Intuitive eating is something that you can do for the rest of your life.  Why? Because it is not a diet and it is not restrictive!  

Diets bring you into a place of self restriction using "will power" (which is not real by the way).  Once you reach your goal (or when you just cannot do it anymore) you give in.  Your eating patterns resume to what they were before or worse.

Learning how to eat intuitively is especially helpful for those who suffer from emotional overeating and binge eating tendencies.  

When it comes to emotional eating and binge eating; hunger cues become nonexistent.  The line between emotional hunger and physical hunger is so blurred that there is no longer a distinction.

So how do you learn to eat intuitively?

Answer: Listen to Your Hunger Cues.

This is not when your mind says that you need a chocolate bar now!.  It's when your body physically tells you are in need of nutrition.  This may come as a hallow feeling in your stomach or an actual "growl".

The first step in listening to your hunger cues is to make the distinction between emotional hunger and physical hunger.

You may want to begin keeping a journal to help you make that distinction.  Write down what emotion you are feeling when you want to eat.  

If you want something to eat because you're stressed or frustrated; ask yourself what would relieve that emotion instead of stuffing it away with food.  You may want to take a walk to clear your mind and address the situation that is causing you to feel that way.  

Numbing emotions with food is what got you where you are now... just give this a try and see what happens.  You may still eat for emotional reasons in the beginning; but don't beat yourself up about it.  Just acknowledge it and move on.  If it is true physical hunger you are feeling; then eat whatever you want and stop when your stomach begins to feel comfortably full.  In the beginning you may want a bowl of cookie dough. It's okay to do it; just make sure to stop when you're full.  Eventually you will begin to want other foods and your diet will naturally become more nutritious.   

A big problem for most people is knowing when to stop eating.  We tend to eat because it tastes good and we don't want that sensation to end because it is pleasurable.

Learning when your body is physically full is another aspect of intuitive eating that may take time to learn. It takes your body at least 20 minutes to send your brain the signal that you are no longer hungry.  Try to eat slowly to allow this sensation to occur.  

Learning to listen to your hunger cues may take time and practice.  It is not a quick fix or magic pill.... and that is exactly why it works long term!  

Happy intuitive eating!