Are you tired of yo-yo dieting?

Then consider trying intuitive eating—a practice that shuns calorie counting and instead relies on using your bodily intuition to help you make appropriate and healthy food choices.

Intuitive eating defined

This lifestyle option, which dates to 1995, eschews sticking to a rigid diet. Instead, it encourages following your body’s own feelings of hunger and fullness to determine what, when, and how much to consume.

 Ditch dieting

Intuitive eating can be a welcome escape from calorie counting. While weight loss isn’t its goal, it can promote shedding pounds since it can allow you to develop a healthier relationship with food.

Eat well

To make intuitive eating work, you must understand your body’s cues, such as hunger pangs or a drop in energy, to understand when to enjoy a snack or meal. To avoid overeating, you also need to recognize when you’re craving food for the wrong reasons, including if you’re feeling bored, sad, stressed, or lonely. Reserve at least twenty minutes for each meal so there’s enough time for your brain to get the signal from your stomach that it’s starting to feel full.

A few caveats

Intuitive eating isn’t for everyone, especially those who have a medical condition and must strictly regulate their diet. Also, as with any health program, it’s best to talk to your physician before giving it a try.