Intuitive Eating

Lately, I’ve been starting my blog entries with the definition of the topic I’m going to go into because I’m seeing these things being thrown around, implemented and enforced not only by coaches but people who decide to follow something without really thinking through the logic before they follow it.

It’s like the other night while babysitting my 9 year old nephew. He calls out into the remote headset of the video game he’s playing, “Yeah, okay Boomer.” Now what are the chances that he actually knows what “Boomer” means or refers to? He doesn’t. Now what are the chances that there’s actually a Boomer playing with the other kids on this virtual video game. I’d say none. It’s the same thing when people say they are following an intuitive eating regimen but still not getting the results they want.

The definition of intuitive is described as using or based on what one feels to be true even without conscious reasoning – instinctive.

Intuitive eating is an approach developed to help people heal from the side effects of chronic dieting. It teaches people to turn towards inner cues and discover what satisfaction and fullness feel like individually. The emphasis is on honoring health and taste buds together through gentle nutrition.

So, first and foremost, I agree with ALL OF THIS. Re-learning what full feels like to you, identifying your stressors and improving your nutrition is all the good stuff we need in life to be healthy but where does this talk about the quality of that nutrition? Where does it emphasize the importance of essential amino acids, whole proteins and that broccoli is actually a carb? Where is that science of nutrition enforced with intuitive eating – nowhere. All this intuitive eating stuff is filled with foo foo feel good bullshit that gives people permission to be complacent about their health. “Oh, I just don’t eat a lot” or “I needed to fuel up” when the reason why you didn’t eat all day is because you were stressed the fuck out at work and you binged later that night because you didn’t eat all day. Where was the intuition then? Nowhere. You were in flight or fight response which is another instinct we carry as part of self preservation. Is that being intuitive?

The reason why people are suffering from chronic dieting is because half the crap out there with these fad diets is full of deprivation and restriction. It would give anyone a complex if they were forever forbidden to enjoy the foods that they love or to eat several hundreds or even thousands of calories below what their body needs just to run it’s normal bodily functions.

So let’s talk about being instinctive and let’s use a smoker for example. Over the course of a smokers life and daily reinforcement of this horrible habit (ex smoker here so I can say it WAH-WAH) a smoker will eventually light up a cigarette without any conscious reasoning – when they wake up, with their morning coffee, after a hardy meal, at a stop light, with a cocktail, when they’re stressed, after sex, right before bed. Guaranteed. So in order to quit smoking you need to break the habits, the associations with events, people and things that trigger the urge to smoke. I used to see all the commercials from Truth.com educating people on the dangers associated with smoking – COPD, heart disease, cancer and more.

The same goes for eating. If you expect to make a difference in your health – you need to change the routine and educate yourself. You cannot rely on your old self to somehow know all of a sudden that, this-that and the other is the new best thing for you if there is nothing to suggest that it is in fact new or even good for you. Oh because you know your body?

So were you not listening to your body all these years to get you to where you are today?

Yes, it’s important to tune into your body and identify why you are choosing food as a solution but did you know that if you feed your body the food it actually requires, that conversation with yourself goes a not easier? And how do you know what your body needs if your knowledge of nutrition is limited? Limited by your demographics, your culture, your environment. How do you know smoking is bad for you unless you see the healthy set of lungs sitting next to the smoker’s lungs? You don’t and that’s where flexible nutrition comes in. intuitive eating does not teach your what portions and ratios of nutrients your body requires for your lifestyle or a healthy body composition. With flexible nutrition, any type of food qualifies and I believe it truly allows you to address your health with moderation. For example, if you want to eat your carbs in donuts instead of spinach – you can. If you want to eat your fat in cheese – you can. If you want to have steak for dinner tonight instead of another chicken breast – you can.

There is nothing intuitive about our modern lives. Sitting in the same spot and staring at a computer screen for 8 to 10 hours a day is not something we would instinctively do if we had the choice. Trolling on our cell phones at night until we can’t keep our eyes open is is another thing that doesn’t come naturally – it’s a habit we’ve formed and reinforced.

If you want to improve the quality of your health and in the end the quality of your life, it’s going to be a result of change that comes with a learning curve.

I don’t think intuitive eating can truly be achieved until you take a step back, re-calibrate and educate your self on what healthy really means which is literally on the molecular level – your macronutrients – protein, fat and carbs.

Something similar could be listed for flexible nutrition:

1. Stop dieting because nothing is off limits.

2. Understand that you are control of your food.

3. Learn how the quality of your food can impact other aspects of your life.

4. Offer the food police a donut because it fits your macros.

5. Stay fuller longer.

6. Never worry about the end result because you’ve collected the information you need and learned what it will take to get to your goals.

7. Experience significantly reduced stress levels – less sever fight or flight response.

8. No more self sabotage.

9. Activity and exercise become easier and endurance increases.

10. Not only know and believe your health is a priority but have the procedures in place and the data to back it up.

Leave a Comment

GETTING STARTED IS EASY!

Simply fill out the form below and then schedule Your FREE Consultation on the next page.

Shortly after we will be in touch with you to confirm your intro session. We are excited to meet you!

CAREERs

Simply fill out the form below.

Shortly after we will be in touch with you!

Rowena Dziubla

OWNER / COACH

Rowena Dziubla, or “Coach Ro” to those who know her, is not your everyday personal trainer. Not only is she the owner and head coach of Get Fit EGV, she also owns and operates WODeration, a small business coaching company focused on finding solutions for the architectural, engineering, and construction industries. She brings more than two decades of experience to both positions with experience in Project Management, Office Management, and Personal Training, and CrossFit.

​She also holds an L2 CrossFit Certification as well as extensive experience with Ashtanga Yoga, Boxing and more.

​Her work in Personal Training and CrossFit may seem like a departure from her work in construction, but as anyone who has met her will tell you, Coach Ro focuses her training on the whole person. After surviving a battle with fibrosarcoma which claimed her left kidney, spleen, and a part of her pancreas, Coach Ro realized the massive impact communities like CrossFit have on the health of individuals including reinforcing their innate desire to be heard and respected.

​She is a firm believer in community, diversity, and authenticity. She works to strengthen not just the bodies of those at her gym, but their self-esteem and confidence in all aspects of their lives. Coach Ro works every day to advocate for her gym members, training team, and women in the AEC industry. Although Coach Ro, works with clients all over the world with the variety of services she provides, locally, she looks forward to continuing to touch the lives of many more people in the Elk Grove Village community and surrounding areas.

CERTIFICATIONS

She also holds an L2 CrossFit Certification as well as extensive experience with Ashtanga Yoga, Boxing and more.

HOLD POLICY

Month-to-Month Membership Agreements and Annual Membership Agreements: You may place your Membership on hold two (2) times per calendar year up to three (3) consecutive months each time. Advanced notice of at least two (2) business days is required. The hold must be 30 days in duration at a minimum and 30 days must elapse between holds. Upon expiration of the term of the hold, your account will automatically become active and payments will resume. Should you choose to return prior to the end of their hold period, the hold will be released and payments will resume.

CANCELLATION POLICY

All membership agreements require 30-days written notice to cancel your membership. This form will serve as your 30-days written cancellation notice. Note that if you have a scheduled renewal payment within 30-days of your invoice billing date, the payment will be processed as scheduled. Your membership will be canceled at the end of your final paid month. All payments are non-refundable. All grandfathered membership rates will also be forfeited and returning members will be subject to current rates.

MEMBERSHIP CANCELLATION REQUEST

Please fill out the form below and one of our team members will review your request. Warning. The submission of this form does not cancel your membership. We will review your request, then reach out to confirm.

HAVE QUESTIONS?

We Would Love To Meet You!

Simply fill out the form below
& one of our amazing
coaches will be in touch asap! We are excited to meet you!

ARE YOU LOOKING TO DROP-IN?

We Would Love To Meet You!
WARNING! Class Sizes Are Limited.

If you would like to reserve a spot… Simply fill out the form below letting us know what day you might come by & one of our amazing coaches will reach out to you to reserve your class.

OUR DROP-IN RATES

$20 Per Class

FIND US AT:

1100 Nerge Rd. 2nd Floor
Elk Grove Village, IL 60007

847-262-3612

OUR PRICING IS SIMPLE

We Want To Offer You The PERFECT Membership For YouR NEEDS.

Simply fill out the form below and one of our amazing coaches will send you our current membership information.