Don't believe the "intuitive eating" hype

"Just listen to your body."

It sounds so simple, so freeing. 

No tracking, no weighing food, no counting calories.

Just eat when you're hungry and stop when you're full.

This is the essence of intuitive eating, a concept that's been gaining traction as the anti-diet, the path to a balanced relationship with food.

And it's tempting, isn't it? 

The idea that you can toss out the food scale, delete the tracking app, and just "be."

But here's the fatal flaw:

For most people, especially those with specific physique or performance goals, intuitive eating often leads to a dead-end.

Why? Because our intuition is not always as reliable as we'd like to think.

Our bodies crave quick energy, often in the form of sugar and fats. Our "intuition" might tell us to grab a cookie or a bag of chips.

It's quick, it's easy, and it's satisfying. But is it getting you closer to your goals?

Probably not.

And what about portion sizes? 

Your intuition doesn't come with a built-in food scale. It's incredibly easy to underestimate how much you're actually consuming, especially when you're dining out or grabbing takeout.

For example, people who eat processed foods eat 500 more calories a day than people who eat mostly whole foods when they eat "intuitively."

So, what's the alternative?

Awareness. 

Precise awareness of what you're putting into your body.

I'm talking about tracking your food, at least for a while. 

It's not as cumbersome as you might think, and the insights you'll gain are worth more than you can imagine (technically they're worth the rest of your life and living a good one at that).

You'll learn about the macronutrient breakdown of different foods, how certain foods impact your energy levels and mood, and most importantly, how much you should be eating to reach your goals.

And guess what? 

Once you've done it for a while, you'll develop a new, more informed "intuition." 

You'll be able to look at a plate of food and have a good idea of its calorie and macro content.

You'll know when you've had enough, not because you feel "full," but because you've met your body's actual needs.

You'll also know which foods actually make you feel good, give you the fiber and fullness you want, fuel your performance and recovery, help you sleep better, improve your digestion, support your immune system, the list goes on and on.

Now THAT is "intuition."

(Quick tip: if you weigh and log everything you eat in grams, you'll quickly train your brain to "intuitively" know how much volume of a food is on your plate, anywhere you are, any time.)

This is not about being dependent an app or a food scale for the rest of your life. 

It's about using them as tools to educate yourself and make better choices.

So, if you've been riding the intuitive eating wave and not seeing the results you want, maybe it's time for a change in approach.

And if you want to know the app I personally use to do this (the one all my clients use), click HERE.

Are you ready to trade guesswork for knowledge?