Whew! Things have been super busy the past few days. I have been meaning to get this post going to continue the Intuitive Eating series for a few days. If you missed the introductory post, you can click here to get caught up. Even without reading it, I am sure you know that I am all for the intuitive eating style of doing things. I think it is the best way to honor the bodies God blessed us with and treat ourselves with respect. But it does take serious practice. I will now start going through the 10 principles the Intuitive Eating authors, Tribole & Resch, claim will help you become an intuitive eater yourself and how I have experienced them myself. I will only be able to get to 1 or 2 per post, so as not to weigh things down. Let's begin with #1 shall we? 🙂

Principle #1 - Reject the Diet Mentality

I guess the carrots fit my diet better...

Stop worrying about weight. Stop trying to find the next best diet, fastest weight loss routine, most powerful pill, amazing trick to shed those pounds, etc. The diet mentality is often to do something drastic for a short period of time to reach a goal....and then slowly watch it backfire as you go back to your normal lifestyle. It is not healthy to diet that way, yet that is the prevalent message in our culture today.

Supplements

Diet Books

The weight loss and supplement industry is a BILLION dollar industry. Because we just soak it in and believe all the lies. Has it ever crossed your mind that these people don't want you to succeed by following their methods? After all, how many people after not having the success they hoped for from a "diet" or "weight loss plan", will be looking at the next tool from that industry to do it all over again? A lot.

As passionate healthy living bloggers, a lot of us will stand up and claim that a diet is not the way to go, but a lifestyle change. That is great! And I agree wholeheartedly that you have to incorporate healthy living and eating into what works for the long haul, not viewing things as a 12 week program to do and then forget about. However, how many of us started that path towards a healthy lifestyle still as a means to a dieting end? How many of us shout the praises of roasted brussels sprouts, greek yogurt, oats, berries, and avocados but deep within view those foods as the "right" thing to eat to get (or stay) at our perception of our own perfect weight, size, etc?

I Heart Veggies!

I do believe many of us enjoy these foods for how they make us feel and the health benefits they bring, but there is still a bit of a dieter's mentality attached to them. For example, could you turn around and enjoy eating a decadent dessert that doesn't offer all the health benefits of broccoli and quinoa and still feel guilt free? Or not worry about it affecting your reflection in the mirror? Truthfully?

The first step to breaking away from the rules and embracing intuition in the kitchen is to not worry about how something fits into a diet. Not focusing on hitting X amount of calories or X amount of carbohydrate grams. Not worrying about having 5 mini meals a day because it fits the "plan". And you won't blow up from doing so. I blew off the diet mentality when I was working on losing the baby weight from Makenzie. I just ate healthy items, enjoyed treats when I really wanted something, and did exercise I enjoyed. I was able to be consistent with it because it was just a part of my life and I didn't stress over it. I kept eating how worked for me with no particular plan or calculations and let my body do its thing. And I ended up in the best shape of my LIFE! Even before the competition prep, when intuitive eating went out the window. (Once again, my feelings on comp prep are a post for another day and another time.) That proved to me that a "diet" was not necessary. Simply living and being mindful of my body was enough. And it can be enough for you too. Your body will do amazing things if you just listen to it. Screw dieting.

This post is from Tuesday night, but didn't publish for some reason. Enjoy it now. 🙂

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I know that we are in the Easter Bunny season, not the Santa season, but today I got to act a bit like Santa Claus. After going going to the gym for a Power class + a bit of cardio and doing some things around the house, I took a lunch break to fill my belly up nice and round like Santa. 😉 I knew we were going to be gone quite a few hours in the afternoon, so I wanted a filling lunch. I opted for leftovers of last night's yummy dinner.

lunch bowl

One serving of whole wheat mini shells amped up with some low sugar natural tomato sauce, some chunks of Trader Joe's Spinach & Mushroom Chicken Sausage, and lots of roasted veggies (squash, zucchini, mushrooms). It was very filling. And, er...very fiberific if you catch my tooty drift. About an hour after eating I got fairly uncomfortable from the gas. My belly was a hard, bloated ball. It fit with my afternoon Santa persona at least.

Today I got to play Santa by delivering lots of presents to my friend Angie who just had her baby.

lots of presents

and a cute diaper cake

and some dinner made by moi for them to eat

She came home from the hospital a couple of days ago and is still having to rest most of the time due to her C-Section and continued high blood pressure. So, I decided to go and keep her company for the afternoon while her hubby was working and her mom was out for a bit. I was so happy to see her!!! She looks amazing and is just shining with joy to have her little girl here and safe. It was so nice to sit and chat with her for awhile. And finally get her gifts to her from our friends, so she can have the finishing touches before her little girl comes home. Yep. The baby girl is still in the NICU, but is doing well and could be released by as early as Easter. What a blessing that would be for them. 🙂

Now, I must catch up on blogs a bit before my sister arrives for our weekly Tuesday night get together. Yay! And hopefully I won't explode from that. Tacos are on the menu...which means black beans for me. Watch out lil sis and hubby! Bahahaa!

Psstt....check out Heather's giveaway!