Who We Are And What We Believe
Happy Friday!
As a practice we are passionate about helping people achieve their healthiest and happiest selves, and we rely on our rooted philosophies of Intuitive Eating and Health at Every Size in order to do so.
I am sure you have probably heard me mention Intuitive Eating (IE) and Health at Every Size (HAES) at some point, but I want to intentionally take the time to explain to you what those approaches actually are and how they make us the practice we’ve become.
Intuitive Eating: Intuitive Eating was created by two dietitians, Evelyn Tribole and Elyse Resch in 1995. Intuitive Eating involves the union of recognizing emotion and instinct, and the utilization of rational thought to create a framework for self-care eating. Intuitive Eating is a weight-inclusive, evidence-based model. Intuitive Eating requires practice, and aligns with the beliefs of Health at Every Size, because it does not encourage intentional weight loss, rather helps connect the mind and body when it comes to food. Our goal as a practice is to teach our clients how to trust their bodies, and to make choices around food that feel good for their bodies, without judgment and without influence from diet culture. Intuitive Eating includes 10 Main steps:
Reject the Diet Mentality
Honor Your Hunger
Make Peace with Food
Challenge the Food Police
Respect Your Fullness
Discover the Satisfaction Factor
Honor Your Feelings without Using Food
Respect Your Body
Exercise—Feel the Difference
Honor Your Health with Gentle Nutrition
All this information, quotes, and MORE can be found at NEDA or IE Pros
Health At Every Size: HAES is an approach that acknowledges that there are many different factors that contribute to one’s overall health, and that the use of weight, size, or BMI as sole proxies for health is inaccurate. The holistic heart of HAES recognizes the diversity of body shapes and sizes, promotes individualized eating for satiety, hunger, and nutritional needs, understands biases and works to address inequalities so that anyone can receive the best resources and information available.
The Association for Size Diversity and Health defines it best as, “The Health At Every Size (HAES®) approach is a continuously evolving alternative to the weight-centered approach to treating clients and patients of all sizes. It is also a movement working to promote size-acceptance, to end weight discrimination, and to lesson the cultural obsession with weight loss and thinness. The HAES approach promotes balanced eating, life-enhancing physical activity, and respect for the diversity of body shapes and sizes”.
More information on Health at Every Size can be found HERE
I hope this deep dive into our practice’s two main pillars enlightens you on our intentions as a practice. I encourage you to check out those amazing resources if you want to learn more, otherwise feel free to like and comment below on the blog!