Intuitive Eating: Quit counting calories

Intuitive eating calls for less snacking and more mindful eating. If you get into the habit of snacking and you are someone aiming to lose or maintain your weight, you might unconsciously over-indulge. Then, that would become overeating instead of intuitive eating. Therefore, try to eat particularly when you are hungry.

Additionally, do not starve yourself. Some people may lose weight when they starve their bodies but most times this is not the case. Unfortunately, for most people, over time, this causes your metabolism to slow down and your body would begin to take longer to burn your food which can easily cause weight gain if you are someone who sticks to eating around the same time of the day whether you are hungry or not.

Because you are practicing intuitive eating, you want to try to focus on eating more balanced meals or what’s called eating the rainbow. Especially since our bodies mostly crave foods that are often unhealthy; instead of foods that are beneficial to us.

A balanced diet doesn’t need to be consumed in one meal. On the contrary, it can be spread out and consumed throughout the day. Additionally, try to consume more protein than carbs in each meal. Here’s why:

The calorie count per gram of carbs is the same per gram of protein, which is 4. However, protein fills you up faster than carbs. In this way, your calorie intake is much lower than if you were to consume a lot of carbs to feel full.

Nevertheless, calories are essential for energy. You should know your body and how it deals with weight gain. If your metabolism is slow or you gain weight easily, count down on your portion sizes per meal.

We all have heard that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. Yet, some people skip breakfast or have snacks as breakfast. I understand that sometimes you might be in a rush and there is no time to eat like a ‘King’ but at least eat a fulfilling meal. It will fuel your energy for whatever event lies ahead.

Lunch should be a little less fulfilling. Have a small portion of food that fills you up just enough. If you feel hungry still, drink a glass of water and wait 10 minutes. Chances are the hunger might go away; if it doesn’t, then eat just a small bit more.

Dinner should be satisfying but light. This will ensure that you get a sounded rest at night and that your body doesn’t have to keep working on a tough piece of steak, making you feel tired as soon as you’re awake.

This is something easy to do yet hard. We know water is good for us, it’s tasteless, odorless, Affordable and available everywhere, yet somehow, we don’t consume it enough.

Instead, we get up, take out more than a dollar, walk over to the store, pick up a soda and drink it knowing it’s bad for us. What is the matter with us?

All jokes aside, we should consume more natural beverages in order to feel energized and keep hydrated. This could be fresh juices, tea and of course lots of water.

Staying active is key to a healthy mind and body especially when practicing intuitive eating. Because this practice allows you to eat whatever you want, it is easy to put on some extra pounds if you are not being active. It doesn’t mean you have to go to the gym every day but get up and try to move around in whatever space you are in.

I work in retail, from 8-5 job plus overtime, 4 days of the week. Then I am home the other 3 days. On workdays, I don’t work out because my job keeps me on my toes but on the days that I am home, cleaning up the house keeps me active. Otherwise, I take a run on the treadmill, practice some yoga or lift some weight in my home.

It doesn’t have to be that you go to the gym to be active. There are lots of at-home workouts available on the internet today that are free and easy to follow. Try to incorporate a fair amount of active time throughout your day.

Do you practice intuitive eating, or do you prefer a dieting system? Let me know in the comment section below.

Related article:

Weight Loss: 10 common mistakes beginners make when trying to lose weight. 

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