did anyone else watch "I Can Make You Thin" last night?
 

I admit, I was skeptical. Particularly since it sounded like an infomercial. I did watch the whole thing and by the end, I really was amazed. I know this stuff. Why am I not already doing it!?

There are four "rules"
1. Eat when you are hungry
2. Eat what you want (get rid of the crap that you eat because you think you should eat it)
3. Focus on eating (no distractions, fork & knife down between each bite, really chew and enjoy each bite)
4. Stop eating when you are full

I've dropped 18 pounds but am stuck here, so I decided to give it a go and try it this morning (within the confines of the Swank Diet).

This is way harder than I thought it would be! I guess I'm overanalyzing, but first I struggled with what to eat. If I'm eating what I want - I wanted to make sure that I truly wanted it. So many choices! Then, it was unbelievably hard not to eat in front of the computer. I'm a multitasker and I wanted to check in on the board. Ack! So then I start eating. I'm ok with #3. I hated it, but I did it. I'm having a hard time with #4 though. I still have 3/4 of a peanut butter english muffin and a half of a banana left. It's killing me. I'm not truly hungry, but I would love to eat it! Guess when I get hungry - then I'll eat it!

I'm hoping to retrain my body so that I can recognize being full more easily instead of finishing off my plate. I've lowered portion sizes (resulting in the initial weight drop) but I still scarf it down fast and eat the whole plate. It sounds so silly, but I think this just may work for me (primarily because it is so simple and it's about listening to what you really want and need). I'm not one to buy into any weight loss crud. Never really tried to do anything more than eat healthier and exercise, but I really liked this approach. We'll see what happens.

Did anyone else see it and what did you think?

Hey, Gretata, I'm glad you posted this! I have seen it in the listings but, like you, was skeptical and haven't watched it. I wondered if it might be a help to a friend of mine. For me, it's very much what you've reported, and I've kept off the 85# for almost 16 yrs. by sticking to it.

Here's a tip that will blow your mind once you recognize its truth:

Whenever you eat, there is a sigh, we don't really notice it, but pay attention and you will. That is exactly when to stop eating, it means you're full.

I obey this almost religiously and I believe it has made all the difference for me. I'm no string bean by any stretch of the imagination, but I landed here at where it seems about right for me and can handle it. Try it, you might be pleasantly surprised!

Sounds like something I should watch. I am way too close to being dx'd with diabetes. I need to do something now!

I'm so going to look for the sigh. That's too cool! My current problem is that since it takes about 20 minutes to know you're full, I've usually shoveled in twice as much food as I should before I would ever hit the sigh. I don't notice it until I eat with "slow" people. It's embarrassing! Now that I'm slowing down, maybe my sigh will be at the appropriate place and time!!

Looks like the show has several parts. Check TLC online for listing times because it doesn't seem to follow any pattern.

Seems like it could work for anyone since it doesn't try to tell you what to eat, just to listen to your body (like thin people can do naturally...) We'll see. As long as it doesn't cause me to overfocus/obsess about food, I'll continue to stick with it.

It's certainly an interesting concept, it's not particularly faddish, and it will allow me to stick with my current way of eating so I'm thinking positively about it. If it turns out that it's not for me, it's ok - I'll get off this plateau eventually! Best of luck to you Brenda!:)

I don't have cable so I did not watch the show. However, thanks for posting this. This really made me think and remember my eating "plan."

For me, the communication between my stomach and brain is broken. I rarely feel hungry. If I only ate when I felt hungry I would eat maybe 2 or 3 times a week. And even at that, I feel full after a few bites. But, you reminded me to eat this morning. LOL. Retraining my brain and metabolism is what I have been trying to do. Since I don't eat a lot, my body is storing reserves.

Now you may be thinking I am thin. NOT! MS so sweetly and kindly helped me put weight on. Between slowing down and medications I put weight on 30 lbs.:eek: Getting off Paxil was a huge help. I dropped 10+ pounds within a month of getting off it.

I am going to follow these rules by altering them a bit.
1. Eat at scheduled times whether feeling hungry or not.
2. Make what you eat count towards proper nutrition.
3. Focus on eating. (I'll keep that one)
4. Maybe, stop eating after x amount of bites.

Thanks Greta!

I saw the first episode and have caught the end of the 2nd one. Original episodes run on Sunday nites on TLC, then all through the week, it seems random.

Since Dad's hip replacement and my sprained ankle we've been eating in the living room on trays. We used to sit at the table and eat formally every morning and night. No lunch. We've got to stop being lazy and do it more often. Not just on days when we need a sharp knife.

We've been eating healthier for about 6 weeks and I've lost 10 lbs. I can't wait to start working out. We've got equipment in the basement and Dad will be my drill instructor. He's been warning me to do crunches now so I won't die when we start. :eek:

Hopefully putting this out in the universe will make me more accountable.

:hug:

Sounds like we all have some good plans going on!

Tkrik - one of the things that the show focused on was that by not eating, we were telling our body to conserve and go into starvation mode and slow the metabolism. I like your rules - they sound like a smart way to approach eating!

MSAcorn - you can find your kitchen table??:eek::p That's actually my pet peeve - my table is covered with stuff so we end up using the coffee table. No more starting tonight!

No, the dining table has placemats and a poinsettia on it. We walk past the room to get to the living room.

I think Dad just wants to be comfy after working all afternoon and coming home to cook. He's a better cook, and I'm a better dish washer. :D

:hug:

This is about how I eat and I'm eating about 1/2 of what I use to.

I eat what I want when I want, if it's not good for me I just eat a few bites.
That way I get the taste and don't keep on craving it.

I chew slowly and really well and stop eating as soon as I feel full.

I also don't eat just because it's "time to eat" other than dinner when I have to feed the kids.

I lost about 60 pounds in 9 months just by doing this and cutting back on Dr. Pepper.