I continue to read thoughtful bloggers who are convinced that intuitive eating is simply a license to gorge oneself. I won't repeat the three posts I recently devoted to this topic here, here and here. They speak for themselves.
I will, however, make a modest proposal: I will no longer call it intuitive eating, but rather "mindful" eating, a term that I feel better conveys the awareness and carefulness that are central to this approach.
My gratefulness statement for today: I am grateful that I can walk.
I also prefer the word "mindful." I'm with you all the way.
ReplyDeleteI agree that "mindful" is a better description.
ReplyDeleteIf I were you, I'd simply not bother. People believe what they want to believe and the truth is lost on them. Better to devote your energies to yourself than to waste them on trying to enlighten those who are happier in the dark.
ReplyDeletePerhaps SFG is right and I shouldn't even try to enlighten anyone. In fact, I've been painstakingly collecting articles to put together an in-depth discussion of an important issue that I just saw dismissed with the wave of a hand by another blogger just today.
ReplyDeleteI'll probably still write the blog--but it will take time because this is much more complicated than what monsieur is telling his adoring fans.
MINDFUL eating is the term I like best too - 'Intuitive' I think sends the wrong message - for some of us it may or may not be 'intuitive' (plus the book of that title has a rather rigid set of processes with people online being pretty strict about that approach - not my cup of tea...)
ReplyDeleteI love your gratitude idea! I am grateful to have feet. Seriously. Seen too many amputee patients lately.
ReplyDeleteWaiting eagerly for your newest discussion (um, er, controversy). :)
"Intuitive" seems to appeal to those who cultivate a relationship with a higher power, aka intuition, while "mindful" seems to appeal to more intellect-oriented folks. Of course this is a generalization.
My own intuition has led me to a more paleo way of eating because I don't have hunger and cravings while consuming fewer calories. I find it is very challenging to stay fully present and *in the moment* when eating. This seems to suggest that eating has previously been a way for me to escape uncomfortable feelings (a kind of disassociation, the psych types might perhaps opine). Then again, I find it very challenging to remain focused in the present (and to still my *monkey mind*) no matter what I'm doing, except when I'm immersed in a natural outdoors setting (such as outback or forest).
Gee, the things one learns about oneself when transforming one's life. :)
-Rebecca
I call my eating "intuition assisted." For those of us maintaining losses, our hormones and the other chemicals cuing us may not have the same goals for our bodies that we do, so it's a complicated process. We do need to use our intuition, but with discernment. I think I may blog on this. Maybe after I get through the science stuff I promised. Thanks for the inspiration.
ReplyDelete