The very first thing you need to do when learning to embrace intuitive eating is to reject the diet mentality. It is a mentality that we are all familiar with. It is a mentality that keeps us trapped in a cycle of mistrusting ourselves, and mistrusting our bodies. It is a desperate and never ending endeavor to control our cravings and appetite, depriving ourselves of your favorite foods, and the flavor and zest of life. Healthful, joyful living comes from a mindset that embraces abundance and nourishment over restrictive diets. Learning to reject the diet mentality is key to cultivating the joyful, healthy lifestyle you deserve.
The dictionary definition of diet is, “a special course of food to which one restricts oneself” while the dictionary definition of nourish is “provide with the food or other substances necessary for growth, health, and good condition”. These starkly different definitions really highlight how toxic and destructive the diet mentality can be. The diet mentality puts self-control over self-care. When we diet, we are constantly at war with ourselves, trying to conform our appetite and cravings to fit arbitrary sets of rules. The diet mentality is an approach based on deprivation and restriction, and it is hard to live a full and happy life when we are constantly concerned over food rules and trying to stay in control. Nourishment on the other hand is all about living a full and healthy life. Nourishment is about honoring and respecting our bodies, eating in a way that promotes growth, health and vitality.
In order to reject the diet mentality, it's important to be able to embrace the gray areas in life. What does this mean? It means realizing that we are human, and that we don't have to be perfect in order to be happy, successful and fulfilled in life. The diet mentality is an all-or-nothing approach that leaves little room for spontaneity or flexibility. When we go on diets we make harsh and unrealistic demands on ourselves, setting ourselves up for misery and failure. Embrace the gray. There can be room in a healthy lifestyle for any and all foods, all in the right amounts. Embrace moderation and flexibility, and stop falling for the all-or-nothing trap. Remember: diets are hardwired to fail. It's not about a lack of self-control or discipline. When we restrict and are undernourished, our bodies naturally strive to come back into balance. Diets are not designed to be sustainable long-term. Cultivating a mindset focused on nourishment and balance is key to creating a long-term, sustainable, healthy lifestyle.