Embracing Change … with Intuitive Eating
As you are noticing, one of my favorite topics to talk about, write about, and speak about is intuitive eating!
Intuitive eating changed my life, both personally and professionally, and I could not be more thankful for Elyse Resch and Evelyn Tribole for writing the amazing Intuitive Eating book.
Intuitive eating has become so much more than a book. I believe it has truly become a movement that more nutrition counselors, dietitians and health coaches (clients too!) are embracing as a way to eat that is rooted in knowing what works for you as an individual human being.
In my opinion, intuitive eating combines your own knowledge and intuition about your body.
People often ask me about ‘messing up’ with intuitive eating. I hear, “I wasn't following hunger/fullness cues to the best of my ability and was also struggling with the idea of needing a meal plan guide to follow, especially at breakfast.” Some feel really guilty for not being a ‘perfect’ intuitive eater.
Often, the first instinct is to say I ‘failed’ at intuitive eating.
Spoiler alert: There is no messing up in intuitive eating.
Of course you can do things ‘wrong/different’ like skipping a meal or overeating too much food to the point it doesn't feel good. BUT intuitive eating holds compassion for when things like this happen and teaches us to tune into our bodies for information.
Some questions to ask yourself may include:
"What got in the way of my nourishment?"
"What feels best for my body?"
"Is there anything else going on that prevented me from doing what I know feels good?"
"Does anything else in my life need attention?"
"Am I using food (or using restriction) as a way to cope with feelings?"
“What can I do differently next time?"
I encourage you to use these questions when you feel like you’re “messing up” with intuitive eating. Eventually you will be able to see that having some sort of flexible "meal plan" at times where one needed that gentle guide was actually something that intuitive eating would embrace and call "self-care."
I want to point out that intuitive eating always embraces change.
We and life are constantly changing. The only consistent thing in our eating is that we will all change over time. Our food preferences may change, our portions may change, and our bodies may change, and it is all awesome.
Would you like to learn more about intuitive eating or do you need assistance? Book a consultation with me.
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