The Five Intuitive Eating Mistakes You’re Making

Intuitive eating. It may seem like a catchy new phrase out there. That it’s just some new fad for people to buy into.

To that, I want to say, you’re completely wrong. {Sorry, not sorry for this hard truth}.

I first started hearing of intuitive, or mindful, eating back in 2015 from a co-worker. But there was a book published in 2013 which covered this topic in-depth.

Essentially, it’s the practice of getting rid of a diet all together. To trust in yourself and what your body needs, rather than counting calories, macros or points. Or really following any other diet out there.

We’ve been told, basically our whole lives, that diets are necessary. That to lose weight and feel good in our bodies, we must follow a diet to do so.

Through intuitive eating, you’re basically reversing all you’ve been taught over the years. And let me just tell you, this is not easy to do.

Rather than falling prey to the next fad diet, read on to find out the five mistakes you’re making when it comes to intuitive eating, and how to fix them.

Mistake 1: you think this is another fad diet or quick fix

This couldn’t be further from the truth.

In-fact, intuitive eating is not a quick fix. It’s not another diet to help you lose weight.

It’s a daily practice of reversing all the thoughts that come with dieting. Like, “I can’t eat that because it’s bad for me.” Or, “if I eat that brownie I’ll go over my points limit for the day, so I just won’t eat it.” Or, “I’m going out to eat tonight with some friends, so I’ll just eat less during the day to be able to splurge tonight.”

All of these thoughts are driven by a diet.

Again, intuitive eating helps to begin to reverse all of these thoughts. It gets you to a place where you’re no longer controlled by food. You feel comfortable going out to eat. You don’t worry whether or not a certain food will fit into your allotment for the day.

It takes practice. I’ve been practicing {and continue to do so} for four years. I started on Weight Watchers and spent five years counting points. It took time for me to unlearn all those thoughts and feelings around food.

But now I’m in a much better space, where I have the control and food is a neutral thing for me.

Mistake 2: you believe you couldn’t lose weight while eating intuitively

I’ll be totally honest, I had this fear when I finally decided to stop Weight Watchers.

I thought, will everything I’ve worked so hard for completely go to waste because I’m no longer counting points? Will I gain all the weight back?

If anything, I lost more weight while practicing mindful eating.

It’s because I finally gave myself permission to not be ruled by food. To eat when I’m hungry, stop when I’m {comfortably} full, and pay attention to my cravings, rather than what a diet was telling me to eat.

Sure, in the beginning I wanted all the carbs, or foods that were “off limits” when I was dieting. But after awhile, those foods no longer held the same luster, because they could be enjoyed any time.

My body began to crave veggies and fruits and nutritious foods. Because that’s what our bodies need to function: nutritious food.

When you really become in-tune with what your body is telling you it needs, you can actually lose weight {and keep it off} without following a diet.

Mistake 3: you think exercise doesn’t need to be part of intuitive eating

On the contrary my dear friend.

Exercise definitely needs to be part of your life when it comes to intuitive eating.

I think people just assume that because you’re not counting calories, that it gives you permission to be a couch potato and let all physical activity rush out the door.

In my new intuitive eating coaching program, Piece of Mind, {coming soon}, I have an entire week devoted to why exercise still very much needs to be part of your regular routine.

When I was studying to become a certified nutrition and wellness coach, there was an entire chapter devoted to physical activity.

Five days a week, 30 minutes a day.

I’m not talking rigorous activity five days a week for 30 straight minutes. I’m talking taking a walk around the block for ten minutes in the morning, afternoon and evening. There’s your 30 minutes.

Getting your blood pumping and releasing those endorphins is not only important for physical health, but also emotional health. Something that’s also heavily discussed during the Piece of Mind program.

So make sure to get out there at least 30 minutes a day. Find an activity that gets you jazzed to exercise, and make it fun!

Mistake 4: you think you don’t have to pay attention to portions with intuitive eating

Portion control is actually a pretty big part of mindful eating, but not in the way you think it is.

It’s not like with a diet where you’re measuring out every last piece of food you want to eat.

Instead, you’re focused more on the foods you’re eating, how they’re making you feel, and only eating until you reach a comfortable level of fullness.

Sometimes this means not eating everything that’s on your plate because you’re full. Or it might mean not going back for seconds and allowing yourself time to let your stomach catch up to your brain.

If you didn’t know, it takes 20 minutes after eating for your body to realize that it’s actually full. So it’s super important when you’re eating mindfully to not eat to the point of being overly stuffed, but rather, comfortably full.

Mistake 5: you think it’s just about the food

I know eating is in the name, so you’re probably thinking it really is just about the food.

But actually, intuitive eating is so much more than just what you eat.

It’s about making a connection between your body and mind. About being more aware of how foods are making you feel. About beginning to truly have self-acceptance and show yourself self-love.

When you can come from a place of acceptance of food, body and mind, you’re well on your way to living a more fulfilling life that doesn’t revolve around your diet.

Making intuitive eating a reality

Intuitive eating doesn’t have to be hard, but it takes time to dig in to every little nuance that is mindful eating.

Which is why I’ve created the Finding Freedom Mastermind. This three month, high support mastermind is for the busy woman who’s ready to break free from thinking about food 24/7 and always feeling guilty for what she eats so that she can have a better relationship with food and make healthy FINALLY feel easy.

Check out the Finding Freedom Mastermind here.