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Dieting is No Solution to Overeating
Does advertising trigger emotional eating? Bold advertisements, “Lose X pounds in Y days!” are often accompanied by "after" photos showing a skinnier woman. These ads tap into unmet dreams. Swept away, it is easy to gloss over fine print that says, "Results not typical."
Knowing that diets and dieting have failed us after short-term weight loss, do we select yet another new diet because we expect it to solve unmet needs and wants? After losing X pounds, I will be more attractive, lovable, successful, confident!
Here is the reason dieting can't stop overeating: Instead of nurturing you diets confine you to old solutions. The transition away from emotional eating hinges on finding personal freedom, such as breaking free of the dieting mindset. A new Self cannot be found in a diet – personal growth and empowerment do not rely on food as the answer.
So how can we unlock chronic overeating? We can use Insight-building because it taps into our creativity. This is how we learned as children.
Why don't we use insights more often for weight and body image issues and especially to stop overeating? As adults we learned to tune out imagination and intuition. The rush of everyday life can distract us from staying in touch with our innate wisdom. Do you remember the episode in Winnie the Pooh in which Rabbit could not stop to learn from new experiences because he was a “Busy-Backsoon?”
Insight-building follows a very natural progression, for changing from reliance on dieting to reliance on insight-based solutions.
Are you an "A", "B" or "C" in taking action to stop overeating?
"A" I'm thinking about it, but I'm reluctant to give up diets and dieting. I'm okay with short-term weight loss as a temporary fix.
"B" Hmm, eating to handle my feelings, which keep coming back. Diets don't change anything. Is there something better?
"C" I'm fed up with eating to manage emotions, with cycles of gaining weight and then dieting again. I want a solution, beyond the food/dieting mindset.
Insight-building can help you overcome overeating, whether you are an A, B or C!
If you are an "A"?
How do you think eating is helping manage your life?
An honest answer to this question can lead you to a fresh awareness, to seeing your situation with new eyes.
It is important to remember to use a Guilt-free evaluation of your choice. You have acted to care for yourself. You may then want to consider whether eating (overeating) is the best way to get what you truly need.
Are you a "B"?
At this stage you are open to thinking about alternatives to diets. Perhaps you sometimes feel overwhelmed and decide to overeat anyway.
To find new insights, you may want to consider what triggers your overeating - what were your thoughts and feelings? Your new awareness offers fresh opportunities to change.
Are you at a C?
You have tried a number of diets as the aftermath of overeating and now are fed up. You wonder where to go next, and what you can do to replace that old habit. By eating for emotional reasons you were taking care of yourself - as best you could. But now you are ready for a change!
You hold the key. Your creativity can generate new understanding, new ideas. You can discern new ways to resolve chronic, energy-draining issues beyond food and eating. Dieting does not address emotional and mental aspects of overeating. In contrast, your insights help build self-confidence and supply the best solutions - you are the expert for living your life, at last to be free of overeating.
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Why Diets Can't Stop Overeating
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