Hey there, food lovers! Have you ever felt like you’re constantly at war with food? Maybe you’ve tried every diet under the sun, only to end up feeling more confused and frustrated. If this sounds like you, it’s time to consider a new approach: intuitive eating. It’s not a diet, it’s a lifestyle change that focuses on listening to your body and finding peace with food. Let’s dive into what intuitive eating is all about and how you can get started on this liberating journey.
What is Intuitive Eating?
Intuitive eating is a philosophy that encourages you to reconnect with your body’s natural hunger and fullness signals. Unlike traditional diets that restrict what you can eat, intuitive eating promotes a healthy relationship with food by allowing you to eat what you want when you want it. Sounds too good to be true, right? But it’s not! Here’s the kicker: it’s all about tuning into your body’s needs and making food choices that feel good both physically and mentally.
The 10 Principles of Intuitive Eating
- Reject the Diet Mentality: Toss out those diet books and unfollow those social media accounts that promise quick fixes. Dieting often leads to more harm than good. To have a healthy relationship with food, you should stop dieting.
- Listen to your body: Listen to your body’s hunger cues and feed it before you become ravenous. This helps you avoid overeating and makes meals more enjoyable. Sometimes you start eating, just because you’re bored or watching something on TV. And while that is not always a bad thing. It can lead to overeating and if you do this too often, you will start gaining weight.
- Make Peace with Food: Give yourself unconditional permission to eat. If you tell yourself you can’t or shouldn’t have a particular food, it can lead to intense cravings and binging. Dieting is always about the things you can’t eat. That is not healthy. And for some reason, you will start craving exactly those things. Food is not your enemy. It is fuel for your body and mind.
- Challenge your thoughts: Ignore those negative thoughts that tell you certain foods are “good” or “bad.” All foods can fit into a healthy diet. Sure, fruit and veggies are healthier, but that does not mean you can never have an unhealthy snack or meal.
- Respect Your Fullness: Pay attention to your body’s signals that you’re no longer hungry. Pause during meals and ask yourself if you’re comfortably full. Again, listen to your body. It tells what you need. If your body tells you you’re full, stop eating. Don’t overeat, because that can make you feel nauseous.
- Eat what you want: Eating should be pleasurable! When you eat what you really want, you’ll feel more satisfied and less likely to overeat. This means you can have that piece of chocolate. You can have Mac & Cheese for lunch.
- Stop emotional eating: Find ways to cope with your emotions without turning to food. Stress, anxiety, and boredom can’t be truly fixed with a snack. Start exercising, meditating, or finding a hobby that will make you feel more relaxed or will distract you.
- Self-love: Accept your genetic blueprint. Respect your body so you can feel better about who you are. Be grateful for your body.
- Exercise – Feel the Difference: Focus on how it feels to move your body, rather than the calorie-burning effect. Find activities you enjoy and make you feel alive. Whether this is walking, dancing, or going to the gym. It really doesn’t matter as long you feel good.
- Eat healthier: Make food choices that honor your health and taste buds while making you feel good. Remember, you don’t have to eat perfectly to be healthy. A piece of chocolate is still allowed, carbs are allowed, even pizza is allowed.
Why Give Intuitive Eating a Try?
Intuitive eating can lead to a healthier, happier relationship with food. It’s about trusting your body, enjoying your meals, and finding a balance that works for you. No more yo-yo dieting, no more guilt – just a peaceful coexistence with food.
Ready to start? Trust your gut (literally) and embark on this journey towards food freedom. Your body knows best, so why not listen to it?
Happy eating!
Photo by Pablo Merchán Montes on Unsplash