Here's why you keep obsessing about food

Here's why you keep obsessing about food.

Do you feel like you’re constantly preoccupied with food?

Continually thinking about it. Wishing it was time for your next meal. Yearning for it. Planning it. But also, worrying about it. (“Am I eating the right things? Too much? Too little? Am I messing this up? Am I going to gain weight?!”)

During yoga class, are dinner plans swirling through your mind?

During a vacation, is ninety percent of your itinerary based around “where we’re going to eat”?

If you made a list of your top ten favorite, most pleasurable experiences, would most of them be food-related?

If you’re frequently obsessing about food, there’s a reason why this is happening. Most likely, it’s happening because you’ve been dieting, restricting, or depriving yourself in some way or another.

Maybe you’ve been restricting calories and eating too little—which means you’re physically hungry. When your body needs more food, it will do everything and anything to make you eat. You’ll think about food, dream about it, and obsess about it, along with having strong physical cues. Your body basically starts chanting, “Food! Food! Food!” relentlessly, trying to get your attention. Your body will shut down important processes—like reproduction—to save vital energy to keep your heart, lungs and brain functioning. Your nails and hair and skin will likely suffer, too.

Or maybe you’re not physically hungry, but you’re emotionally hungry. That can lead to obsessive food thoughts, too!

So how can we stop feeling so obsessed and preoccupied with food?

The answer is different for every woman.

For you, the answer may be…

* Eat more.

Stop starving yourself and give your body the nutrients that it needs.

* Eat differently.

Stop tracking calorie and carbs. Release the intense, rigid food rules.

* Think differently.

Work on interrupting negative thoughts about your body and food when they arise in your mind—just like erasing a text message on your phone—and replace those thoughts with neutral thoughts and eventually, positive thoughts.  

Notice if you tell yourself you “shouldn’t” eat something—because whenever you start talking to yourself in “shoulds,” you know that’s diet mentality talking and not your true authentic self. Instead, try to talk to yourself gently and kindly: “Sure, I can eat ____ right now. It’s not off-limits. Nothing is off-limits. I can have whatever I want. But do I really want ____ right now? Is ____ going to feel good now—and later?”

* Expand and enrich your life.

Find sources of pleasure, entertainment, connection, and joy that aren’t food-related so you’re no longer relying on food to meet 100% of your emotional needs.

* Maybe all of the above. Plus other changes, too.

You can make all of those changes alone, by yourself—but you don’t have to.

You can do it with the support of a coach and a community by your side.

If you would love to stop feeling obsessed, agitated, or preoccupied about food and your body, stay tuned for my 12 week stop dieting, start living course coming soon. No more constant food-chatter in your head! More ease, peace, and a beautiful sense of relief. I’d love to help you get there. It’s going to feel so good.

xoxo,