The Rules for Normal Eating

By: Karly Pitman (View Profile)

In some ways, following a rigid eating plan would be easier. Freedom is frightening (Will I get fat if I eat carbs? If I can eat whatever I want, will I eat ice cream for breakfast, lunch and dinner?) But giving myself choices is what ultimately removed wacky food obsession from my life. Many experts on food addiction, overeating, and eating disorders share my belief that learning how to eat intuitively is what ultimately cures negative beliefs about food. (Click here for a book list.)

But eating normally is more than freeing yourself from food: it’s adding trust, an inner knowing that you’ll care for your body excellently in your food choices. It’s trusting that if you give yourself permission to have dessert, you’ll still eat vegetables. 

Food obsession is overwhelming, because you face it several times a day, every day; every time you eat, want to eat, or think about eating. Remove this obstacle from your life, and I guarantee you’ll feel your spirit soar. You’ll be free and clear to redirect the energy you devoted to food towards the deeper dreams, goals, and aspirations that abide within.

1 reader liked this story.
bookmarks
Comments
posted: 10.26.2007
Nancy Jerominski
Bingeing is caused by eating foods that turn off the appestat. Unless all the nutrients needed to experience satiety are present in the foods you eat, you'll be driven to eat mercilessly because the body hopes you might actually eat something it can use. Fake foods contain fake ingredients which no body's body recognizes to utilize. Piles of calorie dense food containing no nutrition is consumed, you don't feel full and everyone gets fatter. Most in the fitness profession tell us to eat the wrong things, not enough of it and to exercise too much. Read "Nutrition & Physical Degneration" by Weston A. Price or talk to any CHEK Practitioner on how to be healthy and happy while eating good food and moving right! At 51, I eat between 3000 and 4000 calories a day without hours of exercise daily. I can because I eat foods based on the traditonal nutrition that got us here over thousands of years. Check out "The Politics of Bingeing" and sleuth some of those references.
posted: 08.20.2007
Rebecca Brown
This is great advice in the midst of all the fad diets out there. We're all ignoring our gut and not following common sense. Thank you for reminding us that we can eat what we want -within reason - and still be healthy and maintain our weight.
posted: 08.15.2007
Karly Pitman
Taylor, Making peace with food has been an ongoing journey for me, too. I am a former food neurotic who is taking it one step at a time. But, oh, the freedom: to eat a piece of pizza and enjoy it, not thinking about calories or carbs or fat. And the freedom to love my body, and not think I have to tame and starve and restrict it into some ultrathin ideal! Healing my food/body image issues has been some of the most important work that I have done; I think this is also true for most women. (It sadly, seems, to affect us all.) I've made this issue my life mission; you can discover more about it at www.firstourselves.com. If I can do it, really, ANYONE can. :) In encouragement, Karly Randolph Pitman karlyp@firstourselves.com www.firstourselves.com
posted: 08.15.2007
Taylor P.
Thank you for your advice. It is very easy to just think about food and freak out about how much and what kind we'll be eating at all hours of the day. To set yourself from that sort of mentality would be wonderful. One step at a time. Thanks again.
It feels good to write.

Your stories, musings, and advice are welcome here. We know you've got something to share, so jump in—maybe get a little famous. And don't worry—you can save a draft!

most liked
Loader_buff
Other topics you might appreciate
Play Style Neighborhood & World Parenting