5 Most Common Mistakes People Make in Intuitive Eating
Ever since I first heard about intuitive eating and tried to implement it in my life, it’s been an intriguing but often elusive framework for eating.
Becoming a nutritionist and health coach meant that I was able to learn more about the principles and framework of intuitive eating - but I also learned how many people out there are doing it wrong.
And that’s by no fault of their own! In my observations, many people hear about intuitive eating on social media platforms like TikTok or Instagram, and think of it as something where you can eat whatever you want, whenever you want.
However, if you’ve read the book Intuitive Eating by Evelyn Tribole and Elyse Resch, you know that’s not quite the case - and there are many more principles to guide the intuitive eating philosophy.
So today, I want to help you recognize some common mistakes you might be making as you move towards intuitive eating. Let’s get into it!
5 Most Common Mistakes That People Make in Intuitive Eating
From Dietland to Donutland:
I love this phenomenon of Deb Burgard that while starting intuitive eating, people move directly from Dietland to Donutland.
Many people who try intuitive eating have spent years restricting or depriving themselves of their favorite foods - or things like carbohydrates, fats, and anything with sugar.
So as soon as you hear about intuitive eating: “you can eat whatever you want without guilt!” - you go from one extreme to the other. After years of restriction, food guilt, and dieting, you start eating everything that your heart desires.
During this phase, you may have a gut feeling that this wrong or you may feel guilty for overindulging in these foods that have been off-limits for so long - but you often can’t stop yourself.
This is where moderation comes in - but first we have to improve your relationship with food to be able to get to a place of balance. Read the next mistake to understand how to overcome this phase.
2. Not Taking Enough Time to Learn
Mastering a skill doesn’t happen overnight. Similarly, you won’t be able to conquer intuitive eating in just a few days or weeks.
It’s human nature to take time to shift habits: using trial and error, processing your behavior and feelings as you try a new experience.
It takes around 10 weeks to form a new habit. Remember that it’s normal to find it difficult to transition from a place of dieting and food restriction to a place of eating intuitively and mindfully while making satisfying food choices.
Be aware of your eating habits and most importantly: remember that this process will take time!
You may need support on your journey in unlearning diet culture and moving towards intuitive eating - so know that I’m here for you if that’s the case. You can learn more about working with me for health coaching by clicking here.
3. Assigning Moral Value to Food
Another common mistake I see: people love to assign moral value to food!
Eating a cheeseburger? Oh wow, that’s so bad for you!
Having a salad for lunch? You’re being so good today!
Assigning moral value to food - AKA ascribing to the idea that certain foods are ‘good’ or ‘bad’ - only leads to more guilt and shame around food.
Focus on incorporating more of your favorite foods that have been off-limits for a long time and enjoy them for what they are - instead of feeling guilty.
If you need more help with this process, it’s exactly what I teach in depth inside The Method: Healthy Habits for Life program.
I recommend utilizing gentle nutrition guidelines during this phase of healing your relationship with food when you can’t find a balance in your eating habits.
Build habits that will make you feel good and help you care for your mind and body.
Ready for more? Check out this YouTube video I created where I elaborate on the five most common mistakes people make with intuitive eating:
4. Not following a Plan or Roadmap:
We love to follow the newest health trend on Tiktok - be it drinking greens powder, trying out intuitive eating, eschewing heavy cardio for pilates, or adding a #hotgirlwalk into our weekday.
I’m a huge fan of trying new things when it comes to our health and wellness habits, but what I often see happens is that people get jerked around by what they think they should be doing to be healthy and fit.
And that's the biggest mistake! You’re missing a strategy and structure to guide you through implementing new habits around your eating, food choices, exercise and thought patterns.
Often, when someone hears about intuitive eating and decides to try it out, it’s on a whim that they start to indulge in caloric-dense foods and a habit of constant eating - because foods are finally off-limits after months or years of restriction and deprivation.
What’s important to understand is that intuitive eating is much more complex than “just eat whatever you want!”
You want to make sure you understand where you’re starting from regarding your disordered eating patterns and restrictive behavior so you can create a conscious strategy that will help you gain food freedom while making sure you feel confident in your food and health choices.
This will put you on the right path to build lifelong healthy habits.
The 10 principles of intuitive eating help you find a roadmap so you can embark on your journey with all the necessary tools.
5. Feeling Deceived by Body Positivity
It’s very trendy right now to embrace body positivity on social media - but I often feel like this trend is misconstrued by images on Instagram of women with flawless bodies, perfectly made up, and a size two. In reality, body positivity is a concept and movement that embraces all body sizes, shapes, skin tones, and physical abilities.
I prefer to focus on and teach clients body neutrality - an approach that doesn’t ask you to love your body no matter what, but rather asks you to acknowledge that this is the body you’re living in and that carries you through life on Earth. And that’s pretty incredible, right?
I would love to see everyone loving their bodies - but in my experience, that’s a tall order for someone who’s struggling with body image and has felt like they hated their body for years.
It’s much simpler to move from body hate to body neutrality, rather than straight to body positivity.
The Final Takeaway
Let this be your reminder to follow strategies that will support your mental health and your relationship with food - and help you feel confident and satisfied with the food and nutrition choices you make for yourself.
Because you deserve to feel great in your body and mind!
If you want to learn more about gentle nutrition and want a tailored approach to intuitive eating and sustainable healthy habits, this is your invitation to join my program – The Method: Healthy Habits for Life, where I go deeper into intuitive eating and how you can avoid these mistakes.