If you are someone who likes to keep on top of all the newest and best diet trends and fads that pop up across the course of a year, then it’s likely that you have at least seen or heard the phrase ‘intuitive eating’ at some point recently. It is being touted as the next big thing in sustainable and successful dieting, with many people saying that is one of the smartest ways to lose weight. If you are are looking for a new method to try, then here is some information about intuitive eating for weight loss.
Developed by Evelyn Tribole, intuitive eating is a philosophy that rejects the normal restriction and deprivation techniques of old diets and instead encourages you to get in touch with your mind and body, asking you to ascertain how hungry you and how satisfied you are at any given moment. It includes principles like respecting your fullness, honouring your hunger, making peace with food, discovering satisfaction in healthy alternatives, respecting your body, and exercising to feel the difference.
Although intuitive eating isn’t technically classed as an official weight loss diet or method, there is no doubting that if you get your values and your behaviours all back into the good column thanks to the principles, you might start to see differences in that calories that you consume and the foods that you eat.
In a way, yes, because whilst mindful eating focuses more on the setting of where you eat and of the physical act of eating, like slower chewing etc., intuitive eating encourages you to be more aware of your body in general, tapping into your emotions and dependencies on food as well as guiding you to be more respectful not only of the food but also of yourself.
It can help you to regain a confidence and assurance in your own eating, learning how to make good decisions when everything is available to you, rather than going on a strict diet where you have to completely eliminate whole food groups in order to succeed. I suppose you could describe it as a more evolved version of the ‘everything in moderation’ motto, and intuitive eating definitely makes you feel more in control and mature in your approach to your daily diet. It puts the emphasis back on you being able to make healthy choices, rather than treating you like a child and metaphorically locking the cupboards that you aren’t allowed to look in.
Honestly, what better time than right now? The longer you wait, the longer it is going to take for your body to change in the ways that you want it to, so commit to intuitive eating today and get ready for the differences to start appearing.