In the world of nutrition, there is a big myth that if you want to lose or gain weight, you have to count calories. However, you don’t need When it comes to counting calories, learning to listen to your body can be just as beneficial for your health as it is for long-term weight management.
While calories can be important for losing, maintaining, or gaining weight, they shouldn’t be our priority when it comes to improving our health.
WHAT you consume is more important to your overall physical and mental well-being. You may also have heard of a way of eating called “intuitive eating” and may be wondering what exactly it is. acts and how you practice it.
Intuitive eating involves thinking more carefully about how we eat, what makes us feel good, and what we enjoy – rather than simply focusing on food for fuel. We eat when we are hungry and stop when we feel full enough. Intuitive eating can help you be more in tune with your body’s needs and be more present, without constantly worrying about food.
Like most things in life, this can seem “easier said than done,” so here are some of my top tips – I hope you find it helpful!
1️⃣ Keep in mind that food is food, not numbers. This can help you manage your food intake because you eat as much as you think your body needs. Even if you overdo it and eat too much sometimes, it’s okay – sometimes it happens and we’re only human!
2️⃣ If you’ve been counting calories for a long time and want to start eating more intuitively, the first thing you should do is remove calorie counting apps. After a few weeks or months it may be useful to check if you are eating (+/-) as much as you need for 2-3 days, remembering to choose typical days, not for example when you are in vacation.
3️⃣ When you eat, focus on your diet and be present. Try to avoid watching TV or scrolling on your phone and focus on eating. When we are distracted, we usually consume more than we need. You can find and practice mindful eating meditations using courses on apps like Headspace or Youtube.
4️⃣ Try to eat slowly. This may take approx. It takes 20 to 30 minutes for our body to send a signal of satiety (a hormone called leptin), which is why we often overeat unconsciously.
5️⃣ Think about it, why do you eat? Is it hunger or emotional needs? This can often be triggered by stress, frustration, boredom, cravings, or suppressed emotions. Try to avoid “all or nothing” thinking and focus on the 80/20 principle. There’s nothing wrong with sometimes eating sweets or chips instead of a salad!
💛 What benefits could more intuitive eating bring to your life?
Let me know in the comments! 👇🏼