Another way to eat.

Maybe you’re someone like me.

Maybe you’ve struggled with over-eating or under-eating,
being “too fat” or being “too skinny”,
mistrusting your body or intentionally avoiding its signals.

If this resonates with you, please know you’re not alone.

Since its inception, “diet culture” (the harmful social norms telling us our bodies should all look a very specific way) has instructed humans to look everywhere but to their own bodies for advice on how to eat. Searching for insights into ingredients that best work for your needs, maybe you’ve been drawn to an influencer’s new meal plan, that friend’s multi-level marketing “quick fix” powder, or a recipe book that promises to leave your insides as clean as your haphazard skincare routine might one day leave your face.

But how many of you are still drinking those shakes your friend asked you to buy or consistently using that rosehip toner your facialist suggested? More importantly, how many of you are using these strategies as tools, rather than relying on them as solutions? Are you tuning into your body more deeply or are you feeling even more disconnected from its needs?

Evidence suggests that not only are these externally-designed diet plans and programs highly unlikely to be sustained long-term, often they’ll actually set you back on your journey toward a healthier, happier life. And the sneakiest of “diet culture’s” hidden truths: none of this is your fault.

In fact, the vast majority of these prettily packaged programs weren’t built to get you to your goals.

At least, not forever. Why would million- and billion-dollar companies create something that buyers are encouraged to eventually give up? These diet plans and eating regimens, supplements and greens drinks serve only 1 end goal: give the consumer just enough positive change to keep them coming back again and again and again.

Each of these one-size-fits-all diets or programs is being forced to compete among all the others to secure even a small percentage of the global seven trillion dollar health and wellness industry (seriously, seven TRILLION dollars — that’s 12 zeros). Your favorite influencers and brands are up against some fierce competition. To come out above the rest, they seek your dependence on a product or service in order to secure consumer loyalty.

And a loyal customer base equals a sustainable business plan. An empowered customer base does not.

Your body wasn’t designed to be ignored in pursuit of someone else’s advice. Instead, your body is the single greatest source of information available to you. Even though there’s a $7,000,000,000,000 conglomerate that’s been built to convince you otherwise, there is another way to eat. It’s a style that’s been heavily researched, extensively employed, and is the catalyst for transformation story after transformation story.

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It goes by the term intuitive eating.

Eating intuitively is synonymous with fueling your body from a position of empowerment. Rather than focusing on “weight control”, intuitive eating is a style of fueling your body according to internal cues. In an earlier article I published entitled “Movement that moves you”, I introduced the concept of interoceptive awareness, the scientific term for tuning into those signals.

Your body gives off physical cues to indicate where you are on an imagined hunger/satiety scale (i.e. stomach grumbles, lethargy, and headaches for extreme hunger). Recognizing these signals and responding accordingly out of care for your body’s needs — that’s eating intuitively. Sounds simple enough, right? But actually, it’s more complex than that for most of us. Systems, cultures, beliefs, habits, comparisons, values, preferences, and so much more - these all play into how we might respond to those bodily signals.

So, what are some of the steps a person might take to fuel their body from a position of empowerment, leaning into this notion of intuitive eating?

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First, as with any self-development journey, knowledge is power. The more you know about which foods best serve your body, the more intuitive it becomes to fuel it. Though it’s not a fit for everyone (particularly if you have a history of restrictive dieting or disordered eating), tracking your eating habits can be a really effective way to first grow the information available to you. Getting curious about what, how, where, when, and why you eat can simply be an exercise in understanding yourself.

Please note that any behavior which further takes you away from fueling your body intuitively should be used with caution and only as a temporary measure. This includes tracking meals in any capacity. Collaborating with a National Board-Certified Health & Wellness Coach as you begin bringing your attention here can be a really effective way to manage expectations.

Second, from the knowledge you’ve gained about which foods feel best in your body, you can construct an eating template uniquely structured to suit your life. Any information you might have from consultations with health professionals or lab results, like food allergies or health conditions, should always be at the root of the design. In addition, factors like schedule and environment should be considerations. Strategies like menu-planning, meal prep, budgeting, and delegation might all be considered, too.

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With a generic diet plan, you’ve been given the what, but not the how, the when, the where, or the why. When you’re working within this structure, please remember your failure is part of its design. Where generically prescribed diet plans and wellness programs fall short, you have the power to create a truly customized approach to eating that aligns with your goals and values and can keep you interested for life.

Lastly, to truly cultivate an empowered approach to food and eating, an important shift must occur. Rather than identifying with your current eating style (i.e. “not a healthy eater”, “too busy to cook”, or “uninterested in wellness”), learn to identify with the version of yourself that’s eating in alignment with your vision. I’ve seen firsthand in my work with clients how transformative that shift can be. If you believe you are “someone who generally eats well”, that Taco Bell run will no longer derail you from your routine. That birthday cake can feel satisfying, rather than shameful. And every time you make a choice for yourself that leaves you feeling satisfied, you build the positive reinforcement to continue making those same choices in the future.

YOU become the plan you can depend on.