If you're like most people, food isn't exactly just 'fuel'.
And nor should it be really - we're a pleasure seeking animal. The satisfaction and enjoyment we get from the intake of energy & nutrients is an important part of the process.
When it becomes the only part of the process, like what's now happened for a huge amount of the population, we have more of a problem.
The question is, why and how has this happened?
The relationship many people have developed with food isn't a healthy one anymore.
There may be fear (what will this do TO me), there may be resent about having something 'taken away' you enjoy, or even confusion over how to make healthier choices.
There may be a feeling of powerlessness - a complete loss of control over what we 'know' vs what we 'do'.
Broken promises. A loss of integrity with self. Sabotage. All or nothing behaviours. Closet eating. Binge eating. Excessive exercising in a failed attempt to try and 'burn off' or 'fix' what you just ate.
It doesn't take a genius to figure out that none of those things represent a healthy relationship with food, or food simply being the deliverer of the nutrients and energy we need to thrive (fuel).
It's helpful to look at the reasons behind why we eat in the first place.
Seems obvious, but physiological hunger is one reason.
Actually feeling hungry in your belly. Actually needing to intake a selection of macronutrients and micronutrients to meet the needs of our amazing human body.
That's a strangely small percentage of the reasons to eat for many people. AND it's heavily nuanced. Our appetite regulating hormones that enable us to feel hungry or full are often completely skewed anyway due to the type of foods predominantly being eaten (think heavily processed refined foods, and/or a major carbohydrate dominance).
Even something simple like sleep deprivation can lead to deregulation of the appetite hormones!
Emotional hunger is another thing all together.
Using food to distract from or 'numb' another feeling is surprisingly common. Boredom, stress, procrastination, anger, sadness, fear, anxiety, disappointment, guilt, vulnerability, uncertainty, loneliness, the list goes on - all lead to a decision to munch.
Even though food & indulgence is also heavily tied to celebration & reward ("I deserve this" mentality), its rare that we feel so much joy that it becomes unbearable and we don't want to feel it/think about it anymore - to the point we have to shove it into submission with food!
That's the basis of emotional eating on any level. Pushing down feelings with food. SOMETHING you're thinking/feeling makes you feel uncomfortable.
You don't like the feeling. So you eat. Because it’s 'something' other than what you were feeling before.
Sounds like a feasible solution...except it doesn't usually solve the problem, or make it go away, it simply distracts us from it temporarily. And brings a new problem. Cos it's not usually protein & veggies!
The trickiest thing about these patterns is that they are generally unconscious at first. Most people won't even realise this is what's going on. In fact, some of you may even be reading this having a light bulb moment RIGHT NOW.
Lack of willpower is another thing commonly blamed for this continual input of stimulus (food). The psychology of willpower is a fascinating one - it goes deep!
But when related to FOOD and having developed an unhealthy relationship with it, it's also way more physiological than you think.
You simply cannot out-willpower your physiology.
If your metabolic health is such that your body is reliant on fast fuel (carbohydrates of any kind by the boat load, but particularly the processed/refined kind), you're unfortunately going to struggle developing a balanced and effortless relationship with food.
Shifting the balance of protein & carbohydrates (increasing protein and reducing carbs), and reducing the emphasis on refined & processed foods in general can allow you to regain control over your hunger, cravings, satiety, energy, clarity of thought, and so much more!
This is the 'smarter, not harder' approach to building a better relationship with food.
When food doesn't rule your every waking thought (driven by your BODY more than your BRAIN), you'll be much less likely to eat for emotional reasons - even in a state that you usually would have!
Personal experience is king here - most won't believe it til they experience it.
I didn't. But I can assure you it's true.
The relationship we have with food deserves to be a healthy one.
We don't deserve it to be a crutch, an obsession, a stress soother, a way to numb out, or a pain pacifier. And we definitely don't deserve it to be contributing to poor overall health and longevity either!
The great news: the power is in our hands.
An unhealthy relationship with food is completely reversible. Yep. Even yours.
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