Are you a chronic dieter? Have you ever struggled with following these far-fetched meal plans? Maybe you’ve lost weight, only to gain it back and more. You’ve heard of keto, you’ve heard of intermittent fasting, carb-cycling, weight watchers, low fat, and high protein diets. Well, get ready to throw the whole idea of dieting away. Intuitive eating is a mind and body eating mindset that is here to stay. That’s right. The newest way of consuming food boasts its ability to satisfy all of your cravings, while simultaneously ensuring your body is getting the necessary nutrients.
Intuitive eating is a lifelong, sustainable, and realistic way of living. This type of eating rejects the idea of diet culture and diets in general. Gone are the days of obsessively counting calories or macronutrients. Say goodbye to the scale and the food tracking apps. Instead, get ready to begin, quite literally, trusting your gut when it comes to meal time. So how does one start intuitive eating? Simple, just begin implementing the eating practice’s 10 key principles.
Evelyn Tribole and Elyse Resch are the two registered dieticians who developed this food phenomenon. Together, they came up with the 10 following pillars of the practice:
- Reject the diet mentality
- Honour your hunger
- Make peace with food
- Challenge the food police- those people who say you shouldn’t eat this or that to lose weight
- Discover the satisfaction factor
- Feel your fullness
- Cope with your emotions with kindness
- Respect your body
- Movement- focus on feeling the difference in your body
- Honour your health with gentle nutrition
Here’s the link to their website for more information:
www.intuitiveeating.org/10-principles-of-intuitive-eating/
Recent research has shown the effectiveness of using this form of feeding as a means for weight management in individuals who are obese or struggling with disordered eating. Relying on the body’s cues and cravings, while also knowing no food is off limits can create a sense of freedom. This freedom can help make the idea of losing or gaining weight not seem as scary or unachievable.
Intuitive eating is based on the idea that in order to feed our bodies optimally, we should listen to the cues it gives us, while also feeding our cravings when they arise. In this practice, food isn’t just an experience for the body; it’s meant to be enjoyed mentally as well. Intuitive eating may not get you those super fast results, but if you’re looking for a way of life that allows you to fuel your body while also enjoying your favourite foods and drinks this may be for you.
References:
“Studies.” Intuitive Eating, 3 June 2019, www.intuitiveeating.org/resources/studies/.
10 principles of Intuitive Eating. (2019, December 19). Retrieved February 26, 2021, from https://www.intuitiveeating.org/10-principles-of-intuitive-eating/