If I could only choose one healthy living milestone to celebrate, it would be finally learning to eat intuitively. It took me a long time to get here and it’s one skill I’m most grateful for. Eating intuitively allowed me to get through pregnancy gaining an appropriate amount of weight, then losing it and become more fit than I’ve ever been.
Breakfast: half whole wheat bagel, guacamole (don’t judge until you try), 1 fried egg and half of a nectarine
Intuitive eating allows me the freedom to eat out and has taught me to get to know my body better by listening to it’s cues.
Lunch: lunch buffet at a new Indian restaurant
I have my times when I fail… more than 1 martini is never necessary- HEADACHE. Another basket of chips and salsa? Hmm…
A second plate at the buffet. Indian food may not be aesthetically pleasing, but it is SO. Good.
Overall I eat when I’m hungry and stop when I’m full. I focus on WHOLE foods. I don’t count, weigh or measure anymore (though again, I’m not against these methods). It feels good. It feels free.
Pre-yoga hydration. Note, I don’t really like coconut water, but add some pineapple and I can’t get enough!
Exercise helps, too.
Attempting to show you how sweaty I get at hot yoga. Picture doesn’t do it justice.
I also credit intuitive eating for allowing me to not worry about calories while breastfeeding. As anyone will tell you, breastfeeding makes you ravenous, but as we are in the process of weaning (more on that later), my need for extra food is dropping. Instead of worrying about calculating it, I just listen to my body. My hunger cues make necessary adjustments for me.
I don’t obsess anymore if I don’t know a food’s calorie count.
Like David’s delicious homebrew.
Intuitive eating allows me to enjoy fresh food for how it tastes, not its nutritional profile or calorie content.
Salmon and feta spiral, Urbane Grain tomato basil quinoa blend and power greens salad with a tomato from the garden.
Now, if I could make myself as relaxed about exercise. I’m still working on that. I stare at the distance on the treadmill and the mile marker when wogging outside. I constantly check the clock in yoga. I’m hoping I’ll eventually get to the place where I can let go and just enjoy the sweat session, but I’m not there yet.
Is there such thing as intuitive exercise?
Thanks for hosting WIAW, Jenn!
Are you an intuitive eater?
Intuitive exerciser?
Erica says
I’m actually an intuitive eating counselor! I became certified after reading the book 6 months ago and it totally changed my life and relationship with food. I was constantly striving to eat the ‘magic’ number of calories and became obsessive over food. Now, I’ve learned how to eat intuitively and I am significantly happier!
Brittany says
That’s so cool, Erica! What program did you use to get certified?
Erica says
I was certified through Helm publishing. If you go to the official website for Intuitive Eating they will refer you there to become certified: http://www.intuitiveeating.org/content/certified-counselors
I mostly did it for my own personal benefit as I wanted to know as much as possible about the technique!
Lee says
I would love to be but it’s something that I really struggle with. I think that my hunger cues are pretty messed up and it’s very hard for me to realize that I’m not actually hungry.
blackhuff says
Just like you, it took me a while to learn to be an intuitive eater. It took me a year but now it also feels freeing to not count calories, not weighing my food.
I agree. Exercise helps a lot with it as well.
Sam says
Thanks so much for writing about this. I struggle with intuitive eating, and am trying hard to get there. Not that I have anything against weighing, measuring and counting, like you said, but I would like to walk through life not having to worry about that kind of structure. I am currently in the process of losing 30 pounds. Once I get there (10 more to go!), I am going to make more of an effort towards intuitive eating as a way to stay at my goal weight. Kudos to you for getting there, you are amazing!
Brittany says
You aren’t alone, Sam. I struggled with it for a long time and finally got it down once I focused on trying to be healthy instead of hitting a magic calorie number. I’d count calories again if I ever needed to lose weight, but the freedom of not having to count everything is invigorating. You’ll see 🙂 Congrats to you on your weight loss!
Mandy says
Would love to see a recipe for that Salmon/Feta spiral!
Brittany says
I would, too, Mandy! I bought it already assembled from Earth Fare- haha! I’ll have to play around and see if I can recreate it because it was good!
Lauren B. says
Before I got pregnant, I somewhat obsessively counted calories and measured my food to make sure that I was sticking to a certain calorie range each day, since I love eating and can go overboard if I’m not careful! Once I got pregnant , I still counted and measured to make sure I was eating enough for my baby! Now that I am breast feeding Jackson, I have neither the time nor energy to count, so I am just intuitively eating- and man, does it feel so good and free! I’d love to throw away my calorie- counting book for good!
Brittany says
I really think pregnancy and nursing helped me, too. I was focused on eating healthy instead of a calorie goal and it took away the stress! Give Jackson a hug from me! Hope he’s letting you get some zzz’s 🙂
chelcie @ chelcie's food files says
i am obsessed with indian food..so jealous of your lunch!
Mike @ Midwestern Bite says
Just dropping in to say I never had the chance to try Indian food until I moved to a big city for Grad School at age 22 and I’ve been completely hooked since my first bite. Curse my small town upbringing! All those wasted years!
Anne Kendall says
I really enjoyed this post. I think I’m well on my way to intuitive eating — I just didn’t know what it was called. I’m trying to strike that ideal balance in my life between freedom, eating well, and exercising with passion. I enjoy your blog so much because you’re so passionate about taking care of yourself and your family, and you make it look effortless. Thanks for the daily inspiration!
Brittany says
Thank you so much for the sweet words, Anne! The balance your striving for it always an ongoing goal of mine, too. It isn’t always easy, but it’s worth it! Keep it up 🙂
Maria says
I’m still working on intuitive eating and you have always been my inspiration for that (“Look! Brittany enjoys bread and chips! She makes it work! She’s short too and can still eat good amounts!”). I know its all mental for me because I like to eat when I’m bored and I still get the mentality that I “deserve” a treat when something good or bad happens to me. A work in progress I am 🙂
Thanks for always sharing your foods – you truly have a remarkable balance that I’m so impressed by!
Brittany says
I think you do a darn fine job of balancing it all yourself! Come visit so we can eat chips and salsa together… and then go hiking. Balance. 🙂
Maria says
It’s on my pre-baby bucket list to come vist you! We’ll eat chips and salsa and watch college football!
Amanda says
I’d like to think I’m an intuitive eater, but there are days I feel a little guilty! I think we are all a work in progress! 🙂 I’m the same way with coconut water – cannot do it unless it is pinapple or mango flavored!
Julie@teachinggoodeaters says
I agree with the above comment and would LOVE to see a recipe for the Salmon spiral… I’m drooling 🙂 I also think that the English muffin with guac and egg sound wonderful- who would judge that? (of course I think avocado makes just about everything better…)
Brittany says
Wish I made the salmon spiral, but I bought it already assembled! Maybe I’ll play around in the kitchen and see if I can figure it out 🙂
PS- I agree- avocado makes everything better!
Adria @ A Spoonful of Healthy says
What an inspiration!! You go girl 🙂
Lisa says
I LOVE guac and eggs together! Its the best, and it sounds crazy but PB and eggs are an awesome combo as well!
I’m definitely not an intuitive exerciser or eater, I hope to some day get there but I’m just not that in tune yet. I tend to under-eat by a long shot if I don’t measure/count. Annoying, but it works for now!
You are doing amazing, and its awesome how intuitive you are with your body. It will be great for Hailey to grow up around!!
Jen@HealthyFoodandFamily says
I’ve been an intuitive eater – i didn’t even know it had a name until i read this post – since may and as of monday, I’m down 31.6 pounds. No more counting, weighing, measuring and I LOVE it and myself!!!!
Laura @ Mommy Run Fast says
I have no problem with loving exercise, but could definitely be better at intuitive eating and stopping when I’m full. I tend to do a lot of extra snacking (usually in the afternoon or evening) so I’m working on that!
Your meals look delicious. I also just smashed avocado on half a bagel this morning with an egg. I like to add sliced tomato, too… one of my favorite combinations!
Matt @ The Athlete's Plate says
Love this post. Intuitive eating is definitely something I work on all the time. It’s getting easier as time goes by!
Ksenija @ Health Ninja says
I love your thoughts on intuitive eating – hopefully I can be as relaxed as you are one day.
Katie@Pop Culture Cuisine says
This is an area of my eating where I have struggled on and off again for years. I was such a hard core calorie counter before I got married, that it has at times been hard to break the habit. After we got married I stopped doing it as religiously because quite honestly it made trying to feed my new hubby or enjoying meals out with friends no fun at all, and drove me pretty crazy in the process. I found that if I focused more on whole foods that would fill me up instead of a bunch of junk just to hit my calories for the day I was actually more satisfied. I got really good at trusting me own gut so to speak while pregnant with Kheri and while breastfeeding, but now that she is almost weaned, I have found it harder because I need to be more conscious about when I am mindlessly eating than I was before. I have noticed a few pounds creep back on and I notice that perfectionist part of me wanting to count calories again, but I know for my own sanity and wanting to be a good example for my daughter that I just need to be patient, listen to my body, and not expect it to fall off in a day. So I will say I eat pretty intuitively 80-90% of the time, but there are still days I struggle 🙂
Dana @ Conscious Kitchen Blog says
Guacamole for breakfast?! Pure genesis! Why haven’t I thought of that before? Sounds like the perfect remedy for the leftovers I’m never sure what to do with.
Danielle says
Filled half or your plate with veggies and leave the rest for protein…whole grain carbs…whatever..seems to do the trick for me;)
Emily says
I’m trying to be able to eat intuitively as well-is there a book or resource you used that was particularly helpful?
Thanks Brittany!
Lisa says
I’m so glad you, too, have found Intuitive Eating! It’s been such a powerful force in my life that I actually decided to change careers (I’m a registered nurse), go back to school to get my Master’s in nutrition, and dedicate my life to helping others incorporate this philosophy into their lives (like Erica, I am also a certified Intuitive Eating Counselor). I’m also currently pregnant, and I agree that it’s been such a wonderful way to approach eating during this stage in my life.
Yeah for Intuitive Eating! 🙂