You are tired of dieting and the effects it has on your life, from feeling anxious while grocery shopping to stressing about last-minute dinner plans with friends. Therefore, you crave freedom from the stress and constant pressure you put on yourself to shrink your body. You’ve heard of Intuitive Eating and would love to learn how to practice it. However, you’re not sure how to do so just yet.
Luckily you are in the right place! Read on to learn how to become an intuitive eater.
Learn what Intuitive Eating is
The first step in learning how to become an intuitive eater is to find out what Intuitive Eating is!
Intuitive Eating is a framework designed by two registered dietitians, Evelyn Tribole and Elyse Resch. It is meant to help guide people out of dieting and toward a deeper connection with their body’s inner signals.
Using Intuitive Eating, people can relearn their hunger and fullness cues, stop seeing foods as “good” or “bad” and cultivate body respect. There are ten guiding principles which make up Intuitive Eating:
- Reject the Diet Mentality
- Honor Your Hunger
- Make Peace with Food
- Challenge the Food Police
- Discover the Satisfaction Factor
- Feel Your Fullness
- Cope with Your Emotions with Kindness
- Respect Your Body
- Movement-Feel the Difference
- Honor Your Health with Gentle Nutrition
These do not need to be tackled in any certain order or in a specific time frame. However, keep in mind that Gentle Nutrition should be addressed last after working through the other foundational principles.
This is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to information about this framework. There are several types of resources available to learn more about how to become an intuitive eater.
Reading the book can help you become an intuitive eater
The book Intuitive Eating* is a fantastic resource to use as you embark on your journey to becoming an intuitive eater!
It is written by Tribole and Resch, and is a great guide to learn their intentions and how they envision Intuitive Eating playing out in everyday life.
(*Affiliate link. I will make a portion of the proceeds if this link is used, at no extra cost to the consumer).
Intuitive Eating by Tribole and Resch is a great resource to learn more about this framework!Take a course
Reading just isn’t the right option for everyone. If you learn better by listening to and seeing information, the Intro to Intuitive Eating Course might be a great choice for you! For instance, it offers information in small amounts with a separate video for each principle to avoid overwhelm while learning how to become an intuitive eater.
Have an Open Mind
Rejecting diet culture and its lies requires having an open mind. Therefore, you need to be willing to learn about and apply new ideas as well as resist falling back into the diet trap. Trust that your body can tell you what it needs when it comes to nourishment, just as it can tell you other information, like when it is too warm or needs rest.
Find a Community
There are many communities made up of intuitive eaters. If you search on social media you will find a ton, including the one I’ve created on Facebook!
Connecting with other people who have been or are currently in your shoes is very powerful in keeping you inspired to continue your journey. For example, you can ask questions, give advice and find support when challenges arise. Who knows, you might make lifelong friends as well!
A supportive community can make the Intuitive Eating process more fun!Find a Coach
There are many mentors and coaches out there who specialize in Intuitive Eating. In fact, I happen to be one of them! While you can learn a ton of information about Intuitive Eating from books, podcasts and social media, actually implementing all that knowledge into your life can be tough.
Working with a coach can provide you with the support and accountability that make all the difference in your journey. Hiring a coach to help me start my Intuitive Eating journey is one of the best decisions I’ve made, so I am strong believer in the power of coaching!
Next Steps
If you are interested in working with me so you can more easily and quickly learn how to become an intuitive eater, click here to schedule a free Discovery Call!
And if you would like periodic updates from Intuitively Nourished, click here to get on the list!
About Kourtney
I am a non-diet registered dietitian on a mission to spread the truth about dieting and the harm it does to our bodies physically, mentally and emotionally. It is my goal to show women that there is a fantastic life outside of dieting if they’re willing to step out of their comfort zone and start truly living!