And from my professional and personal experiences, there are usually a couple of issues involved that get us feeling like things aren’t improving.
1) We are trying too hard. We have this belief that if I just do the food journaling, take the food risks or buy clothes that fit the body I have, I will just move on to the next step, next week. Like now.
We all forget sometimes that this is a process and lose patience. Our suffering is created by expecting the process for the length of time recovery and changing OUR WHOLE LIFE will take be in a straight line. It is an ebb and flow; easy changes and challenging mountains to summit.
2) We haven’t fully let go. Full freedom with food (no food judgements or guilt) can be a bit allusive if we have not at least made a peace treaty with our body size. Maybe you are afraid that if you are okay (or eventually even like) with your body, you won’t lose weight or improve health.
This is not how it works. We are more likely to discover our natural weight and eat and move in ways that enhance our health if we stop the hate. Children don’t grow under the shadow of resentment and as adults, neither will our self-worth.
If you are stuck, it is because there is something more that you need to know. To release. It may already be something you know needs to happen. Sit quietly with yourself and ask. If you need more support, get it. If you need more love, allow it.
Don’t allow stuck-ness to talk you into going back to dieting or disordered eating. It will get you more of what you have gotten. It’s time for something new. Patience. Being flexible with your weight. Taking risks. Hope.
Tell us more about where you are stuck. It’s likely someone reading has been there and in the comments below, might share.
Much Love
Tracy
Hi
I’m so stuck. I’m stuck with trying to stop the exercise that I really just don’t feel like doing anymore. I cut it back but to be honest I don’t want to do it but I feel like if I stop I will lose control of my weight and my body and just lose control. I also see that when I’m not exercising as much I’m so hungry …. and that just doesn’t make sense to me. I know I have to stop this cycle in order to get past ed thinking …. but it’s difficult when I don’t have much support or help. Please anyone out there have words of advice or support or anything to lessen my fears and surrender.
It is normal to reach exercise resistance after a time of forced, compulsive exercise. And unfortunately normal to fear being out of control. The truth is, just like food, the body needs movement but sometimes less, sometimes more and if we can allow for listening to how much or little, how light or intense we want to move, we get the “right” amount.
In terms of food, we are not likely to weigh a weight that is not right for us if we are listening to signals of hunger and fullness. I do understand that if you have been restricting for a while this can be difficult and you may need to be eating more before those signals become more clear. Go to the free gifts section of the website to get your copy of the hunger and fullness scale if you don’t already have it. It takes lots of practice, courage and self-love to slow down to listen to your body. But being able to do this will help you trust that even if you don’t exercise each day, your body will just adjust your hunger. You don’t have to exercise to manage your weight.