A trifecta of intuitive NSVs
So I'm not abandoning calorie awareness (more like guesstimating than counting at the moment), but I'm trying to do a hybrid thing with intuitive eating because all my sustainable changes have been natural rather than forced. Here's how that went this weekend...
NSV 1: Enjoyed my froyo
I was in a play and celebrated the last show on Saturday with froyo. I had a talk with myself beforehand that I was allowed to get and enjoy whatever I wanted but I had to check first that I actually did want it. For me a big part of the appeal of froyo is the ability to mix and match a little of everything, but I was curious if I actually wanted everything or was just afraid of missing out and "wasting" the "splurge." This time I told myself I could always come back another day and get other flavors and toppings. Listened to my body and got exactly what I wanted, which turned out to be a non-dairy cherry Dole whip flavor with toasted coconut flakes, strawberries, peanut butter cups, and two gummy worms. Then I ate it slowly while focusing on enjoying every bite instead of dreading it being gone. And when I was done, I didn't wish I had more. It was the single most mindful dessert I've ever eaten and afterward I felt so satisfied that I actually teared up. All for probably 350 calories that fit within my daily goal.
NSV 2: Didn't want ice cream
My family decided to go out for ice cream for Mother's Day. My immediate gut reaction was "I don't want that because I just had froyo" instead of "I can't have that because I just had froyo." Double checked the flavor of the day and didn't care for it. Past me would be happy for any socially acceptable reason to eat ice cream, would have gotten a sundae and probably mildly enjoyed it. Instead I thought about what I actually needed/wanted, which was dinner, because I had snacks throughout the day but no meals. So I got a grilled chicken sandwich and genuinely didn't wish I was having ice cream like the rest of my family.
NSV 3: Felt neutral at the grocery store
After ice cream my sister was going grocery shopping and I tagged along because I needed toothpaste and my weekly box of Zevia (sugar free soda). I tend to feel a little bit deprived if I don't leave the grocery store with something "special" but literally everything I saw felt like "meh, I can always get that later, there's food at home." I left with 1) the toothpaste 2) the Zevia 3) two bananas for breakfast 4) some grape tomatoes for tomorrow's snack 5) nothing else. And I literally didn't care because I was full from the chicken sandwich. Normally I would have eaten one of the bananas the second I left the store but I asked myself if I wanted it and it turned out I did not. So now I have bananas for tomorrow and the next day!