The Real Reasons We Eat Too Much.
One of the reasons many of us cannot lose weight is because eating a lot of food. overeating is often a symptom of something deeper. Just like the alcoholic, the overeater is often craving for the next 'fix'; only the poison is not alcohol - it is food. The first step to overcoming food addiction is to recognise the reasons why you do it.
We are all different, but here are the 4 most common reasons why people eat too much:
1. Filling a Hole:
Do you ever get the feeling that something is not quite right with you, but you can't put your finger on it? Often your subconscious mind knows exactly what the problem is. It offers us clues and signals as to how to address our internal issues, but it can be difficult to recognise the signals. Many people misinterpret these signals as hunger.
2. The Hunger Hormone:
High sugar diets lead to spikes in the hormone.
This is needed to clear sugar out of the blood and into storage as fat.
But repeated insulin spikes, due to a high sugar diet, can lead to a condition called "insulin resistance."
3. Stuffing Down Emotions:
Many of us grow up in culture that frowns upon expression of negative emotions. We are told to 'put on a happy face', or that 'you catch more flies with honey than with vinegar'. It is true, sometimes we have to be diplomatic; but what exactly are we expected to do with all that leftover vinegar?
Many people the answer is to ignore it. They grow up believing that they are not allowed to feel angry because anger is a negative emotion. The truth? All emotions have a purpose. Anger, sadness and fear can all useful emotions in different circumstances, and we can learn to express all of these emotions in a logical, rational and respectful way.
The problem is that most people are not taught how to do this, so instead of developing healthy communications skills, they find themselves using food to repress or 'stuff down' those unwanted feelings. Food becomes a numbing device.
4. Because We Can:
One of the biggest blocks to weight loss is unwillingness to take responsibility. Do you honestly believe that you cannot control your eating? Or is it simply that you love to eat too much.
If you want to stop overeating, examine your motivation. Are you changing your behavior because you think you should, or because you truly want to? A little self-evaluation goes a long way when we want to make life changes.
We are all different, but here are the 4 most common reasons why people eat too much:
1. Filling a Hole:
Do you ever get the feeling that something is not quite right with you, but you can't put your finger on it? Often your subconscious mind knows exactly what the problem is. It offers us clues and signals as to how to address our internal issues, but it can be difficult to recognise the signals. Many people misinterpret these signals as hunger.
2. The Hunger Hormone:
High sugar diets lead to spikes in the hormone.
This is needed to clear sugar out of the blood and into storage as fat.
But repeated insulin spikes, due to a high sugar diet, can lead to a condition called "insulin resistance."
3. Stuffing Down Emotions:
Many of us grow up in culture that frowns upon expression of negative emotions. We are told to 'put on a happy face', or that 'you catch more flies with honey than with vinegar'. It is true, sometimes we have to be diplomatic; but what exactly are we expected to do with all that leftover vinegar?
Many people the answer is to ignore it. They grow up believing that they are not allowed to feel angry because anger is a negative emotion. The truth? All emotions have a purpose. Anger, sadness and fear can all useful emotions in different circumstances, and we can learn to express all of these emotions in a logical, rational and respectful way.
The problem is that most people are not taught how to do this, so instead of developing healthy communications skills, they find themselves using food to repress or 'stuff down' those unwanted feelings. Food becomes a numbing device.
4. Because We Can:
One of the biggest blocks to weight loss is unwillingness to take responsibility. Do you honestly believe that you cannot control your eating? Or is it simply that you love to eat too much.
If you want to stop overeating, examine your motivation. Are you changing your behavior because you think you should, or because you truly want to? A little self-evaluation goes a long way when we want to make life changes.
Just like keeping a healthy diet is important to maintaining a healthy lifestyle, eating the right foods is just as important for getting the most out of your workout. Marcus Samuelsson
