Ok, so tomorrow will be my first day. I've lazed around today (being on vacation and all), reading the book & the boards and I'm so glad I did. I learned quite a bit.
One of the things is about emotional eating- Reinhard mentions in the book that if it's something you struggle with then it's something to be extra strict with. Meaning NoS Rules 3 meals a day. Period. I love that. I had been doing a 3 month online program to deal with my eating issues and yes, I became much more AWARE of what I was doing, meaning I'd be walking around eating and saying "I am eating because I am lonely and sad." But then not stopping eating.

Since I've started working on the online program I've gained about 10 pounds. So. That wasn't really working for me. Mainly because it's just SO EASY to say "I'm an emotional eater. This is what I do. I'm lonely. I eat." Someone mentioned on one of the posts (I believe it was Blueskighs but may have been 3aday, I apologize that I don't have the correct reference) that she too had spent all this time working on eating problems and then was so surprised & amazed that just creating this habit was actually solving the problem! I hope that happens with me.
Another HUGE thing I've struggled with is not being able to sit down and concentrate on what I was eating (well I do sit down, it's just at the TV or computer.) This is mentioned in many diets (including the NoS book)- sit down, pay attention, make it a meal. I just could not do that at all. Ever. I thought a lot about that today. I've always given it great emotional weight- always thought it was because it made me feel lonely and abandoned because I grew up with only my mom and she stopped cooking for me when I was in 5th grade and I'd never had a family dinner and blah blah blah and that maybe it was just bringing up a bunch of old "stuff."
But when I really thought about it today I realized that that wasn't it. It's that I when I have made myself sit down to eat meals I was still unconciously eating diet foods. This was a big revelation for me. I wasn't enjoying my meals because I wasn't really eating what I wanted. THAT'S what was upsetting me and making me feel not satisfied. Then I'd just leave the table and continue eating (bingeing) on the food thinking "well, at least it's not dairy!" (marilu hennner/fit for life diet) or "well, at least it's not carbs!" (atkins). This is crazy making. I have flipped flopped between these 2 diets for YEARS- many times in one day!
So I started thinking about what if I ate what I really wanted- soup and bread, cheese and crackers, a burrito (following the one plate rule of course). Now THOSE kinds of meals would make me want to sit at the table and pay attention!!!! So I went out and bought foods I really, really like. (Or at least remember I like- I haven't had them in so long, who knows? But I guess I'll find out

) It was such a freeing experience. Now I am excited to have my one plate meals!
I know there will be difficult times ahead but I am looking forward to the journey.