What is Intuitive Eating?

First, let’s start with what intuitive eating is NOT! Intuitive Eating is not a diet, it’s not focused on weight loss, and it’s not restrictive! Intuitive eating is an approach to eating that is based in compassion. Compassion for ourselves and our bodies. Science tells us that we don’t need to be a certain weight or size to be healthy, intuitive eating helps shift the focus from body size to health. Health isn’t just physical. Mental and emotional health play a huge part in our overall health, and intuitive eating looks at our whole body/mind/soul health.

Have you ever had a food that you just couldn’t have in the house or you would eat it all in one sitting? This is a dieting mindset. By limiting, or restricting, certain “forbidden” foods (say ice cream for example) we put that food on a pedestal, giving it all the power! We try and trick our bodies and mind into thinking we’re eating ice cream by eating frozen cool whip, or greek yogurt….but our bodies are smarter than we give them credit for. What undoubtedly happens is we deny ourselves the real ice cream until we can’t take it any longer and end up overeating the ice cream past the point of comfort. Then we feel sick and guilty and beat ourselves up for not having the “willpower”, swear off ice cream and the cycle starts once again. Intuitive eating takes the power back from these foods and by exploring our relationship with food we can re-shape how we think of food and our bodies.

We’re all born with the ability to listen to our bodies signals. As we age, external forces (family, society, etc.) try telling us what/when/how much to eat, that we shouldn’t be over a certain weight, or a certain pant size. Intuitive eating is learning how to listen to those internal cues to be the healthiest YOU can be…which looks different on everyone!