What it means to have true food freedom with intuitive eating

You may or may not have heard the phrase “food freedom” before. You might even be wondering, what does food freedom even mean?

That’s such a great question. One I thought I used to be able to answer while I was on Weight Watchers.

I thought that while I was on that specific program that I had food freedom. I had the choice to decide what I wanted to eat, and when.

However, when I started eating intuitively, I learned that I hadn’t actually had true food freedom while I was on WW.

Releasing the Control

I was honestly still being controlled by food when I was following that plan.

Now, let’s take a step back. What does it mean to be controlled by food?

Think back to any diet, cleanse, eating plan, etc. that you’ve been on {or are currently on}.

Do you make all of your decisions based on how foods will fit into your day? Do you decide not to eat a hard boiled egg or half of an avocado because it won’t fit into the plan?

I did just this while I was on WW. The plan and the food controlled me. I would make decisions on what to eat based on what the plan told me, not what my body was telling me.

If you’re constantly thinking about food and how many points, calories or macros it is, it has control over you.

Having food freedom breaks that cycle. The eat, repent, repeat cycle. You eat a certain food or binge, feel guilty, tell yourself you’ll do better next time, and repeat the cycle all over again.

Practicing intuitive eating actual brings you food freedom, to help break this cycle and releasing the control food has over you.

But wait…

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Now, I can hear your concerns already spinning in your head.

“If I have food freedom, won’t I just want to eat all the pasta, pizza, and bad for me foods?”

“If I have food freedom, won’t I just gain all the weight back that I lost while on XYZ diet?”

Let’s unpack that first question. First of all, there’s no such thing as a “bad” food. Nor is there such thing as a “good” food. Pasta and pizza have been given a negative connotation, which has been perpetuated by the diet industry.

The other half of question one is the emotional attachment to food. Again, assigning a good or bad connotation to certain foods. If you ate a slice of pizza, you’d probably feel guilty. If you ate an apple, you’d probably feel proud of yourself.

Having food freedom means there’s no emotional attachment. The foods you eat are because they’re what your body is in need of. Not because it was a food that made you feel like you were a good or bad person for eating it.

Okay, what about that second question? Typically whenever we go on a diet or start following a specific eating plan is because we want to lose weight.

That’s why I started Weight Watchers. I wanted to lose weight after college, and I wanted a plan to follow. After five years though? It was time to try something new.

I was terrified I would gain all the weight back. But I had yo-yo’d so much. Losing weight, gaining it back, trying a new diet, going back to Weight Watchers.

When I allowed myself to try intuitive eating, and really give it a serious go, I actually got in the best shape I had ever been in.

It was a complete mindset shift. One that’s possible, but takes time.

Food Freedom with Intuitive Eating

I, personally, feel that the only way to have true food freedom is with intuitive eating.

After having tried so many different diets and cleanses and programs, I found, over the past four years, that intuitive eating provides me with absolute true food freedom.

I don’t have to check an app to see if I can have a certain food. I listen to my body and what it needs and when.

Food no longer has a hold over me. I don’t feel guilty. I don’t wonder how many points that piece of chicken was.

With intuitive eating I was able to see food as fuel and know what works best for my body. Rather than being told what was “good” or “bad” for my body.

You can achieve food freedom too with the Piece of Mind Signature Program. If you haven’t gone through the course yet, I highly suggest taking the time to go through the course.

You’ll feel a sense of calm around food. You’ll be able to make decisions about what to eat based on your body’s needs, not what fits into your plan.

Never again say the phrase “oh, this is so bad for me, but I’m going to eat it anyway” and then feel guilty and ashamed for eating that food.

Module #3: Your Relationship with Food is a great way to start to experience that true food freedom.

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