Breaking the Rules: Can I really eat ANYTHING and not gain weight?

Are you fed up with strict diets that leave you feeling deprived? Do you find the idea of consuming anything you desire without putting on weight intriguing? Here I’ll be delving into the concept of intuitive eating and offering guidance on cultivating a wholesome connection with food without giving up your favorite foods.

There is a common fear that people get when they think about allowing themselves to eat all foods without restriction, which leads them to ask the question: “If I allow all foods, how will it affect my body weight?”

There are three possible outcomes that may occur when you break all food rules and stop dieting, and allow yourself to eat all foods:

• Weight gain

• Weight loss

• Maintain your weight

Weight Gain

Your body gaining weight could indicate that it needed that weight due to insufficient calorie intake or macronutrient intake, particularly carbohydrates, during your dieting. This may cause a temporary increase in appetite and subsequent weight gain, but this phase will not last indefinitely. Eventually, food will become less tempting, and your hunger levels will decrease and level out. And then once your metabolism has recovered, because at this point you are fueling your body on a consistent basis and letting your brain know that it has consistent fuel… Who knows what your body will decide to do.

Weight loss

It's important to approach intuitive eating without the intention of losing weight, however weight loss might happen through intuitive eating because you were bingeing or eating more than you needed prior to starting, which is a very common thing among dieters. If you do end up losing weight, it's not due to a deliberate effort to lose weight, but rather your body naturally finding its equilibrium. However, it's important to note that weight loss may not occur immediately and requires time. Furthermore, intentionally making weight loss the goal of intuitive eating may actually prevent weight loss from even happening. Either way, if you are willing to give up weight loss as the goal, and rather focus on health and feeling good, the intuitive eating process will get you to your bodies desired weight. And because a large part of intuitive eating involves improving upon one’s body image, individuals gain much more appreciation and love for their current bodies, regardless of any weight changes. Just remember, making weight loss as the goal will actually prevent weight loss from happening (it is ok to desire weight loss as a possible side effect, but it’s not the intention).  

This is too good to be true, how so…

Talk to any intuitive eater and ask them how much freer they feel. When you literally allow yourself unconditional permission to eat all foods, yes, you will want to eat more of those previously “forbidden” foods initially, but that won’t last. For example, imagine if I told you to eat chips and candy for breakfast, lunch, and dinner for the next week, what would happen? You likely wouldn’t want to even look at chips and candy ever again. That’s what it will be like once you expose yourself to your “forbidden” food. Not to that extent, but you get the point.

Stretching Your Hunger

Think of your appetite like a rubber band. When you go on a diet, it's like stretching the rubber band to its limit. Your body is getting just enough calories to survive, but not enough to feel satisfied. When you stop dieting, it's like releasing the rubber band - your body's hunger levels spring back and your appetite feels stronger than ever. But just like a rubber band eventually returns to its original shape, your hunger levels will eventually level off once your body gets the nutrients it needs.

The fear of gaining weight is legit…

However, dieting is not the solution.

We need to acknowledge the obvious concern: You may be feeling anxious or even frightened at the thought of gaining weight. Rest assured, it is perfectly normal to have those feelings, and they are understandable. Personally, I firmly believe that diets are not effective, and I hold a very low opinion of diet culture. I have a strong aversion towards it. However, I do empathize with the challenges of breaking away from it because I used to be a dieter myself.

What are the benefits to following a diet:

⚫️ Dieting gives us a sense of power and control – however this is a false sense of power and control

⚫️ Dieting helps us conform to the beauty standards set by society.

But what you have to remember is…

Diets do not work

The evidence supporting the link between dieting and subsequent weight gain is classified as Level A, which is the same level of evidence used to establish the association between smoking and cancer.

Research studies indicate that:

• As many as two-thirds of individuals who go on diets end up gaining back more weight than they originally lost

• Within one year, 66% of people who dieted and lost weight will regain all the weight they lost.

• Engaging in repetitive dieting can have negative impacts on mental health (I can attest to this personally!).

• 35% of individuals who engage in dieting subsequently develop eating disorders.

To sum it up, trying to lose weight through dieting will inevitably result in negative consequences, if it hasn't already. It is highly likely that you are feeling mentally and physically horrible already.

You might be asking then, “What should I do for my health then?!”

Here are reasons why health has nothing to do with our weight…

Despite the prevailing notion promoted by diet culture, societal norms, and the BMI chart, it is possible to maintain good health at any body size. Health is, in fact, largely influenced by our everyday habits and behaviors, such as adequate sleep, physical activity, stress reduction, hydration, and yes mindful food choices, rather than by our body weight

According to research, healthy lifestyle practices are closely linked with reduced mortality rates and better overall health, regardless of body weight. Additionally, intuitive eaters have been shown to adopt healthier dietary patterns, have lower cardiovascular risk, maintain more stable body weight, consume greater amounts of fruits and vegetables, and experience improved psychological well-being.

In a nutshell, your health is strongly influenced by your physical activity, consumption of nourishing foods, quality of sleep, and overall healthy habits. These factors significantly impact your health, regardless of your weight. And while weight loss may occur as a result of those actions, it is not the primary factor contributing to better health. Rather, the various practices themselves are responsible for improving overall health.

Shift your attention to feeling great, not shedding weight.

By refraining from scrutinizing your health and weight, you can accomplish the following:

• Embrace a flexible approach to eating and enjoy what feels satisfying to you (sometimes that means Oreos, other times a salad!)

• Distinguish your value as a person from your weight

• End your reliance on tracking apps, food rules, and even your scale

• Allow your body to settle into its natural, comfortable weight

• Stop picking apart your body all the time

• Reclaim a substantial amount of physical and mental energy

• Revel in life as your happiest and healthiest self

Intuitive Eating is the method I use to achieve this, and it's the core focus of my work in Freedom From Dieting Group Coaching. Initially, when I began my journey to break free from dieting, I felt confused, scared, and anxious. I was swinging back and forth between restricting my food intake and binge eating, which left me feeling unwell and helpless. However, over time and with lots of experimentation, I found a wonderful balance. It wasn't an easy process, which is why I founded Freedom From Dieting! I firmly believe that nobody should have to struggle as much as I did, nor should anyone embark on this journey alone.

I understand that the idea of relinquishing control over your diet and trusting your body can be intimidating, but here's what you should bear in mind:

🖤 Shedding weight does not guarantee good health or happiness. In fact, diets lead to weight gain and exacerbate mental health issues. And losing weight to improve your health? That's a myth!

🖤 Dieting has consequences. If you're contemplating sticking with diets, you must consider the things you're giving up and missing out on.

🖤 Life is waiting for you on the other side! Life is much more spontaneous, carefree, and JOYFUL without the burden of diets and food-tracking apps. (That reminds me, anytime I want to go out for ice cream, there’s no question about it… I’ll go and not think twice. But was that always the case… hell no!).

🖤 It's perfectly ok if you're not entirely ready or if you're apprehensive. However, take the plunge anyway! Diet culture runs deep, and if you wait until you're at ease with the IDEA of gaining weight, you'll be holding yourself back for quite a while.

After all said and done, I want to paint a picture for you and take you through two scenarios…

Would you rather…

Option 1) continue the path of trying yet another diet or the latest fad, wasting money on these programs that don’t work and in two years still have no energy, still hate your body, and quite potentially be at a higher weight than you are now….

OOOORRR…

Option 2) Finally have the energy you’ve been wanting, enjoying the foods you love without guilt or restriction, feel super healthy in the body you are in, love and appreciate your body, to be able to wear the cute clothes, and do all the things you’ve been holding off on doing.

Which option would you choose?

Intuitive eating can get you to option 2!

In summary, intuitive eating allows individuals to develop a healthy relationship with food without strict diets or restrictions. While there may be a fear of weight gain, it's important to understand that weight loss, weight gain, or maintaining one's weight can occur through intuitive eating. Making weight loss the goal of intuitive eating can actually prevent weight loss from happening. Instead, focusing on health and feeling good can lead to a natural equilibrium of the body's desired weight. Additionally, it's important to acknowledge the fear of gaining weight but understand that diets are not effective in the long term. Dieting can have negative consequences on mental health and lead to weight gain in the long run. It's possible to maintain good health at any body size by prioritizing healthy habits such as adequate sleep, physical activity, stress reduction, and hydration. With intuitive eating, individuals can cultivate a wholesome connection with food while enjoying their favorite foods without guilt or fear.

To start your intuitive eating journey with other like-minded women, apply for Freedom From Dieting by clicking here.