Here was my day: I woke up with the best intentions. Today is going to be different, I thought! I am committed to taking care of myself—I am going to stay present, listen to my body, and move through the day with ease. I have planned ahead, packed nourishing meals, and even carved out time for some movement and rest.
And then—life has other plans.
Maybe this sounds familiar- Maybe the morning rush gets the best of you, and instead of sitting down for that mindful breakfast, you find yourself grabbing something quick while juggling a dozen other things. Maybe you packed a balanced lunch, only to have your meeting run late, leaving you starving and reaching for whatever is available. Or maybe you’ve been working on tuning into your hunger cues, but then stress crashes in like a tidal wave, making it impossible to tell whether you need food, rest, or just a moment to breathe.
I get it! It’s frustrating, isn’t it? You tried. You set yourself up for success. And yet, the day still unraveled in ways you couldn’t control.
This is the part where it’s easy to fall into self-criticism. To feel like you’ve “messed up” or that all your efforts were wasted. Maybe an old voice creeps in, telling you that you should’ve tried harder, been more disciplined, or just “stuck to the plan.”
But here’s the truth: Life is unpredictable. And intuitive eating—just like mindfulness—is not about rigid control. It’s about flexibility.
One of the biggest misconceptions about intuitive eating is that it’s always going to feel perfect. That if we just listen hard enough, our bodies will naturally guide us through the day in a smooth, effortless flow.
But real life isn’t always so accommodating. Some days, listening to your body means honoring a craving for something quick and convenient instead of the home-cooked meal you planned. Some days, emotional eating happens—not because you failed, but because you’re human. Some days, stress and exhaustion make it harder to be in tune with your hunger, and that’s okay.
The real work isn’t in avoiding the curveballs—it’s in how we respond to them. Do we meet ourselves with kindness and flexibility? Or do we let frustration turn into guilt and self-punishment?
Here it is- Take a breath. Pause. Offer yourself the same compassion you would a close friend. If you didn’t get to eat the way you planned today, it doesn’t mean you failed. If stress made it harder to tune in, that doesn’t erase all the progress you’ve made. If today felt messy, guess what? Tomorrow is a fresh start!
Listening to your body isn’t about perfection. It’s about trust. It’s about knowing that one meal, one choice, one stressful day doesn’t define your relationship with food—or yourself. You are still learning, still growing, still showing up for yourself in the best way you can. And that is always enough.
As a licensed Clinical Behavioral Therapist and Intuitive Eating Counselor, I’m here to help you integrate these practices into your life. If you're interested in working with me, feel free to reach out at rachel@livehealthynyc.com