GUESS WHAT??!! IT’S NOT ALL ABOUT WILLPOWER?

We have the best intentions; we can plan a head, and still find ourselves in a food tantrum.
“I have no willpower.”
 “I’m weak.”
 “I’ll start over on Monday.”

How many times have we said these things to ourselves?
We find ourselves eating out of control, and there are a few reasons, and it’s not as simple as not having any willpower.
We’re starving….for nutrition.

It could be as simple as we are just hungry.
Not hungry for calories, hungry for nutrients. Our body does not crave calories- it craves nutrient-dense foods. That’s why it’s so easy to overdo it when eating things that are fat-free, low-calorie, full of empty calories, and processed. If we aren’t eating balanced meals with the right amount of fat, protein, and carbs, our body goes into survival mode.

Processed foods confuse our bodies. Our brains correlate flavor with the nutrients we should be receiving when we eat a certain food.
When you eat foods with phony flavors, the body thinks it is getting the nutrition from the food associated with the flavor. So when no nutrition comes in, the body calls out for more food. And more, and more.

Think about it. How much more likely are you to overeat Doritos that have tomato flavoring than actual tomatoes? That’s because tomatoes are delivering actual nutrients where Doritos are delivering ….?

It’s also completely possible to overdo it with healthy foods too. Eating too much is eating too much. No matter what it is.
Personal story. I used to binge on cauliflower.
Before you roll your eyes and think, “Whatever, Heather… it’s friggin’ cauliflower. Who cares?” you need to understand that if food is controlling you. You are eating in a way that makes you feel defeated and out of control, there is a problem, and there is a reason…

It affected me emotionally and physically because after inhaling several heads of cauliflower, I was left feeling bloated, miserable but still CRAVING more.
I told a friend, and she just said: “Heather, maybe you are just hungry.”
Hungry? I had just eaten 5 lbs of cauliflower!
But she was right. 

You see, this was a time in my life when I neglected to listen to what MY body needed and was eating a raw, vegetarian diet pretty much void of protein and fat. I WAS hungry…for more nutrition, and I was tired and sick of being out of control.

I wish I could say I started listening to my body right after that …but I didn’t. My binges eventually moved on to things a lot less healthy than cauliflower, but I eventually started tuning in. And when I did, a miracle happened… the feeling to eat and eat and eat went away.
I had just put some damn butter on that cauliflower! But ya know…live and learn.

Basically, it’s amazing how much your cravings and your portions will decrease when you eat in a way that completely nourishes YOU.
Chemical reactions are causing feel-good sensations.
Food also triggers chemical reactions, and different foods will bring on different sensations.

Sugar stimulates the release of dopamine in our brain, which brings on feelings of pleasure. There’s a reason we down a tub of German Chocolate or bag of chips ahoys when we have a bad day.
Of course, the body is going to call out for more and more of these!
There are certain foods that we find ourselves overeating more than others.

Casomorphins in dairy have a calming effect. (Milk AND cookies, anyone) See that “morphins” in there. Look familiar? Yep, they calm the body just like morphine does.
We are trying to bury emotions that we don’t know how to deal with
Our emotions play a huge role in overeating too. Modern society’s GO-GO-GO mentality leaves little time for mindfulness and emotion processing. 

When emotions come up that we don’t know how to handle, it’s effortless to bury them with food. Anxiety, sadness, loneliness, feelings of nostalgia…these are all uncomfortable for many people.
But many people bury feelings of happiness too. They reach a weight loss or health goal and suddenly find themselves knee-deep in chips.  
Recognizing that this is happening and starting to recognize your emotional triggers is a great first step in getting emotional eating under control.

By slowing down and really focusing on WHY you have cravings, desires to binge eat or eat when you are not physically hungry, you will develop the capacity to stop the downward spiral of eating before it starts.

I highly recommend keeping a food journal and noting how you feel emotionally and physically before and after eating. There is power in writing things down, and keeping a daily journal allows you to look for patterns in your eating habits.

Every moment is a chance to start tuning in to what your body really needs; to start cutting out the processed foods with fake flavors (these include most “natural flavors” too); to feed your body nutrient-dense, REAL food; and to recognize your triggers. You may not see the huge shifts overnight, but small shifts are happening with each effort and will lead to great things- no willpower necessary. 
***There is empowerment and opportunity for long-lasting change in your health and eating habits when you understand what is truly happening in your body. Join me for a 5-week RESTART class where we learn all about digestion, blood sugar handling, how to eat the right way for YOUR body, and how to eat with mindfulness, all while going thru a 3-week detox together. 
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