Rethinking How I Eat

Over the last six months, as I’ve been learning more about the non-diet space, I’ve found myself looking back at the different ways I’ve approached eating over the years. Not with criticism, just curiosity.

I’ve worked with structured nutrition plans for a long time. They’re clear and organized, and for many people, they take the guesswork out of meals. For many, that structure feels grounding and supportive. I understand that, because it felt that way for me, too.

But as I kept learning and reflecting on my own history, I began to notice something I hadn’t really paid attention to before.

When I was bodybuilding, I ate six times a day because the plan said so. Hunger wasn’t part of the equation. Timing was. It wasn’t good or bad; it was simply the norm for that world. It served its purpose at the time.

Later, with other structured programs, the approach was different, but the experience was similar:

Eat every 5 hours.
Avoid snacking.
Stop eating after a certain time.
Follow the list.

Again, not better or worse, just another version of structure.

What I didn’t realize then (and what I see more clearly now) is that these approaches, while helpful in their own way, can sometimes shift your focus outward, toward rules, charts, and timing, instead of inward toward what your body is communicating.

Not always.
And not for everyone.

Some people can follow structure and remain fully attuned to their hunger and fullness cues. Others, myself included, can find those cues getting a little quieter over time.

Not intentionally.
Just gradually.

You eat because the plan says it’s time.
You skip a snack because it “isn’t part of the schedule.”
Your decisions begin to come from instructions rather than sensations.

And this isn’t about criticizing structure. There are situations where structured nutrition is essential and incredibly helpful. And many people genuinely feel steadier with clear guidance.

What I’m talking about is something different, the everyday eating patterns many of us fall into when we’re doing our best to stay organized with food.

The more I learned about the non-diet approach, the more I realized my interest was shifting toward reconnecting with internal cues rather than relying on external rules.

Not because rules have no place.
Not because choosing structure is a problem.
But because I noticed in my own experience how easily cues can fade into the background when a plan becomes the primary voice you follow.

And tuning back into those cues, hunger, fullness, satisfaction, preference, has become something I value more than sticking to any schedule or list.

That’s really what this shift is about.

I’m working on something new that reflects this direction.
Not a plan.
Not a set of rules.
Not another system to follow.

It’s a short, supportive way to help you tune back into your own cues and make eating feel simpler and steadier, especially if structure hasn’t felt like the right fit lately.

I’ll share more soon.
For now, this is just an honest look at how my perspective has been evolving.

More to come.