intuitive eating

What is Intuitive Eating?

What even is intuitive eating? Is this just succumbing to my cravings or a new fad diet? No! It’s the complete opposite. Intuitive eating is a way to tune into your body, listen to your feelings about food, and make decisions about what to eat. When you approach food with mindfulness you make healthy choices even if your “diet” isn’t “healthy”.

So, who am I to speak on intuitive eating?

I have used food as emotional support, I’ve shamed food and hated food, I’ve blamed food for my Auto Immune disorder, I’ve spent too much money on food and then not enough. I have had a challenging relationship with food, and through shifting my relationship with this aspect of my life, have I found intuitive eating the best way to nourish myself.

But where do you even start?

Firstly, it’s decerning the difference between a repeated craving and a legitimate request from your body. The best way to do this is to first forget everything you know about food, diets, how to fuel your body and even when. As much research has been done in this area and as many “professionals” claim to have “the” answer. The simple truth is there’s evidence to support the full spectrum of ways you can eat. There’s not one way everyone should be eating. More importantly there’s not just one way you should be eating.

At different times in your life depending on your internal and external worlds you may become deficient in various minerals; your body will automatically send you signals to replenish these minerals. So, let’s tune in! let’s begin to listen to these messages and stop listening to the new diet trend or what works for others.

So here comes the catch, your body is always speaking to you and informing you on which foods it requires. It’s only our ability to listen and take different actions that stops us from eating in an intuitive way. Next time you go to plan a meal listen to what you truly crave. Go with it no matter what stories are taking place.

Disclaimer:

Now I need to take a pause here and explain that this doesn’t mean choose fast food and sweets. It’s not shaming these foods but its understanding that these signals will be attached to more of an emotional state rather than your gut. So, allow those thoughts to come in but use your discernment here.

So allow the true message to come through and act accordingly. You may plan a big meal and halfway through get signals to stop. Listen to this! Most of us have been conditioned to finish our plates and to not “waste” food. But we need to rewrite that story and allow only what’s best for us to come in.

But what if I am truly needing chocolate?

I’ve listened to the signal and it’s saying chocolate. Okay there’s a few more pieces of the puzzle to fill in. Bottom line listen to this voice, it doesn’t need a story but make sure next time you have that chocolate craving you feel into how true it feels and don’t just accept “oh yeah I can eat whatever comes into my mind”. Now with that in mind we also must understand the gut is a living organism in itself. In fact, the gut is home to an estimate of between 30 trillion and 400 trillion microorganisms. These microorganisms’ breakdown and process the food you have been digesting. So, we need to understand that the only person that has your concoction of bacteria and microorganisms is you! If you are craving chocolate or fatty foods and it feels like it is a true request from your gut, bring mindfulness and appreciate that it is a process to shift this living world inside of you to a place of harmony. It won’t just happen, and you can gently guide this to a healthier place but the best thing you can do is provide it love and form a connected partnership with this inner world.

The only thing left to do is practice! This is an ongoing relationship with your gut, It will inevitably have ups and downs but maintaining the practice of it all will keep you on the right track.

Now a lot has been said but to boil it down here are the steps to follow 

·      Forget the stories and release the shame of food

·      Listen to your gut

·      Eat when you want

·      Eat what you want

·      Form a relationship with your gut

·      Practice! (This isn’t a diet, it’s a way to live)

 The last bit of advice I’ll pass on is even with reading this LISTEN TO YOUSELF!!! You and only you know what’s best for your body. If you continue to self-sabotage or struggle with your relationship with food, there is likely something deeper that needs to be unpacked. From my experience it was repressed trauma and through healing that part the rest flowed through with ease. All the best with your food endeavours, much love, Brad.