It’s the number one diet lie. Listening to your body is what makes you eat poorly. That hunger is the problem. Most people assume that “fat” people are hungry all the time and respond to that hunger any way they like.

This is simply not true.

More accurately, most people are so disconnected from their bodies due to poor body image that they have no clue what real hunger feels like. Many of my “fat” clients go for hours on end without eating! Furthermore, many fear hunger and have been bullied into believing they should control or manipulate it with various diet tactics and products.

HUGE mistake! 

Restricting, in fact, perpetuates overeating, bingeing and ineffective food choices. It also down regulates metabolism causing energy drain and mood changes that then cycle back to negatively affecting eating behavior. 

This week, try to respect your physical hunger by responding to it promptly and adequately with nourishing foods you like. Notice how this affects cravings, energy, mood and even sleep patterns.  If you need help, seek out a HAES dietitian to help you re-learn what hunger feels like and how to best care for that wise, beautiful, amazing body of yours.

Julie Norman, nicknamed "The Body Image Guru" by clients, guides women to live authentically healthy lives through peaceful body image, intuitive eating and mindful movement. She blends professional nutrition guidance with the wisdom of yoga to help women transform the ways in which they care for and experience their bodies. She maintains a private practice, REAL Nutrition, LLC, and is the creator of Body Karma Healing, a yoga-based program intended to help women transform body image from painful to peaceful. Julie believes healing individual body image pain helps us heal the world! Get started with her guiding DVD.