Recently I’ve been thinking a lot about how my whole approach to eating has started to change. I used to be very ‘controlled’, I would have my meal plan and would never deviate from it no matter what.
I still meal plan for a number of reasons – to reduce food waste, to be organised and to try and save money, but now I have a much more flexible approach to it. If I have planned to have something and I just don’t fancy it then I will look and see what’s in the fridge and cupboards to see what else looks good, or if I’m hungry I’ll eat something whether its on my plan or not!
Green smoothie love: Peanut Butter Cup flavour!
I’ve found that I’m able to tune in to what my body needs much better than ever before. Whether its a big green smoothie, a giant raw veggie filled salad, a plate of roasted veg with hummus, a bowl of dried fruit and nuts or some chocolate, I’m really happy to just go with the flow. One of my favourite things is to be able to go to the market or green grocer and see what fresh produce I feel drawn to at that moment.
This is something I’ve never experienced before!
Over the weekend I commented on Jessica’s blog that I felt I still needed to have some ‘control’ over things, but when I really sat and thought about it I realised that I actually don’t! I listen to my body most of the time (some times I’m not hungry when I know I need to eat more, like after a long run) and I naturally crave healthier stuff.
I really dislike it that some people think I live in a state of deprivation when that absolute opposite is true. I enjoy my food now more than I ever have at any point in my life. I can eat what I want, I just choose to eat the foods that I’m now naturally drawn to and that make me feel my best. The other day I surprised myself as I was looking forward to eating a juicy jazz apple just as much as I used to look forward to eating a greasy pasty from Greggs.
I never seem to crave meat, cake or crisps – I have started to get the odd fleeting egg and goats cheese craving and depending on how I feel I may go with it – all in line with my feelings around not adopting a strict vegan label and preferring to go with the ‘eat what makes me feel good’ mantra instead!
I’ve also started to find that when I have a few weeks of eating a lot of sugary stuff or drinking a lot of coffee it kind of builds up until I feel the need to cut back on it a bit.
I feel like I know my body so well now. Before, when I would get hunger signals I didn’t fully understand when they were due to stress, boredom or genuine hunger. Now I feel like I know the difference. I can’t really explain how I’ve got to this point, but I think after 3 years of trying out different ways of eating, discovering new foods, changing my mind set from skinny to healthy (this is the real key change I think) I’m really getting there. The fact that I’m maintaining my weight and making great improvements with my running (so I must be fuelling myself well) makes me feel like I’m on the right path!
What are your thoughts on intuitive eating? I don’t think I’m a pure intuitive eater but I feel like I’ve found a really good balance that works for me. Do you meal plan? If so, do you try and find a balance between planning meals in advance and listening to what your body wants?
What are you currently craving?
Right now I’m in the need for something chocolately and have just found this siesta orange carob bar in the back of the drawer, yum!
{ 24 comments… read them below or add one }
That’s awesome Laura!! I love that you’ve found something that works for you and are loving it!! You look amazing and your running has improved so much so it is DEFINITELY doing you good!! Plus you can’t go wrong with a peanut butter cup green smoothie! ;)
I’m mostly an intuitive eater, but when working out throws my appetite off I just ignore it and eat anyway! :D
It is so good that you have found a balance. I would love to be at that stage, but I am not quite there yet. I still have a meal plan (but I do deviate and compensate for that) but I do still have to keep an eye on what I eat. But I do prefer healthier foods- I do not fancy chips or anything like that- I really look forward to porridge or fruit salads and things like that- and I think that is because I feel the difference when eating right.
Ah Laura, I simply love this post. After talking with you when we met, I can clearly see how happy you are with how you live now. It was so inspiring to see, it really was. And I must admit, you shocked me when you said you used to go to Greggs! :P
What is really really inspiring is that you have totally changed your mindset from ‘skinny’ to ‘healthy’ and ‘strong’ and I totally agree, this was the most important change for you. You realised that you were starting to slip, cut out carbs, and you didn’t want that. It is so clear to see that you eat just what you want and allow yourself treats and you genuinely have a healthy balance. And it’s really good that you’ve kept yourself open to having eggs and cheese if you fancy them because it’s not fair to be so strict on yourself that if you are craving something, to deny yourself of it just because of a label. I’d probably say (and this is not said in a harsh way) that maybe you need to reconsider your use of a ‘binge’ as there are times when you’ve said you ate too many apples or had an extra bowl of muesli or ate too much fruit in general and honestly, these are really not a proper binge that a lot of people have. You have nothing to worry about by having these – if you were eating 10 bars of chocolate, 5 muffins, half a jar of PB before bed then maybe you would! Just my little two cents ;)
I guess I’m still trying to find my way with intuitive eating after years and years of an eating disorder but I’m getting there slowly, it’s no quick process and in the meantime I’m just trying to get healthy :) I really hope that one day I will be in the position to eat intuitively though so that on some days I don’t have a binge. All in good time!
AGREED! i thnks o many ppl think that if you eat ‘ more nuitritious’ things than u are depriving urself.. when actually I would MUCH prefer those foods over packaged processed foods!
I keep a meal plan for the same reasons but I don’t plan out each day I just have lunch/dinner ideas out so I can decide what I want right then.
eat what makes me feel good is the best mantra, i totally agree with that.
Eggs make me feel good so I eat them nearly everyday when I crave them despite my old vegan label.
I love how you have managed to learn over the past few years how to listen to your body, I do believe it is possible to tune in better to its needs and wants and this is what I am constantly striving for.
I do try meal plan, I plan a set of meals for the week but am flexible as to what gets eaten on which days, it seriously saves on fresh produce waste.
Great post, I totally agree with not missing cake and crisps – I think a lot of my friends see me as a crazy, health-obsessed deprived person but I know that I feel healthier and happier than when I used to eat Poptarts for breakfast and definitely enjoy food so much more now.
I’m still not at the stage where I’m eating intuitively as I still calorie count even though I know that I don’t need to, it just somehow makes me feel that I’m in control and not overeating. I’ve maintained my weightloss for over 3 years so I really should trust my body not to go crazy and eat everything in sight! Well done for making the mental switch from skinny to healthy, that’s definitely going to be my challenge from now on! x
I adore that carob bar, honestly one of the nicest chocolates I’ve ever tasted!
I like having a weekly meal plan just so I have a bit of structure and so I can make sure my meals are varied and include the nutrition I want. But having said that, I quite often deviate from it and do what I feel, and that can be said for my exercise plan, which I pencil in but don’t mind changing spontaneously. I think that’s the true balance, to have a structure but be flexible.
Such an amazing inspiring post. If i ever need a reality check on what it means to be healthy and happy with food then i always know to come here. I’m still striving toward the point where i’ll prefer an apple to a pasty but i know in time with patience it will come :)
Right now i’m craving tapas so going to prepare some squid in spicy tomato sauce and different veg for dinner..mmm
I think that with healthy eating and exercise, a lot of it is about learning to listen to your body. It’s unbelievable how bad I felt in terms of mood and energy when I had a few days of eating rubbish a couple weeks ago. Like you, I felt mine was telling me I needed to cut back and get back on track. I meal plan too, because I live alone and I can’t afford to buy random stuff and go with the flow – it’d waste a lot, and there’s only me to feed so one dish often does me for a whole week. I think it works both ways when you make choices – sometimes I feel like I’m craving vegetables to give me a healthy kick, and sometimes I want to eat pancakes. I go with it, either way! (I made chocolatey socca pancakes the other day and they were YUM!)
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I’m still working on my food demons! I have a tendency to overeat : (
I love spontaneity… I hope to be more adventurous with my fruits and veggies over the coming months x x
Yey Laura!! You are doing great!
I love this post! Sounds like you have found the perfect balance that works for you! And that Peanut Butter cup smoothie looks amazing!
Im working hard on my intuitive eating skills! My problem is that the voice in my head tells me that girls should eat little (thank God for all the lovely blogs-like yours- that showes me that girls DOES eat!). I often think that Im not hungry when I am.. and then I overeat, and feel guity, and starve.., and yea, you know the rest. I have made a promis to myself today, that I will eat a solid breakfast every day! When I start the day with grains I just feel so much stronger, anf the voice has less power over me. Its still there, but I have more energy to fight it.
Ill focus on the breakfast for now, and just try to eat when Im hungry for the rest of the day- without stressing it. My gold is to let my body eat whenever and whatever it wants!
Hope you are having a great Monday sweetie :*
I think we both know how green (monster) I am with envy that you are so in tune with your body.
For me, it’s not so much the type of food as I never actually crave junk (bingeing on it comes from much more complex feelings than lusting after the taste), but the quantity. It’s sad to say that I would happily spend my entire life eating: I always want HUGE portions of things, which means that although I love my veggies even my smoothies are huge and filled with calorie-dense toppings. But smaller ones just aren’t ‘the same,’ leaving me feeling cheated, depressed and even more likely to binge on foods I hate but I end up eating because there isn’t anything else in the house, I’m so anxious I can’t think straight, or I subconsciously want to punish myself.
I don’t eat when I’m not hungry as much as I used to but sadly my body doesn’t agree: I must be in massive excess because even with all my exercise I still gain, leading to my immense fear of injury.
I do meal plan to an extent but always inevitably end up eating more than I planned. When I was younger and uber-controlling I had things down to the single calorie in terms of what I was eating, and I’d plan everything out days in advance, religiously sticking to it. If I went over by a calorie one day, I’d eat a calorie less the next. Obviously that was not healthy either, but it would be very nice to find some middle ground.
So glad you’re at peace with yourself. I’d never want to eat sweets all day either, I’d just like to feel safe that I’d not have to pay for it for weeks after if I did occasionally, you know?
xxx
I would like to be an intuitive eater, but I tend to overdo it if I don’t count calories. I’m trying it again at the moment, because calorie counting does my head in. I’ve also lost quite a bit of weight and would like to lose a bit more, but I’m trying to eat more healthily and get back on track that way. I hope I can get to the point where my attitude to eating is more like yours.
Hello, I think this is just AWESOME!!! You learned to listen to your body and follow what you need and want..that us something that everyone is trying to do and so many people are stuggling with that. I think I am somewhere in between intuitive eating and planning… I eat when I am hungry but I make sure that I have my 3 main meals and 2 snacks on during the day even if I am not that hungry. I just need my calories:)
Currently I am craving hige bowls of melons, any kind will do :)
This is a really thought-provoking post! I agree with a lot of the comments above… your current approach to food/eating is clearly working wonders for you! It’s something that I’m still striving towards though, and I don’t feel like I’ve quite reached that stage where I can truely ‘let go’ of the (sometimes silly) food rules I have set myself. Like, I still find myself avoiding carbs even when I *know* that my body needs them. I’m working on that though, and I must say that seeing how you incorporate healthy, wholesome carbs (just an example) into your daily eats is really helpful and gives me loads of ideas for my making my own meals more balanced :)
In terms of meal planning, it’s one of my favourite things to do on a weekly basis! I love going to the market/supermarket at the weekend and picking up whatever fresh fruits/veggies are on offer, then coming home and writing a list of possible meal combinations. Usually it’s the seasonal produce that is on offer so that’s another benefit of just ‘going with the flow’ and not sticking to a strict shopping list. I prefer to have a list of meals that I can pick from on a daily basis rather than set specific meals for specific days… it’s like picking from my own personal restaurant menu every day :)
Emma – yes, I really am learning from you on that one and to make sure I eat when my appetite is thrown off :-)
Maria – your absolutely right, I think knowing how much better healthier food makes you feel is half the battle
Nicky – no I totally see what you mean, I think it was more the ‘out of control’ feeling I would get, but luckily that has completely stopped over the last couple of months and I see that as a sign that I’m fuelling myself correctly now :-)
Carrie – oh yes, I’d much prefer what I eat over processed stuff now :-)
Megan – yes, I was totally inspired by you!
Babywilt – that sounds like a great approach, I hate wasted food so that works well for me too
Lily – I think of calorie counting works well for you then thats one way of helping, hope that you feel you’ll be able to eat more intuitively in future!
Becky – yes, that bar was so good! I think my approach is really similar to yours too :-)
Sarah – thanks! Your dinner sounds lovely!
Konni – sounds like you have a great balance – I’m similar in that even though I have my hubby, most of my meals are made just for me so I tend to eat the same thing a couple of days in a row or I need to plan how to use the leftovers :-)
Tam – sorry that you feel you overeat chick, I’m sure you’ll get there. Everything you eat on your blog looks so healthy!
SJ – yes that is something I that struggle with in terms of meal planning and being vegan!
Ragnhild – I think focusing on eating a big nourishing breakfast each day is a great way to start!
Jessica – I don’t think you would have to pay for it if the rest of your diet / exercise intake was balanced – but I can totally agree with the need to eat big portions – my smoothies are pretty epic sized now – I really do have to eat for volume. I think if I have a meal that is unsatisfying in taste and volume thats when I would be tempted to binge, luckily I think I’m able to make sure that all my meals satisfy me now, hence avoiding that need to eat more. I’m sure you’ll reach a happy balance with your eating at some point jess, and be able to enjoy more treats!
tryingtofindbalance – I think calorie counting can be great until you get used to what a day’s eating should ‘look like’ if that makes sense. Thats what I’ve been doing recently but to make sure I’m eating enough! I’m sure you’ll get to the point of not having to count soon :-)
Lenna – you sound like your in a similar place to me! I’m loving melon too :-)
Bronagh – I can so relate to having those rules in place – I sometimes have to mentally bitch slap myself when I have those thoughts! I also enjoy meal planning, its so much fun but its good to be able to build in that flexibility as well :-)
I’ve never meal planned in my life. I like the go with the flow approach that way I don’t feel so constrained or guilty if I go off course. My body doesn’t crave sugary foods or meat (except fish occasionally) anymore. I am much more drawn to fresh produce, so now I feel that I can trust my body to make the right decisions for me rather than forcing it to eat somethig it doesn’t want!!! Great post Laura! x
When I first started trying to gain weight, I meal planned to the point if obsession, until I realised that I don’t cope well with any kind of rules around eating. The big get hurdle for me was learning to trust myself and my body. Most of the time now, I eat what I want, when I want, but at the same time am making sure that I eat enough. So liberating (: intuitive eating is definitely the way to go for me, and though I think it may be a while until I’m completely there, I feel that it will be worth it.
This is such a good post! From your words I get the sense that you are at peace with yourrpslf and your body, which is pretty amazing x
I couldn’t agree more, Laura. Simply putting a label on your diet is much too restrictive and doesn’t allow you to enjoy what your body really wants. While there’s beliefs and values, such as not eating animals for me, that’s fine. But stepping outside of the box every once in awhile is fine– especially if it’s humane :)
I really like the calm confidence that comes through in this post. I think if you post about persistently losing weight without trying / needing to, then people will naturally express concern. But since Feb/March you seem to have sorted out any glitches in your diet: your running is consistently improving, and I think you weight is stable, right? And your enthusiasm for your food definitely shines through :-)
I was also interested to read what you said about eggs and goats cheese. I think it takes a lot of confidence in your appetite and cravings to defy traditional labels, and I think that’s a really positive thing.
Love this post, and I’m defo one for intuitive eating. Most of the time I crave healthy foods too. The only problem is that sometimes it’s difficult to hear what your body is saying, especially at times of stress or illness. In that case, I just try to eat as healthily and mindfully as possible, but always with chocolate in the mix :)