Food Porn

I've noticed several postings on Facebook with pictures of cupcakes, burgers, pizza, etc.  With comments like "Food Porn."  Ha!  That's catchy.  It made me think, "What is it about these foods that make it feel deliciously sinful?"  One has to explore the pleasure associated with food as well as the idea of these pleasure foods being sinful. 

Foods with unhealthy fat and processed sugar, trigger our dopamine receptors to where we momentarily feel good.  A recent study found that over time, it takes more and more of these foods to get the same effect.  Hence, ADDICTION.  In addition, when these foods are eaten quickly it doesn't give our brain enough time to tell our body (or the hand with the fork) "STOP." There is also a high risk of overeating or craving these foods when stressed.  Why?  It goes back to that dopamine.  We need to feel good or escape.  So that quick fix of a chocolate candy bar will fix all our problems, right?  Sure, it tastes good.......but then what? 

Why is it a "sin" to have these foods?  We are bombarded daily with diets that exclude all these foods.  At the same time, we are fed mouth watering images of these foods that make you want to jump in your car and go buy it!  Oh, the turmoil!  So it's a sin to give in to this temptation, right?  Well, what if you didn't exclude these foods?  What if you told yourself, you could have these foods anytime you want?  Sound crazy?

Deprivation sets you up for backlash.  Try closing your eyes for 2 minutes and think about anything but Pizza.  You can't even think about the smell of Pizza.  Don't even consider all those Pizza places you visited while you were a kid or on vacation.  Omit the idea of ordering the biggest Pizza you could ever order.  There is not room to think about the toppings you would put on Pizza.  Can't think about thin crust, thick crust, or stuffed crust Pizza.  No little men in togas running around saying, "Pizza Pizza."  Or that camp song about Kentucky Fried Chicken and Pizza Hut.  Calzones are considered Pizza as well.  No bagel bites because that's Pizza too.  What about those healthy salad Pizzas....no that is still Pizza.  Bread, cheese, marinara sauce....Pizza.  Any combination of that is Pizza.  Unless you do that White Pizza without the sauce.....but you can't think of that either because it's still Pizza.   

Well....2 minutes later.....did you think about Pizza?  My guess is that the thought crossed your mind. :) 

Our thoughts become actions.  "Don't" doesn't register.  We only manifest the actual product.  Don't eat Pizza, all we can think about is eating Pizza.  Ever notice when you tell a child NOT to do something......you turn around....they do it!  Doesn't change when we get older. 

Deprivation = Fear.  Replace fear with Security.  Tell your body that it can have whatever it wants. PAUSE before you give into the craving.  You don't have to have pizza if you are not hungry.  You can always have pizza later when you are hungry.  PAUSE.  That may even give you time to consider maybe even making a healthy version of that pizza.  Bonus!

Now that is power back in your hands!