March is National Nutrition Month! Today’s article is all about how the practice of intuitive eating can help us to improve our health and well-being without overly restricting the food we eat.
Intuitive Eating Core Concept: Dieting is Bad for Us
For almost as long as civilized society has existed, women have been taught to work to achieve the physical ideals of the times.
At one time this meant women should be curvy; at another time, thin was in.
One thing was constant: we were not ever encouraged to follow the principles of intuitive eating.
Unfortunately, dieting has long been common for women, at least in part due to these societal pressures.
But dieting is bad for our bodies. And it’s also bad for our minds.
It’s hard to believe, but today, we need to consciously focus to behave the way nature intended.
Eating when we’re hungry.
Stopping when we’re full.
Consuming a variety of foods that meet our cravings.
What is Intuitive Eating?
This basic, common-sense approach to eating has a name. It’s called intuitive eating.
More specifically, intuitive eating is a holistic approach to nourishing our body and mind that focuses on listening to our body’s natural cues and honoring our internal wisdom.
It encourages us to develop a healthy relationship with food, free from restrictive diets and external rules.
Intuitive eating is not a diet.
It’s a philosophy that emphasizes self-care and body respect.
It’s an empowering way of eating that can help us achieve a healthier and happier life.
It encourages us to trust our body’s signals of hunger and fullness and to honor our cravings without judgment.
By reconnecting with our body’s wisdom, intuitive eating allows us to develop a more balanced and sustainable relationship with food.
How to Practice Intuitive Eating and Never Diet Again
1. Reject the Diet Mentality
Intuitive eating begins with letting go of the diet mindset and shifting our thinking away from restrictive eating patterns and unrealistic body ideals.
By embracing body acceptance and self-love, we can foster a positive relationship with food and our body.
2. Honor Our Hunger
Listening to our body’s hunger signals is critical.
By eating when we’re physically hungry, we provide our body with the nourishment it needs and prevent overeating later on.
Pay attention to subtle cues of hunger.
3. Make Peace with Food
Intuitive eating encourages us to make peace with all foods, including those that are traditionally labeled as “good” or “bad.”
By removing guilt and judgment, we can enjoy a balanced diet without feeling deprived or overwhelmed.
Intuitive eating empowers us to challenge and replace these thoughts with self-compassion and trust in our body’s wisdom.
4. Discover Satisfaction
Intuitive eating encourages us to savor and enjoy our food, paying attention to the taste, texture, and aroma.
By seeking satisfaction from our meals, we can prevent feelings of deprivation and find joy in nourishing our body.
5. Respect Fullness
Just as it’s important to honor our hunger, it’s equally important to respect our body’s fullness signals.
By tuning in and eating mindfully, we can recognize when we’re comfortably satisfied and avoid overeating.
6. Cope with Emotions
Emotional eating is a natural part of being human.
Intuitive eating acknowledges that food can provide comfort and emotional nourishment.
Instead of suppressing or using food as a coping mechanism, paying more respect to our intuition encourages us to find alternative ways to deal with our emotions, such as journaling or talking to a friend.
7. Respect Our Body
Our body deserves love and respect.
Eating intuitively promotes body acceptance and challenges the pressure to conform to unrealistic standards.
We can each embrace the uniqueness of our body and focus on its strength, health, and well-being.
Intuitive Eating Benefits Both Physical and Mental Well-being
Intuitive eating benefits both our physical and mental well-being.
By adopting this practice, we can:
- Improve our relationship with food.
- Develop a more positive body image.
- Enhance our overall well-being.
- Reduce the risk of disordered eating patterns.
- Reconnect with our body’s natural cues.
- Enjoy a more balanced and varied diet.
- Experience freedom from restrictive diets.
- Reduce anxiety related to eating.
- Begin a journey that will potentially prevent chronic inflammation and other chronic conditions.
This novel approach allows us to break free from the cycle of dieting and adopt a healthier way of nourishing our body and mind.
By rejecting the diet mentality, honoring our body’s signals, and making peace with food, we can develop a positive and sustainable relationship with eating.
Embrace intuitive eating as a lifelong journey towards self-acceptance and well-being.
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Thank you as always for reading.
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Joan Senio is the founder of KindCompassCoach. Her career includes 20+ years as a private sector corporate executive and 15 years (and counting) as a consultant and coach. The common thread through her professional life has been a commitment to compassionate leadership, including leading and mentoring current and future leaders, and women from all walks of life. KindCompassCoach articles are backed by research and include facts and advice from a wide variety of experts. Joan is a member of the International Organization of Life Coaches, serves as a thought-leader for KuelLife.com and is a regular contributor to PsychReg and Sixty and Me.
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