According to an article just out, “Our brains may be wired to seek out junk food.”
Just great.
The study essentially says that humans are rigged to reach for high-calorie treats over smart food when feeling stressed.
According to the study, humans evolved to remember which caves were home to a saber tooth tiger and — at the same time — which berry bushes held the most the most calories.
Scientists from the Netherlands put 512 people into a maze. One end tempting the people with the scent of apples and cucumbers, and the other beckoning with the aroma of junk food, like brownies. Guess what the humans went for?
I’m no scientist, but duh.
The Good News:
Our human brains – the most sophisticated on the planet – boast a super cool part called the prefrontal that allow us to problem-solve, organize, learn, and dive deep on topics.
While the scientists concluded that our ancestors evolved to hunt and gather the highest caloric food they could find, it’s also true that our prefrontal lobes can save our scale today.
How to Disrupt an Habitual Craving.
Have you read the booklet Aunt Bea? If not, look to your right under my short bio. Enter your email and Aunt Bea will be sent to your email address. If you don’t see her she might be in spam. Otherwise, email me at Wendy@theInspiredEater.com and I’ll shoot Aunt Bea right to you.
Food cravings aren’t a fact of life, they’re totally manageable. To get you started:
First and foremost read Aunt Bea, then:
- Don’t allow yourself to get hungry beyond a four in the first place (scale of one: stuffed to ten: famished). I never allow myself to get beyond a four. All bets are off when I’m hungry.
- Keep smart snacks in your car, desk, and purse. And no fair calling super old granola bars “food.” Keep food you’ll actually enjoy eating within easy reach. I do this every single day.
- Plan your smart eating the night before each day, then plan again. Remember planning is a superpower of a successful loser and maintainer. It helps that I’m a planner and I’m betting you are too. Use you superpower for good (meaning for yourself).
- Ask the people in your house not to load the cupboards in high-calorie “foods” — or at the very least to keep the treats in a high cupboard that you can’t reach. (Note: remove kitchen step stool.)
- Stop all eating at, say, 6:00 in the evening.
- Plan to listen strategically to inspirational podcasts. When I’m in the middle of extinguishing a terrible food habit, I plan to listen to an inspirational episode when I’d otherwise be chowing Oreos.
- Read books that keep you on point like The Obstacle is the Way by Ryan Holiday. Highlight the passages that speak to you and keep this handy. Dip into Holiday’s incredible book for a daily jewel or two.
Other fun ideas include to stop a craving:
- Put on music that is sure to interrupt your interest in food like hard rock or jazz.
- Give yourself a manicure (and when you look at your beautiful nails remember your commitment to smart eating).
- Dab on high-end perfume. For some reason, a pretty scent disrupts my food urges.
- Go to bed early with a really good book (my very favorite disrupter).
I know you have your own to stop a craving — please share in the comments below. We can all learn from each other.
And remember, it’s not your imagination. Health is hard!
♥, Wendy
P.S. Are you new to the Inspired Eater? Welcome!! This blog won’t make much sense until you first read the Aunt Bea post (and you’ll find Aunt Bea on this page to the right under my short bio). On your cell you’ll see it immediately following the first post. After you enter your email address, the Aunt Bea article will be sent to your email’s inbox. If it’s not there, you might check the spam folder. And always feel free to email me at Wendy@TheInspiredEater.com and I’ll get Aunt Bea right to you!
12 Comments
Just found your blog and love your ideas. My wonderful husband had a heart attack in February. While we ate very healthy before, we are uber healthy now. All whole wheat, egg beaters, olive oil…he was never, ever heavy ( everyone is so surprised he had a heart attack…genetics!) and we gave up chips and any kind of diet soda. He has lost 15 pounds which he did not need to lose…me…three small pounds. Going to go back to some of your posts to get some ideas! Thanks !
Ann, my deepest condolences for your sweet husband (I somewhat understand the pain, a dear friend died in 2019 from a heart attack and I still can’t think of him without tearing up).
One suggestion that I’ve heard amazing things about: a digital air fryer on Amazon for $75. I haven’t used it myself yet, but a friend raves about it. It apparently crisps everything up beautifully without the fat and calories.
If you want to get the precise one she bought, it’s called “GoWISE USA 1700-Watt 5.8-QT 8-in-1 Digital Air Fryer with Recipe Book, Black.”
My very best,
Wendy
Ha – Wendy I LOVE your style! Finding great weight loss tips was never so fun! 🙂 Thanks for all the wonderful suggestions, plus I think I eat less when I’m laughing! Happy Monday!
Barbara!
You are such an upper. Let’s talk tea. I haven’t forgotten!
Wendy
This was so informative, and your writing is so entertaining! Great tips to stay on track too!
Thank you a billion for saying so Michele!
Wendy
This is so hard for me. Iu use to be 230pds I had lost 75pds and felt amazing but now 220 and im miserable and sad. I have a husband that constantly says oh have some just this once. Or we wil go out and plan on chicken breast and veggies and salad but he says you don’t want that eat what you want just this once one day won’t hurt. Grr he is skinny and can eat anything. I try to eat healthy it lasts 2 weeks. I have ataxia and sit home by myself since i can’t work now and finding food is my comfort. Please help with some ideas. I will try yours but any other tips? Thank you so much
Oh, Debbie, you’re dealing with so much. Ataxia is no joke. Please email me: I’d love to help. And no charge whatsoever. I’m at Wendy@theInspiredEater.com. First I would say it’s not “I eat healthy” or “I don’t eat healthy.” You can lose weight and still have fun. I keep meaning to write about eating a bowl of Froot Loops for dinner (ha! I don’t do it a lot).
Second plan a small meal to be eaten at 6 p.m. and then don’t eat again until morning. This alone will take off weight but you have to be vigilant and not eat after 6 p.m. for at least a year. (Might mean you go to bed early.)
Third: Have you heard of the Two Disabled Dudes podcast? The two guys both have Friedreich’s ataxia. They are hilarious and very, very motivational. I highly recommend listening to them. Also, there is a blogger named Ardra Shepherd who writes a blog about her MS. I know you don’t have MS, but you can relate. She was diagnosed 19 years ago and is now only 39. Find her at: https://trippingonair.com/. Settle in for a long read. Her posts are so good.
Looking forward to hearing from you,
Wendy
wonderful information, we need to think more seriously about what we put into our mouths. it doesn’t help that organic food is more expensive and the food that isn’t good for us is less expensive. quality over quantity is the best way to approach eating.
thank you for sharing
Nancy,
Couldn’t agree with you more. The healthiest food is insanely expensive. Potato chips and candy? Practically free.
Thank you for reading,
W.
Great tips! I have found that it is easiest for me to break a habit (such as limiting sugary food) if I have some sort of habit tracker. I love the visual of it!
Jenna ♥
Stay in touch? Life of an Earth Muffin
Jenna, me too! There’s something about the visual tracker. Studies say that it’s a big deal for those losing or maintaining.
Wendy