Weight loss Jedi mind tricks to talk yourself out of not into eating

Hiya reader friends! I'm been sharing how I lost 100 pounds without bariatric weight loss surgery, using what I call "mind over platter" tips. What does that mean? Well, I kinda play head games with myself to think myself thin. These ideas bear a striking resemblance to what Jabba the Hut calls Luke Skywalker's Jedi mind tricks! And they work great to fight obesity. 

Here's the one weight loss mind trick that I probably use most often. It's where I got the idea to call it "mind over platter." And it too has Star Wars overtones. Remember the scene where Obi-Wan uses the Force to con a stormtrooper into thinking that theirs weren't the droids he was looking for? Well, I do the same thing. I tell myself "these aren't the foods you're looking for! I talk myself out of instead of into eating.

Obesity is a lot like going into debt. We overeat for the same reason we overspend: because we talk ourselves INTO buying or eating this or that. We convince ourselves we need stuff or food. So how I lost 100 pounds was to do the opposite, to tell myself all the reasons I didn't need that food I was craving. I kept my eye on the prize, reminding myself that weight loss would be more satisfying than giving in and indulging. 

Dieting wasn't easy at first but as I got better at it. If you're in the "struggling with weight loss" phase, hang in there and you will too! May the Force be With You! Love ya'll! 

Weird facts about overeating, endorphins, opioids and weight loss

Why do we eat? Because it feel good. Ergo we overeat because it feels really good, right? Ergo obesity is caused by over enjoyment of food, right? Well, yes and no. The TLC show "My 600-lb Life" folks always demonstrate raging food addiction but not to all foods. They overeat too much of certain foods. So clearly, some foods release more feel good hormones that others. Here are some weird facts about food-released endorphins which, if applied correctly, can aid weight loss.

So we know that eating produces endorphins AKA naturally occurring opioids AKA feel good hormones. But some foods produce MORE endorphins (here's the weird part) while also producing LESS enjoyment?! I know, right??

A study in the Journal of Neuroscience gave two groups of test subjects different meals: pizza and nutritional shakes (I know which group I'd rather be in LOL). Anyway, PET scans showed that the ones who got shakes had higher levels of opioids BUT they reported less pleasure than those who had pizza. The conclusion was that feelings of pleasure from food are independent from actual endorphin release. (Ya think??)

I'm no brain surgeon, but I coulda told them that. Pizza tastes better than diet shakes. It may have to do with the addictive properties in cheese and the MSG in sausage and pepperoni. This is probably why pizza is a comfort food. These are common things in junk food and why they cause such cravings. The endorphin rush is bigger but taste is what drives overeating. It's like Charlie the Tuna--Starkist doesn't want tunas with good taste but tunas that taste good!

Okay so now we know why we overeat. Great. But how do we stop it? We don't. I for one, like food and plan to continue eating the food I like. BUT, I can use the knowledge to strategize weight loss. For example, I can make foods I love--like pizza--using weight loss food swaps. Last night, I made a super low calorie pizza with reduced calorie thin crust, lowfat mozzarella and half the sauce and pepperoni.  

I also can avoid or limit super feel good foods that spur cravings. For example, I'm really jonesing for more of that pizza. I'm literally obsessing on it. So until I've lost weight, I may forego pizza. I'll just look for foods that give a similar if not quite so powerful zing. I can also use mind over platter and remember that I'm still getting the head rush whatever I eat. 

It's really important that we start curbing these food addictions because more people are getting fatter, finds the CDC. I always use "My 600-lb Life" because it provides a "laboratory" of dangerous habits that we can all learn from. It's time to get to the root of obesity and food addiction and get serious about weight loss. 

Diet 24/7/365 for weight loss every day

A lot of people have kindly asked how I lost 100 lbs. I wish I could say that it was easy. But from the title of this post, you can probably guess that it's not. To shed obesity or even just 30 lbs, requires constant vigilance, all day, every day. 

I know, boo! That kinda sucks: every holiday, birthday, special occasion, every meal, to have to constantly think about calorie cutting. And, yes, I've also said that it's okay, maybe even essential, to take some breaks. But if I don't monitor my eating on a regular basis, I'll slip back into old pre weight loss habits of overeating. 

I don't really even overeat that much. I've just gotten lax about the chips and sweets. But even that has caused problems. I've steadily gained weight over the last year. Not that much. So I'm back to calorie counting. I did it before and I can do it again. And some really good news? It's easier the second time around (pause for cheering!) 

Maybe you have found other paths to weight loss. As long as the methods you use are safe and healthy, rock on! Eating mindfully, with portion control and calorie counting, is how I lost 100 lbs. That's me way overweight in the bottom picture and let me tell you I feel soooo much better now! 

Love, mar <3