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Charlene's Journal

Charlene is a journey of mindful health and self-care

Letting go of overeating and restrictive eating
Posted on 12/08/2012 @ 5:45 PM

Looking back over what I learned from chapter 1/workshop 1, I would say that noticing my thoughts about the 3 Eating Cycles was somewhat like having conversations with 3 different lovers:

Overeating Cycle:

OC: Don’t even think you’re going to change our relationship. You know you can’t live without me. I’ve ALWAYS been here for you. I comfort you when you’re down. I entertain you when you’re bored. I soothe you when you’re anxious. I’ve been a part of your life almost every day. We’ve had way too many good times for you to give this up.

Me: You’re right, we have had some really great times, and you have been there for me. But, like a relationship with an abusive partner, you’re hurting me. You’re affecting my health, you’re helping me to deny my true feelings and enabling me to not deal with the underlying causes. Things have to change.

Restrictive Cycle:

RC: You’ll be back. You don’t know how to live without me. Unless I’m there to tell you what to do, you’ll get out of control. Someone has to tell you what you should and shouldn’t do. I paint the rosy picture for your future and tell you step-by-step how to get there. That’s exactly what you need.

Me: It’s true, I am a bit afraid to venture out on my own without you, but this just isn’t working. Your “shoulding” and “guilting” techniques are tearing me apart. I’m not perfect, and the ups and downs of hope and disappointment are like a life-long roller coaster ride. I’m exhausted, and I just can’t do it anymore.

Instinctive Cycle:

IC: I’m there for you. I’ll be your supportive, natural guide to the healthy and vibrant life you envision.

Me: You seem too good to be true and I’m skeptical.

IC: I’ve always been there for you. I’ve been waiting for your return.

Me: But, I don’t know if I can live without OC and RC. They’ve been a part of my life for so many years.

IC: I’m a part of you, listen to your own wisdom and you’ll find me. We’ve always been together and that will never change. No matter how many times you stray, just look for me, and I’ll be there. This is not an outlined step-by-step plan, rather it is a one-step-at-a-time plan. We can get there together, you just have to trust.

Me: Okay, we’ll see. I really do want to believe you. I'll just take it one step at a time.

Michelle May M.D.

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Charlene's Journal

My Perfect Weight

Emotional Stages of Saying Goodbye to Dieting

Entering a New and Wonderful Relationship

Perfectly Imperfect

Dieting Continued to Get Harder; Mindful Eating Continues to Become More Natural

100% Commitment, 100% Forgiveness

Stress, the Great Seducer

A Mindfully-Cooked Meal

How long does it take for mindful eating to become a habit?

I Love Taking My Power Back!

My Emotional Eating Experience

Creative Hopelessness

The Godfather Ate My Cake!

Our Relationship to Food is Not a Problem to Be Solved; It is a Process to be Lived

How Does Your “Little Voice” Speak to You?

Where Do I Want to Eat?

Sit. Feast on Your Life

What do you wish you’d known about dieting?

“The problem is that my behavior with food is irrational!"

The Gentle Politeness of Our Bodies

All Emotions Fit

Noticing the shift

Practicing Am I Hungry? Concepts in Other Areas of My Life

Coming to My Senses: My One-Year Anniversary with Am I Hungry?

A Note of Compassion to All Dieters, Including Myself

Follow Your Heart But Don’t Check Your Brain at the Door

Mindful Movement

Regret Over Guilt

Practicing Mindfulness

A Mindful Walk

Choosing Ease over Easy

Our 23rd Wedding Anniversary

Done with Dieting. Forever.

Fear of Hunger

Acceptance, compassion, and encouragement

Flying on autopilot

"Several “Hungry” Days Didn’t Stress Me Out!"

What Else Am I Bringing to the Table?

What do I want to eat?

Speed Bump with a Bonus

No Bad Foods, Really?

From Tunnel Vision to Total Vision

A Mindful Choice for Quality

From Redirection to Connection

Like Riding a Bike!

New Year's "Resolutions"

Merry Mindful Christmas

Curiosity is key

Fullness as an illusionary hug

Letting go of overeating and restrictive eating

Wait for it...

Thanksgiving for Thanksgiving

Hunger is the Best Seasoning

Old habits die hard

Happy Birthday to me!

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