OVERTHINKING INTUITIVE EATING SERIES: REFRAMING THE EXPERIENCE

Hi Friends!

Often in my work as an intuitive eating coach and somatic dietitian, I respond to a lot of questions from people who are new in their recovery from diet trauma or just beginning their journey into intuitive eating. One of the frequent concerns is how do they know they are doing it right and will intuitive eating work for them. 

It’s certainly easy to understand the reservations people have around this new eating model. As a culture, we have become accustomed to thinking about food in a very cognitive way.

Many people have a mental default around food and quickly frame signals around rules, all or nothing thinking, black and white thinking, and catastrophic thinking. When I tell my new clients not to overthink their eating habits now, all of a sudden, they find themselves in a scary and confusing place. 

The biggest takeaway I want to share here is that you cannot do intuitive eating wrong. 

What Information Is Your Body Trying to Share

Intuitive eating is about the process of receiving feedback from your body. It isn’t about being right or wrong in a traditional sense; you are simply asking for more information. 

To illustrate this point, imagine yourself after a meal or after a day, and perhaps you are still thinking about food. You may be aware you have eaten, but the thought of food keeps coming up in your mind, maybe subtly or more loudly.

There could be several reasons for these thoughts: you might not have eaten enough, you might not be satisfied, or your body might be trying to ground. 

You are trying to shift your state in some way. Your body is trying to give you clues as to what she needs. 

Your plate is a reflection of what is happening in your life. Listen to what your body is asking: is she asking to be nurtured? Does she need support in making decisions? 

Take Time to Check In With Your Body

To do a quick check-in with your body, ground yourself by placing something behind your back such as a chair-back or pillow, set your feet firmly on the floor, and be seated on something such as a chair. In this way, you are giving yourself the sensation of being held by something within your physical space.

If this is not feeling like enough, and you are still receiving messages of hunger from your body, try giving her another bite and see if it brings satisfaction. The worst thing that could happen would be you find out your body is not really hungry for additional food.

You will receive information during this process centered around decoding work, unpacking, and dismantling diet culture. Ask yourself where the information you are receiving about food and your eating habits is coming from and how long it has been there. 

Be Patient With the Process

Be patient with yourself during this process. You cannot bring your old ways of thinking into this new process of eating intuitively. But do be aware of your different body cues and body sensations; you will learn a lot of information about your body and her needs. 

If you would like to receive personalized support to help your body have more clear signals in the intuitive eating journey, connect with me at https://www.tracybrownrd.com/get-started/

Peaceful Eating, Tracy

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