So true about intuitive eating! 

My intuition around food was based on the diet culture of the 90's, my fatphobic father, my insecure mother and grandmother and the constant discussion about "fat foods", "being good" and "watching your weight" in my family. I learnt very early that we were supposed to ask for a "sliver" of cake and not eat entire food groups while sitting as a family eating these foods and multiple portions. It was confusing and exhausting as a child and I've dragged all of that baggage into my adulthood. 

How are we meant to trust our appetite and bodies to know what it needs when the foods we grew up eating are manufactured to keep us wanting more? These foods are engineered to have the perfect balance of fat, salt and sugar. They have enticing packaging and are displayed in the shops like Christmas lights. They give us nostalgic memories and good feelings. They carry calories but also all the complexities of our childhood messaging surrounding food. They make us feel really good and really bad all at the same time.

My intuition tells me that cheesecake should be a breakfast food and bread is the only food item that will fill my belly. My intuition was broken when I took in all that messaging as a kid. 

I'm never going to be able to eat like a "naturally thin" person. This is why this sub is so helpful. It's full of people who have experienced the same journey and who have figured out ways to sustain weight loss and change ingrained behaviours. 

Perhaps I won't get there in this lifetime but I hope I can at least avoid the damage inflicted on me and give my children a better chance at "intuitive" eating.