Appetite for Balance

View Original

Intuitive Eating Myths

Issue Dieting Mentality Non-Diet Mentality
Eating/Food Choices
  • Do I deserve it?
  • If I eat heavy food, I try to find a way to make up for it.
  • I feel guilty when I eat heavy foods.
  • I usually describe a day of eating as either good or bad.
  • I view food as the enemy.
  • Am I hungry?
  • Do I want it?
  • Will I be deprived if I don't eat it?
  • Does it taste good?
  • I deserve to enjoy eating without guilt.
Exercise Benefits
  • I focus primarily on the calories burned.
  • I feel guilty if I miss a designated exercise day.
  • I focus primarily on how exercise makes me feel, especially the energizing and stress-relieving factors.
Progress is viewed as:
  • How many pounds did I lose?
  • How do I look?
  • What do other people think of my weight?
  • I have good willpower.
  • Rather than being concerned with my weight, I trust that my weight will normalize when I am attuned to my internal eating signals. My weight is not my primary goal or an indicator of my progress.
  • I have increased trust with myself and food.
  • I am able to let go of "eating indiscretions."
  • I recognize inner body cues.

So, what does it look like to apply these principles in the real world? An example from my experience is that I used to wake up in the mornings, drink multiple cups of coffee as “breakfast” and completely ignore any hunger cues, because I thought it was important to make myself fast until lunch. Now, I wake up in the mornings and enjoy my cups of coffee with a sustainable breakfast of whatever I am feeling that day. Sometimes, it is a granola bar with honey, banana, and peanut butter toast. Other days, if I have time, I prepare eggs and toast.

Secondarily, I used to workout every day no matter how I was feeling. I felt so guilty if I missed a day of exercise. I can remember texting a friend one time asking for “permission” to miss a workout, which is absolutely crazy! Now, I listen to my body when it comes to exercise. I LOVE tennis and have joined multiple tennis leagues. I use my enjoyment of tennis as a way to thank my body for allowing it to move and play the game I love. I take rest days on my days off because recovery is just as important as game play. I look forward to my nights of tennis because there are no emotions involved except for joy and happiness- as it should be!

Lastly, I used to look at my body in the mirror over and over for validation. I cared so much about what people think of me and my body, and I am still healing and working on that viewpoint. However, I now realize that my weight is not what defines my health. I have learned so much from working in a hospital. Weight fluctuates daily, especially due to fluid status. As long as I feel healthy and am capable, that is all that matters! 

Tribole, E., Resch, E. 2012. Intuitive Eating: A Revolutionary Program That Works. 1st Edition. St. Martins Press.