How to be a foodie and still weigh what you want

I love to eat and I love trying new restaurants when I go on vacation or out with friends.  When I'm on vacation, I look forward to tasting special foods from different regions of this country and the world.  And yet, I’ve been able to lose my excess weight (over 50 pounds) and to maintain my weight loss.  It is possible to be a “foodie” – and still to permanently lose weight.  The secret is in learning how to change your thoughts around food and eating.

I've been able to change my “scarcity” thoughts – such as "I will never have this food again" – or "This is so good – I need to eat all of it", to thoughts such as: "This is delicious - so I'll eat it slowly and enjoy every bite" or "This is really good. I'll enjoy some now and save some for tomorrow", or "That's one of my favorites - but I'm not hungry right now - so I'll put it on my plan for another time (if I can easily obtain the food ".  When I don't overeat, I'm better able to savor the food I'm eating – and not feel guilty about eating it.

You too, can learn to eat until "enough" - without feeling stuffed afterwards. You can enjoy what you eat without developing a stomachache or feeling full and uncomfortable.  You can learn to eat with pleasure and yet feel confident  that you've learned the skills that will enable you to keep your body at your desired weight. 

Mastering your thoughts about food takes time.  Your habits of overeating, and your overdesiring certain foods, have been with you for many years.  But, these habits and thoughts can be changed.  Practice pausing before you eat to review your goals for your health and your body. Make a screensaver of your goals on your phone and look at them before eating. Then eat slowly and with intention so that you enjoy every bite. Pay attention when you are eating, rather than looking at your phone or reading a book. Stop eating when you're satisfied – but not stuffed.  And most of all, practice eating when you are truly hungry - rather than eating out of habit, stress, or anxiety. 

Wouldn’t it be wonderful to go to a party, enjoy the food, and feel light and energetic when you leave?  Wouldn’t it be wonderful to finally stop dieting and to lose any drama you have around food?  When you learn to control your thoughts around food, you will then make better choices. 

Many foods have been created or changed by food scientists in a way that increases desire – especially foods that contain a lot of sugar, fat, salt or flour.  Processed foods are often highly palatable, taste delicious, and are made to stimulate our brain's dopamine centers so that we want to eat more - even when we're not hungry.  

If you allow your body to become fat adapted (see a previous blog), you'll stay satisfied much longer. Your hunger will decrease and your desire for sugar will usually decrease as well.  Wouldn't you like to be able to stand next to a table full of desserts and to feel in control? Can you envision having cartons of ice cream in the freezer – and packages of cookies in the pantry – without desiring them - or being afraid of eating the entire container or package?

You, too, can learn the skills so that you can enjoy food and yet not overeat.  You can be a "foodie" – but feel light and in control after you have finished eating through the "magic" of thoughtwork.  

To make sure you don't miss any of my posts, subscribe at https://drbarbaralkatzcoaching.mykajabi.com.  And if you're really ready to lose that weight for good, take a chance and schedule a mini-session to learn how coaching can change your life (and your weight). Contact me at [email protected] or click on the link on my website.  The mini-session is free and there is no obligation - and no pressure. A mini-session may be the nudge you need to finally gain control of your eating.

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