Love Your Body and Your Food with Intuitive Eating

I am a reformed dieter! I have spent most of my life on one diet or another, but three years ago I ditched the diets. Rather, I studied and spent one year learning to become a heath coach, then I spent a second year learning about intuitive eating, and now I am about to finish up a year-long course on understanding and learning how to address emotional eating. Through all of this, I have learned that it is possible to love your body and your food with intuitive eating. If you are tired of yo-yo dieting and weight loss books that contradict each other, then intuitive eating may be the strategy you need to teach you how to love your body and your food. It helped me, and can help you as well.

Intuitive eating is based on listening to your body so it can guide you in making food choices. The term is often associated with a 1995 book by the same name, but the concepts are much older and widespread.

Studies show that following your inner cues can enhance your mental and physical health. However, the process can be confusing if you’re unsure about where to begin. Learn how to separate fact from fiction when it comes to intuitive eating.

Love Your Body and Your Food with Intuitive Eating

Myths about Intuitive Eating:

1. Avoid extremes. There’s a difference between enjoying your food and eating anything you want without regard for the consequences. When you give up strict diets, you’ll need to invent your own guidelines.
2. Clarify your goals. The desire to lose weight can make you lose sight of other important objectives. Intuitive eating encourages you to think about your body being strong and fit rather than just a smaller size.
3. Do your research. While your body possesses great wisdom, it can use a little help. After all, you probably don’t instinctively recognize and avoid cookies containing trans fats. Use medical studies and product labels to guide you in making informed choices.

Recognize True Hunger:

1. Rate your symptoms. Eating when you’re hungry and stopping when you’re full is a basic principle of intuitive eating. However, it may be difficult after years of dieting. Increase your awareness by assigning a number from one to ten, based on whether you’re peckish or ravenous.
2. Fuel up. It’s easier to resist junk food when you’re slightly full. Keep nutritious snacks on hand.
3. Slow down. It takes about 20 minutes for your brain to register that you’ve eaten enough. Pause during meals to avoid becoming stuffed.
4. Stay hydrated. Thirst is often mistaken for hunger. Before you head for the refrigerator, drink a glass of water to see if your cravings will disappear.
5. Examine your feelings. Your emotions can also make you vulnerable to overeating. Find alternatives to comforting yourself with food. Go for a walk when you’re bored and call a friend when you’ve had a rough day at the office.

Other Truths about Intuitive Eating:

1. Exercise regularly. An active lifestyle helps you to connect with your body. Make your workouts fun by varying your routine and inviting family and friends along to join you.
2. Learn to cook. You’ll look forward to eating your vegetables and other fiber-rich foods if you learn how to prepare them. Watch food channels on TV and check out my quick and easy recipes.
3. Be patient. It takes time to change your eating habits. That’s especially true if you’ve been losing weight and putting it back on over the years. Give yourself credit for taking the first steps toward restoring balance.
4. Honor your body. Intuitive eating involves your attitude as well as your menu. Appreciate your body and its capabilities. Focus on your positive features instead of dwelling on what you believe to be negative aspects of your body.
5. Think long term. Work towards changes you can sustain instead of crash diets that you’ll probably abandon within a few weeks. The choices you make today can help you live longer and lower your risk for diabetes and other serious conditions.

Create a more positive body image and eat the foods you love without feeling any guilt. Intuitive eating is more fun than any restrictive diet and helps you to develop healthy habits that you can practice for the rest of your life.

Learning to be an intuitive eater is a process, it is not easy, and it can be a slow. But with the right tools and understanding, you can completely change your relationship with food. While intuitive eating is not a diet, when you learn to honor your body and recognize hunger, your body will settle to a weight that is right for you. It is possible to love your body and your food with intuitive eating.

Love Your Body and Your Food with Intuitive Eating

If you are ready to ditch the diet and find a new way, I invite you to work with me as your health coach. It’s a journey, but one that is worth the time and effort. I offer a free 50 minute consultation to learn more about yourself and how intuitive eating can help you let go of self-judgment, and discover a better way to manage weight, find health, and love the body you have. Simply visit StaceyDaprile.com and click on the coaching tab. Our follow this link: Ditch the Diets and Find a New Way.

Once you are on my coaching page you simply need to submit your name and email. Once I receive your request, I will send you a questionnaire to complete and the link to schedule a Zoom meeting. If you are local to my area, I am happy to meet in person. If you are looking for a better way to mange your weight and health, I really hope you take advantage if this life-changing opportunity. It changed my life, and it can impact your life as well.