Body Kindness & Your Intuitive Eating Journey
We are all born with an innate wisdom inside of us about how to care for our bodies. As kids, we eat when we’re hungry and eat foods we like, we sleep when we’re tired, and do things like run, play, and explore just because they’re fun. We all have this inner caregiver inside of us.
We aren’t born with an instinct to diet. We don’t come into this world disliking our bodies or wanting to change them or following arbitrary food rules. We are heavily influenced by the world around us- messages from friends, family, media, and society that teach us that in order to be accepted, we have to look, think, and be a certain way. These diet culture messages interrupt our inner caregiver and make it really hard to trust ourselves and our own bodies.
It is possible to reconnect to this inner wisdom that got clouded by diet culture. Know that your body- as it is right now in this moment- is worthy of respect and compassionate care. No matter what. Cultivating body acceptance is really tough when diet culture sends the message that you can’t be accepted as you are.
No one has ever bullied themselves into more happiness, peace, or fulfillment. Body acceptance is about creating a kind, compassionate voice to quiet your inner body bully. And in terms of intuitive eating, that means having compassion for yourself throughout this journey, no matter where you are.
“It’s normal to struggle. It’s normal to feel confused. That’s part of the journey […] You’re right where you need to be.” -Evelyn Tribole, Body Kindness Podcast #154 - How to Cope with Your Emotions with Kindness with Evelyn Tribole and Elyse Resch authors of Intuitive Eating
Connecting to your inner caregiver means listening and responding to your body’s needs without judgment, shame, or external rules. Rebecca Scritchfield, RDN, writes in her book, Body Kindness, that there are 3 pillars to body kindness:
Love: Make choices from a place of love.
Connect: Check in with your body and respond to your needs (food, sleep, social connection, relaxation, etc.).
Care: Fully commit to your self-care.
These 3 pillars set the foundation for how we can take care of our bodies. Here are some ideas about how to apply each of the Body Kindness Pillars in intuitive eating:
Love: Choose foods you love and give yourself permission to enjoy them without judgment. Eating foods you find satisfying and enjoyable sends the message that your body is worthy of pleasure, as it is right now. What are some ways you can incorporate foods you genuinely enjoy into your eating patterns?
Connect: Respond to your body’s needs. Honor your hunger by eating when you’re hungry. Respect your body’s signals for when, what, and how much to eat, rather than relying on external diet rules. The more you practice listening to your body when it comes to food, the more trust you build between yourself and your body.
Care: It’s even harder to tune into our inner wisdom when we’re feeling stressed, overwhelmed, sleep deprived, or have a jam packed schedule. Prioritizing self-care, no matter how small, reinforces the message that your here-and-now body is worthy of care and helps strengthen your internal wisdom. What are some ways (no matter how small) that you could add some self-care into your day or week?
“You are capable of compassion for other people. Now the practice comes to turning it toward you. You actually know the words- what would help with others- and now we need to practice on what could you say to yourself.” -Evelyn Tribole, Body Kindness Podcast #154 - How to Cope with Your Emotions with Kindness with Evelyn Tribole and Elyse Resch authors of Intuitive Eating
It’s often so much easier to find compassion and understanding for others in life, but so hard to extend that same kindness and compassion to ourselves. Body kindness is about honoring your own unique body and meeting its needs with understanding and gentleness. Each time you listen and respond to your body’s unique needs, you strengthen your inner caregiver. Remember, only you know what it feels like to be in your body. Your own lived experience is valid and valuable.
All bodies are worthy of love, connection, and care.
To take a deeper dive into body kindness, you can grab Rebecca Scritchfield’s book here or on Amazon. To listen to the Body Kindness Podcast episode quoted above, and others, click here.
SD Nutrition Group is also happy to announce that we will be offering a Body Kindness virtual support group beginning in June 2021. We will be discussing the book as well as topics related to intuitive eating and body acceptance. If you or someone you know might be interested in joining us, contact us here for more information.