What kind of eater are you?

What kind of eater are you?

  • Total voters
    1,384
Very interesting. I actually am a Intuitive Eater. I can't eat if I'm not hungry- but I do eat as clean as I can when I eat. whats interesting is my DH is an emotional eater- I have a hard time understanding his eating habits and he doesn't get mine:) Its a good thing he's cute!!
Deanie:)
 
I am an Intuitive Eater. The problem is I don't normally eat until I am hungry and if I did not have food readily available when I am hungry, I tend to grab the forbidden foods. So I need to be little more Careful Eater, I guess.;(
 
I used to be an unconscious eater, but now am more careful/intuitive.

If I eat something bad (like those two fried cheese sticks I had a month ago) I freak out and look up their fat/calorie count and then punish myself all day.

But, I usually won't allow myself to eat anything unclean now. What I do eat throughout the day depends on what I feel like I want (is it TLC crackers or grapes? is it yogurt with berries or a small PB sandwich?)

-Becky
 
I'm definitely in the "careful" category. I let myself go sometimes, but it seems that even my "letting go" is pretty thought out and low-fat or whole grain. LOL. My DH thinks I'm very "controlled".

It seems like there's a category left out. Aren't there emotional eaters who pay attention to what they're eating and therefore are not unconscious? I used to be like that when I was young. I would binge during an emotional time, and then spend days trying to make up for it by starving myself, and then binge again. It definitly wasn't unconscious, and no one thought I was health-conscious.

-Nancy
 
I'm definitely a careful eater with refuse-not unconscious eater tendencies. If there's food sitting out, I will eat it, then I'll agonize over how horrible a choice it was :) I, too, would love to just enjoy eating. Sigh.
 
I'm an intuitive eater. Like Melody, I'm often hungry and, for the most part, eat healthy foods when I am (several times a day). But I really enjoy food and allow myself less healthy food mixed in with the good stuff daily.

Thanks for posting this interesting poll, Dani!:)
 
Definitely an unconscious chaotic eater. I fit eating in around all that I do. I don't plan meals really, eating what is available, supplementing with protein bars to cancel out deficiencies. Food doesn't really interest me much, I have to stay alive though. I try to keep basics on hand like salad, salmon, lentil stew, loads of fruit, some chocolate! So that even when on the run, there's something healthy available.
 
>I'm an intuitive eater. Like Melody, I'm often hungry and,
>for the most part, eat healthy foods when I am (several times
>a day). But I really enjoy food and allow myself less healthy
>food mixed in with the good stuff daily.
>
>Thanks for posting this interesting poll, Dani!:)


You are welcome Soooooosan! :)
 
I would have to categorize myself as an Unconscious Eater. I have been every type of Unconscious Eater at different periods in my life. The only types that have NEVER applied to me are the Waste-Not Unconscious Eater and the Professional Dieter.
 
Intuitive. I eat very healthy most of the time, sometimes not, nothing is off limits. Years of obsessive food habits have led me to at last say live and let live. And I must say girlfriend looks pretty good.

Bring on the buttered corn on the cob!
 
>Intuitive. I eat very healthy most of the time, sometimes
>not, nothing is off limits. Years of obsessive food habits
>have led me to at last say live and let live. And I must say
>girlfriend looks pretty good.
>
>Bring on the buttered corn on the cob!


AWESOME!!!
 
I voted for Unconscious eater because I tend to snack when I'm working on something boring (like bills!). I definitely fall into the Refuse-not category. I physically have to remove myself from the food or I'll eat it all. I also am an emotional eater - when I'm bored or lonely or angry. I try to be an intuitive eater but darn it all, I just love the bad stuff too much and tend to over do it.


"Age is a question of mind over matter. If you don't mind, it doesn't matter." Satchel Paige
 
I've been an intuitive eater since January of this year. I'll have to thank the book The 3 Hour Diet for that. That book taught me how to eat, what to eat and when and most of all to never feel guilty about what I eat as long as I know how many calories I'm adding to my body. The only thing I modify is the amount of calories I eat daily. The author's recommendations are too low for my activity level. I'll never go back to my old way of eating. That book changed my life. :)
 
>I've been an intuitive eater since January of this year.
>I'll have to thank the book The 3 Hour Diet for that. That
>book taught me how to eat, what to eat and when and most of
>all to never feel guilty about what I eat as long as I know
>how many calories I'm adding to my body. The only thing I
>modify is the amount of calories I eat daily. The author's
>recommendations are too low for my activity level. I'll never
>go back to my old way of eating. That book changed my life.
>:)

That's great! This book about intuitive eating doesn't want you counting calories either though. Just eating when you are hungry (whatever tastes good) and stopping when you are full. The motto is, "If you don't love it, don't eat it." No counting calories! Also, eating what makes you feel good and satisfied. That's intuitive eating. :D The key is not counting calories, just stopping when you are full, not stuffed and eating only when hungry, but always listening to those hunger signs. Never ignore them. This book talks about throwing away the "DIET" mentality forever. No counting calories. That's a diet. :)
 
I'm also surprised there are only 3 professional dieters. No one else has tried Weight Watchers, South Beach, Slim Fast????? There has to be more. Just curious!!

:D
 
Dani-
I just wanted to mention that the book sounds really interesting, and wanted to thank you for sharing. :D

I mentioned earlier that I thought there should be another category, but apparently I was wrong, because everyone seems to think they fit into at least one of the categories.

Also, it's great to "see" you again! :D :D
-Nancy
 
>Dani-
>I just wanted to mention that the book sounds really
>interesting, and wanted to thank you for sharing. :D
>
>I mentioned earlier that I thought there should be another
>category, but apparently I was wrong, because everyone seems
>to think they fit into at least one of the categories.
>
>Also, it's great to "see" you again! :D :D
>-Nancy

Nancy!! Thank you!!! That was really sweet!!!! It's nice to be back!!!!!
 
Eating and Exercising Intuitively

Dani:

I have been eating intuitively since the 4th of July this year, so that is how I voted. I was put on my first diet when I was 9 years old. I tried to be a professional dieter, but I got fired! I have a big rebellious streak. My heart longs to live in freedom apart from legalistic rules, boundaries, and external control. Keeping food logs and counting calories or points drives me nuts. I am a romantic. I want to live and love life and savor ever moment. I do not thrive on programs or anything that is too structured. I do better with a style of eating that is not focused on numbers (like vegetarian for example), but I rebel against that too sooner or later.

I have been an emotional eater. I have been a binge eater. I have been a purger. I have been a crash dieter. I started my fitness journey 3 years ago this month, and I have been more of a careful eater in recent years. Actually, I cycled between careful eating and rebelling against it. I ate more intuitively in the beginning and dropped 80 pounds in 9 months. I was not focusing on my weight. My desire was to be free from binge eating. Intuitive eating is the best way I know to break the destructive cycle of binge eating. It worked for me! As soon as I was walking in victory over binge eating, I decided to tackle the rest of my weight. Big mistake. My weight bounced up and down for 2 years between a size 14 and a size 18. I forced myself to plan menus with perfect ratios for weeks at a time, but that never felt like a lifestyle to me. I do not want to keep food logs, weigh and measure food, or count anything for the rest of my life.

I joined this forum in March, added a rest day and stopped overtraining (with Cathe’s encouragement), and was more relaxed with my eating style. I dropped a size in 2 weeks. When a 12-week challenge started here, I joined. I slipped back into the pattern of being too careful with my eating. I made the mistake of trying to eat perfectly clean again. Working out started to feel like a chore. I went through a season of depression in June and did not want to exercise at all. Even my beloved Cathe workouts did not appeal to me. I was wearing a size 14 on Easter when I started the 12-week challenge. I challenged my way up to a size 18 again by the 4th of July.

I gave up my control on the 4th of July in a good way. I packed up my scale and started walking by faith. I legalized all foods and started eating intuitively again. I decided this past Saturday to exercise the same way. Instead of planning formal rotations, I am waking up and picking a workout that sounds like fun and feels like a good match for my energy level. I am having a blast. I am at peace with food and my body. I am loving and looking forward to my workouts again. Ironically, my eating is cleaner than it was when I was trying so hard to eat clean. When I listen to my body, I choose whole foods most of the time because that is what I crave. When I want a treat, I enjoy it without guilt. Then I go right back to eating in a way that blesses my body. Knowing that I am free to eat what I really want sets me free to not eat all of it today. Having a “free” day once a week was a good start to breaking the all-or-nothing cycle, but I found myself eating treats every week just because it was my free day. Now I just eat those foods when I really want them. Everything is much more satisfying this way, and I am discovering that sweets and treats are just occasional. Eating intuitively for me is eating foods that bless my whole body and make me feel good, not just eating things that taste good. I am eating when I am hungry until I am satisfied instead of measuring portions.

I do not know what effect this will have on my body, but it is already working wonders for my mental health. I am joyful and at peace right now. Instead of spending so much time planning perfect menus and rotations, I am spending more time with my friends and enjoying each day to the fullest now instead of putting my life on hold until I reach my goal. My ultimate goal is a size 8, and I believe my body will get there naturally. It may not happen in my timing, but it will happen. I have been thin in the past as a result of eating disorders and other obsessions. Losing weight is not worth it if you lose your mind in the process. Fitness is about freedom, not a size. I want to be fit and free!

Best wishes for your journey.

Blessings,
Heather B.

“So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God” (1 Corinthians 10:31 NIV).
 
RE: Eating and Exercising Intuitively

Heather,

THANK YOU! Thanks so much for sharing that story. That is what I'm talking about!! That's where I want to be! I don't want to feel guilty after each meal. I don't want to be scared everytime there's food in front of me. I feel so much anxiety every time it's time to eat. I'm so tired of that!

Thanks again!!
Dani
 
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