It’s important to understand that intuitive eating is NOT a diet. And if it’s not a diet… you can’t fail!
Let me guess.. you gave intuitive eating a shot, but somehow it feels like trying to solve a Rubik’s Cube blindfolded. Frustrating, right? Maybe you feel scared because you tried it but just gained weight or felt like you couldn’t really break free from your old diet ways.
So let’s unpack the challenges you might face along your path to eating intuitively and how you can overcome them.
Intuitive eating shouldn’t feel like another diet
“I can only eat when I’m hungry, and I must stop before I’m full”. Sound familiar?
Here’s the thing. The very nature of intuitive eating is you’re allowed to be imperfect. It’s not about following strict rules of only eating when you’re hungry. And having an all-or-nothing approach will leave you stuck.
Saying “I’m not hungry, and that’s delicious and I’m going to eat it” is STILL part of intuitive eating.
So, what’s the sweet spot? Recognising that you don’t have to be the perfect intuitive eater all the time. Sure, aim to eat mostly when you’re hungry, but don’t slap a frequency tag on it.
As you get into the groove of intuitive eating, you might find yourself passing on that tempting cake simply because you’re just not in the mood. Because you have come to trust it’s always available and there is no ‘last supper’, you don’t need to use willpower either. That’s the freedom and flexibility we’re after.
Intuitive eating means I can have chocolate in the house, and eat it too. Minus the guilt.
Diets are like a sparkly new dress
Going on a diet is exciting at first, boxes getting ticked, weight dropping, feeling smug. But, and it’s a big but, they get progressively harder to follow.
Intuitive eating flips the script. The beginning is a challenge, a test of patience, but the longer you continue, the easier it gets. You’ve got to be okay with failing and imperfect eating. It’s a journey, not a sprint.
Intuitive eating isn’t the same as impulsive eating
Just because you can eat everything doesn’t mean you should eat everything in sight! There is a difference and it’s a big and important one. Also, not dieting isn’t the same and intutive eating. It’s probably the most common mistake I see.
If you want to learn how to go from an impulsive eater to an intuitive eater, I’ll teach you how in my Free 5-Day Course.
Intuitive eating isn’t a one night stand, it’s a long term commitment
If you’ve been a loyal dieter, you’re used to rules. Intuitive eating, on the other hand, throws the rulebook out the window. No more “thou shalt not eat carbs after 6 PM.”
You’re breaking all the rules in your brain and are tuning into your hunger, a skill many of us have lost after years of diet conditioning. You’re bound to eat more than feels comfortable at first. It’s like breaking free from a murky relationship with food, and stumbling before you find your footing.
Keep in mind, it’s hard to fully commit until you’ve faced the bitter truth that diets have failed you time and time again.
But buckle up cause’ the benefits are freakin’ worth it
Diets devour your thoughts, leaving you mentally shackled to food. Intuitive eating frees your mind to focus on things that matter, like life, dreams, and goals. Would your dying regret be wishing you were more obsessed about your weight and what you ate?
But, if you’re still tethered to diet rules, you’re not truly embracing intuitive eating.
List all those diet rules cluttering your brain. Fruit is fattening, carbs are evil – you get the drift. It’s time to purge these rules like unwanted souvenirs. Until you do, intuitive eating will feel very difficult.
Remember, learning about intuitive eating again is about getting back that very deeply intelligent part of you that knows exactly how to best feed yourself. You don’t need a meal plan or a diet guru to tell you how or what to eat.
And here’s another important tip– seek professional help.
No, not the diet guru promising six-pack abs in six weeks. Find a non-diet professional who champions intuitive eating. They’re the allies you need in this journey. Just remember, if they’re peddling weight loss, run the other way. Binge Free Academy could be your guiding light.
If you’re still set on losing weight, practicing intuitive eating gets really tough. Trying to do both is like baking a cake and running at the same time- it just doesn’t work. So toss out the scales, ditch the food diary, and focus on the true essence of intuitive eating – listening to your body without the noise of weight loss expectations.
Rewiring your brain takes time, but it does get easier.
The key is changing the thought patterns, and when that little voice pops into your lovely brain, telling you to go on a diet- switch the channel. Expect a slow start, anticipate the hurdles, but know this – you can always come back to intuitive eating. It’s not a club with a bouncer checking your diet history.
And let’s not forget, intuitive exercise is also a thing. Tune into your body, whether it’s a day for a gentle stretch or a vigorous workout. The same intuitive thinking that applies to eating extends to how you move your body. Exercise doesn’t need to suck.
Want a little help to make it happen?
If you want to count happy memories, not almonds or macros – and finally change your relationship with food and your body – then check out my Back to Basics App.
Oh, and you can try it free for 7 days! So there’s nothing to lose except for the guilt… and oh-so-much headspace to gain.
