Shortly after I discovered Intuitive Eating, as scary as it was, I started to eat a wider variety of foods. Which included “forbidden” foods that I had tried so hard to avoid for years and years (but often judged myself relentlessly for eating them).
It didn’t take long for my bingeing to go away. Wahoo! That was a big success! Yet, on occasion, I would still overeat.
I quickly realized that I was doing something that you may be doing too.
I was allowing myself to eat anything I wanted, but I was trying to eat as little as possible without being hungry.
Here is how my thinking went: If I JUST ate what my body needed, not a bite more, than I’d lose weight. This was a win/win in my mind. I knew I didn’t want to diet or ever feel hungry again. Yet, if I ate in alignment with my body, then my body would recalibrate and any extra weight would naturally melt away.
How optimistic of me! Are you trying to do this too?
You may be saying and thinking, I’m NOT on a diet. I just want to eat well. I want to just give my body what it needs. And “just” is what you focus on.
But, if you’re finding that you’re overeating, craving “forbidden” foods, and feel like you’re failing at trying to eat the least amount possible, then it’s important for you to know what’s really going on.
You’re likely still restricting yourself from food, which is essentially dieting.
Here are some of the signs to look out for:
You’re thinking about food throughout the day, not just around mealtime.
You’re craving “forbidden” foods- like processed and sugary foods and carbs.
You’re in a pattern which includes being good and eating the “right” amount for a period of time (this could be hours, days or weeks), but eventually and inevitably, you end up overeating. After this happens, you resolve to eat the “right” amount again.
If this is you, you’re restricting and imposing limits on the fuel that your body desperately needs. Your body is asking for more food.
You may not be allowing yourself to eat until you’re comfortably full or you may not be allowing yourself certain foods that satisfy you, like protein or carbohydrates.
Remember, your body is brilliant and is designed for homeostasis and survival. It will do whatever it can to keep you in balance. It won’t tolerate undernourishment.
How remarkable is that? We are so blessed to be living in a body that’s wired to maintain our safety and well being.
Changing your relationship with food means that you start to trust your body. Your body knows when it’s hungry and when it needs more nourishment. Give yourself permission to be properly fueled! Let go of the need for minimal. Explore how comfortably full and satiated feels like for you.
When you do, you’ll likely find that your overeating patterns will just melt away.