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For years, I had the same routine every time spring rolled around.
Getty / Mats Silvan
It was always some kind of high-intensity interval crash course coupled with a healthy lifestyle nutrition program.
My fellow dietitian friends were on the same page, too.
We were more active on MyFitnessPal then we were on Facebook.
To make matters worse, the fitness programs left me completely burned out.
Wasnt working out supposed to make you feel better and not worse?
The kicker was that my body never really changed.
Maybe I lost a couple of pounds.
But the six-pack that all of these programs promised?
I also never got Michelle Obama arms, nor was I able to “build a booty.”
But about five years ago, everything changed.
Intuitive eating, on the other hand, is the exact opposite of dieting.
Eating intuitively means making peace with food and taking care of yourself in a complex and comprehensive way.
Tribole is the author of the groundbreaking bookIntuitive Eating,which basically sparked this movement within the dietetics community.
Theres no onemiracleworkout we should all be doing.
The key is to focus on what movement lifts you up rather than tears you down.
This all brings me back to the idea of summer body goals.
Think about it: Theaverage dress size in Americais a 16.
Not a 2, not a 4, not even a 6. Who benefits from your pursuit of the perfect body?, I ask.
(Which, I’ll be the first to admit, is hard and doesnt happen overnight).
Learn to listen to your body.
Most of my patients use external rules to dictate when/what/how much to eat because they dont trust themselves.
There will be times when you over- or undershoot and thats OK!
Remember that eating food is a form of pleasure.
Its important to remember that food is a source of pleasure too.
The trick, however, is to find your unique balance between food as pleasure and food as energy.
For example, if you only ate fun foods you would likely not feel your best physically.
And if you only focused on nutritious foods, you will likely feel deprived emotionally.
Your wellness path doesnt have to mirror that of your friends, family, social media community, etc.
If intuitive eating feels too overwhelming, consider the My Plate method as a transitional tool.
This means making half your plate non-starchy vegetables, one quarter protein, and one quarter carbohydrates.
Its important not to turn this into a diet or a be-all and end-all.
Know that sometimes you just need outside help.
Focus on joyful movement.
Wellness isnt just about healthy eating and exercise.
Sleep plays a critical role too.
The National Sleep Foundationrecommendsthat adults ages 26 to 64 get seven to nine hours of sleep per night.
Are you meeting that goal?
Dont forget that healthy eating involves your mental and social health as well.
I recently wrotethis articlefor SELF about how healthy eating involves mental and social health.
It sounds extreme but I see itallthe time.
Shes also the cofounder ofFood Heaven, an online resource for delicious and nutritious living.
To sign up for virtual nutrition coaching with Jessica, visitJessica Jones Nutrition.
