You Don’t Have to Exist on Kale and Carrots For a Healthy Body

You Don’t Have to Exist on Kale and Carrots For a Healthy Body

Studies show that diets don’t work long term. While it’s true most diets help achieve optimal weight, they require a level of commitment that can be difficult over time. Most people can adhere to modified diets for short bursts, but inevitably they become too boring, too strict, or too mentally taxing to stick with. When life gets tough, kale and carrots tend to lose their appeal. 

It’s time to break the myth that healthy bodies require restrictive diets. You can have a healthy body without denying yourself your favorite foods or living on kale and carrots. In fact, you donít even need to diet at all! A healthy diet is about balance and moderation, not deprivation.

So what does a healthy diet look like? Itís simple: include a variety of nutritious foods in your diet, and eat in moderation. That means eating plenty of fruits and vegetables, lean protein, whole grains, and healthy fats. And it means skipping processed foods and sugary drinks.

It may take some time to find what works for you, but with a little experimentation, you can create a healthy diet that fits your lifestyle and tastes. So ditch the restrictive diets and give yourself permission to enjoy your favorite foods – you deserve it!

Your Body Needs More Than Kale and Carrots

Our bodies are designed to run on a wide variety of micronutrients. The best way to get them is to eat a broad spectrum of foods. Interestingly, our bodies send signals when we are deficient or running low on fiber, protein, fat, sugar, vitamins, and minerals. Listening to our bodies and intuiting what they are telling us can help make proper food choices for our hunger and our mood. Sometimes our bodies crave the fiber and sugar of apples and other times they simply want a loaded burger with all the trimmings. Intuitive eating allows room for both. 

The goal is to find a balance that works for you and allows you to feel healthy and energized. So, don’t be afraid to mix it up a bit when it comes to your diet. And don’t assume that you have to exist on kale and carrots in order to be healthy! There are plenty of other great foods out there that can provide your body with the nutrients it needs. Experiment and find what works best for you. A healthy body is not one size fits all!

Intuitive Eating Disrupts Mind Over Matter Thinking 

Dieting requires saying no to a lot of foods our bodies love. Vegetarians say no to meat products, and Keto dieters avoid many healthy foods trying to maintain ketosis.

Intuitive eating doesn’t require saying no to anything. Rather, intuitive eaters pay more attention to hunger cues, choosing exactly what they want most, and homing in on their satisfaction as they eat. In doing so, they enjoy a wider variety of foods without any limits. This can include indulgent foods and since there is no guilt or judgment attached, many intuitive eaters find it satisfying to enjoy small amounts of foods typically labeled off-limits whereas traditional dieters may binge or go overboard.

When nothing is off limits it takes away the power food has on our mind.

The diet mentality is all-or-nothing. You’re either on a diet or you’re not. You’re either good or bad. You’re either eating healthy or you’re eating junk.

Intuitive eating flips that mentality on its head. There’s no such thing as good or bad foods, only good and bad moments. There’s no such thing as being on or off a diet. You can eat intuitively whether you’re trying to lose weight, maintain your current weight, or gain weight.

Intuitive eating is an approach to food and nutrition that promotes body acceptance and sustainable healthy habits. It teaches people to tune in to their own bodies and trust their intuition about what, how much, and when to eat.

Intuitive eating is not a diet, it’s a way of life.

When you eat intuitively, you don’t have to worry about counting calories or macros. You don’t have to weigh your food or obsess over portion sizes. You simply eat when you’re hungry and stop when you’re satisfied. You choose the foods that appeal to you and make you feel good.

Intuitive eating is about listening to your body, not depriving it.

Intuitive eating is a more sustainable way of eating than traditional diets. When you diet, you eventually have to go back to normal eating, which can lead to weight gain. Intuitive eating is a way of life, so you can stick with it long-term without any negative consequences.

Intuitive eating is also not a one-size-fits-all approach. What works for one person may not work for another. You may need to experiment a bit to figure out what works best for you. But once you find what works, stick with it. There is no wrong way to eat intuitively.

Getting Support Helps Super Charge Intuitive Eating 

Having a healthy perspective about food can be a challenge. While some people are at peace with food, many are not. Chronic dieters may have a dysfunctional relationship with food and are unable or unwilling to understand the connection between emotional hunger and the foods they choose when they are triggered. Getting support can help. Therapists, coaches, and groups are great ways to better understand how intuitive eating works and can guide you through the process until you better understand your unique hunger, emotions, and satisfaction.

Having a support system in place can help supercharge your intuitive eating journey. It can also provide accountability and encouragement to continue on when things get tough.

Being healthy is a mind and body process. What you eat and why you eat it go hand in hand. Intuitive eating is a great way to get in tune with your mind and body and help them come together for your overall health. Eating kale and carrots because you know they are good for you is very different from eating them for the sheer enjoyment of it.