Are you fed up with “diets” and realize that they just don’t work? If so, you’ll be happy to know that research also shows diets don’t work (Mann, 2007)[i]. Diets often eliminate food groups and cause an imbalance in nutrient intake. Typically, diets are too restrictive to maintain on a regular basis. They leave people feeling deprived, which in turn back fires and can cause people to overindulge in the foods they were avoiding. If you want to make healthy changes to your diet, reject the diet mentality and embrace intuitive eating.
Intuitive eating (Bush, 2014)[ii] means listening to your body. Honor your hunger by eating. And respect when you feel full. Challenge the food police that categorize food as “good” or “bad” and instead, enjoy all food in moderation. Make food choices that reinforce your health and make you feel well. When you are bored, stressed, or feel emotional, instead of using food as your comfort, engage in an activity that will help you manage your stress and work through your emotions. Respect your body so you can feel good about it and be the best version of you.
Want to learn more about intuitive eating? Read Intuitive Eating, A Revolutionary Program that Works by Evelyn Tribole and Elyse Resch. You can browse through the book in the student resource area in 201 Student Health Center.
[i] Mann T, Tomiyama AJ, Westling E, et al. Medicare’s search for effective obesity treatments: diets are not the answer. Am Psychol. 2007;62:220–233.
[ii] Bush H, Rossy L, Mintz L, & Schopp (2014). Eat for Life: A Worksite Feasibility Study of a Novel Mindfulness-based Intuitive Eating Intervention. Am J Health Promotion (July/Aug):380-388.
