It turns out that women who are accepting of their bodies, perceived flaws and all, will be more likely to adopt healthier eating habits and be closer to their natural weight than those who are dissatisfied with their bodies.
In a study of 597 college women, researchers found those who were not accepting of their bodies were more likely to seek out a diet as opposed to those who were accepting and tended to eat more intuitively – eating based on physical hunger and fullness instead of for emotional reasons. The intuitive eaters were observed choosing more nutrient-dense foods and eating only what their bodies needed, preventing any weight gain. The intuitive eaters also turned out to have a lower body mass index (a measure calculated by body height and weight) than the dieters.
This is great news because adopting an intuitive eating lifestyle is much more satisfying and easier than constant dieting and self-criticism. Among the benefits are having permission to eat what you want, when you want, as long as you are hungry, feeling satisfied after eating (instead of sick from eating too much or still hungry from counting and/or restricting calories). Another study found that intuitive eaters also have better health measures such as lower total cholesterol, higher good cholesterol (HDL cholesterol), lower triglyceride measures, and a decreased cardiovascular disease risk.
If you are ready to give intuitive eating a try, here are a couple of hints to start. First, eat only when you are physically hungry. It may take time to get back in touch with how this feels, so don’t give up. Second, stop eating when you are satisfied. You may be able to measure this by how the food tastes. If the taste is not as intense or good as when you began, your taste buds are turning off and that’s a really good indication that you are close to full. Finally, only eat what you really want. Eating something because you think it is healthy or you should eat it will not satisfy you and cravings and emotional hunger will lead you to overeat.
Posted on Sep 26th 06 by Gillian Hood-Gabrielson.
Gillian Hood-Gabrielson is an intuitive eating and fitness coach specializing in overcoming overeating. She has been involved in the health and fitness industry for over 10 years, holds a Master's Degree in Exercise Physiology and is certified by ACSM and Wellcoaches. Having overcome emotional overeating after living with it for 25 years, Gillian has a great understanding of why so many people battle this disorder and has a passion for helping others overcome it so they can live their lives fully. http://www.healthieroutcomes.com
Other posts on Coachamatic by Gillian Hood-Gabrielson.
0 Responses to “Lose Weight by Accepting Yourself”