Listening to Your Body: A Journey to Intuitive Eating
There’s a lot of noise out there when it comes to food. I noticed it years ago, but since I got into the health and wellness world professionally, there’s not escaping it. Diet trends. Calorie counting. Eat every three hours. Cut out carbs. Skip processed foods. It’s so overwhelming if you ask me. But here’s the truth (my truth): diets and food plans are usually more about selling us quick fixes than actually helping us create sustainable change. The idea of dieting is slowly fading, and for good reason. But it’s still a huge problem. The global weight-loss market was estimated to be worth around $278 billion in 2023. It can really impact mental health in a negative way, and disconnect us from what our bodies truly need.
The real answer in my opinion? Intuitive eating. It’s not a new concept, and one you have probably heard thrown around here and there. It’s about moving away from diet culture, and reconnecting with your body and trusting its signals, not following external rules.
So, How to Begin Trusting Your Body?
Well, don’t just listen to me. The whole point it to find out for yourself what you need to thrive. We are all massively different to each other, so it’s no wonder one size doesn’t fit all. I’ve gathered a few tips below that helped me become more in tune with my body and how to nourish it.
1. Silence the External Noise
Unfollow social media accounts that promote rigid diet rules. Comparison is so 2010s. Instead, focus on people, influencers, or accounts who encourage mindfulness and body positivity.
2. Tune Into Your Hunger and Fullness
Pay attention to when you're hungry and when you’re full. Learn to recognise the subtle signs your body gives you instead of waiting for hunger to hit hard or ignoring it. I grew up having to eat everything on my plate, and it took me a long time to understand when I was full, and when I was just overeating.
3. Let Go of “Good” and “Bad” Labels
Food isn’t moral. When you stop labelling foods as “good” or “bad,” you can free yourself from guilt and judgment. Allow yourself to enjoy a variety of foods without shame. I love a sweet treat and no one is stopping me from a rich chocolatey brownie on a mid-week afternoon.
4. Experiment and Reflect
Pay attention to how different foods and meal patterns make you feel. Do you feel more energised after three meals, or do smaller, frequent meals work better for you? There’s no perfect answer. And it can change depending on what’s going on in your life, or even during your cycle. Learn to go with the change, and embrace the variety.
5. Embrace Imperfection
Some days will feel off, and that’s okay. Again, intuitive eating isn’t about perfection, it’s about flexibility and self-compassion.
The Power of Listening to Yourself
I can’t stress it enough, so I’ll just keep repeating it. Ditching diet culture doesn’t just impact how you eat—it shifts your entire relationship with food. When you trust your body, you will stop feeling anxious or guilty about what you eat. Instead, you can focus on how food makes you feel, not how it makes you look. Food isn’t success or failure. Food is fuel, but it’s also joy. Find what you love and what makes you feel like taking on the world.
Final Thoughts
Be patient. Intuitive eating isn’t an overnight shift. It takes time, but the freedom that comes with trusting your body is so so worth it. So next time you’re unsure, stop and listen: What does my body truly need right now?
Trust yourself. You've got this. 💛
