Many of us, it seems have gone to war with our own bodies and minds by constantly putting ourselves through a never ending cycle of fad diets; dropping weight, then under stress or facing any of life’s many challenges, we “fall off the wagon” and binge, gaining back the weight and more. We may or may not be overweight or have an actual “eating disorder” but we just don’t seem to make healthy choices at times that make the difference between successful change and dismal failure and guilt.
When our expectations don’t meet our reality in life, our subconscious minds send us directly to the food. The food provides a temporary distraction from the discomforts of our lives. Food becomes a substitute for self-nurturing or self-caring behavior, a reward for a job well done, or a way to relieve stress, boredom and anxiety. Our subconscious mind attempts to meet our emotional needs.
We try to get a hold of the situation, but the harder we try, the more desperate we feel. Food becomes an overwhelming thought. One week we’re eating everything in sight, and the next week, we’re starving ourselves to lose the extra pounds we just gained. We then harshly judge the lack of control we have over food and obsess about what we will or will not eat next. We are right back to the problem with our physical body and unmet emotional needs. This yo-yo dieting destroys our self-esteem, quality of life, and takes a toll on our body.
End The Battle With Out Of Control Eating!
The first step to break out of this vicious cycle is to learn how to become our own best friend. As long as we need food as a tool to deal with emotional issues in our life, it doesn’t matter what plan or program we are on, we will eventually return to the food because we need it. Dieting has disconnected us from our natural ability to know what our body needs, fostering our unhealthy relationship with food.
Let go of the self-sabotage and negative internal dialogue. Tackle the root issues that established your relationship with food long ago by retraining your mind to accept who you are without judgment or criticism. You can move past your preoccupation with eating and weight loss and move towards a more rewarding satisfying life. You can enjoy the eating the foods you love without feeling guilty or gaining eight.
Give yourself the same love and attention that you give those you care about. Take time for yourself, listen to what your needs are and meet them. Put yourself first on your priority list. As hard as they may sound at first, if we don’t take care of ourselves, we won’t have the resources necessary to take care of all the other aspects of our lives and the overeating will continue.
There is no benefit to eating and then feeling guilty because if will only lead to further overeating. So if you choose to eat something enjoy it and let it go! Most importantly, treat yourself with love and respect to reach a place of inner peace so you can lose those painful pounds naturally and permanently. If you have any questions on how to take the steps to break out of this cycle, you can call the Hungry Heart toll free 877-HUNGRY-7 (877-486-4797) or go to our website thehungryheart.org for free tool and tips on how to get started.
