Intuitive Eating

moe5474
moe5474 Posts: 162
edited December 2024 in Health and Weight Loss
Okay, so I know that intuitive eating is basically the opposite of the calorie counting services that are provided on this site, but I am wondering if any of you have ever tried it with any success or know someone who has.

The reason I ask is that because (due to past eating disorders and issues with food), I am finding that trying to keep count of every single calorie I put into my mouth is only making me obsess more about what I eat. I think about food all the time and how many calories it has and then how I will burn them off later. And I'm not listening to my body anymore (i.e. I get to the end of the day and have 400 calories left bc I worked out, so now I eat even though I'm not hungry).

I do think calorie counting is *usually* the path to take, but for me personally because of my food issues I'm wondering if it's doing me more harm than good.

Thoughts?

Replies

  • mmmmsalad
    mmmmsalad Posts: 3
    Hi

    I have previously joined Weight Watchers and Slimming World and as soon as I have joined I'm even more obsessed with food - like you - thinking about it all the time! It's sooo hard when food affects you like this - if I'm not recording what I eat it worries me, then if I am recording, that worries me too. I am going to give this a good try and see how I get on. I think the best way for me is to plan ahead so I know what I can eat that day - then whatever order I eat it, it doesn't matter!


    Good luck
  • pounds4paws_lisa
    pounds4paws_lisa Posts: 7 Member
    HI,

    I have a close friend with the same issue. She eats now only when she's hungry but she makes sure to have healthier options. she doesn't count calories because she know's it leads her down a dark path.

    Why don't you try something in between the two. Write down the food you eat but not the calories. That way you have an idea of what foods you're eating but without the obsessive side coming out?

    Good Luck!
  • falconspicegirl99
    falconspicegirl99 Posts: 9
    I'm going to guess that now, you're still obsessing about food as much as you ever did, but in a different way. Now, you're thinking about food BEFORE you eat it, rather than after. There is a big BIG difference between the two. As you may know, when you obsess about what you just ate, you can become overwhelmed by anxiety.

    By thinking about food BEFORE you eat it, you are in control. When you think about food AFTER you eat it, the food is in control.

    Give yourself a chance to practice this new, healthier mind-set.
  • moe5474
    moe5474 Posts: 162
    HI,

    I have a close friend with the same issue. She eats now only when she's hungry but she makes sure to have healthier options. she doesn't count calories because she know's it leads her down a dark path.

    Why don't you try something in between the two. Write down the food you eat but not the calories. That way you have an idea of what foods you're eating but without the obsessive side coming out?

    Good Luck!

    I think I might try that. I've counted calories for about 6 months now, so I have a good idea of what's healthy and what's not.

    I generally don't like junk food and mostly only have a problem when it comes to craving sugar.

    It's worth a shot though :) thanks!
  • alexandria412
    alexandria412 Posts: 177 Member
    Hi moe,

    I also wonder about this a lot. I used to be heavier and used unhealthy/disordered tactics to lose the weight. I'm at a healthy weight now (and dropped most of the bad behaviors), but I still track everything because I'm terrified that I'll gain the weight back if I stop.

    At this point, intuitive eating feels like a pipe dream. I've read a few self-help books, but it's a little too meditative/hippy for me. I would *love* to be someone who can eat when she’s hungry and stop when she’s full. Unfortunately, I just don’t trust myself.

    I like pounds4paws’ suggestion of writing down foods but not calories…but it also makes me really nervous! Maybe I’ll try to take a weekly “rest” day from tracking. On the rest day, instead of tracking, I can focus on eating intuitively and try to build trust with myself.

    Best of luck with your journey!
  • pounds4paws_lisa
    pounds4paws_lisa Posts: 7 Member
    I'm glad you both like the suggestion! I eat when I'm hungry on the weekends and really don't track my food or exercise that day. Even though i'm sure I go over my calories it's never by much and I don't feel guilty about having a piece of chocolate (or half the bar) because I buy free trade organic chocolate.

    Then during the weekdays i'm back to keeping track of everything. I've lost 34lbs since the middle of January using this method. Everyone should do what works for them. And knowing what makes you a little crazy and doing something a little different to combat that I think is good thing.

    Good Luck!
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