“What is a healthy weight?” is a common question, but the truth is, no one can tell you what you should weigh. Just like we all have different heights, our bodies also have different weight ranges that they naturally gravitate towards. This range can also change throughout our lives.
If you have to diet, count calories or use food rules to maintain a certain weight, then it is not YOUR body’s healthy weight.
Focusing on controlling your food and exercise takes up your energy and mind space, and it can prevent you from living your life to the fullest.
Your purpose in life is not to look like an ornament. Instead, your goal should be to feel good, energised, and clear-minded. When you’re at your natural body weight, your body can sustain this size with relative ease.
Have you ever noticed that your weight fluctuates a little when you’re on holiday and eating more food than usual? The body adjusts its hunger signals and activity to maintain its natural body weight, and this all happens naturally.
“The Four Indicators of a Healthy Weight”
1. You’re not constantly thinking about food.
When you’re at a healthy weight, you won’t need to obsess about food. However, if you constantly think about what you’ll eat next, it could be a sign that you’re not eating enough. Your body uses hunger signals to tell you when it needs energy, so if you’re always thinking about food, it might be time to reevaluate your eating habits.
2. You eat when you’re hungry.
At a healthy weight, you’ll be in tune with your body’s natural hunger signals and respond to them accordingly. You won’t be calculating how much you should eat or trying to solve an equation. Instead, you’ll listen to your body and give it the fuel it needs when it needs it.
3. Eating is both nourishing and enjoyable.
When you’re at a healthy weight, you’ll view food as a way to nourish your body with the nutrients it needs. But you’ll also understand that it’s okay to indulge in delicious foods occasionally, as it’s a way to connect with others and experience joy.
4. You exercise for self-care, not weight loss.
At a healthy weight, you’ll exercise because it makes you feel good, both physically and mentally. You’ll understand that exercise is a form of self-care and that taking care of your body is essential for the sake of your future self. You won’t view exercise as a way to burn off food or lose weight but rather as a way to stay healthy and happy.
To find your healthy body weight, you may need to let go of the expectation of what your body should look like.
You can support your body in getting the nourishment it needs by switching the focus to working with your body rather than against it through an approach like intuitive eating.
Intuitive eating is an evidence-based, non-diet approach that guides you to develop a connection with your body’s hunger, satisfaction, emotional, and self-care needs.
When you eat and move intuitively, your body feels at peace and will gravitate to the weight that feels best for you. In many cases, people do lose weight as their bodies finally feel safe and get the nutrients they need.
If you binge or emotionally eat and would love to learn intuitively eating sign up to the signature program – A Course In Normal Eating. Break free from the diet cycle for good.