"Naturally Thin": What I think so far...

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So, I finished "Naturally Thin" and I must say  I found it refreshing. If you've been a dieter for too many years to count and you're so used to eating what you're "supposed"to that you don't even know what you actually like to eat anymore this is probably a really, really good read for you. You see, Bethenny has her own issues with food. She spent years binging, restricting, going on every diet imaginable, exercising compulsively and listening to a running inner dialogue she refers to as her "food noise". And despite all that she was 15-20lnbs heavier than she is now (well, ok she just had a baby but you know what I mean) after applying her "Skinny Girl" rules (see below). This "food noise" constantly told her things like "No, don't eat that. It's bad for you. I'm going to get fat.", I'm disgusting. I can't believe I ate that.", "You have no discipline.", "If you don't workout you're a lazy, fat girl.", etc. etc. ". I don't know about everyone else but yeah... I've got my own "food noise" and it sounds a lot like that. A lot. And I'm pretty aware of it but I guess I always thought it was a good thing. That "noise"  keeps me in check. It controls me to some degree. But, when I think about it... maybe it hasn't helped me at all. I listen to it in most cases... I eat what I'm supposed to eat. Egg whites, broccoli, chicken breast, almonds.. you know all the "good stuff". Stuffing it down like a good girl whether I was hungry or not. I ate on a schedule, every 3-4 hours to keep my metabolism up. Then I tried intermittent fasting where I starved all day and then ate a days worth of calories all in a small amount of time to enhance insulin sensitivity. I didn't always do that. I have my own history of undereating but for the past few years I have been trying to eat what I'm "supposed to". Enough calories, enough protein, enough fat (which varies dramatically according to different nutrition camps).  I've tried every marconutrient split. I've dropped out entire food groups. I've eaten more fat than I ever though I would eat in a day. Then  I tried eating more starchy carbs. I tried the Zone, Atkins, the Anabolic Diet, and everything you could ever think of. All to no avail. I might lose a few pounds at first but usually just ended up gaining weight. Yep, I gained weight. I even had one fitness professional/dietician who basically told me I was lying to her because she had never had anyone gain weight on 1500 calories/day. Oops. I did. Sorry to ruin your track record. So all of this had led to immense frustration and self loathing.  I felt like I was somehow flawed. I wondered what I was doing wrong. I had lost weight before. I ate carbs, I ate things that weren't "ideal" but I was thin. I didn't eat on a schedule or make myself wait 16 hours before I could eat again. Why couldn't I do that now? Why is that when I eat what all these other fit, lean people eat I just get bigger? Well, Bethenney's book may have helped me step back and reevaluate what I have really been doing (I'll get to that in a bit).
 Bethenny's outlook on  food changed when she took a vacation to Italy where she swore she would not miss out on any of the wonderful food due to any food issues she had. She tasted everything but avoided eating large quantities of everything, applied some simple rules by which to eat that allowed her enjoy food without overindulging. When she got back home, she had gained no weight and found a brand new way of eating.

Watch and Listen as Bethenny explains her rules:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vt1APHMvIxY

Or you can just read them here:

1.Your diet is a bank account: It's all about balancing your calories for the day.

2.You can have it all, just not all at once: Keep the bulk of your food light and simple to make room for something you really want.

3.Taste everything, eat nothing: Mooch a bite off your friends; don't order the whole enchilada.

4.Pay attention: No mindless eating.

5.Downsize now: Shrink the size of your plates, bowls and cups and remember portion control.

6.Cancel your membership in the Clean-Plate Club: Doggie bag it or share; you don't have to clean your plate.

7.Check yourself before you wreck yourself: Be in the moment and stop binge eating.

8.Know thyself: Customize your eating to who you are.

9.Get real: The more unprocessed, whole, local foods, the better.
10.Good for you: Be good to yourself and let your choices come from a place of love for yourself.
 
 
* As you can see, it's not all about eating whatever the heck you want and praying for the best. It's a sensible, common sense type of approach to eating. Makes you wonder why you haven't tried this before huh? Well, if you're like me I always though there was some magic solution or combination of food that would work for me.
 
So, what have I gathered so far? How does this relate to me? Well, I'm not completely sure yet but I think in my attempts to eat only clean food (except for the occasional cheat meal reserved for one day a week) I have been eating more than what I need. How could that be if I was eating all these healthy foods right?  Let me explain. In order to avoid craving things I really want I'd eat bigger portions of the "good" stuff or I'd just have a taste of this and that and still eat my large portion of healthy stuff. I'd also eat when I wasn't really hungry because I was "supposed" to. If I hadn't met my daily calorie or protein requirements I'd down a shake at 10:00 at night whether I wanted it or not. I was missing out on all kinds of tasty foods not to mention memories and social events because I couldn't possibly eat THAT food and be fit, lean, skinny. etc.. No, I am cursed with a crappy metabolism and I'd be a cow if I ate all that.... well, maybe not. I've been applying the rules for several days now and I can tell a difference. I don't feel overlly full. I'm not forcing myself to eat anything I don't want to. Eating is less stressful cause I know I can eat whatever I want as long as balance it and I eat in moderation. AND I swear I already feel a little lighter. So... I'm going to give this a go. I'll keep you updated. I may fall on my face and you can all tell my you told me so but I don't think that is where this is going.

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