Obsessing... about food

I thought one day I would be free

Of these thoughts - that trap me

Surely they would end

When I reach a certain weight

Or when I fit into my jeans

Then I’d no longer need to worry

About what to eat and being seen

By friends who might judge me

But these thoughts just won’t go away

In fact they are making things worse day by day

I think these feelings of never being good enough

Are here to stay

I worry about if food will make me fat

And if I will eat like a “normal” person one day

Yet as I think about food all of the time

I can’t resist giving in to a treat - it will make me feel better I say

Yet I’m crying myself to sleep, feeling bad most of my life

After binge eating one more time

Or using food to cope with sadness

And maybe boredom and wishes to be

Stress-free, I think I may be depressed

This food seems like a poisonous cure

To everything that’s troubling me

I wonder if one day

I can stop obsessing about food all of the time

Save some energy for my dreams, for my goals, for my life

Use my thoughts to focus on the good things

To enjoy time with my family and my friends

But for now this seems like a distant hope

Right now I don’t know how to bring this vicious cycle to an end.

Everyone that I work with tells me that their lives have been taken over by thoughts about food. In fact, most people worry about the food that they are eating. Whether this involves obsessing over food, worrying about food choices or what food is available or thinking a lot about needing to be on a diet/losing weight - so many people use up so much of their time and energy worrying about food. This of course is not their fault! The public message on weight loss and obesity is one which actually encourages this kind of obsessive behaviour. By telling people that all they have to do is “eat less and exercise more” - everyone feels to blame and that they have to exercise their willpower to restrict their food consumption.

There is however a much easier way to get healthy which also can free you from obsessing about food. Our goal at The Food Psychology Clinic is to ensure that you do not need to spend your time worrying about food - we want you to be happy and healthy but also free from obsessive and negative thoughts about food and eating. If you are interested in finding out more please email info@thefoodpsychologyclinic.co.uk to book in a free 20 minute consultation.