How To Eat When You Don’t Feel Like It
Happy New Year!
Can I be honest? I’m not a huge fan of New Year’s resolutions. I get that there’s this idea of a “new year, new me”. There’s almost like a fantasy of having a clean slate, when in reality, it’s just another day, in a new year. However, it could be a great time to reflect on the past year and embrace what was. So, here's the deal. If you're into New Year's resolutions, go ahead and set realistic, measurable, and slightly challenging goals for yourself. If you’re not, then no big deal!
Listen to the Episode Now
If this post resonates with you or makes you feel something, share it with a friend! My hope is that we can keep this important conversation going long after the post is over.
Now, back to what we’re actually talking about; eating when you don’t want to.
I'm sure many of you have experienced this, especially after spending time with family during the holidays. Whether it's a recent struggle or an ongoing issue, the key question is why you don't want to eat. Yes, it might sound cliché, and you probably saw it coming from me, but it's crucial because your answer guides the approach.
To keep things organized, I'm splitting today's podcast into two parts: thoughts and emotions behind the scenes, and practical strategies. They're interconnected, so let's break it down.
In this episode, I'm diving into:
Part 1: Thoughts and Emotions Behind Eating When Unwilling
New Year's resolutions skepticism.
Not wanting to eat, during and post-holidays.
Importance of understanding the reasons behind not wanting to eat.
Part 2: Practical Strategies
Addressing the fear of gaining weight.
Acknowledging the fear of weight gain and the consequences of perpetuating restrictive behaviors.
Encouraging self-compassion and acknowledging the choice to work towards a healthier, less obsessive mindset.
Identifying recovery goals.
Considering the kind of person you want to be.
Separating emotions from food.
Practical tips like eating smaller, more frequent meals, choosing nutritionally dense foods, and having a predetermined meal plan.
The importance of eating with others for distraction and connection.
Emphasizing the necessity of regular appointments with therapists and dietitians for support.
Tweetable Quotes
"What you're doing is hurting yourself, hurting them, and it's not even getting the intended outcome." - Rachelle Heinemann
“One week cannot possibly change your weight in a significant way." - Rachelle Heinemann
"I think one of the major things that [I] hear is, ‘I don't want to eat because I don't want to gain weight.’ and I know that I say this all the time, but you can't possibly gain weight from this one thing." - Rachelle Heinemann
"I don't want to feel obsessive. I don't want to have obsessions. I don't want to be sick. I don't want to be socially isolated. I just don't want those things." - Rachelle Heinemann
Resources
Grab my Healing Journal Prompts!
Related Episodes
Episode 105. The Root of Your Emotional Eating
Episode 88. Did We Take Intuitive Eating Too Far?
Episode 87. Ultra Processed Food, Food Addiction and Eating Disorders with Dr. David Wiss
Episode 81. What Do I Do About My Emotional Eating?
Episode 73. Food and Desire with Dr. Judith Brisman
Episode 71. Tapping Into Your Hunger and Fullness
Episode 67. Is It All About Control?
Newsletter update: If you’re not already signed up for my newsletter, then I’m not sure what you’re waiting for! I’m ✨obsessed ✨ with it. In an effort to keep things fun and fresh, we’re going to monthly newsletters rather than weekly. If you have any feedback on what you want to see in the newsletters, reply back to one or send me a message!
Grab my FREEBIE!: As you navigate recovery, you may be feeling like something is missing. You're doing a lot of work challenging yourself with the food, your body, and exercise. You're probably working on lots of other things at the same time, like stuff at work or relationship issues.
But, still, something doesn't feel like you're getting to the bottom of it. Grab my free journal prompts below and begin to work through the emotions of healing.
More From Rachelle
Hey there! I’m Rachelle, the host of the Understanding Disordered Eating Podcast. As a Licensed Mental Health Counselor, I work with clients to make sense of life’s messy emotional experiences.
I believe in the power of deep work and its positive impact on your life in the long term. Learn more about how we can work together here.
Sign up for my weekly newsletter for even more!
You can connect with me on Instagram, through my website or email me directly clicking the links below.
Subscribe & Leave A Review!
If you enjoyed this episode, you can show your support by leaving a review, subscribing, or sharing with someone who may need help. Click here to open this show in iTunes and leave a five star rating and review.