Let’s continue our Intuitive Eating in Real Life (IRL) series. This post is all about Intuitive Eating In Real Life Principle 6 Discover the Satisfaction Factor.
In case you missed it:
- What is Intuitive Eating?
- Intuitive Eating Principle 1: Reject the Diet Mentality
- Intuitive Eating in Real Life: Principle 1
- Intuitive Eating Principle 2: Honor Your Hunger
- Intuitive Eating in Real Life: Principle 2
- Intuitive Eating Principle 3: Make Peace with Food
- Intuitive Eating in Real Life: Principle 3
- Intuitive Eating Principle 4: Challenge the Food Police
- Intuitive Eating in Real Life: Principle 4
- Intuitive Eating Principle 5: Feel Your Fullness
- Intuitive Eating in Real Life: Principle 5
- Intuitive Eating Principle 6: Discover the Satisfaction Factor
Intuitive Eating In Real Life Principle 6 Discover the Satisfaction Factor
The snapshot of Intuitive Eating Principle 6 is: “The Japanese have the wisdom to promote pleasure as one of their goals of healthy living. In our fury to be thin and healthy, we often overlook one of the most basic gifts of existence – the pleasure and satisfaction that can be found in the eating experience. When you eat what you really want, in an environment that is inviting, the pleasure you derive will be a powerful force in helping you feel satisfied and content.”
In Real Life Principle 6 Discover the Satisfaction Factor
Starting on page 154 in the 4th edition Intuitive Eating book, are 5 steps to help you regain pleasure in eating:
· Step 1: Ask yourself what you really want to eat
· Step 2: Discover the pleasure of the palate
· Step 3: Make your eating experience more enjoyable
· Step 4: Don’t settle
· Step 5: Check in – does it still taste good?
Of course, it’s not ALWAYS possible to have a pleasurable meal/snack in a favorable environment taking into account all your food preferences. That’s okay! The goal here is not perfection. Sometimes eating a protein bar rather than nothing at all when you are swamped with work or kids IS respecting your body and honoring your hunger. But the thing to remember, is that satisfaction and pleasure are important aspects of eating that have often been taught by dieting to be “bad” and it’s time to let go of that diet rule and get back to enjoying food!
When we allow all foods, food becomes just food and then it’s easier to focus on how we feel, what sounds good, what foods we like, etc. And yes, it is completely normal that sometimes we will eat past comfortable fullness or eat for emotional reasons. The key is to be kind with yourself and know that it’s going to happen and that’s ok! It’s not the end of the world. And the next principle is all about emotional eating so we will continue to explore this!
Can you remember the last time you felt truly satisfied after a meal? What was that like for you? How would it feel to continue letting satisfaction guide your eating experiences rather than food rules?
INTUITIVE EATING VIRTUAL SMALL GROUP COACHING
If you have been following along on this Intuitive Eating journey with me or hearing about Intuitive Eating elsewhere and wanting to learn more, or you’ve been doing some learning on your own and are ready to have the support of others on the journey with you, I have the perfect resource for you:
An 8-week small group coaching experience to help you heal your relationship with food and your body, ditch dieting for good, get back to trusting yourself around food AND enjoying the foods you actually like!
Group will be held via online video >> Thursdays at 6:00pm CST (sessions will be recorded if you are unable to attend live). The group begins a new cohort every quarter. FULL DETAILS AND SIGN UP HERE.
REMINDER
This blog and Instagram series I am doing is not meant to be a replacement for reading the Intuitive Eating book or working through the Intuitive Eating Workbook. Rather it’s to provide an overview of the Intuitive Eating concept and principles to bring more awareness to the fact that there is an alternative to dieting and restricting.
As always, if you need additional guidance and support via individual nutrition coaching or counseling, please reach out or sign up for the waitlist for my Intuitive Eating small group coaching program.
