Intuitive Eating Principles
I had the honor of speaking with Courtney from MommaStrong today. For those that may not know MommaStrong is a fitness program designed to tackle pregnancy, postpartum and beyond. It is more than fitness, it is a support network of amazing women. I highly recommend it!!
We discussed…
The 10 principles of Intuitive Eating!
I think everyone can incorporate some of this into their lives, regardless of your unique situation.
1. Reject the diet mentality
Say NO to the diet culture fueled by the media. Take back your body and realize there is no quick diet fix. Keto is not healthy. We need carbs. Paleo is not the wave of the future.
2. Honor your hunger
What does hunger feel like, do you even know? We eat based on the newest fad diet and suppress our natural hunger cues. Discover those, because without them it often leads to binging later.
3. Make peace with food
Give yourself permission to eat. If you deprive yourself, it can lead to stronger cravings later with feelings of guilt.
4. Challenge the food police
Who said chocolate was bad? Why can’t I eat bread? All food breaks down into carb, protein, fat which our body needs for energy. It’s time to challenge the food police and the rules they make up.
5. Feel your fullness
How do you know when you are done eating? Do we respect that feeling or eat past it? Practice mindfulness when eating, pause and say, ‘Am I still hungry?’.
6. Discover satisfaction
Why do we eat? For energy of course, but also for a sense of community, celebration, sorrow. Embrace all these external reasons. What does the food look like, smell like, taste like? Who is at the table? Enjoy everything that comes with food.
7. Cope with your emotions without using food
We eat for a lot of reasons including sadness, anxiety, and boredom. Embrace those feelings and learn to comfort and nurture them with ways other than food.
8. Respect your body
Not everyone will weigh 110 pounds or have an hourglass shape…hello genetics. We are all unique. Celebrate non-scale victories that your body can accomplish.
9. Exercise and feel the difference
Exercise should be positive movement leaving you feeling good, not beating your body up and making you suffer.
10. Honor your health
Everyone is different with what they can tolerate on the food spectrum. Focus on incorporating more foods instead of restricting.
It is best to embark on the journey of intuitive eating with a trained professional. I highly recommend working with a registered dietitian! If you’re interested in learning about my intuitive eating program, I offer a free call to discuss your needs and goals. Schedule your free chat here!
