Intuitive Eating Isn't a Diet...by Liimu
As many of you know, I made the decision late last year to chronicle my journey back to my pre-pregnancy weight here on this blog. At the same time, I realized that I was completely fed up with diets and punishing exercise and I began to get immersed in the world of Intuitive Eating, including reading Geneen Roth and others. What was frustrating is that rather than settling on my ideal weight, as the books and articles promised would eventually happen, I watched the scale go up and up. I was already 50 pounds over what I consider to be my ideal weight, so this was totally not sitting well with me.
I combed the internet to see if I was doing something wrong. Every fiber of my being screamed out for me to go on a diet and yet, the truth is I'm done with dieting. I just am. I sort of wish I weren't, but I totally am. So, I prayed. I prayed for the answer because I was sick and tired of being at that jumping off point of being ready to let go of my old way of doing things but not knowing yet how to do things the new way.
And then the answer came to me like a smack in the forehead:
Intuitive eating isn't a diet...
...but it's not NOT a diet.
The wikipedia definition of a diet (the noun, that is, not the verb), is "the sum of the food consumed by an organism or group." That doesn't say anything about restricting or starving or controlling. In fact, it's only when diet is used as a verb that even any mention is made of how dieting relates to weight loss.
I realized that what I had been doing was still just sort of eating whatever I wanted. Intuitive eating for maintenance, I guess, when what I want is to lose weight. I'm not ashamed or afraid to admit it. I. Want. To. Lose. Weight. So, I need to adjust my diet so that it supports that goal. Simple as that.
So for the past week, that's what I've been doing and by gum, I think it's working. I can tell you, it's working inside my head. I'm no longer worried about whether or not I'm doing this right. I just wake up every morning and pray for the willingness to do it right. Because I know what to do, I just need to do it.
I combed the internet to see if I was doing something wrong. Every fiber of my being screamed out for me to go on a diet and yet, the truth is I'm done with dieting. I just am. I sort of wish I weren't, but I totally am. So, I prayed. I prayed for the answer because I was sick and tired of being at that jumping off point of being ready to let go of my old way of doing things but not knowing yet how to do things the new way.
And then the answer came to me like a smack in the forehead:
Intuitive eating isn't a diet...
...but it's not NOT a diet.
The wikipedia definition of a diet (the noun, that is, not the verb), is "the sum of the food consumed by an organism or group." That doesn't say anything about restricting or starving or controlling. In fact, it's only when diet is used as a verb that even any mention is made of how dieting relates to weight loss.
I realized that what I had been doing was still just sort of eating whatever I wanted. Intuitive eating for maintenance, I guess, when what I want is to lose weight. I'm not ashamed or afraid to admit it. I. Want. To. Lose. Weight. So, I need to adjust my diet so that it supports that goal. Simple as that.
So for the past week, that's what I've been doing and by gum, I think it's working. I can tell you, it's working inside my head. I'm no longer worried about whether or not I'm doing this right. I just wake up every morning and pray for the willingness to do it right. Because I know what to do, I just need to do it.
Labels: frustration with slow weight loss, intuitive eating, intuitive eating and dieting, intuitive eating and weight loss
posted by Liimu at
6:51 AM
3 Comments:
I've always said to myself, Liimu, "If I keep hitting my head against the wall and it's giving me nothing but a headache, maybe I should take a giant step back and see what happens." In other words, sometimes trying to force something to happen works against you. You need to allow God to steer the ship and all you need to do is be aware of what's happening and sit back. More times than I can count, I have done just that and before I knew it, exactly (or close to it) what I wanted presented itself! Eerie, but that's my personal philosophy and because you are so spiritual, I thought you could relate.
Oh, Cara, just seeing this message now. Yes, I love that idea but sometimes it is easier said than done. Believe me, I am trying but this monkey has been on my back for many years and it ain't giving up the free ride without a fight. I'm definitely working on it, though. That's whay I'm sticking so close to intuitive eating because I really do think it's the key for me to letting go of a lot of this weight loss baggage. Thanks again for your thoughtful comment!
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