Instead of saying, ‘Oh, no, I screwed up.’ I go, ‘Oh, well, that didn’t work.’
-Washington Post
Next time you reach for a sweet or a snack, ask yourself these questions: Am I really hungry or just having a craving? Am I bored or sad? How will eating that food make me feel?
Judson Brewer, a neuroscientist offers this guidance as part of a 21-day strategy to conquer habitual eating
and instead learn to listen to your body’s cues. These questions, Brewer says, help people focus on what they actually need, vs. what they want.
We recently spoke with Dr. Brewer about his new book, “The Hunger Habit: Why We Eat When We’re Not Hungry, and How to Stop.” He shared how his plan can help with
habits like stress and binge eating, as well as the role of willpower and curiosity in changing habits. Here’s what he had to say.
What role does willpower play in the effort to improve eating habits?
“From a neuroscience standpoint, willpower is not even part of the equation when it comes to behavior change,” said Brewer.
“The dominant paradigm is that people feel like they just need more willpower,” said
Brewer. “And so every six months, there’s a new theme, whether it’s a new diet or a new plan or a new this or that that requires willpower. People feel ashamed of themselves because they feel like there’s something wrong with them.”
Simply knowing what we “should” be doing is also often not enough to make us
change behavior either. Brewer notes that we’ve all been inundated with messages that fresh, whole, minimally processed foods and regular exercise are the foundations of health, yet so many of us continue to struggle.
“The knowing is not enough because that’s not where behavior change happens,” Brewer said.
“The feeling is where behavior change happens and so we have to actually get reacquainted with — I would say, reconnected with — our bodies and then start listening to them....Read More
