...the experimentation continues...

[Queen Bean]

I've been experimenting with intuitive eating again in the last week. I feel it is better to eat this way, but when I do so my energy spirals down. I finish work at 3:30pm each day. I tend to want to eat something heavy after work. When I eat intuitively I'll go for nuts, bars with cacao in it, Lara bars... Basically the easiest, quickest, most filling food. When I plan my meals I tend to eat things that keep my energy high...for instance going home and having a green smoothie. I get too hungry when I eat intuitively. When I plan meals I feel satisfied and like I am getting variety.

Just an observation.

[sport]

Maybe you could do a little of both.

[Aleesha Sattva]

that's not eating intuitively... it may be what you are calling it, but that's not what you are doing.

you are going for 'quick and easy' not listening to what your body needs/wants.

;)

[Ilse W.]

This from the website www.intuitiveeating.com brought to you by the authors of the book of the same name:

"What is Intuitive Eating?

Intuitive eating is an approach that teaches you how to create a healthy relationship with your food, mind, and body--where you ultimately become the expert of your own body. You learn how to distinguish between physical and emotional feelings, and gain a sense of body wisdom. It's also a process of making peace with food---so that you no longer have constant "food worry" thoughts. It's knowing that your health and your worth as a person does not change because you ate a so-called "bad" or "fattening" food.

On the surface this may sound simplistic, but it is rather complex. For example one of the basic principles of Intuitive Eating is the ability to respond to inner body cues, “Eat when you're hungry and stop when you're full”, which may sound like a no-brainer. But when you have history of chronic dieting or rigid “healthy” rules about eating it's quite difficult because a number of things need to be in place, including the ability to trust yourself!"

You can go to the above website and find their 10 principles of intuitive eating and lots of other stuff.

[Dimond]

that's not eating intuitively... it may be what you are calling it, but that's not what you are doing. you are going for 'quick and easy' not listening to what your body needs/wants. I agree with Aleesha. That was actually the first thing that came to mind when I read your post, that it's not intuitive eating. It's more like cravings eating. If you look/feel past the instinctive desire for foods you're craving, or as you've said the easiest, quickest, most filling ones, you'll then be able to figure out what you truly need. It's best to have some pre-made food that you can eat in situations when you need something quick, like after work. When you don't have anything prepared, you can eat something quickly to satisfy you while you're making the rest of your meal. Intuitive eating can still include planning.

[Queen Bean]

Thanks guys for your insights.

When I am eating inutively I still manage to convince myself that the best thing to eat in that moment is four cacao balls, as opposed to a salad or green smoothie. I still eat fresh food, but not enough.

And when I plan my meals I use my intuition first (then intellect) to do so.

I understand what you are saying...but even being conscious of what you are saying, I still make the lesser and easier food choice more often than not.

And when I plan I get much more pleasure and satisfaction from raw food.

Just one of my little quirks I suppose.

I wish I could be free and easy, but I seem to be finding freedom in planning. Although I do feel that eating intuitively is the better way.

[Thick]

You can do both by planning several meal options and then intuiting which one you prefer at that time. Or planning, but giving yourself the option to scarp the plan and just eat honeydew melon=)

You still might feel like something heavy after work, but with planning you can have something even more wonderful than nuts=)

[Bananna]

Totally understand your problem, lol...I have found that intuitive eating is great, but at the same time you can get caught up in eating what's easiest out of laziness, or eating comfort foods to counter stress.

Maybe just check and see if you're doing one of those things first.

Also, I find if you just stop and have a piece of fruit first, you are more rational and less starved. Suddenly you have the time and patience to make a salad or whatever. Pieces of fruit are easy too, no prep :)

[Aleesha Sattva]

i have to admit i'm sitting here giggling... why do you think that intuitive eating means you can't intuitively know what your body will need for the week? why would it have to be only a moment by moment thing?

you can intuitively choose the foods you are going to eat for the week. create pate's, desserts, meals out of these foods ... adding what you need to create the meal. and that is still intuitively eating.

i eat intuitively and it doesn't mean i shop meal by meal. :)

[Bananna]

good point Aleesha! ...when I have a craving for something inparticular, I can sit on that for a couple of days before I get around to satisfying it.

[juliew]

I wish I could be free and easy, but I seem to be finding freedom in planning. Although I do feel that eating intuitively is the better way.

...Sounds so much like me!! I think we probably both have the "planning" mindset. I know I like to monitor, so to speak, to make sure I'm doing things right, even though its probably counterproductive.

I have a question, though. Why is following your cravings different from intuitive eating? It seems like people say that eating what you crave is not intuitive. I always have such a hard time telling the difference between cravings and what my body wants :)

[Queen Bean]

I definitely understand that you can still plan as part of intuitive eating...for instance I may buy certain foods, or soak almonds because I'm getting the vibe that I should make an almond milk banana shake or whatever.

What I mean by planning is actually writing down what I eat the night before.

Yesterday I tried eating intuitively. I understand with intuitive eating that I should be eating the 'right thing' for my body in the moment. I've tried everything...eating when hungry until full (either starved or stuffed myself), listening to my body (didn't work well), eating intuitively... I understand that there is a degree of planning when eating intuitively and a degree of intuition used when planning.

Yesterday after work I ate...1 Lara Bar...then a raw cacao bar...then another Lara bar...then another raw cacao bar...then a teaspoon of coconut oil, then macadamias with honey...

In the moment I convince myself that that is what I need, but I don't have the discipline to make what I really need. My digestion isn't optimal if I eat intuitively.

Today I am back to planning and feel so much better, my digestion is much better and I seem more balanced and vibrant...

In life I definitely know the important of intuition, not just in relation to food... From experience, living solely intuitively is not for me though... I need the balance between intuition and structure/intellect otherwise my energy drops.