The Power of Choice – Intuitive Eating!

The Power of Choice – Intuitive Eating!

Ever just want a piece of cheesecake, a strawberry pie, fine chocolates or a piece of fried chicken? Just because we are working on losing weight and changing our eating patterns, does not mean our desire for some of our favorite foods goes away. In fact, the very idea that we see those foods as off limits leaves us to believe we are being deprived. This feeling alone can trigger obsessive thoughts of that food to the point we give in to our old behavior, devour it and then beat ourselves up for having done so.

Let’s start by deconstructing this behavior, piece by piece, and examine the reasons behind these destructive activities. Once we understand a few key facts, we can better implement the changes that lead to our success. READ MORE...

First, there are no foods that are totally restricted. The power to choose what you eat is yours. This should help alleviate the fear and desperation that we feel when we think we can no longer enjoy a favorite food. That said, each choice you make carries with it a consequence; they are the two halves of the teeter-totter that provides balance.

Second, it is a pretty safe bet that we already hold the knowledge that indulging in these favorite foods on a regular basis is how we arrived where we are. We will not only fail to lose weight, that choice may add a few pounds here, a few pounds there and we will continue to grow proportionately.

So, what are our choices; what do we do? How do we not obsess about our favorite foods and reach our goals to lose weight?

A few years ago I was channel surfing and briefly heard words about the French eating chocolate, fresh baked breads and wine and yet they were not obese like Americans were. Well, I let up on the up arrow channel button; found the down arrow button and returned to the program I had so rapidly passed. I was curious and wanted to hear the latest diet propaganda.

I had the pleasure of watching an interview with Mireille Guiliano, mireilleguiliano.com / author of the book French Women Don’t Get Fat. Among the information I learned that day was that nothing was off limits but there are foods that you eat in moderation. She described a process of eating simple but elegant foods in a purposeful manner. Mireille explained that she purposely chewed her food slowly, took the time to taste each bite and savored the different flavors of each food. She also noted that French women participated in an active lifestyle and that they enjoyed a healthier balance between food and activity than their counterparts in the United States.

Have you heard of intuitive eating? When using the term ‘intuitive eating’ there are some slightly different meanings from various authors, however, the general consensus is mindful or purposeful eating. They describe a day-to-day manner of eating any food, in moderation, only when you are truly hungry. And, the belief is that if you have to think about whether you are hungry or not, you most likely are not.

My definition of intuitive eating combines the best thoughts of Mireille and others with my own special twist. I tend to describe intuitive eating as perceptive, insightful and discerning and believe it should be accompanied by an additional component of our thought processes. I will explain my choices and the reasons for them.

Please join me in exploring intuitive eating with a twist!

1. Intuitive eating includes a sincere appreciation for food, which begins with how and where the food originated, to give pause and reflect on the toil of the farmer who tended the field or the animal’s life that was surrendered. It continues with appreciation for each person along the way that played a part in bringing that food to your table; the truck driver, the factory worker, the grocery store personnel, the chef and the person who prepared the food in your home. This allows our hearts to be truly thankful that we have an abundance of food when there are those around the world that are not so fortunate. With this mindset, we are more apt to slow down and relish each morsel rather than eating to excess without taking any time to reflect on the journey it took to get us.

2. Intuitive eating requires that we pay attention to whether we are truly hungry. Is there a gnawing feeling in your stomach? Is it accompanied by noises of growling and gurgling? Many times the thought of whether we are truly hungry doesn’t even come into our thought process. Intuitive eating challenges us to relearn our relationship with food and to listen to what our bodies are saying as to whether we are really hungry or not. It further suggests that if we have to give this much thought, we most likely are not hungry enough to eat. In those instances, perhaps we are feeding our emotions, eating to be social or eating because we just like the flavor of the food since that’s what we’ve conditioned ourselves to do throughout a lifetime.

3. Intuitive eating suggests we eat the best foods in small amounts and do not deprive ourselves the luxury of fine food. This is where the twist comes in, as I believe there are some other options to be considered. When you find yourself craving a favorite food, the question needs to be answered as to whether you want to taste the flavor or whether you are truly craving a very specific food. For instance, if I am wanting chocolate, do I want the flavor of chocolate because I like that flavor? Or, am I craving a specific chocolate, like Tuxedo Cheesecake from Cheesecake Factory, and I won’t be satisfied until I get it?

4. If the answer were that you want to taste the flavor of chocolate, then I would propose that there are many ways to achieve that by increasing your knowledge base and electing various healthier options. In the case of chocolate, learning that sugar-free chocolate pudding for 45 calories a serving is a wonderful option. A 35-calorie fudge sickle or a 50-calorie stick of Hershey chocolate are equally acceptable substitutions that fulfill the desire for chocolate. Intuitive eating would have you eat the more decadent option in smaller increments; I would suggest you eat a true larger portion. This allows you to do so on a more regular basis as a way of living. In this manner, you will not feel deprived and your true cravings will not occur as frequently.

5. If a true craving exists, intuitive eating teaches us to eat that food purposefully and in moderation. We are to eat slowly, savoring the flavor, the texture and the journey it took to arrive on our table. It also suggests enhancing the moment with fine china, cloth napkins, perhaps a fresh flower in a bud vase and music to heighten our senses and make it a fond experience. This is something I do from time to time and I feel quite pampered and powerful in doing so.

6. Again, I would offer you two choices that depart from the conventional intuitive eating theory. You may elect to eat only a few bites of cheesecake as suggested, or you may elect to eat half the serving and plan for it by decreasing your calories the day before and perhaps the day after you eat the cheesecake. In this manner you are teaching yourself the preplanning and coping skills necessary for a lifetime of choices you will be faced with. Yes, you can go to the wedding and eat wedding cake; you simply need to make the caloric adjustments before and after. It demonstrates your responsibility to maintain or decrease your weight in a knowledgeable and purposeful manner.

No matter how you elect to proceed, with true intuitive eating or modified intuitive eating techniques, there are ways to feed your cravings. There is no need to associate any feelings of guilt in doing so. It is a new way of thinking and a new behavior to be learned, but it allows you latitude and continued success. Remember to stay engaged with your social network while learning and implementing these techniques, as they may feel strange when you first begin to implement them and the support you gift yourself is crucial.

The power to implement these choices in a successful manner should wipe away the fears that lead to obsessive thinking and the feelings of deprivation. You are the master of your destiny and, in challenging yourself to a new way of thinking, you are paving your way to long-term success!