Have you ever found a way of eating that just works for you? You finally found the answer and it’s easy to implement. What a relief! 

Then, a few weeks, months or years down the line and all of a sudden you’ve “fallen off track” and are really confused because you actually enjoy eating that way! Someone might say they’ve lost their motivation or willpower but chances are there is more to the story. This is what happened to a client who had been doing intuitive eating, which had been working really well for her. 

Suddenly she started eating large quantities of sugar and ordering in foods out of alignment with her goals. She tried checking in on her cues as instructed by intuitive eating, but she was giving herself permission and just didn’t seem to care (even though she did) to stick with it at the time. She was frustrated and confused because she was finally comfortable with this way of eating and it was working. 

When we first started talking, she asked for some tips and tricks of how she could stay on track. She also felt that all she needed was some accountability to keep her focused. When digging a little deeper, we ultimately ended up uncovering that feeling a sense of calm and ease is uncomfortable for her. Because of that she had to protect herself by sabotaging her efforts so she would be forced to work at it again. No amount of tips would solve that!

Initially people think accountability will help them stay on track, which can be helpful but it doesn’t always address the root of the issue. What happens when your accountability partner goes away? In the work I do with my clients, we look at slip ups and falling off track as a symptom there is something emotional happening. For this client the rules around intuitive eating didn’t change but the way she was reacting and responding to things happening in her life over the course of a few weeks did, which is why her eating habits also shifted.

At the end of the day, each person’s patterns and triggers are different so there isn’t a one-size-fits-all answer for why you lose willpower and fall off track. If you’re interested in exploring what keeps taking you off track from being able to remain consistent, let’s chat during a free 40-minute Q&A session!

About Laura:

Laura B. Folkes is a graduate of the Institute for Integrative Nutrition (IIN) and is a Certified Holistic Health Coach. She supports busy adults who know what they should be eating but have a hard time sticking to it by helping them identify the familiar patterns that have been keeping them stuck so they can experience freedom from food. She ensures her clients don’t feel deprived by guiding them to make small, incremental changes so the journey is more enjoyable.

After successfully losing 60 pounds and working through her own emotional relationship with food, Laura recognizes there are many factors keeping individuals from sticking to what they know works but it’s her mission to help others overcome these factors to become healthier and happier.

Laura can be contacted at [email protected].