Changing Unhealthy Habits of Eating - A Conversation between Tara and Judson Brewer
Jan 25, 2024
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Tara and Judson Brewer discuss mindfulness and habit change to overcome unhealthy eating habits. They explore the origin of 'The Hunger Habit' book, understanding unhealthy eating habits, reflection and inquiry, the power of awareness and social support, and the role of shame in these habits.
Cultivating mindfulness and curiosity can help individuals break the cycle of unhealthy eating habits by exploring underlying reasons behind cravings and developing self-compassion.
Seeking social support and nurturing relationships can provide the necessary understanding and encouragement to overcome unhealthy eating habits.
Disenchantment with old behaviors and reflecting on habits in rear view mirror moments are crucial for breaking habits and fostering lasting change.
Deep dives
Understanding the Hunger Habit
The podcast episode explores the relationship between mindfulness, habit change, and unhealthy eating habits. Dr. Judson Brewer, a scientist and author, shares his personal journey and discusses how combining mindfulness practice with an understanding of habit change science can help individuals overcome unhealthy eating patterns. The episode also delves into societal influences on overconsumption and the shame associated with eating behaviors.
The Power of Awareness in Breaking Habits
The podcast highlights the importance of awareness in breaking the cycle of unhealthy eating habits. It emphasizes the need to pause and recognize the triggers, behaviors, and rewards associated with these habits. By cultivating mindfulness and curiosity, individuals can explore the underlying reasons behind their cravings, challenge unhelpful stories or beliefs, and develop greater self-compassion. The episode also emphasizes the role of kindness and nurturing in supporting the process of habit change.
Social Support and the Path to Healing
The podcast emphasizes the significance of social support in the journey of overcoming unhealthy eating habits. It discusses how nurturing relationships and a sense of belonging can provide the necessary support and understanding needed to break free from these habits. The episode encourages individuals to seek connection within communities, finding sources of compassion and encouragement that can act as a bridge towards self-acceptance and growth. Ultimately, it emphasizes the importance of meeting needs rather than feeding wants in fostering lasting change.
Becoming Disenchanted with Old Behaviors
Disenchantment with old behaviors is critical for change. The brain naturally recognizes when something is no longer rewarding and prompts us to question whether we still want to engage in that behavior. This process of becoming disenchanted is key to breaking habits. It is important to feel the results of our behaviors in order to change them as our feeling body is stronger than our thinking brain. By discerning that a behavior is no longer rewarding, we can let go of it without relying on willpower.
Reflecting on Rear View Mirror Moments
Reflecting on habits and behaviors in rear view mirror moments helps us learn from our experiences. These moments occur after engaging in a behavior and allow us to recall and analyze how rewarding or unsatisfying it was. By paying attention and reflecting on these moments, we can learn from them and gradually change our habits. The Buddha's teachings on pre-reflection and post-reflection align with modern scientific findings on the importance of awareness in behavior change. These reflective practices enable us to let go of behaviors that no longer serve us and make new choices.
Changing Unhealthy Habits of Eating - A Conversation between Tara and Judson Brewer - Countless people live with shame and distress about their eating. Dr. Judson Brewer, scientist, professor and author of “The Hunger Habit” (https://drjud.com/the-hunger-habit/) and many other groundbreaking books, is a thought leader in the field of habit change. He’s also a decades long practitioner of mindfulness, and a dear colleague and friend. In this conversation we explore how combining mindfulness practice with a basic understanding of habit change science can free us from unhealthy eating habits. We also look at the larger societal forces that drive overconsumption, as well as the shame that eating behaviors can evoke.
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