Choosing to eat: brain vs body

Just caught a Yoplait cheesecake commercial. Seen it? We observe a woman drooling over a beautiful cheesecake within the work fridge. Her mind’s debating dialogue tries to rationalize having a small, medium, or large slice. With each slice she considers ways to absolve her sin:

  • eat it with celery
  • give in because she deserves it
  • run in place

There are millions of reasons why I stopped and rewound the commercial.  The obvious comical undertones bring to light a very common eating choice experience. What is missing from the conversation? Instead of just thinking, I wish the woman considered how she was experiencing:

  • What does my body need right now?
  • Am I hungry?
  • What is drawing me to this food? Future physical satisfaction or a feeling of entitlement?

In the end, the torn woman compliments a coworker on her weight loss and she observes the coworker pick yogurt. Using her head, she thinks she could be worthy of peer envy too if she choose the diet food.


My Food Youtopia Principle: instead of arguing in your brain about a food choice including food cravings, stop. Go within. Check how you are experiencing your body. Ask it what it needs. Then trust it to lead you to health.

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