Intuitive Eating vs. Dieting

KOO2020

Hi,
This is my first time on MFP as an Intuitive Eater. I am interested in knowing if anyone eats intuitively on here or just diets. I feel like anytime tracking is involved it is somewhat of a diet. I believe that dieting causes weight gain, so I am a little hesitant to track what I eat, but I did not know if anyone else has some feedback?

Thank you so much!

Lietchi

How do you define 'dieting'?

I am dieting in the sense of eating less calories than I burn. Aside from counting calories, I don't follow any specific 'diet', I just mostly eat the same foods as before in more appropriate quantities.
I don't see how that causes weight gain. I've lost over 30 lbs and it's the only thing that has worked for me. And quite honestly, I never thought losing weight could be this easy.

'intuitive eating' is what got me obese.

KOO2020

Yes, I understand what you are saying. I guess I define dieting as not going over an allotment you've set for yourself. For example, if your diet requires 1,600 calories and you go over by 100 and start to feel guilty, or feel the need to exercise or find another compulsion to try to "make up for it." Again, this is my personal opinion.

I will say, for me, dieting always caused me to overeat in the sense that if I felt like I had "ruined my day," or "ate too much," then I would feel incredibly guilty and try to find a way to make up for it- like exercise... OR, I would just say, "screw it," and eat whatever I wanted because I felt like I had blown my day/ diet.

lemurcat2

You can track cals without doing that, however. I found it helpful to work on my own all or nothing tendencies and the logical approach that tracking is combined with for me made it easier to do so -- I could see that eating above my goal but below maintenance would still mean an overall loss over time, whereas going nuts and eating all the things because my day was perfect would cause weight gain. I also could work in maintenance days where I had room for a restaurant meal or some such and just didn't go over maintenance.

I also was able to teach myself mindful eating such that I can basically eat an amount that is maintenance for me at my level of activity without having to track, although I still do track from time to time, mainly because I find focusing on nutrition goals and such interesting and it keeps me motivated (it's too easy for me to fall into "I don't care" mode when other things are taking my time and energy).

MikePfirrman

Intuitive eating is a really trendy term, IMHO, just to say, watch what you eat and be mindful. For most that have been heavy, it doesn't work. It's the eating version of "just say no", which we all know has worked so well

AnnPT77

KOO2020 wrote: »

Hi,
This is my first time on MFP as an Intuitive Eater. I am interested in knowing if anyone eats intuitively on here or just diets. I feel like anytime tracking is involved it is somewhat of a diet. I believe that dieting causes weight gain, so I am a little hesitant to track what I eat, but I did not know if anyone else has some feedback?

Thank you so much!

That question is hard for me to understand, so I think I'm missing something. Frankly, it seems a little like "I wonder if someone on here lifts weights or just works out?" "Dieting" and "intuitive eating" seem like terms with some possible overlap and interconnections.

What does "diet" mean to you?

My view: Everyone has a diet (noun), just the stuff we eat and the way we eat it. Some people are "on a diet" or say they're "dieting", i.e., following a special way of eating for particular reasons. Sometimes that's something like a managed-carb diet for diabetics, or a low-protein diet for certain kinds of liver disease, but sometimes it's a lower calorie diet with the goal of weight loss.

The lower calorie diet can be achieved in various ways. Some people can achieve it with intuitive eating, but others intuitively over-eat. Some people like to calorie-count to achieve lowered calories and do great that way, but that can be a slippery slope to obsession or an eating disorder for some other people. There are lots of ways to accomplish the reduced calories that lead to weight loss, with or without counting those calories.

So, I think I have a diet (noun). It's not a well-defined strict-rules things, but I strive for balanced nutrition, with medium-high protein, and for taste/satiation reasons generaly prefer lots of simple foods people have eaten for centuries or millennia (but a few "highly processed" foods, too); and I'm an ovo-lacto vegetarian (have been for 45 years).

Because I have a self-indulgent (hedonistic!) personality type, intuitive eating didn't work all that well for me. I was obese for 3 decades plus, until 2015. Calorie counting, as a strategy for losing weight and maintaining weight, has worked great for me, without stress or obsession, because I'm generally kind of data geek, so it's like a fun science fair project for grown-ups to me; I'm not inclined to be obsessive to an inappropriate degree by nature; and it only takes me a few minutes a day for some pretty major benefits in return. It lets me balance my immediate self-indulgences with a need for even-older me (I'm already 64) to be strong and healthy.

I think it's really important for each of us to understand what our individual personalities will respond to, and how to harness our personal strengths (and mitigate our personal weaknesses), in order to find a sensible way to eat that helps us be both physically and mentally healthy . . . and that's going to be a different way, from person to person.

KOO2020

lemurcat2 wrote: »

You can track cals without doing that, however. I found it helpful to work on my own all or nothing tendencies and the logical approach that tracking is combined with for me made it easier to do so -- I could see that eating above my goal but below maintenance would still mean an overall loss over time, whereas going nuts and eating all the things because my day was perfect would cause weight gain. I also could work in maintenance days where I had room for a restaurant meal or some such and just didn't go over maintenance.

I also was able to teach myself mindful eating such that I can basically eat an amount that is maintenance for me at my level of activity without having to track, although I still do track from time to time, mainly because I find focusing on nutrition goals and such interesting and it keeps me motivated (it's too easy for me to fall into "I don't care" mode when other things are taking my time and energy).

Yes, I can totally see how this would work for you. It is more than likely my personality. I just find that if I am told, I can't eat something, or I can eat 3 cookies only, it makes me feel restricted, and that restriction is what causes me to overeat/ binge eat- which in turn results in weight gain.

KOO2020

MikePfirrman wrote: »

Intuitive eating is a really trendy term, IMHO, just to say, watch what you eat and be mindful. For most that have been heavy, it doesn't work. It's the eating version of "just say no", which we all know has worked so well

I cannot relate to being heavy, other than just about 20 pounds overweight, so I can only come from my perspective and my personality. I know if I was ever told to restrict or stay within certain calorie limits it immediately made me want more, wheresas if I told myself I wanted a cookie and a piece of cake, I would eat it, enjoy it, and move on with my day, and not worry about if it fit into my calories, etc.

KOO2020

AnnPT77 wrote: »

KOO2020 wrote: »

Hi,
This is my first time on MFP as an Intuitive Eater. I am interested in knowing if anyone eats intuitively on here or just diets. I feel like anytime tracking is involved it is somewhat of a diet. I believe that dieting causes weight gain, so I am a little hesitant to track what I eat, but I did not know if anyone else has some feedback?

Thank you so much!

That question is hard for me to understand, so I think I'm missing something. Frankly, it seems a little like "I wonder if someone on here lifts weights or just works out?" "Dieting" and "intuitive eating" seem like terms with some possible overlap and interconnections.

What does "diet" mean to you?

My view: Everyone has a diet (noun), just the stuff we eat and the way we eat it. Some people are "on a diet" or say they're "dieting", i.e., following a special way of eating for particular reasons. Sometimes that's something like a managed-carb diet for diabetics, or a low-protein diet for certain kinds of liver disease, but sometimes it's a lower calorie diet with the goal of weight loss.

The lower calorie diet can be achieved in various ways. Some people can achieve it with intuitive eating, but others intuitively over-eat. Some people like to calorie-count to achieve lowered calories and do great that way, but that can be a slippery slope to obsession or an eating disorder for some other people. There are lots of ways to accomplish the reduced calories that lead to weight loss, with or without counting those calories.

So, I think I have a diet (noun). It's not a well-defined strict-rules things, but I strive for balanced nutrition, with medium-high protein, and for taste/satiation reasons generaly prefer lots of simple foods people have eaten for centuries or millennia (but a few "highly processed" foods, too); and I'm an ovo-lacto vegetarian (have been for 45 years).

Because I have a self-indulgent (hedonistic!) personality type, intuitive eating didn't work all that well for me. I was obese for 3 decades plus, until 2015. Calorie counting, as a strategy for losing weight and maintaining weight, has worked great for me, without stress or obsession, because I'm generally kind of data geek, so it's like a fun science fair project for grown-ups to me; I'm not inclined to be obsessive to an inappropriate degree by nature; and it only takes me a few minutes a day for some pretty major benefits in return. It lets me balance my immediate self-indulgences with a need for even-older me (I'm already 64) to be strong and healthy.

I think it's really important for each of us to understand what our individual personalities will respond to, and how to harness our personal strengths (and mitigate our personal weaknesses), in order to find a sensible way to eat that helps us be both physically and mentally healthy . . . and that's going to be a different way, from person to person.

I completely agree with you that what works for one person, may not work for another. And that is totally okay! If something works for someone and is sustainable and healthy (mentally and physically), I hope they continue to do it. Something you said is interesting to me, though, "Frankly, it seems a little like "I wonder if someone on here lifts weights or just works out?" "Dieting" and "intuitive eating" seem like terms with some possible overlap and interconnections."
I think in some sense they may overlap, but I find dieting to be restrictive or not necessarily an internal cue, it may not be restrictive in what you eat, but in some form, whether it be calories/ fat grams/ carbohydrates, I do find it restricting (this is not for those that have certain medical conditions like diabetes, or lactose intolerant, etc.). AGAIN, this is my personal opinion. I find that intuitive eating is more listening to hunger and fullness cues and what you are in the mood for, rather than eating eggs because you need a little more fat and protein for the day.

pink_mint

I recently posted something that I think is similar to what you are getting at.

I think that when the intuitive eating community talks about dieting, they are referring to all the worst versions of it. The most disordered, least sustainable, crash diets, etc. Yes there are some who say ANY thing you do to intentionally limit your eating or try to lose weight, no matter how balanced or reasonable you think it is, is wrong and bad and disordered.

The idea of intuitive eating is really appealing to so many of us who have had bad experiences with weight loss endeavors. And I have to point out that there are a number of popular intuitive eating dieticians on social media who promote this idea that your body will just perfectly lead the way and you'll end up at your "best weight"... who just so happen, for whatever reason, to be thin and post pictures of themselves eating donuts etc.

In my experience and my perspective, it would be nice... it would be very nice if we could all eat whatever sounds good at the time and not end up obese with all manner of related health conditions. But it's just not reality. There are reasons that people eat in a way that leads to problems.

Intuitive eating led to out of control weight gain for me. Tracking calories is a way to learn how to have a good relationship with food. I'm learning what an appropriate amount of food is.

ETA: I am eating cake, vegetables, pizza, fruit... whatever I want, just not massive quantities.

KOO2020

That is great that this works for you! Dieting has never been a source of help for me, it led me down a very dangerous path, so I try to stay away from it. I know for some it is the solution, just not for me.

lgfrie

Intuitive eating was a complete disaster for me. Not saying it couldn't work for other people. My problem is that I'm constantly hungry, constantly craving food, and always ready to eat at the drop of a hat. If I "listened to my body" I'd be 400 pounds. Counting and logging calories and overcoming my urges through the sheer force of spreadsheet discipline is the only way I've been able to successfully lose weight, and I'm more than 100 % sure it is the only way I could possibly maintain once I get to goal weight.

There are a lot of ways to do this. For some people, intuitive eating works. For others, it doesn't.

beulah81

So much wisdom from @Lietchi, @lemurcat2, @MikePfirrman, @AnnPT77, @pink_mint, @lgfrie. I second all of their responses. I have found CICO to be THE most elementary tool to lose/maintain weight. No matter how you slice it, the law of thermodynamics doesn't lie. If counting calories raises negative emotions in you then don't do it. This may sound like an oxymoron but I combine "intuitive eating" with calorie counting and love it! I have a weekly/sometimes biweekly budget of calories that "I" willingly agree to eat to maintain/lose fat. I eat everything I personally enjoy within my budget. I do not follow any particular diet trend. Over the years I've observed what foods are enjoyable to me and leave me feeling great and energized. I like to design my "diet" the way I like. There is no food police over me. It's on my terms😊. Eating completely based on my feelings in the moment, day after day led me to gain fat. As one of my favorite philosophers once wisely said, "Feelings, feelings, feelings...let me try thinking instead"...YMMV💐

snowflake954

OP you have to realize that you're posting on a calorie counting site. I'd say that the majority do this, and many have found it to be eye opening and a godsend. There crop up questions about Intuitive Eating now and again. The responses are similar to what you're seeing. Some people can do it. It sounds great--just eat until you're full, listen to your body,....... The reality is somewhat different. Some of us like calorie counting. It's no chore and takes a few minutes, and we don't get obsessive. So, wish you the best of luck and hope it works for you.

sijomial

I guess I inhabit the middle ground between calorie counting and intuitive eating - I eat mindfully and maintain long term at a healthy goal weight pretty easily doing so and don't need to log, measure or track my food intake.

Calorie counting was a useful and educational tool when I dieted to lose my excess weight but I don't suffer from any of the very negative feelings and behaviours that you do. I think you should maybe reflect that calorie counting and other forms of dieting for weight loss are not the root cause of those behaviours - a trigger for you but not the cause. Perhaps it's the cause and not the trigger you could try to resolve?

Dieting (as in calorie restriction) didn't make me gain weight - it allowed me to lose my excess weight in a sensible and controlled way. The words diet (noun and verb) and dieting have no emotional baggage for me.

There are some true intuitive eaters (the simple meaning of IE is being dreadfully complicated and muddled by those with books to sell), my son is one. But the number of people who are or have been significantly overweight and can successfully manage their weight with IE is going to be far more rare. My personal experiment with IE led to a steady weight gain taking me from chubby to getting pretty fat - reinforced that what I feel I need is significantly more than my actual needs.

What I would say is that don't believe the current overblown hype around IE and don't feel a failure if it doesn't work out for you - do what you personally have to do for long term physical and emotional health. My son and I both maintain at healthy weights. He eats when hungry, stops when full and I have to put a little conscious thought into thinking am I really hungry or just eating because I enjoy nice food in slightly higher amounts than I actually need. Neither method is morally superior to the other - different means to the same end.

KOO2020

Thank you all for your feedback- I know we may disagree and that is 100% okay. Thank you for being kind and supportive. I just was curious to see others feedback.

LiveOnceBeHappy

I wish I could get back to intuitive eating. When I was younger I would just stop eating. Other teachers (coworkers) would tease me that I would throw away half my school lunch. When I was full, I would stop. Now if the food is in front of me, I eat it. I don't know why the change. Growing up, I was not forced to finish my plate or anything so stopping was intuitive. I definitely hope that I can transition into more intuitive eating once I get to my goal weight as I do not see calorie counting the rest of my life with an app on my phone. I don't think it's sustainable for me. I' 50 and hope to live to 80, so 30 years of MyFitnessPal seems like a lot!

KOO2020

Yes, I am a teacher and most of my students are intuitive eaters- I love watching them eat, and pick at their food. It is so interesting to me. If you don't mind me asking @denisekotz, what do you plan to do once you reach your goal weight? Do you think you will just cold turkey stop counting or stick to the foods you normally eat? I am just curious!

janejellyroll

I track what I eat because I realize the best way for me to maintain my weight is to ensure that the calories I'm consuming match the calories that my body is using. Within that context, I will still eat the foods that I enjoy, I'm just mindful of portion sizes and how it impacts meeting my overall nutritional needs.

If that is defined as "dieting," then it doesn't cause weight gain for me. In fact, it is what allowed me to get off the cycle of yo-yo weight loss that took up a big portion of my teens, twenties, and early thirties. I've been doing this since 2015 and it has allowed me to virtually eliminate most of my negative thoughts and behaviors around food.

KOO2020

@janejellyroll , that is wonderful! I am so happy that this has worked for you!

NovusDies

I think too much is made of intuitive eating. If a person wants to try it or needs to do it for their mental health that is fine for them.

I find calorie counting extremely relaxing. Even when some of my counts are guesses it still takes the guesswork out of the mix. All I have to do is hit my calorie goal most of the time and I can relax.

The thought of IE and living each day in doubt stresses me. I have gained a lot of freedom losing a ridiculous amount of weight. I am not interested in risking it because some corners of the internet think listening to your body is a moral good. My body can talk to someone else. I'd rather have numbers.