely not the place to look for evidence of the obesity epidemic!

bcattoes

Thanks for the amazing responses guys! I think that this comment really hit the nail on the head:

"For me, the psychological relationship I have with food (what is means to me, what I wanted it to do for me, etc.) was something I had to deal with before I could really commit to losing weight. I never wanted to be overweight. I just wanted to feel good. Turns out, the food did not do anything good for me, my body, my life."

If I was overeating because I can't recognise hunger signals etc, then maybe IE would work better. But it's not my body that's tricking me, it's my mind. When I overeat it's almost always with something sweet. I can take or leave savoury snacks (I've had a huge bag of chips in the cupboard that have been there so long that they're probably out of date now, but a bar of chocoloate wouldn't make it through the night!), but the little bit of dopamime that get's released in my brain when I have something sweet keeps me coming back for more.

I've not had a traumatic life, and no real reason to 'comfort eat', I just enjoy it...it's like a drug I guess. If I'm feeling a bit down or even if I've accomplished something, my condolence/reward will always be sugar. And yup, that's not my body telling me it's what it needs, it's a little high that I enjoy in my brain!

I know that MFP is generally anti-detox, but I was thinking of following a mild detox program next week just to reset my system a little and hoepfuly kill the sweet cravings...then maybe I'll be able to get back on track and actually work with my body for what it needs to be healthy. :-)

There is no resetting yourself though. Do what you will, but what you are doing isn't going to "kill" the cravings. Nothing like that (the changing of how you think, react, and deal with things, especially food since it is a necessity) is suddenly going to change in a few days or even weeks. If you want to get back on track, then get back on track. That's that. Today, log everything you eat and drink and your exercise and bam! back on track.

I disagree. Without getting in to a semantics arguement over resetting and detox, it is possible to kill sugar cravings by cutting added sugar from your diet temporarily. It worked for me.