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'The best thing we can do for people who want to lose weight is keep them from
dieting,' says Barbara Birsinger, whose Intuitive Eating techniques claim to help you rip up your diet sheets forever, and still lose weight.
Does it sound like an impossible dream? Learn to express your emotions, rather than eating to suppress them, claims Birsinger, and it could become a reality.
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'The first step is to learn to recognise what, when and how much to eat for your own
particular needs. Babies are born with this inner knowledge, but adults often lose
it,' says Birsinger, who teaches a method called 'internal portion control'.
'When you realise that you are hungry, try to work out exactly what you want to eat or drink.
Close your eyes, and ask yourself, 'If I could have anything I liked now, what
would it be?' Imagine the food in the amount you want to eat, as if you had already eaten it.
How would that food, in that amount, FEEL in your body? Just right? Too much? Not enough? The aim
is to have the food and amount that feel perfect for your body: not too full, but feeling
energised and nourished.'
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The other aspect of relearning your relationship with food lies in addressing
the psychological aspects of eating. Psychotherapist Susie Orbach pioneered a
method similar to Birsinger's in her classic book Fat
is a Feminist Issue. 'Food becomes a problem when people use it to try and fulfil
other emotional, psychological or spiritual needs,' explains Orbach. In some cases
this can lead to eating disorders (see Find out more for organisations that can provide help and advice
if worries about food are getting you down or causing you problems).
Often, though, people are able to break the cycle and develop a much happier relationship
with food, says Orbach. 'Try to understand and address any underlying problems that
are making you turn to food for comfort, pleasure or reassurance, and think about what
would truly nourish the needs you have.'
It takes time and practice to develop a new relationship with food, but the payoff
is well worth the effort. 'Many people report great success with this
approach,' says Barbara Birsinger. 'They eat what they want without deprivation,
attain and maintain their natural weight, and find joy and acceptance in their body.'
Birsinger and Orbach offer just two alternative approaches to dieting.
For further reading and weblinks on intuitive eating go to Help and info.
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