How do you stop seeing food as comfort and pleasure rather than fuel (as it is supposed to be) ?
12 Answers
Last Updated: 10/25/2021 at 11:57pm
Perfect therapy for people who need help. I would like to say, I never can imagine it could be possible to heal people like that
Ta
Tania
Moderated by
Lisa Meighan, MSc Psychology
Counselor
🌈 Welcome to 7 Cups :) I work using an eclectic style of psychotherapy and we work according to your goals, preferences and needs using evidence-based practices.
Top Rated Answers
A good idea is to look at the food you are eating from your bodies perspective. If your body could have a conversation with you what would it say after a meal? Healthy, natural, fresh foods would make your body say "Yes! Give me more of that! I can use that as fuel and energy. Those vegetables have plenty of nutrients that I know exactly what to with."Now imagine what your body would say after a large fast food binge. It would complain that there is too much sugar and salt and that it doesn't really know what to do with all the calories you are feeding it. Sugar and carbohydrates are confusing for the body because we naturally do not need them as fuel... at least in the quantities found in most processed foods today. Be kind to your body. Give it the stuff that it needs to grow strong and healthy. If you feed it junk food then it will eventually give up trying to figure out how to get rid of all the excess and will simply store it away as fat. Be good to your body and it will start to look and feel great!
By actively seeking out other sources of comfort and pleasure instead.
I know it's all to easy to see comfort and pleasure in food. But the key is: moderation.
Of course it's okay to enjoy a good marbled steak or some nice sushi once in a while. But if one is eating constantly just to fill an emotional hole in them, it just becomes a self-destructive cycle, which I am not proud to say that I've been through before.
But over time I'm slowly learning and picking up the pieces.. and finding comfort in the small things that exist outside of this. And I feel it generally made me a happier person :) so I hope the same for all of you struggling in this manner!
I feel that the majority of people with a healthy relationship with food see it as both dependant on the circumstances for example eating with family on a date such as Christmas could be very pleasurable yet eating breakfast every morning might been seen simply as fuel for the day ahead. It might be worth keeping a journal and recording your emotions to see how they affect your diet and then trying to subsitute in other activities when it is evident you are using food as a way of managing your emotions.
Actually, food should be for pleasure. Don't let food just be "something to survive", it should be enjoyable. It is okay to indulge in "comfort" foods every once in a while but don't make it a daily thing. All food is fuel, but eat foods that are healthy (including all food groups) so that you can feel energized every day.
It sounds like you struggle with emotional eating. It's always a good idea to keep an emotional eating diary. Emotional eating can be easily avoidable with the right coping skills. Message me if you'd like guidance and help on certain coping skills and alternatives.
You can find another outlet for comfort and pleasure. Try talking to a friend for instance. You can also cope positively by taking a walk or going for a bike ride.
Anonymous
February 15th, 2015 7:53pm
I would start by writing down and reviewing what you eat. I wouldn't advice depriving yourself, but eat those comforting foods in moderation.
Anonymous
June 13th, 2016 10:38pm
Find something else that can give you comforst and pleasure. such as writing or reading or even going for walks :)
You should start by prioritizing yourself. Don't use food as a reward, it will complicate how you feel about yourself. If you use food as an incentive you are more likely to think of it as a game or prize rather than a necessity (fuel). Think of food as something you need for yourself, be selfish, you deserve it. I think rather then depriving yourself of food eat the minimum three meals to get yourself back on track and then be happy that you're eating. Except the fact the food isn't a privilege everyone has so don't neglect it.
Food is meant to be fuel, of course...but there's nothing against taking pleasure in what you eat. The key is moderation of all the food groups and achieving as a balanced of diet as you possibly can.
Anonymous
May 31st, 2016 6:20pm
I don't know. It depends the day. But you haven't to see food with other eye. Because it's very important for your organism.
Anonymous
January 15th, 2018 8:10am
First you need to figure out what it is about that specific food that is providing a need for you & then supplementing it with something else. For example maybe its sugar after a hard day at work because it elevates the mood. Tea is also a great mood booster as is creative outlets such as coloring.
Talk to an expert therapist
She’s a very good listener and helped me alot working through my anxiety
Reviewed Sep 30, 2024
Talk to Smita NowRelated Questions: How do you stop seeing food as comfort and pleasure rather than fuel (as it is supposed to be) ?
How can I control my eating when I have impulse control issues?How do I leave a toxic relationship?Is skinny always considered a compliment? Is it possible to have a binge eating disorder but still be skinny? What is body dysmorphia?Can you be thin and have a binge eating disorder?Why can't I eat as much as I used to?Why can't I stop the wanting of throwing up my food? Why do I get bored of eating? I've been eating more than I used to lately, and it's making me even more anxious about myself. How can I stop being so stressed about gaining weight?