What Is Intuitive Eating?

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If you've been following this blog for any length of time, you may have already heard me reference intuitive eating. Though, from the words alone you can probably guess what it means to eat intuitively, I thought it was about time for me to spend some time explaining this concept and talk about why this is my ultimate goal.

Intuitive eating is a concept that encourages a reconnection with your body's innate signals of hunger, fullness, and food preference. If you are someone who has experience with an eating disorder or chronic dieting these signals may be distorted or even seemingly absent. The principles of intuitive eating are focused on re-teaching your body this and conclusively coming to your body's natural weight and state of well being. The principles are outlined in the book by the same name "Intuitive Eating" by Evelyn Tribole and Elyse Resch. (Links in 'Suggested Books' tab).

There are 10 principles and they are as follows:
1. Reject the diet mentality
2. Honor your hunger
3. Make peace with food
4. Challenge the food police
5. Feel your fullness
6. Discover the satisfaction factor
7. Cope with your emotions without using food
8. Respect your body
9. Exercise- feel the difference
10. Honor your health with gentle nutrition

Obviously, the book walks you through each of these, what they mean and how to achieve them, etc. Honestly, finding this and reading it were huge catalysts towards my eventual pursuit of treatment. I truly felt it was my holy grail to even find that there were other people in the world who obsessed over food and dieting like I did and wanted help. It's a tricky line to distinguish, that though not everyone has a diagnosed eating disorder there are many who suffer from some form of disordered eating. Does that make sense?

Basically, if you've ever followed a diet before chances are when you have finished you still retain some of the behaviors you had taught yourself throughout. "These foods are good, these ones are bad, no carbs, no eating after 7 pm", whatever you had previously followed, even after you have stopped, these rules are hard to erase from our thoughts. This is how we get confused and it is confusing. The problem is after figuring out that "that diet" is no good it's harder and harder to go back to eating normally.

This is really all I want to do. In a perfect world, I would eat "normally". Like I imagine I did when I was a kid. I thought about food because I was hungry not because it seemed like eating was what I should be doing at that time. I exercised because it felt good to run around with my friends and jump on trampolines, not to burn off dinner from the night before. I don't want to count calories, points, ANYTHING for the rest of my life and I don't beleive I should have to. Maybe to some people that sounds too good to be true or even lazy. But I'm nor trying to get ripped here, just come to a place of peace with myself. And to the people who say "Just eat healthy", I can't help but be a little offended. I've had what feels like five million different sources trying to sell me their version of what healthy is, so frankly, trying to figure out how to "just eat healthy" gives me nothing more than a headache.

My only real issue with the book is that it is marketed as a diet book. I think on the cover it claims to be "A revolutionary program for weight loss that works!", which really doesn't follow the philosophy of book, i.e., Principle #1 Reject the Diet Mentality. Especially, since throughout the book it repeats that it is easier to become an intuitive eater if you let go and put weight loss on the back burner for once. So, for me that makes it really easy to overlook and lump in with other weight loss books. I guess it's a lucrative industry and marketing there is the best way to make money. Anyhow, I 'm glad I did pick it up as I believe it is a really helpful tool to becoming more mindful and connected with the way we eat.

If any of this sounds like you, I'm glad you found this blog and I hope you will continue to join me as I figure all of this out. I also encourage you to pick up this book and see what it can do for you. I think a lot of people would find it beneficial. Good luck on your own journeys and don't forget to like or share this with your friends.

Thanks!