For the longest time, fad diets have been a go-to solution for those hoping to quickly lose some extra pounds without exerting too much effort. Though health experts constantly warn the public against these diets, this hasn’t really stopped people from trying them out.
Now, there’s a different health trend called intuitive eating that’s all the rage on social media. Some of the most trusted fitness influencers swear by it, and people who’ve tried it won’t stop raving about it.
So, what is intuitive eating?
Unlike fad diets, intuitive eating doesn’t involve depriving yourself of foods that you love. Instead, it’s more about being aware of the different signals your body is sending you, and acting on them accordingly.
While fad diets may make you feel guilty or ashamed for indulging in a treat or two, intuitive eating helps you avoid these negative feelings by deemphasizing losing weight or achieving a certain look. This allows you to throw away all your inhibitions and gives you more freedom to eat without worry or fear.
With intuitive eating, more importance is placed on knowing whether certain foods will satisfy you or not, and knowing how much you’ll need to eat to feel satisfied. Pay close attention to your body — once it tells you that you are no longer hungry, that’s when you should stop eating.
When you start rejecting the diet mentality that food is either “good” or “bad” and start letting your body’s inner hunger cues take charge, you’ll find that the pleasure you get out of eating what you want without judgment will leave you feeling more satisfied than overeating (or being overly restrictive) ever will.