“Intuitive eating is giving your body the nutrients, energy along with pleasure and satisfaction it needs to thrive each day, to cultivate trust and respect with your body once again”
~Claire Ball
What is intuitive eating?
Intuitive eating is tuning into your body and listening to when and what your body asking you for. Embracing that some days your body might need more fuel (food) than others. When you truly start to listen to your body you will not only have more energy and less anxiety each day but you will also:
Foster a mind-body connection
Teach your body to trust you again
Stop thinking about food all-day
Enhance self esteem
Notice less anxiety around food
And many more unique benefits which you will unveil.
Entuitive eating isn’t for everyone, who is and isn’t it for?
Who is it for?
intuitive eating is for folks who have a more natural view of food, self-image, who are at a safe place with their physical vitals and weight.
Who isn’t it for?
If this is not you right now embrace that your relationship to food may have to start a little more structured before getting to intuitive eating. If you are in your first stages of recovering from an eating disorder (ED) intuitive eating may not be the best option for your body and mind right now. First, we have to get your body at a safe place and a place where your body can be in touch once again with the natural hunger ques if you are in the beginning stages of recovery. These hunger ques may be a little skewed currently. Often in beginning stages of recovery some structure and help from a dietitian are necessary. Once your beautiful body is balanced again that's when your intuitive eating journey can start.
When can you start intuitive eating in Eating disorder recovery?
Something that helped me on my intuitive eating journey (which was a long transition from anorexia recovery meal plans to slowly intuitive eating) was embracing that in the first transition of a meal plan to a more intuitive way of eating, your body may want abundant foods, THIS IS NORMAL! This happens because your body is learning to trust that you will give it enough fuel and in cases of recovering from Anorexia nervosa all this fuel will be going into restoring your internal organs and bone density which requires a lot of fuel to do.
Key elements of intuitive eating people often overlooked
Mental Hunger: Intuitive eating is not only eating when your body is hungry intuitive eating is also about honoring your mental hunger, when your craving cake, when your friends offer you baked goods that look yummy. This is also apart of intuitive eating.
Setting yourself up for success: The goal of intuitive eating is making a mind-body connection and truly honoring your body's need for food. This means if you know there are certain situations that skew your hunger ques. For example, if you know when you are under stress you tend to lose your appetite making sure you set yourself up for success by meal prepping, making sure meals are easily available so you can give your body the fuel it needs.
Day by day: Intuitive eating will look different each and every day, your body will want different foods and quantities each day, this is normal. Our bodies are so smart and it's important we listen to them so they can do all the behind the screen work to make sure we are healthy and full of energy.
No good or bad foods: Food is not good or bad, if you are recovering from an eating disorder you may hold some strong views of good and bad foods. Strive to challenge these rigid rules and remind yourself it is healthy to listen to your body and eat what it wishes whether that would be a rice bowl, a cake, or a pizza. When you are at a balanced place physically and mentally intuitive eating is an amazing lifestyle and truly teaches you to trust your body and lets your body know it can trust you. Take care of yourself today and remember to give your beautiful body the fuel it's asking for.
Sending you all lots of love and positive energy!
Article written by : Francesca Bas ISA Power intern
