--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I tell my retreat students that they need…" description: "\"I tell my retreat students that they need to remember two things: to eat what they want when they're hungry and to feel what they feel when they're not..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/08f/geneen-roth-3050_eating_i-tell-my-retreat-students-that-they-nee_32921.jpg" --- # I tell my retreat students that they need to remember two… ![“I tell my retreat students that they need to remember two things: to eat what they want when they're hungry and to feel what they feel when they're not.” quote by Geneen Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/08f/geneen-roth-3050_eating_i-tell-my-retreat-students-that-they-nee_32921.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/08f/geneen-roth-3050_eating_i-tell-my-retreat-students-that-they-nee_32921.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/08f/geneen-roth-3050_eating_i-tell-my-retreat-students-that-they-nee_32921.jpg) > “I tell my retreat students that they need to remember two things: to eat what they want when they're hungry and to feel what they feel when they're not.” [Geneen Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geneen-roth/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Encourages authentic self‑care: honor bodily hunger and emotional states without judgment. **In simple terms:** Listen to hunger and feelings. Key Takeaway Self‑compassion beats denial. Themes self‑care mindfulness emotional honesty body awareness personal autonomy Mood reflective empowering Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - stressful workday - therapy session - dieting plateau - relationship conflict Key Concepts intuitive eating emotional regulation Practical Applications - Coaching clients on holistic wellness - Designing self‑care workshops Questions to Reflect On - How does denying hunger or emotion affect long‑term health? - What practices help you notice these signals promptly? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Eating](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/eating/) [Feels](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feels/) [Food](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/food/) [Healthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/healthy/) [Healthy eating](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/healthy-eating/) [Hungry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hungry/) [Hungry Feel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hungry-feel-432260/) [Needs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/needs/) [Remember](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/remember/) [Remember Things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/remember-things/) [Retreat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/retreat/) [Retreat Students](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/retreat-students-432262/) [Students](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/students/) [Two](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/two/) [Two things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/two-things/) [Want](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/want/) [Want Hungry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/want-hungry-432261/) ## Related quotes > [“Pay careful attention to the bodily sensations that you recognize as hunger. When you feel yourself starting to get hungry, sit down for a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geneen-roth/pay-careful-attention-to-the-bodily-sensations-that-you-recognize-as/) [Geneen Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geneen-roth/) > [The one thing that's broken inside of me is that I've lost the signal most people have to feel hungry or feel full.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/takeru-kobayashi/the-one-thing-that-s-broken-inside-of-me-is-that-i-ve-lost-the-signal/) [Takeru Kobayashi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/takeru-kobayashi/) > [It made me hungry. I feel like I'm in a program that really helped me individually as a player. I feel like I'm with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yannick-noah/it-made-me-hungry-i-feel-like-i-m-in-a-program-that-really-helped-me/) [Yannick Noah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yannick-noah/) > [“I trace the lines of his tattoos in a way that I know distracts him. I run my hands over his smooth, warm skin.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-ward/i-trace-the-lines-of-his-tattoos-in-a-way-that-i-know-distracts-him-i/) [Natalie Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-ward/) > [It's great, it's a creative process! It's something that I've been hungry for and I feel like I'm getting fed every day! We've got…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kendra-kassebaum/it-s-great-it-s-a-creative-process-it-s-something-that-i-ve-been/) [Kendra Kassebaum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kendra-kassebaum/) > [I'd still like to see 'Survivor' minus the planned show-biz parts. That would be the purest form of show business - I want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-brooks/i-d-still-like-to-see-survivor-minus-the-planned-show-biz-parts-that/) [Albert Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-brooks/) > [“I think life is delicious, and I want to gobble it up in big bites, eating, drinking, reading, talking, traveling - everything. I want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shauna-niequist/i-think-life-is-delicious-and-i-want-to-gobble-it-up-in-big-bites/) [Shauna Niequist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shauna-niequist/) > [The fad diets that many Americans are on are perfect if you want to be hungry all the time and miserable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathan-pritikin/the-fad-diets-that-many-americans-are-on-are-perfect-if-you-want-to/) [Nathan Pritikin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathan-pritikin/) > [I have to be able to want more and still be hungry for more. And winning a championship doesn't stop that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-vanvleet/i-have-to-be-able-to-want-more-and-still-be-hungry-for-more-and/) [Fred VanVleet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-vanvleet/) > [God loves you. God doesn't want anyone to be hungry and oppressed. He just puts his big arms around everybody and hugs them up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-vincent-peale/god-loves-you-god-doesn-t-want-anyone-to-be-hungry-and-oppressed-he/) [Norman Vincent Peale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-vincent-peale/) > [We want hungry players, players who have a burning ambition to play in the Premier League and stay in the Premier League for years…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-parker/we-want-hungry-players-players-who-have-a-burning-ambition-to-play-in/) [Scott Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-parker/) > [“Want is always hungry and searching whereas contentment is steady, calm and receiving.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryant-mcgill/want-is-always-hungry-and-searching-whereas-contentment-is-steady/) [Bryant McGill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryant-mcgill/) > [It has always been the role of government to help solve problems, including and especially health crises. Obesity is a health epidemic across our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-has-always-been-the-role-of-government-to-help-solve-problems/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Freelancing and Creativity In Freelancing, doing a job in different ways is called creativity. The importance of creativity is immense among all that is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bhairab-it-zone/freelancing-and-creativity-in-freelancing-doing-a-job-in-different/) [Bhairab IT Zone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bhairab-it-zone/) > [I stay healthy through eating well, working out - simply living a healthy lifestyle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roselyn-sanchez/i-stay-healthy-through-eating-well-working-out-simply-living-a/) [Roselyn Sanchez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roselyn-sanchez/) ## More by Geneen Roth > [For some reason, we are truly convinced that if we criticize ourselves, the criticism will lead to change. If we are harsh, we believe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geneen-roth/for-some-reason-we-are-truly-convinced-that-if-we-criticize-ourselves/) [Geneen Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geneen-roth/) > [“Most of us are so enthralled with the scary tigers in our minds--our stories of loneliness, rejection, grief--that we don't realize they are in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geneen-roth/most-of-us-are-so-enthralled-with-the-scary-tigers-in-our-minds-our/) [Geneen Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geneen-roth/) > [Most of our suffering comes from resisting what is already here, particularly our feelings. All any feeling wants is to be welcomed, touched, allowed.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geneen-roth/most-of-our-suffering-comes-from-resisting-what-is-already-here/) [Geneen Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geneen-roth/) > [The relentless attempts to be thin take you further and further away from what could actually end your suffering: getting back in touch with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geneen-roth/the-relentless-attempts-to-be-thin-take-you-further-and-further-away/) [Geneen Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geneen-roth/) > [After initial needs are met—enough food, shelter, comfort—there is no correlation between money and happiness. That's a difficult thing for people to believe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geneen-roth/after-initial-needs-are-met-enough-food-shelter-comfort-there-is-no/) [Geneen Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geneen-roth/) > [“When you ignore your belly, you become homeless. You spend your life trying to erase your own existence. Apologizing for yourself. Feeling like a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geneen-roth/when-you-ignore-your-belly-you-become-homeless-you-spend-your-life/) [Geneen Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geneen-roth/) > [“People often mistake tenderheartedness for indulgence, as if being kind to themselves leads to lethargy—sitting around the house all day eating bonbons and wearing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geneen-roth/people-often-mistake-tenderheartedness-for-indulgence-as-if-being/) [Geneen Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geneen-roth/) > [If you pay attention to when you are hungry, what your body wants, what you are eating, when you've had enough, you end the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geneen-roth/if-you-pay-attention-to-when-you-are-hungry-what-your-body-wants-what/) [Geneen Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geneen-roth/) > [“Pay careful attention to the bodily sensations that you recognize as hunger. When you feel yourself starting to get hungry, sit down for a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geneen-roth/pay-careful-attention-to-the-bodily-sensations-that-you-recognize-as/) [Geneen Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geneen-roth/) > [The purpose of healing is to live while you are alive instead of dying while you are alive. Healing is about being broken and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geneen-roth/the-purpose-of-healing-is-to-live-while-you-are-alive-instead-of/) [Geneen Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geneen-roth/) > [“But replacing hunger for divine connection with Double Stuf Oreos is like giving a glass of sand to a person dying of thirst. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geneen-roth/but-replacing-hunger-for-divine-connection-with-double-stuf-oreos-is/) [Geneen Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geneen-roth/) > [I live between fearing doom and wishing for it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geneen-roth/i-live-between-fearing-doom-and-wishing-for-it/) [Geneen Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geneen-roth/) > [Imagine treating yourself with the kindness that you show people you love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geneen-roth/imagine-treating-yourself-with-the-kindness-that-you-show-people-you/) [Geneen Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geneen-roth/) > [“When you are not hungry and decide to eat, choose a food that you ate that day when you were hungry. Be aware of:…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geneen-roth/when-you-are-not-hungry-and-decide-to-eat-choose-a-food-that-you-ate/) [Geneen Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geneen-roth/) > [You can rescue yourself. No matter how you feel, no matter what you believe about your worth or your capacity to love and be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geneen-roth/you-can-rescue-yourself-no-matter-how-you-feel-no-matter-what-you/) [Geneen Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geneen-roth/) [Explore all 141 Geneen Roth quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geneen-roth/) ## More Eating quotes > [By eating many fruits and vegetables in place of fast food and junk food, people could avoid obesity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-h-murdock/by-eating-many-fruits-and-vegetables-in-place-of-fast-food-and-junk/) [David H. Murdock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-h-murdock/) > [I don't wear a watch because I want my arms to weigh the same. So if somebody asks me what time it is, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-hedberg/i-don-t-wear-a-watch-because-i-want-my-arms-to-weigh-the-same-so-if/) [Mitch Hedberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-hedberg/) > [Most people are sensitized to animals through their cats and dogs, but for me it was a flounder. I used to go fishing with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-mathews/most-people-are-sensitized-to-animals-through-their-cats-and-dogs-but/) [Dan Mathews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-mathews/) > [I have my meals delivered... you know what I like? Chicken and rice... But the problem with being a defensive lineman is, if we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-douglas/i-have-my-meals-delivered-you-know-what-i-like-chicken-and-rice-but/) [Hugh Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-douglas/) > [I do not believe in eating fish hot. People always insist on hot fish, but that leaves it dried out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geoffrey-zakarian/i-do-not-believe-in-eating-fish-hot-people-always-insist-on-hot-fish/) [Geoffrey Zakarian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geoffrey-zakarian/) > [One things guys have to remember is consistency... You can't make up for three years of eating poorly in just one workout.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/apolo-ohno/one-things-guys-have-to-remember-is-consistency-you-can-t-make-up-for/) [Apolo Ohno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/apolo-ohno/) > [My mom cares that I tweeted a picture of my breakfast. She's knows I'm eating and I'm safe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-dorsey/my-mom-cares-that-i-tweeted-a-picture-of-my-breakfast-she-s-knows-i-m/) [Jack Dorsey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-dorsey/) > [There is an idea that you can take the spiritual teachings of a religion outside of a religion and practice them; these ideas are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seyyed-hossein-nasr/there-is-an-idea-that-you-can-take-the-spiritual-teachings-of-a/) [Seyyed Hossein Nasr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seyyed-hossein-nasr/) > [I have an intense dislike of doctrines, because you will always end up eating your words.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yotam-ottolenghi/i-have-an-intense-dislike-of-doctrines-because-you-will-always-end-up/) [Yotam Ottolenghi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yotam-ottolenghi/) > [The worst thing for me is to not taste what I'm eating, to not know what I'm eating. It upsets me to no avail.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-robuchon/the-worst-thing-for-me-is-to-not-taste-what-i-m-eating-to-not-know/) [Joel Robuchon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-robuchon/) > [The heaviest I've ever been is 65 kilos. That was during my Leaving Cert when I was just studying and eating chocolate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katie-taylor/the-heaviest-i-ve-ever-been-is-65-kilos-that-was-during-my-leaving/) [Katie Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katie-taylor/) > [For fear of causing terror to living beings, Mahamati, let the Bodhisattva who is disciplining himself to attain compassion, refrain from eating flesh.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/for-fear-of-causing-terror-to-living-beings-mahamati-let-the/) [Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/) > [The good Bishop of Assisi expressed a sort of horror at the hard life which the Little Brothers lived at the Portiuncula, without comforts,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-good-bishop-of-assisi-expressed-a-sort-of-horror-at-the-hard-life/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I think the best Thanksgiving we ever had was one where we didn't even have a turkey. Mom and Dad sat us kids down…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-handey/i-think-the-best-thanksgiving-we-ever-had-was-one-where-we-didn-t/) [Jack Handey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-handey/) > [I have a great time cooking and eating Thai green chicken curry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/akshay-kumar/i-have-a-great-time-cooking-and-eating-thai-green-chicken-curry/) [Akshay Kumar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/akshay-kumar/) [Browse all 4,153 Eating quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/eating/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I tell my retreat students that they need to remember two things: to eat what they want when they're hungry and to feel what they feel when they're not.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Geneen Roth" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geneen-roth/i-tell-my-retreat-students-that-they-need-to-remember-two-things-to/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Eating" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geneen-roth/i-tell-my-retreat-students-that-they-need-to-remember-two-things-to/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/08f/geneen-roth-3050_eating_i-tell-my-retreat-students-that-they-nee_32921.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/08f/geneen-roth-3050_eating_i-tell-my-retreat-students-that-they-nee_32921.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/08f/geneen-roth-3050_eating_i-tell-my-retreat-students-that-they-nee_32921.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I tell my retreat students that they need to remember two things: to eat what they want when they're hungry…” — Geneen Roth", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Geneen Roth", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geneen-roth/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I tell my retreat students that...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geneen-roth/i-tell-my-retreat-students-that-they-need-to-remember-two-things-to/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geneen-roth/i-tell-my-retreat-students-that-they-need-to-remember-two-things-to/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```