Embrace the eater in you

Have you ever found yourself feeling anxious around being hungry? Or maybe you’ve experienced that familiar pang of guilt after indulging in a satisfying meal, that left you feeling a little full? Well, you’re not alone. I have felt all these feelings and decided to dive into why, so It’s time we had a little chat about why we need to make friends with those feelings.

Hunger

Let’s start with hunger. It’s a natural, biological signal that our bodies send us when they need nourishment. Yet, somehow, many of us have been conditioned to view hunger as a sign of weakness or lack of control. We’ve been bombarded with messages telling us that we should suppress our hunger, that hunger leads to eating food, and food makes us gain weight. But here’s the truth: hunger is not something to be feared, It’s a perfectly normal and essential part of being human.

Fullness

Similarly, let’s talk about feeling full. We’ve all been there – enjoying a delicious meal, only to be overcome with guilt afterwards, even if we didn’t over eat, but just feel a little full. But what is really going on? Why do we beat ourselves up for simply eating? The truth is, feeling full is just as natural as feeling hungry. It’s our body’s way of telling us that we’ve had enough nourishment for the time being. And guess what? That’s okay!

The struggle

The struggle is real and I believe It’s because we’ve been conditioned to believe that food is the enemy – that we must constantly battle against our desires in order to maintain some semblance of control. So many foods have become “off limits”…..Don’t eat carbs, no wait, don’t eat meat, no wait, fat is bad, no, sugar is bad, don’t eat in the morning, or is it don’t eat at night? … I can go on and on. No wonder everything we put in our mouths causes confusion and guilt! But here’s the thing: food is not the enemy. In fact, food is what sustains us, nourishes us, and brings us joy. We are eating beings, and there’s nothing wrong with embracing that fact.

Eat intuitively

So let’s try this,Instead of viewing food as something to be feared or controlled, let’s start seeing it for what it truly is: a source of pleasure, nourishment, and connection. How about we listen to our bodies and give them the fuel they need to thrive. Figure out what makes you physically feel your best, be an intuitive eater, avoid trendy dieting. Let’s enjoy our meals without guilt or shame, knowing that we are simply honoring our natural instincts as eating beings. For many of us, when we take the pressure off of “perfect eating” and settle into intuitive eating,

Maybe the next time you feel hungry, embrace it. And when you feel full, embrace that too. Remember, food is essential– it’s a fundamental part of what makes us human. So we can eat, enjoy, and celebrate our existence as eating beings. Cheers to that! 🍽️✨