This week, I want to draw your attention to your gift of intuition and instinct, or the sixth sense. This is perhaps the most important of the senses when dealing with weight problems. You have no doubt heard of the terms ‘compulsive over eating’ and ‘emotional eating- these terms describe eating without consideration to your body’s actual needs and refer to ‘head’ hunger rather than stomach hunger. Applying our sixth sense to food choices is known as ‘intuitive eating’.

When you eat intuitively, you ‘listen’ to your body. You know when you are hungry and when you are satisfied. When you eat intuitively you never over eat. The next time you find yourself standing in the kitchen looking for food, ask yourself some basic questions before touching a bite:

1)  Am I really hungry for food? -and if you are,

2)  What do I actually want to eat? -This may take longer than you think to determine. However, when you have decided, eat that food. Do not substitute another food that you think you ought to eat because the chances are, in the end, you will eat the substitute and the food you really want. It is much more likely that you will feel satisfied when you eat food that you really enjoy.

3) After eating the food I actually wanted, am I satisfied?- If you are aware of your stomach starting to feel full, stop eating! Your food hunger has been satisfied!

It is very easy to override our natural cues for hunger and satiety because we have been conditioned from an early age to eat by the clock and to finish what is on our plate. Babies who are allowed to feed on instinct, never get fat. Children and adults need to get back to basics and actually listen to their gut feelings on food choice. Let your mind be free to choose, and listen to it when it lets you know that you have had enough. Reflect on this for a while.