From skwigg's journal:
Let's talk about diet brain. Liza mentioned in her journal about how those restrictive thoughts pop up even when they are no longer welcome or relevant.
Diet brain has trouble letting go. I practically had to stab it in the face to get it to stop. I know we are not supposed to resist or give attention to that which we don't want, but diet brain was not taking a hint, or a thousand hints. So our parting was more of a big dust up where I screamed, "Eff you! GET OUT!" and threw a plate at its head. Until I meant it ("it" being no more weight-loss mindset), it would "helpfully" chime in with suggestions about weighing less, eating less, and being less.
Some author, they all blur together, talks about your playlist of habitual thoughts, like your greatest hits. These are things that pop up automatically on repeat. Mine were all about weight, diet rules, and nutrition stats. Seeing them as something separate and stupid, like a bad mix tape you never want to hear again, takes a lot of their power away. You can make a new playlist about being strong, happy, powerful, kind, confident, healthy, etc., and that's so much more pleasant to listen to!
Now, when I step on a scale, or open a restaurant menu, or choose a workout, diet brain doesn't say a word! It's miraculous. Letting those thoughts loop unquestioned kept me trapped in that feeling of never being ok right now. Dieting was my default thought process. In quiet moments it would switch on. If I felt vaguely anxious, there was a diet thought for that. Inspired? Diet thought. Sad? Diet thought. It was my automatic reaction to everything. Ugh.
I wish I could properly describe what it's like now. Imagine if weight loss were no longer a deciding factor in what you eat or think. You still want to feel amazing, enjoy your food, and live an active life, so there are still decisions to be made, but they're more about mindfulness and satisfaction than the "eat less, move more, be very afraid" broken record.
The funny thing is that diet brain wasn't even working. Worrying about weight loss nonstop kept me eating like an idiot. Without it, I could finally build self-trust, cultivate an abundance mindset, and form some solid habits.
Thoughts? Do you struggle with diet brain? Anything you find helpful or difficult?