Understanding and knowing these principles is important to becoming an intuitive eater.

Reject the Diet Mentality

Recognize that diet culture gives people a false sense of hope.

There is no such thing as quick weight loss that is easy and permanent.

woman eating healthy lunch

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Honor Your Hunger

Your body relies on food for energy.

To feel satisfied, keep your body fed with adequate calories,carbohydrates,fat, andprotein.

Make Peace With Food

Ditch the idea that food is your enemy.

Limiting certain food will only cause you to feel deprived, leading tobinge eatingand uncontrollable cravings.

Feel Your Fullness

Listen for internal cues that you are no longer hungry.

Although it may provide short-term comfort, emotional eating may make you feel worse in the long run.

Turn to othercoping methods.

Respect Your Body

Learn to respect your body to have confidence and feel better as a person.

MovementFeel the Difference

Participate in an exercise that you enjoy.

Focus on the positive feelings and energy you get from working out and moving your body.

Honor Your HealthGentle Nutrition

Eat foods that make you feel good.

You don’t have to eat perfectly every day.

One “unhealthy” meal or snack will not harm your health.

Always consult your healthcare provider before changing your diet or starting a new health program.

What Is Intuitive Eating?

Unlike many fad diets, intuitive eating does not require calorie counting or food tracking.

It also does not restrict the pop in of food you eat.

Intuitive Eating vs.

Mindful Eating

Mindful eating involves paying attention to your eating experience without judgment.

Intuitive eating is not intended to be a tool to aid in weight loss.

However, intuitive eating can help you reach a healthy weight for your body key in.

Your set point weight is the weight your body will maintain when you eat without restriction and exercise normally.

Will Eating Intuitively Make You Gain Weight?

It is important to know that weight gain is not always bad.

How to Practice Intuitive Eating

Although intuitive eating sounds pretty simple, it takes practice and patience.

Start by unlearning diet culture’s messages about what you should and should not eat.

You should acknowledge hunger as a good thing but be able to differentiate between physical and emotional hunger.

If the hunger is physical, permit yourself to eat what satisfies you.

Eat slowly, and trust your body to let you know when it is complete.

Acknowledge that it’s ok to do things that may not align with the principles of intuitive eating.

Give yourself grace if you slip up and skip a meal or overindulge.

However, it’s important to note that intuitive eating is not for everyone.

Be sure to speak with your healthcare provider or a registered dietitian before making any diet changes.

Frequently Asked Questions

Begin by listening to your internal hunger cues and eating when you are hungry.

Stop eating when you are full (but not overly full) and satisfied.

Intuitive eating is not for everyone.

Everyone’s intuitive eating journey will differ depending on how long it takes to make peace with food.

Some people will adjust within several months, while others may take much longer and require several years.

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The Original Intuitive Eating Pros.What is intuitive eating?

The Original Intuitive Eating Pros.The difference between intuitive eating and mindful eating.

University of Michigan School of Public Health.Intuitive eating: The non-diet is the best diet.

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