Should I Practice Intuitive Eating? Common Concerns

Do you like the idea of intuitive eating but wonder if you'll actually benefit?

Have you been controlling your eating (or trying to) for so long that "eating what you want when you want it" feels anxiety-provoking?

What is intuitive eating?

Intuitive eating is essentially a self-care eating framework that encourages you to listen to your body's cues and signals rather than rely on and follow external food rules.

However, you might have learned that the body is NOT something to be trusted and to make any positive strides with eating or the body requires you to muscle yourself and your body into submission. This is why the concept of intuitive eating can feel so frightening. Many of the clients I work with share how much they dislike feeling like they have to control so much with their eating, yet feel daunted by the idea of listening to their body.

"What if I overeat or go off the rails?"

"What if my appetite betrays me and I end up eating MORE and gain weight?"

"What if I just feel out-of-control? Maybe control is the only thing that will work for me."

Anyone who has subscribed to the idea that having a positive relationship with food or a healthy body means you have to control everything, will shudder at the idea of "feeling," let alone trusting, bodily cues.

What I've found in my field work

Many of the women I support would benefit GREATLY from being more attuned and trusting of their body signals. It really is the royal road to confidence and self-assurance around food. However, a leap into intuitive eating can be too much of a change, too quickly. It can feel psychologically overwhelming to go from controlling to suddenly expecting to rely on and trust body cues. I'm not saying it can't be done, I'm saying that many people get overwhelmed by the abrupt shift.

The solution I've found tends to be bringing in the best of both worlds:

A loving structure to eating than relaxes anxiety. (ex. a legitimate breakfast, lunch, and dinner time with specific nutritional guidelines that feel maintainable)
Practices around FEELING the body and its signals within that framework - essentially building the body sensation muscle

Clients often need guidance in doing so, but with a little support, the benefits are remarkable. Clients can feel held and supported in a style of eating that is nutritionally sound and also have developed the skill to trust when hunger begins and ends so that the stress that often accompanies dining with friends, on vacation, or at restaurants dissolves...because you can finally trust your body.

I believe this is possible for all women!

With love & respect,

Laura

(Want one-on-one support? Reach out to hear about my 3-month program here. I also have an eating psychology group program that I'll be opening enrollment for a little later in the year. Stay tuned!)