1. Normal eating vs Intuitive Eating
When Simi and Alexis visited a few weeks ago, we got into a really good conversation on our drive up to Portland on the difference between intuitive eating and normal eating. When I stop to think about how I make food choices, I have to really try to remember because at this point it’s automatic — subconscious might be a better word. As we were talking I was internally and externally processing and realized that “ohhhhhhh, this is what I’m trying to explain.” I think the journey to finding peace with food goes from eating disorder/disordered eating/dieting –> intuitive eating —> normal eating. Intuitive eating is the bridge to becoming just a normal eater. It can take time to build up the skills to becoming a normal eater again (before diet culture got in the way) and building back trust with your body. A long time. Like years. So if this process feels slow to you, that’s how it’s suppose to feel. In the beginning of my journey to finding peace with food I did have to work through questions like, “What do I feel like eating right now?” “Is this what I want to eat or what I think I should eat?” “How will this make me feel physically?” “Am I satisfied?”
I feel like over the past couple years I’ve transitioned to normal eating where I don’t really put that much thought into food. If I get too full, I know it will pass, I think about slowing down or being more mindful next time and move on. If I want to eat ice cream at night, I eat it. As I’ve built more and more body trust (and as you will too) I’ve learned that the body is quite resilient when I’m not micromanaging my weight/body size. I don’t have to have intuitive/mindful eating experiences 100% of the time for my body to regulate its weight. I never ever thought I’d get to a point where I wouldn’t feel crazy around brownies (or insert any food that applies to you here) or be able to think to myself, “actually I don’t want a brownie right now” and as I was thinking about normal eating I realized that just isn’t a thing anymore. So if you’re in your journey or maybe contemplating quitting dieting/disordered eating or beginning recovery from an eating disorder….know that you’re right where you need to be in your own process. And know that becoming a normal eater can be years in the making. YEARS. I hope this space continues to be an encouraging, safe place for you throughout your journey.
2. DIY Delicious Popsicles
A while back, I shared that I wanted to make these popsicles at the beginning of the summer. I bought a popsicle mold (this one if you’re interested) back in the spring and so far just make my usual greek yogurt pops using ~2 cups whole milk yogurt, ~2 cups of frozen blueberries and ~1/4 cup of liquid sweetener (maple syrup, honey, simple syrup). But I wanted to change it up! The banana popsicles I wanted to make look amazing and so pretty, but I knew I needed a lazier version. So I blended up frozen bananas, some peanut flour that was sent to me, a few spoonfuls of pb, and a few healthy squirts of chocolate syrup. Then I stirred in some chocolate chips and poured the blended mixture into the molds. Side note on peanut flour —> this is not a substitute for regular peanut butter. It will not give you the same amount of satiation as peanut butter because it lacks the smooth creamy texture (if you try to add liquid to make it like pb) and fat content of regular peanut butter. I do like the strong peanut flavor the flour gives to the pops and I like to bake with this stuff, but mixing the powder with water and making “peanut butter” is not a thing in my mind. That’s diet food. Not satiating, satisfying food that is good for my body. Back to the popsicles. These popsicles are awesome and I highly recommend! I’ve been eating them as an afternoon snack and loving it. Cold + creamy + satisfying.
3. My first local wedding
Our good friends from the New York City days (who happen to now live a few blocks from us in Boston) got married this past weekend. Living in New York for 4 years when many friends got married meant I traveled for a lot of weddings. New York friends that get married rarely get married in New York (at least my friends didn’t, but some do!) so weddings always meant a travel weekend – which I loved since I got to visit a lot of really cool places. But man, it’s so nice not to travel for a wedding. These friends were married at a venue on the North Shore – which is about 40 minutes north of Boston. The rehearsal dinner was Thursday, wedding Friday and then we hung out with friends that were in town all day Saturday. It was such a fun weekend and it was really nice to be able to sleep in my own bed each night.
Best thing I ate all weekend were these bacon wrapped dates that had a tangy dipping sauce, I think I ate like 16 at the cocktail hour, and these little maple honey fried chicken things. SO GOOD. I could live off bacon wrapped dates alone. Anyone else?!
4. I feel like a gym hypocrite…
Kind of but not really. A couple months ago, I wrote about how not having a gym membership, for me, has been really helpful and I’ve enjoyed movement so much more since not having a membership. For the first trimester I walked a lot because the fresh spring air really helped with my nausea and every other type of movement felt blah. I was uninterested. So I mostly walked, maybe did a few walk/jogs and the occasional 30 minute barre3 online class. Running was OUT. For me it felt unnatural. Yoga (which I had previously been loving) was a no because the thought of being in a warm room (this wasn’t hot yoga but the room is still semi-warm) without fresh air made me want to vom. So I would go on a walk usually in the afternoon/evening and listen to a podcast, walking until it was over. But then I started to develop pubic bone pain after walking where it felt like somebody had kicked me in my groin. Not cute and not comfy. My OB told me everything is looser down there and even if it feels good in the moment to be walking, it was the impact of the walking that was making my crotch feel bruised –> that’s the best way I can describe it, I’m not sure if anyone else has experienced this? Probably..
Moving my body really helped me feel better physically, mentally and emotionally so I knew I wanted to keep doing that. But walking more than 15 minutes at a time resulted in pain, and even though I love barre3 online, I get easily bored doing videos in our apartment. So I’ve been riding the bike or getting in the pool or doing some light weights or doing a barre3 video in the group exercise room when I go to the gym and that has felt really good and kept me feeling good. I’m just trying to listen to my body, move when/how it feels good and nap/rest when that’s what I need. This pelvic pain happened only a couple weeks after I wrote about how I was enjoying not having a gym membership and then I felt like a hypocrite!! So here I am telling you not because you care or because it matters, but because it’s making me feel better so thanks for reading…lol. I was kind of worried I’d run into a reader since that sometimes happens and they’d be like, “she’s a liar!!” My goal is to be as authentic as possible 🙂 Hopefully, I’ll be able to get back outside doing things early next spring, but for now the gym (especially the pool) is working well in this season of life.
5. Next up on my baking list
These brown sugar chocolate chip cookies. How chewy and buttery and absolutely perfect do they look?! I know you can never go wrong with the recipe on the back of the chocolate chip bag, but something (or everything) about this recipe is calling me.
Those are my thoughts. Share yours in the comments and have a great week!
Hi Robyn,
I sas wondering if you had already done a post on when you are in the first few months of IE and overeating the fun foods? How to cope with that stage?
Hey Annie! If you search the IE archives I talk about that exact question throughout many of the posts – I hope you find that helpful!
Hi Robyn, thanks for replying 🙂
I couldn’t find one specific post, if I understand correctly you’re saying it’s interspersed in other IE posts ?
Best,
Girl I hear you on the wedding travel. I’m in NYC and have been to maybe 10 weddings in the past year, none of them in the city! (Or even in the state of NY.) It’s also a result of people like us having spent time in and created relationships in many cities but jeez! =) I can’t wait for a local wedding. Take care.
I feel you on this, too! I have friends everywhere and one million weddings all over the U.S. but ZERO where I live. I move around often, but come on you guys!!!! Enjoy your weddings, though! Traveling is cool… even though it’s so expensive omg. – Kaitlyn | http://www.poweredbysass.com
haha I feel you Meghan! It’s wonderful to travel and celebrate but also really nice to not travel and sleep in your own bed 🙂
I love normal eating vs intuitive eating!! Or I sort of think of it as intuitive eating on auto pilot 😊. I love that intuitive living means that we can love the gym for a season in life & hate it in another!! Doesn’t make you a hypocrite, makes you human 😊
love that –> “intuitive eating on auto pilot”
And I love how you put we can wax and wane out of our relationship with the gym based on what we need!
Hi Robyn,
Loved seeing you and Nick on that photo, especially. You look radiant!
A thousand kisses from the Azores, Portugal
Thank you Ines <3
I love the distinction you drew here between intuitive and normal eating. An even more all-encompassing trajectory may look like: Normal Eater –> Diet Culture/Disordered Eating/Micromanaging of Body Size –> Meal Plan (or at least regular eating, possibly under the supervision of a RD/nutritionist/doctor –> Intuitive Eating –> Normal Eating.
Bacon wrapped dates are everything. With a side of sharp cheddar.
100% agree with your trajectory Maeve!!
I think joining a gym shows your readers that things fluctuate and it’s best to be open to different seasons and different needs of our lives. So, thanks for sharing! Pregnancy can be weird…I feel like my body (and the pains/cravings that come with it) changes all the time. Loved your email this week too. Thanks for encouraging all of us, Robyn! I hope people encourage you this week too.
Thank you for your affirmation and understanding India – I think of it that way too 🙂
I hope you have a wonderful week!!
What gym are you using if you don’t mind me asking. I’m trying to find a lap pool in Boston for a decent price. Thanks!!
BSC! The one in the South End has a pool but others do I think too (not all of them though) I was a member of NYSC back when it was $19 for one location so they honored an “alumni” rate for me – if you’ve been a member of another one (new york, DC, philly etc) then take advantage of that!!
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, but I love how honest and open and vulnerable you are in your posts. It’s so refreshing! Also, yes to wanting ice cream and actually eating it. – Kaitlyn | http://www.poweredbysass.com
So glad you are enjoying the blog Kaitlyn 🙂 Have a great week!
Where is that dress from?? Gorgeous. 🙂 And loved the reminder that it takes a long time to get to normal eating. I’m in the phase of Intuitive Eating beginning to become normal but it’s still not very automatic. Thanks for giving some grace! 🙂
Amazon actually!! So so much grace and compassion for you that I hope you give to yourself Anna on this journey. Thinking of you! <3
UGH to the public bone pain. It’s called pubic symphisis disorder (Im sure you know but in case you haven’t come across it!) and for me it went away as soon as I gave birth. Hang in there!
**pubic!!
Mine went away within a week or two after delivering, too. Thank goodness!
Luckily I didn’t develop it until pretty close to the end, but I couldn’t walk normally at all. Hopefully yours doesn’t worsen, but if it does I’ve heard some people find relief with a support belt.
The support belt is good to know about – thank you Josie!
That’s what my OB said! Hoping it doesn’t get worse … I heard pelvic floor PT is helpful!
Fabulous post, love the dress 😀 I to am finding the same pain while out walking, finding swimming so much more comfortable As I am approaching my third trimester.
Love waiting every few days for your post always so inspiring thanks Robyn
So glad you’ve found relief through swimming too – congrats Nicole! 🙂
Yes to the pelvic pain in pregnancy! I have it with all my favorite activities (walking, step aerobics,) so it’s been hard to balance not making it worse but still getting in movement in ways that I enjoy. I probably need to try branching out to barre and swimming too 🙂
I agree that I’d love to be walking and jogging but finding ways that leave me feeling good and not in pain has been so much better!
Hey Robyn!
I began my journey with IE a couple of years ago, short after I discovered & subscribed to your blog. It has honestly changed my life for the better and I’m forever grateful for that!! It’s fascinating how much you can learn from your body once you start listening to what it really needs and wants. I got a gym membership last week to try out whether or not I’m ready for intuitive exercise just yet, and it’s been working so far! Yay for progress! 🙂
Congratulations on your pregnancy! As for the pelvic pain, I would recommend making an appointment with a physical therapist specialized in OB/pelvic floor. The pain might not dissappear, but I’m pretty sure it can be relieved at the very least. They could also help you prevent any other musculoskeletal pain derived from pregnancy, so I recommend you try it out.
I’d like to send you by best wishes & a big hug from Bilbao, Spain! <3
Lander
I’m so encouraged to hear about your journey Lander and it means so much that this has been an encouraging place for you!! Yes I’ve gotten recommendations for pelvic floor PT – thank you!
xx
I was sure you’d be glad to read that you’ve been able to change people’s lives for the better. You do really deserve the best!!
I hope it’s useful for you! As a fellow PT, I couldn’t resist recommending my companions’ advice! I hope they’re able to help you.
xx
Banana-flavored things are my favorite! Those popsicles look goood
hope you enjoy!
The ligament pain all through my pelvis and groin hit at 22 weeks and lasted a solid 5 days (of me barely being able to move) and then went away. It didn’t actually come back so maybe this will improve for you? Around 36 weeks, it turned into shooting pains that precede contractions, but you can deal with anything toward the end!
I hope so too! If not, it’s par for the course 🙂
I don’t think you’re a hypocrite at all for going back to the gym Robyn; it’s just that seasons of what you need change, and right now you need the gym membership for that intuitive movement.
And chocolate chip cookies. I need chocolate chip cookies. 😀
One more thing: I really appreciate what you said about normal eating. It’s just eating. It’s when eating becomes that simple part of life that it used to be before struggling with eating.
Ahhh! That pubic pain is terrible! I didn’t develop it until week 36 (I’m on week 38 now); right around the time I got the “pregnancy waddle.” Makes me feel like a giant penguin–one who is in pain all the time! I find it’s worse when I’ve been sitting for a while and then have to get up. For me, that cut out the walks too. I’ve switched over to the elliptical for some movement–gliding seems to be more comfortable than walking!