do you listen to those little voices?

[peacefulpath]

Found this on MSNBC's website.........oh how true! Which voice gets you the most?

How to handle those inner voices when eating
Secrets to keep yourself positive while trying to lose weight
By Karen Collins
Updated: 10:46 a.m. ET Jan. 7, 2005

Even when some people dine alone, they have the company of four or more internal voices. These people don’t suffer from mental illness. Their brains are merely replaying conflicting and possibly negative messages about what to eat and how much. To successfully change your eating habits, behavior experts say you should learn to recognize these voices and put them in perspective.

The Indulger
One internal voice is the Indulger. This one can be fun to eat with because he or she says, “Go ahead, you deserve it,” and “This isn’t really so bad.” The Indulger is likely to visit you when you’ve had a tiring or difficult day. This voice can be comforting and convincing. If you listen to it, however, you may make choices that you later regret, like a third portion of pasta or three brownies.

The secret to turning the Indulger into a friend rather than a bad advisor is to hear what he or she is really saying: “You need nurturing. Maybe you need to go to bed early to catch up on lost sleep, talk to a friend for support, or put aside more time for yourself.” Some people have yet to learn how to nurture themselves in a way that makes them say, “I’m so glad I did that.”

The Critic
A far less pleasant voice who visits some people frequently is the Critic. The Critic rattles off all your unhealthy food choices, criticizes your body shape, points out what you neglected to do, or reminds you of all your mistakes. People who hear the negative thoughts of the Critic are more like to have grown up with perfectionistic authority figures, according to some experts.

Some other experts say these negative thoughts arise when people try to live by overly-restrictive rules. Studies show that Americans tend to go on and off many diets throughout their lives. But even if you stop a diet, the rules may still stick in your mind as the ideal goal. If you try many diets, you could end up with quite a crowd of critics in your mind. One voice would tell you to avoid all foods with fat, another might forbid you sweets, and yet another might condemn any more than one-half cup of pasta as overeating.

Rarely do these critical voices help people eat healthfully in the long run. When the rules become too rigid, the Indulger is usually nearby, ready to offer a treat. If people become sad, hearing the Critic replay their failures, the Indulger can be insisting it’s time for “comfort food.”

The Rebel
The Rebel could also answer the Critic’s voice, however. The Rebel is the inner voice that says, “Do it anyway.” A wide body of research shows that those people who have made the strictest rules about what to eat and how much are the ones who are most likely to rebound into overeating, especially when stressed.

If the Critic starts to speak to you, admit that you are not perfect and opt for a realistic way to improve your health.

The Victim
The pitiful voice of the Victim will whine that you are utterly helpless at making healthy eating choices. The Victim will give you excuse after excuse. For instance, he or she will note that others are getting seconds, that you never stick to a diet, or that you surely can’t eat healthfully when dining out.

Experts say that when you hear this victim talk, you need to talk even louder, reminding yourself that you always have choices. Instead of perfect choices, strive for ones in which the benefits outweigh the negatives. These are choices you can feel good about later.


Nutrition Notes is provided by the American Institute for Cancer Research in Washington, D.C.© 2005 MSNBC Interactive

[LyndaB]

Hmmmmmmmmmm... I don't hear anything... do you hear something? Was that you? Hello? Hello? I think we have a bad connection...

Thanks for filling my brain with more knowledge... you do that so well!

[grace-e]

The Critic and the Rebel used to bang around in my head all the time. I'm able to hold them at bay now. (pun intended). Lynda is right...you always have something good for me to read. Thanks. GRACE

[paula]

Of course, LyndaB is right! she is always right!. Why does anyone take the trouble to naysay her? She's a genius! She is cewertainly the fountain of all my knowlege. Barf.

[Spots]

In the past week since starting South Beach, I keep hearing the fifth voice more and more...

It's my own little Cheerleader yelling:
"Your doing so good! You love the food! You feel good! You're getting soooo healthy!"

I hope that voice keeps yelling loud enough to drown out the other negative voices

[Yosh]

I don't here them! blah blah blah blah . . .

LOL that was a cute poll! I am usually a nurturer to myself and a critic to my BF (poor guy). But at least I ask if he wants me to be a critic. If not, I lay off and nurture myself LOL.

Actually I have been really good with not nurturing myself "badly" anymore. I say . . .ok have that banana (high GI) instead of the pear (lower GI). . . you've been really good this week. Instead of . .. ok have that big piece of mile high double chocolate cake and throw in that double scoop of ice cream too! . . . you've slipped up a couple times this week but we'll get back on track tomorrow. Big difference to me now!!

[spiffikins]

this was cute - spot on, though!

I've heard all these voices in my head over the last years - does that make me crazy?

I like the idea of the Cheerleader - I can *almost* hear her now

[santosha]

Oh boy. I hear alllllll these voices. The critic dominates me in so many arenas - not just eating. I actually have been reading a great book, called "Soul Without Shame" and it's about working with and getting rid of that critical voice.

I'm working on getting my cheerleader to yell a little louder though, so as to drown out all that other noise!

[peacefulpath]

you are all too funny! See, you thought I was kidding when I talked about listening to the little voices before - I got sooooooooo excited when I actually found an article about it to validate it! (I'm not crazy.......REALLY!!! No, seriously, I MEAN it! I'm not the only one who has them.....HA!!!)

Actually, it helps to actually put a legitimate face on this, since so many did succumb to those little voices over the holidays. So, now it's time to tell them to SHUT UP AND GO AWAY!!!! (you can add the blah, blah, blah, or lalalalalalalalalalala if you want )

[northangel]

Mine was always the indulger or the critic. The indulger still tries to get me to pick up some chocolate or crackers, but my Cheerleader is winning.

[BostonNan]

The indulger attacked last night w/o warning, and I have to admit to giving in. Back to "what was that...can't hear you" today though! Guess my waning hearing isn't such a bad thing after all (and maybe my eyesight will go with regards to certain things here )

[LyndaB]

(and maybe my eyesight will go with regards to certain things here )

I wish my eyesight would go when I'm face to face with a piece of cheesecake...

[spiffikins]

oooh wouldn't that be great? selective vision - i just won't SEE all those crappy-for-me foods!! of course, it would be weird going through the grocery store - whole shelves of food would be "blank"

ah well, in the absence of a magical blind spot, i'll just have to use good old-fashioned will-power - or is it "won't power" ??