Ditch the Diet: Unlocking the Secrets to Nourishment and Intuition
Having been in the health & wellness space for 20+ years, I can’t tell you how thrilled I am that the conversation is finally moving away from the one-size-fits-all-mindset (insert airhorn here). If the "follow this plan, get this result" paradigm worked, we’d be a lot healthier—but clearly, we’re not. We are all unique and what works for one person may not work for another. The focus is starting to shift to truly listening to your body. If I eat this, how do I feel after? After all, YOU know your body best. However, years of patriarchal diet culture and trauma have left us women detached from our bodies. We have forgotten how to listen to our bodies needs and what our body is communing with us.
How do we begin to listen to our bodies again, when the voice from within has been silenced and we no longer trust our intuition? I wish I could give you a magic fix, an easy solution. However, I believe it is a life long journey. As science advances and we learn more about the human body, especially women’s bodies-our understanding of how to nourish ourselves will evolve. The one constant will always be your relationship with your body and the way you feel.
One of the biggest catalysts for change in my own journey came in my twenties when I started practicing yoga. I became completely hooked, going every day and loving the flexibility I was gaining, especially after years of running. But the most surprising benefit was the body awareness that developed through my practice. I realized I’d been ignoring my body’s signals for years, often pushing it to exhaustion with intense workouts and endless runs. I tried every diet imaginable, from the Master Cleanse to the South Beach Diet, all in pursuit of being thinner. It was all about appearance, not health, yet I constantly felt I still wasn’t thin enough. When I look back at pictures of those times, I wish I had learned to cultivate more self-love and self-acceptance. Remember… you are never too late, never too old, never too sick to start from scratch once again. The time is going to pass anyways, you might as well make the most of it.
There are a few things you can start doing right now that I believe will benefit everyone, especially if you experience intense cravings that often throw off your best efforts to choose foods that make you feel good. One of the most impactful steps is to pay attention to your blood sugar. Many people find it helpful to use a continuous glucose monitor to track fluctuations throughout the day. For women, in particular, monitoring blood sugar can be incredibly supportive in managing the hormonal changes we experience. Once your blood sugar is more stable, you may notice your cravings become less intense and easier to manage. I will continue to discuss more about this.
Another key to getting back on track is to make sure you’re consuming enough protein. I’ll admit it—I’m a carb addict! Once I got real about tracking my intake, I was shocked to discover how little protein I was getting in a day. But as I began increasing my protein, my cravings started to fade. I also took time to be mindful, paying close attention to my energy levels—did I feel a boost, or did I crash? In the beginning, tracking and using the glucose monitor helped me reconnect with my body. Over time, you’ll start to feel these shifts naturally. The feedback your body gives is invaluable and I want you to trust your intuition. Your body is always striving for balance and wants the best for you—it wants to feel vibrant and alive.
Yours in health,
Amanda
This article is for educational and informational purposes only. It is not, nor is it intended to be, a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment and should never be relied upon for specific medical advice.
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