07/11/2021
Posted • What’s going to happen to my weight if I practice intuitive eating?
This is BY FAR the most common question I receive about intuitive eating. And every time I post about set point, ideal weight or body diversity- a flood of questions come in.
And I get it! These were the type of questions I had when I first learned about intuitive eating and what held me back from full recovery for a long time, too. So to answer your questions about weight, let’s talk about set point theory.
Set point is a weight range, usually around 10-20 lb, that your body can comfortably maintain without dieting, controlling your intake or forcing exercise. Despite what diet culture tells you, your weight can become stable.
As you enter into intuitive eating, 3 things can usually happen: you’ll either gain weight, maintain your current weight or lose weight. These factors are based off SO many things that affect our weight, far more than just food and exercise. Genetics, socioeconomic status, access to food and food insecurity, hormones and your gut microbiome, stress levels, sleep quality and quantity, and age play a role, too.
Think of set point theory like plants: if all plants had the perfect exposure to water and sun for their optimal health, they would still have different shapes and sizes. I understand that grappling with letting go of the desire to lose weight is HARD and I hope understanding the science behind body acceptance and set point theory helps.
Set point theory is a topic we dive into deep detail inside the podcast, our online programs and with our virtual clients. Head to the LIB to learn more!
