intuitive dieting - The burden of proof is on you

By: Michael Beiter

Everyone wants to be able to diet intuitively. That is, they want to be able to look at what they're eating and stop when they've had enough or know when to have more.

The evidence for intuitive dieting being a viable strategy is poor.

Researchers have given participants plates of food that were pre-measured thousands of times and asked them how much they just consumed once they finished eating.

At BEST, they were 30-40% off the mark.

Nowhere in life do we accept that amount of volatility with measurement. Not when cutting lumber, measuring laundry loads, putting gas in our cars, or managing finances.

Yet people will accept that as their de facto food measurement system all day.

The result? Look around; we are not doing so well regarding nutrition.

Now, this isn't to say it's not possible. After hundreds of reps of food logging, I ask my clients whether they want to stop logging and try intuitive dieting or keep measuring. Most keep measuring because it works, and they got used to it.

But some do away with their food logs and manage things well.

The burden of proof is on the person to prove to themselves and me (the coach) that they can sustain healthy markers without food logging.

It looks like eating til' you're full, maintaining a stable body weight for months/years, and having clean blood panels. If you can provide that proof without food logging, congrats, you can intuitively diet!

This is great for you and conserves mental energy and a little time, but intuitive dieting is a pipe dream for most people.