What Kind of Eater Are You?

Anytime you’re starting a transformation process, you need to take a look at where you are starting from. And that is definitely true with the process of becoming an Intuitive Eater. Because this process is not a quick transformation, you always want to be able to take stock of your progress along the way… and knowing where you started is key for that.

I’ve already mentioned that I always start clients out taking the Intuitive Eating Assessment by Tracy Tilka. (Click here to set up a free mini-session if you want access to this assessment!)

After doing that assessment, it is helpful to look at the different eating styles and see which one or ones you relate with. This process was very eye-opening for me. Frankly, I could pinpoint different styles during different diets or programs. As you read this, you might think that some of these seem extreme, but realize that you may not ALWAYS be this type of eater 100% of the time, but you may have certain tendencies during specific moments or difficulties in your life.

The Careful Eater: 

• This eater is triggered by the pursuit of fitness and health. They often are referred to as “perfect eaters”  because they make most of their eating choices based on what appears to be a pursuit of the perfect dieter. They worry and anguish or their eating choices, not wanting the make the “wrong” choice and choose something “bad.” They often don’t realize that they are dieting, saying that they are just trying to eat “healthy.”

Unconscious Eater:

• Eating is usually paired with another activity, because just eating is considered a waste of precious time. As a result, this eater is often unaware of their eating, the amount or their hunger and fullness cues.

The Chaotic Unconscious Eater:

• As a result of an over-scheduled life, this type of eater is eating quickly, in a chaotic fashion, because time is scarce and they can only eat when food is available. This eater seems to thrive on tension.

The Refuse-Not Unconscious Eater:

• This eater is triggered by the presence of food that they desire. When they are seated by an open candy jar or bowl, they struggle to resist the urge to take the food, even if they’re not hungry or desiring that food. If the food is available, they will usually eat it.

The Waste-Not Unconscious Eater:

• This type of eater hates the idea of wasting food. Their eating is often driven by the dollar amount or value that they place on the food. The whole idea of “there are children starving in Africa!” is often used by this type of eater. As a parent, we often subscribe to this type of eating with our kids and encouraging them to clean their plates.

The Emotional Unconscious Eater:

• This type of eater experiences unconscious eating when experiencing an emotion that they find uncomfortable – any emotion can trigger this.

The Professional Dieter:

• This type of eater is triggered by “Feeling fat” and they adjust their eating when these thoughts arise. They might go out and buy the newest diet book or search for new ways to lose ____lbs in 2 weeks!

The Intuitive Eater:

• This eater is driven mainly by biological hunger cues. When they are in-tune with these cues, they can eat without guilt, honoring their hunger and fullness and experiencing pleasure when eating.

Ok, be honest! Which type of eater are you? Does it change from day to day or even hour to hour? Can you see the type of eater you were in past periods of your life?

Now, that you have this information, you can start moving forward. Awareness is the first step to making changes.

Where do you want to be? What kind of eater do you want to become? Let me help you create your vision for moving forward. Click here to schedule a free vision call today!!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Brooke Spendlove

I’m a certified Intuitive Eating Counselor and NASM Certified Personal Trainer, and the owner and creator of Spendlove Coaching.

My own wellness journey led me to getting my Master’s Degree in Health and Wellness Coaching from Creighton University – Go Blujays!

I help my clients discover that they are the experts of themselves. Using the tools learned inside my program and during coaching sessions, clients learn how to shift their mindset, taking back the power they have lost to dieting and diet culture