Diets teach us that we can’t be trusted to listen to our bodies. Time and time again, dieting tell us that we need to override our body’s cues.

Feeling hungry at 10AM? Too bad, because you had a snack an hour ago and aren’t allowed to have lunch for another two hours.

Still hungry after dinner? Tough luck, because you already had your allotted calories for the day and aren’t allowed to consume more. Have a cup of herbal tea to fill you up before bed.

When we’re hungry, dieting tells us that we shouldn’t be. When we really want to have a particular food because we feel like eating it, dieting tells us we can’t because it’s too unhealthy, has too many calories, or is too fatty. Dieting tells us that we cannot trust our body to make the right choices, and that we should override our body’s choices with our rational mind.

Ultimately, this causes a disconnect between the mind and body. Many people who have engaged in repeated dieting find that they’re no longer in touch with their body’s cues. They find it difficult to know not just when they’re hungry or full, but also when they’re anxious, sad, stressed, or happy.

If you’re looking to improve your relationship with your body and step away from dieting, then re-establishing the connection with your body is an important step along the way. Once we reconnect with our bodies, we can learn to trust them and give them what they need: nourishment without judgment.