Intuitive Eating

Intuitive eating is the opposite of a traditional diet that has guidelines and rules to follow about what to eat, how much, at what time. The concept is that you should eat when you’re hungry and stop eating when you’re full. Some people are better at this then others which is why I believe someone can be successful with this only after they have tracked their food intake consistently for a long period of time.

After someone tracks their calories, macronutrients and portion sizes year after year they will have a much better sense of what to eat, how much, and when to reach their goal. It is unlikely that a beginner will know these measurements from the start if they never tracked. Tracking can be tedious at first but it becomes a habit over time.

Intuitive eating may take some of the “pressure” away from a traditional diet, however if an athlete has strength or body composition goals they must be aware of their intake and make adjustments to reach those goals. Someone who eats intuitively may not know what adjustments need to be made.