Weight Loss for Food-Lovers with Molly Zemek
Episode 31- Lies I Told Myself About Food
Summary
In this episode of the Weight Loss for Food-Lovers podcast, Molly talks about how she finally lost weight in her 40s by questioning some key core beliefs and transforming her mindset. Instead of defaulting to social conditioning or habitual associations, it’s possible to re-examine and question what we think with regard to food and in so doing change our actions. Molly describes how she questioned old narratives to uncover why she had for years turned to food when it wasn’t helpful and gave it power when it wasn’t necessary. Molly finally broke a longtime cycle of losing and regaining weight by taking a clear eye to the false stories she was telling herself.
Molly shares with listeners the four “biggest lies” she told herself, why they were damaging and how to reframe the role of food and disrupt self-defeating patterns. She details these controlling but false ideas:
- Food makes me feel better.
- I just love food too much.
- Food makes everything more fun.
- Food is my reward.
Familiar and “sneaky” lies for years locked Molly into behaviors that did not serve her goal of losing weight. That glass of wine and snack she grabbed to “help” transition between her workday and dinnertime responsibilities at home? It was only a gateway to overeating throughout the rest of the evening. The belief that being a food lover meant she couldn’t control her choices? Turns out it’s not the food’s fault, nor was food ever in charge. For decades it seemed impossible to have fun at a party without food to share and enjoy? It turns out that – regardless how society has conditioned us – gatherings are actually about the fun of connection, not food. And although many of us have been conditioned since childhood to associate treats with a job well done, food isn’t a reward so much as a dopamine hit that only leaves us empty and wanting more.
The only way to neutralize the power of food in a sustainable way is to unpack the sly messages your brain has programmed in at the most primal, pleasure-seeking level. Getting the upper hand means making contact with your pre-frontal cortex – the higher thinking part of the brain that can see the lies for what they are and decide to think differently. Deeply ingrained thoughts won’t ever go away entirely, but Molly discusses how they can be tempered with intentionality, awareness and practice.
The episode ends with concrete suggestions for acknowledging damaging, false beliefs and substituting alternative thoughts to end the perpetual lose-gain-lose cycle that bogs so many of us down and keeps us from our goals. The first step requires no more than a sheet of paper and a pen. For those who would like some extra help unlocking thoughts that may be blocking permanent weight loss, Molly offers a link below to sign up for a free “discovery call” to explore limiting beliefs together.
Topics Covered
· Why Molly’s approach to weight loss is different and what she learned in her 40s.
· How transforming thoughts about food can transform behaviors around food.
· Why people overeat when they don’t want to, turning to food for things other than fuel.
· The four biggest lies Molly used to tell herself that led to a cycle of gain-lose-gain.
· There is power in uncovering and recognizing thoughts that do not serve health and goals.
· Molly shares four lies that trap many food lovers in a perpetual trap of overeating and guilt.
· Taking ownership of patterns often programmed from an early age by society, family and habit.
· Changing ingrained thought patterns about food requires practice.
· Molly shares a simple exercise to get started establishing intentionality and control today.
Key Quotes
“I really dove into my thoughts around food and my thoughts about myself in relationship to foo… (and) the thoughts turned out to be pure poison.”
“Once I identified those thoughts and realized that they were in fact lies, I was able to experience freedom.”
“Instead of taking ownership over what went into my mouth, I put food in charge.“
“Here’s the truth: Overeating doesn’t reward us with more than just that short-term pleasure, that instantaneous dopamine hit.”
“I bring up all of these lies because many of us food lovers have the exact same thoughts. I want you to be onto your primal brain. I want you to understand the science behind this!”
“The point isn’t to avoid or eliminate those thoughts but to be aware, just notice them.”
“Your brain is hardwired to seek pleasure … It’s going to use sneaky thoughts to get you to eat.”
Links Mentioned
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Sign-up for a free discovery call at https://www.mollyzemek.com/bookings-checkout/free-discovery-call/book
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