Intuitive Eating

Over the years I have followed every diet imaginable. They have always worked temporarily. The problem was that you could only follow the diet for a short time. I would lose weight, and then gain it back.

Most diets do not work long term. The reason they fail is because they are not designed for the individual. They are too restrictive and they go against the natural order. Counting calories, carbs and fats are all restrictive eating. They each have rules of what or when to eat. They don’t work because they go against your bodies needs. Your body doesn’t require the same amount of food at the same time every day. Sometimes you may need a little food, other times you may require more than a little amount of food.

I had successfully lost nearly 30 pounds eating a low carb diet. It was working for awhile. The problem was I became quite bored with the limited amount of food that I could choose to eat. I then switched to a low carb/high carb cycling diet. I would alternate meals with high carbs in one meal followed by a low carb meal. The problem, again is I felt it was too limited.

Low fat foods are high in sugar. I am a borderline diabetic. My fasting blood level is normal. If I eat a high carb meal or anything high in sugar, such as a chocolate bar, my sugar level spikes. Sugar levels usually spike after one would eat something sweet; however if your diabetic you cannot metabolize the sugar and you will experience a rapid drop in blood sugar.

What I found, for the most part, is that the formula to make anything work is simplicity. The answer for me was intuitive eating- following the body’s natural order. It is a very personal thing. It is not one size fits all. A book I found very helpful is “Susie Orbach On Eating”. She explains in detail how diets have made us go against the grain of our bodies own wisdom.

The Simple Rules:

• Eat when hungry (when you actually feel the hunger pangs).

• Eat what you want. Too many times we eat certain foods to get to the foods (desserts) that we really want.

• Stop when you are full. It may take time for you to know when you are hungry and when you are full. We have eaten either by the clock, or have eaten when we are bored, depressed or angry.

• Listen to your body. Focus on how you feel after you have eaten something. Sometimes you may like the food, however it may not agree with you.

• Be present when you eat. This will insure that you are mindfully eating. This will help you realize when you have had enough. Honor your food by giving yourself the attention when you eat.

• Determine why you are eating when you’re not physically hungry. Food can be like a drug that temporarily numbs our feelings.

I have followed these rules and have successfully been able to maintain my weight without the fear of regaining. I no longer have to use exercise for weight loss or to maintain the weight loss. I used to exercise to the point of exhaustion, leaving myself vulnerable to get sick easily. I now enjoy exercise as a stress release and to keep my heart healthy.

When you learn to listen to your hunger as any other bodily function (e.g., signal to use the bathroom) it will free you from the ball and chain of diets.

Author: Kathleen Heintzelman
I am a sensitive and have been giving readings for several years now. I am working towards doing them professionally. At this time, I provide sponsor (free) readings through the OCC Membership which can be found at www.oralin.com. I hope this resonates with your experiences.