Breaking Rules

-->I have discovered that when rules get tedious, it’s time to change them. That feeling is an intuitive nudge. It's physical. Listen to your body. The only rule that makes sense 24/7 is to protect yourself.

 

Rules are made to be broken. 90% of rules are designed to expire. They should come with a time-stamp. Generally, rules are created to solve a problem or correct confusion. Good rules fix the problem.

Rules teach and we learn. For example, with dieting, you may decide to have desserts only on weekends as an experiment to gently lose weight.You make it a rule. It becomes a handrail to keep you on track and then it becomes automatic, part of you. You feel a calm,  healthy sense of accomplishment. The rule has done its job.

The rules made for breaking are ones that serve no purpose. They are the ones that feel tedious. We need to let go of them and see what needs fixing and what doesn't. It's important to look at the big picture.  Ask yourself:

• If I eat what I want right now, how will I feel about it in an hour? 
• Is this rule important to achieve my long-term eating goals?

Today, nearly everywhere, rules are broken. It's time to think outside the box. Problems, like everything else, change. This is part of the topography of living. Everything upgrades, including your needs and your eating goals.  Upgrade is another word for change.  If your needs have changed, ask yourself:

• What has changed? How can I use it to my advantage?
• How does my body respond to this old rule? Does it still make sense for me?

With intuitive eating, instead of rules, we have guidelines - universal values that are easy to feel -  such as curiosity or dignity. No rules, just guidelines to help you think with your senses and feel with your mind. What do you see? What do you feel What do you think? It's time to think differently by tuning into your body. That way you can respond to what's real instead of trying to fit what you eat into a neat box of rules. Change is normal. Living and eating need choices. Stress and daily surprises all create unpredictable circumstances at mealtime. Listen to your body. You will know when to break the rules.

For practical intuitive solutions that are common sense for maintaining a your healthy weight, download: Am I Really Hungry? 6th Sense Diet : Intuitive Eating

and overcome eating challenges.

"If you can't solve a problem, it's because you're playing by the rules." P. Arden

Eat What

Have you noticed what an invasion it is - that people constantly tell us what to eat?! Putting anything into your body is sensual. It's a personal balance, a comfortable place - where cravings are satisfied, but you are not stuffed. Sensual eating puts a high value on comfort. Don't let anyone tell you what to eat because they cannot feel your hunger - or your comfort level.

The intuitive way to deal with generic diet advice is not take it too seriously. Instead, we may listen to what we hear, and then balance it with how we feel - - before we take it to heart. Eating is extremely personal. It's natural self-defense to think for yourself. It's intuitive to respond to what your body needs.

A healthy diet changes with the seasons. Listen to the weather and you will lose weight. Nature is a spontaneous response to changes in the environment. Nature continually trims the fat and fuels for efficiency. What you eat needs to be a genuine, spontaneous response to your unique needs, stress and goals.

Every day, I hear about someone who is losing their hair, has a gallstone or worse -- as a result of extreme dieting.T oday, I heard about a man who lost 60 pounds in one month.  He died 2 months later. Extreme dieting ignores healthy signals from your body.

Everyone in the world has different fingertips, DNA and digestive systems. Your body is impressively unique. Use sensual eating to respect your body. Sensual means to tune-in to your physical appetite by using your senses.

• Vary what you eat.  
• You will eat less because the taste is not a habit. Habits make us overweight because they are not a response to genuine needs.

Nothing is good to eat all the time, except Love. Love is something that nourishes us through all of our senses Love is so complicated, except when it comes to meals. Be spontaneous. Eat what feels right. The best love is felt spontaneously.

• Intuitive eating is being tuned in sensually to how you feel and to following nature. Your senses are spontaneous. Here's how:
1. Smell, taste and see your food. 
2. Only eat what you love.
3. Remind yourself of your eating goal. Eating goals include:

• Get Energy, 
• Build Muscle Mass, 
• Lose a Few Pounds, 
• Celebrate.

• Enjoy food physically and sensually. 
• We know it's important to eat for good physical energy and quality of life. The equally important sensual reason to eat, is to satisfy appetites for the pleasure of eating and the pleasure of sharing the pleasure.

Eating is social. You are sensual. The next time your friend wants you to try something, give it a taste. Then, check in with your body. If it doesn't feel good, it isn't for you. Eating is intimate. It can be sexual, sensual or simply to survive. It's easy to tell the difference. Bon appetite! (*J