Intuition is EVERYTHING

I preach a few very important things quite often. For starters, I believe balance is everything. I truly think intuitive eating is what changes the lives of those struggling for the ultimate best. With intuition comes trust.

Trusting yourself, your hunger signals, and both your body and mind’s needs, is absolutely everything! It almost becomes a simple equation (yet totally complicated at the same time- trust me, I've been there, I know it isn't always easy) when you decide to let go of all of your food fears once and for all! But before I continue, you might be sitting here wondering why these things are so important and why I emphasize them so frequently throughout my Instagram.

I want to make it extremely clear that my relationship with food hasn't always been this positive, or easy for that matter! It's something I've totally struggled with, been frustrated over, and just confused about. I've tried those low carb low fat diets, I've been vegan, and definitely been guilty of over-exercising. But from it all, I have learned SO much. That is why I have used it to bring me HERE, with you guys! With time, dedication, and knowledge, I have truly learned to love and enjoy my foods while developing a real passion when it comes to educating both myself and others about the power of whole foods.

Colbs, elaborate on this "Whole foods".. Are you talkin' bout the grocery store?

Whole foods are simply foods that aren't lyin' to ya. They are foods that are as closest to their natural form as earth created them. That means no additives, no artificial flavorin', NADA! In simplicity, whole foods have living purely written all over them.

Food is a weapon. What we choose to put into our bodies can be either the biggest prevention of disease or greatest contributor. It could shorten our lives by years, or it could simply be the path to pure and holistic health.

Now, what do I really mean when I say intuition in regards to eating? For starters, intuition encompasses A LOT and takes time. There was a point in my life where I thought the answer to health and weight loss was eating 100% clean 100% of the time. Ha! Crazy, right? I don't really know exactly what made me think this way, but I do know that a lot of different sources contributed to the fact. Fast forward to the present; WHY I am here writing this.

They say knowledge is power.

This is true with everything but I've found it to be the most powerful when it comes to food knowledge. Intuitive eating comes down to knowledge. Knowing the ingredients of the foods you are eating, the direct impact they have on your body's internal system, and how you feel after consumption, are the basics. Once you have the knowledge, you have the tool to lead you to your greatest and healthiest self.

Isn't it weird to think that sweet and sugary foods, the foods that leave us feeling the most lethargic and guilty after consumption, are our go-to's in times of sadness? Food has become associated with moods, becoming one of the largest problems in today's world. Imagine if every time you were sad, stressed, or bored, you grabbed a Kombucha drink instead of an artificially flavored chocolate treat of any kind! For those who don't know what Kombucha is, it is a GUT AND NUTRIENT POWERHOUSE (meaning it's just incredibly good for your gut). In short, Kombucha is a fermented type of tea. I personally don't love the fizzy taste of it, but its health benefits are incredible (Currently writing a whole blog post for Kombucha, stay tuned!).

Kombucha aside, I say this scenario hoping you realize this would not be the end all answer, either. We wouldn't reach for a kombucha everytime we were stressed, even knowing the endless benefits it has on our gut health, because the two are simply not related.

I don't know about you, but I was born anxious. From the time I entered this earth to present day, anxiety has been something I've faced on a day to day basis. I'm that girl who gets stressed out about anything ranging from where to go to dinner, to what time I'm going to workout in the day. Anything- you name it.

Back to my Kombucha analogy... What if everytime I was stressed out about something, I drank a kombucha... Besides that being a ridiculous amount of kombucha, I'd probably turn into one! Okay jokes aside, but you get what I'm saying. Now, flip it around to what people are actually doing these days... EATING. Eating a LOT! Eating a lot of things their bodies don't want in times of stress or sadness. My Comfort Eating post is currently in the works- don't worry, I got the facts!

Listening to our bodies is vital in sustainable transformation. I mean that.

Next time you find yourself stressed and want to "fix" it with a treat, I hope this sparks a little #foodforthought. Now, that isn't to say you shouldn't treat yourself. Because if you know me, you know I am a HUGE proponent for treating yourself.

I like to follow the 80/20 rule. 80% of the time I focus on healthy eating, exercise, and balance. 20% of the time I get to do whatever I want! My version of 80/20 looks entirely different from day to day though, just as yours should. That's because I trust my body. I trust that it is telling me what it wants, when it wants it. Some days it doesn't want dessert, others it most definitely does.

It's all about trust.