When it comes to finding what works for you in regards to eating, let me just say that experimenting is the name of the game.  Now, you might be one of those people who nails it on the first try, but if you’re like me, it would be more like the 134th try.

I won’t say I’ve tried everything, because who could possibly do that?  But I have tried a lot of different things.  I’ve done high protein and no carbs, but that was too restrictive for me.  And I’ve tried to just listen to my hunger cues and eat only at those times I was truly hungry, but that didn’t fit either.  It was too loose.

The thing that has proven to work best for me is having some boundaries as to how much I can eat (a no-brainer in any weight-loss approach, right?), but freedom in what I eat.  Using this as my parameters, Weight Watchers has been the best fit for me.

Some of you may be asking, “Isn’t Weight Watchers a diet?  I thought you kissed dieting good-bye?”

Although Weight Watchers is often lumped into the diet category, I don’t consider it a diet because it doesn’t dictate to me what to eat.  Weight Watchers gives me an allotment of “points” per day, but they don’t tell me what I can and can not eat.  In fact nothing is off limits – food wise – in Weight Watchers.  They do give recommendations as to how many carbs, proteins, fruits & veggies, etc. you eat each day, along with a few other recommendations, but that’s it.

So, the majority of the time I am staying within my points.  But there are times when I deviate and go over my “points” on purpose such as on holidays and special occasions, but as soon as these are over I get right back on track.  I know I probably made that sound easy, but it really is a skill – the skill of resetting– that I have been working on for nearly three years and am just now getting good at it.

Awareness of how much (or should I say, how little) food my body really does need to function optimally was one of the first steps I had to take on the path of Peace with Food. Knowing myself in this area was shocking at first because turns out I was eating about 2 to 3 times more food than what I actually needed.  But, then, and only then, could I begin to improve myself in this area.

If you are new to healthy eating and living at Peace with Food you will want to have this reality check.  Find out how much food your body really needs.  Many health and wellness websites can tell you the amount of calories* you actually need each day.

But I will warn you (with a twinkle in my eye!) be prepared to be shocked!  The truth hurts, but it ultimately will set you free.  You may find out that you are eating much more than your body needs resulting in that extra weight.  Our society, in general, consumes way more food than our bodies actually need – hence the obesity epidemic.

After the shock wears off, however, you can begin experimenting with eating approaches to find the one that works for you.  And that’s when you really begin to experience peace.

There you have it!  That’s how I eat.  Now it’s your turn.  What works the best for you?

Posse Discussion:

What would give you a greater level #peace:

A) A pre-established eating strategy, such as Weight Watchers
B) Tweaking a pre-established eating strategy, such as Weight Watchers
C) Creating an eating strategy all on your own

Click Here for Day #10!

*Many weight-loss approaches don’t focus on calories at all, but rather serving sizes along with the type of food you eat.  Initially it may be helpful to count up the calories you typically consume and compare it with the recommended amount of calories recommended for a person of your age, sex, and height.  This will give you an idea of how much you are eating compared to what your body really needs.