#eatingpsychology #overeating #dopamine
Negotiating With Self Around Food:
• What to Eat When You D...
• But How Do I Negotiate...
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Disclaimer: This video is for information purposes only and my content should not be used as a substitute for seeking treatment from a healthcare provider. My content is not going to be suitable for everyone, so please use your self discernment before applying any video content in your own life.
In this video, I'm addressing a common frustration many of you share with me: the difficulty in sticking to a diet, especially when you've succeeded in the past. I'm Sarah, a psychotherapist, and I want to explore several reasons why this might be happening, focusing on the neurobiological, psychological, and particularly the role of dopamine in our eating behaviors.
Firstly, let’s consider the primal brain. This part of our brain, which focuses on survival, becomes stressed when it perceives an energy deficit from dieting. It responds by ramping up signals to eat, intensifying food obsessions, and making us feel like food is unreliable. This is particularly true for those who cycle between dieting and binging, reinforcing the brain's crisis mode.
Next, there's the concept of set point theory, suggesting our body has a preferred weight range it feels safe and comfortable within. When we diet and suppress our weight, our brain may respond by raising this set point, often resulting in weight gain once dieting stops. This theory might explain why dieting can ironically lead to weight gain in the long run.
Additionally, dopamine plays a significant role. It reinforces behaviors that it finds rewarding, which can include both eating and the feelings associated with successful weight loss. However, once a weight loss goal is reached, the reward system may no longer motivate the same behaviors, leading to a rebound effect where the allure of eating becomes stronger than the desire to maintain weight loss.
Stress also significantly impacts our eating habits. Chronic low to mid-level stress often leads to increased eating, while high stress may temporarily suppress appetite. Our bodies remember the sizes we've achieved under stress, and without understanding the unhealthy contexts that enabled these sizes, we might unrealistically strive to return to them.
Lastly, the psychological aspect of dieting involves negotiating with ourselves about our food choices. Healthy negotiation requires a friendly relationship with different parts of ourselves that have varying desires. Achieving a balance where these parts can amicably compromise is key to maintaining a healthy approach to eating without turning it into an internal battle.
This video isn't about giving strict dietary advice but rather providing insights to help you understand and navigate your relationship with food more compassionately and informedly. If this resonates with you, consider joining one of my Connect and Recover groups where we explore these themes in a supportive, personalized setting. I hope this information helps you in your journey towards a healthier, more balanced relationship with food. I look forward to continuing this conversation in my next video.
29 май 2024