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123. If you can't stop thinking about food - is this why?

123. If you can't stop thinking about food - is this why?

FromThe Food Freedom Lab™ with Ryann Nicole


123. If you can't stop thinking about food - is this why?

FromThe Food Freedom Lab™ with Ryann Nicole

ratings:
Length:
17 minutes
Released:
Jun 22, 2023
Format:
Podcast episode

Description

Here are the big 5 I have boiled it down to   01. Not Eating Enough / You're Hungry   Did you know that thinking about food is actually a hunger cue? If you aren't eating enough (in other words, are never allowing yourself to reach fullness) then your mind will continue to focus on food. You are still hungry and your body is asking for more!   If this is you, let's try: Seeing where you can add missing macronutrients to your meals to make them a bit more nourishing and satisfying! What I do before I make a meal or a snack, I ask myself: What do I want? From there, I will ask - is there anything I could add to this to make sure it's more filling? And lastly I will ask - is this enough food for what I need right now?   Let's go through some examples:   I want frozen waffles for breakfast. Amazing - is there anything I could add to these to make them a bit more filing? I could add PB and banana I could add a protein smothie to the side I could add butter and jam and serve with some eggs on the side And then based on how hungry I am feeling, I can decide the number of waffles I want, eat it, enjoy it, and move on!   Or let's say I really want an arugula salad. Delicious - is there anything I could add to this salad to make it a bit more filing? I could add chicken and a side of bread I could add tuna salad and some crackers I could add chickpeas and chilled pasta And again, based on how hungry I am feeling, I can choose how much salad and extras I want, eat it, enjoy it, and move on.   Reason #1 you can't stop thinking about food: you're just hungry and what you're currently eating isn't enough volume OR isn't giving you the staying power your body is asking for.   02. Mental Restriction   Mental restriction is any self-judgment, shame, fear, or anxiety you experience while eating, before eating, or after eating. Unlike physical restriction, with mental restriction, you may be physically eating all foods, but if you are engaging in mental restriction such as Not allowing yourself to eat the quantity you truly need because it’s more than your brain tells you is okay Not allowing yourself to eat the food you actually want because your brain is telling you that choice is bad  Or not allowing yourself to experience and enjoy the food because your brain is judging and shaming with every bite You will continue to think about food. This might explain why even though you are eating enough, you're still having obsessive food thoughts.     Our brain is conditioned to connect things we believe we cannot have to exclusivity and scarcity - meaning that we INSTANTLY believe these things have more value (even if they don’t) and we will hyperfocus on them.    Like... have you ever dated someone that wasn't interested in you and you immediately wanted them that much more? Even if before you really felt indifferent? Yeah. Same thing.   If this is you, let's try: Noticing where you are mentally restricting (again any self-judgment, shame, fear, or anxiety you experience while eating, before eating, or after eating.) and challenge the thinking. If you have been engaging in mental restriction for a long period of time, this mindset will come up automatically. You don't have control over that. But what you do have control over is whether or not you choose to engage with that mental restriction. Can you choose not to engage?   Reason #2 you can't stop thinking about food: you're mentally restricting, making food feel much more exciting, enticing, and valuable than it actually is.   03. Lack of pleasure in your day   Food is amazing, delicious, and definitely a huge source of pleasure. However, if it is the only source of pleasure you are getting in your day, then of course you will be constantly thinking about food.   If this is you, let's try: adding simple pleasure into your day like, Noticing the smell of fresh coffee brewing Taking a moment to step outside to feel the sunshine on your skin A big snuggle with a loved one or pet Sleeping in fr
Released:
Jun 22, 2023
Format:
Podcast episode

Titles in the series (100)

Do you ever feel like your life is a never-ending string of “when I lose Xlbs, THEN I'll be happy” only to find yourself facefirst in the peanut butter jar with both hands full of snacks, shoving food in your mouth so quickly... Wondering why am I like this? Welcome to The Food Freedom Lab where we will address ALL things food, body image, and emotions so food and workouts can be a part of your life, without them BEING your life. Week after week, host Ryann Nicole brings you the best of the best improvement tips, therapeutic strategies, life hacks, and inspirational stories that can help YOU get to food freedom! Waiting until you look like that until you can do the thing? No more! Girlfriend, we are getting you back to your life NOW. Ryann is dishing the tea on how she overcame binge eating, food obsession, and body hate and is giving you everything you need to do it too! Along with sharing her best kept secrets, Ry interviews other incredible women who have also found food freedom are sharing have changed their life to find ultimate happiness and share their secrets to ensure you find hope that happiness is possible for you! What do you say? Are you in? Are you ready to stop obsessing over food and get back to your life? Facebook Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/itsryannnicole Instagram Page: https://www.instagram.com/itsryannnicole Show Notes: https://itsryannnicole.com/podcast