As the diet/health/fitness industry has changed over time, so too has the associated trendy lingo. I find it absurd that business mongers have co- opted our health and wellness as products, but such is the reality of today. I'd like to focus on one trend that I actually agree with, "intuitive eating".
The funny thing is this- guess what intuitive eating is? Consuming the food your body craves, when you're hungry, and stopping when you're full. What does that sound like? EATING. This trend was born as the opposite of IIFYM (If It Fits Your Macro's) eating, in which people allot themselves specific amounts (g) of protein, carbs, and fats each day. IIFYM involves weighing food and strict portion control. It also removes intuition from eating. This technique is utilized when people are trying to make specific changes to their physique; it allows them to control and adjust their intake to reach goals.
I will not argue that there could be a time for rigid structure. However, I do believe that it separates us from our bodies' natural rhythms and signals. Bodies are not machines, but rather dynamic systems that fluctuate in response to a myriad of factors. If we listen, they communicate their needs. That wild craving for carbohydrates after a long run? Your body is in NEED of an easy- to- breakdown source of glycogen to replenish your muscles. Still hungry after eating a usual amount of food for the day? You may have expended more energy, you could be growin' some muscles... Whatever the reason, your body needs the fuel. Feed it!
When we cultivate body intuition, we are moving towards our healthiest selves. Regardless of what that looks like externally. Our bodies seek holistic wellness, not aesthetic appeal by arbitrary standards. They know better than any external source how much and of what we need.
This applies to exercise and movement as well as food. When muscles and joints ache with fatigue, our bodies are guiding us away from strenuous activity. When we wake full of electric energy, they are telling us to use it. There is no formula for the perfect type and amount of exercise. Thus, let's let our individual bodies be the guide. Try CrossFit, distance running, yoga, weight- lifting... See how your body and mind respond. Attune yourself to particular cues:
~ exhaustion vs. exhilaration
~ pain vs. healthy soreness
~ eagerness to repeat the activity
Let's adhere to our bodies' limits and explore their strengths. These are the actions that will bring us closer to our strongest selves.
