Hey guys! So I did tell you guys about my new book THE HUNGRY BRAIN.. Quite a while ago. LOL.
I promise I have been reading. Slowly, VERY SLOWLY, but surely. And I am going to do a little recap about what I have gotten from the book so far.
The book started off pretty slow, and kind of boring. I eventually started to skim through the parts I wasn't interested in. It was a little too detail and unnecessary for what I was/am looking to get out of this book.
1. There are two parts of the brain. There is one part that is fast, doesn't take effort to function, intuitive, and non-concious. This part of the brain is what takes over when we see and smell cookies baking. We go and eat! Haha. The second part of the brain is slower, takes some effort, rational, and conscious. This part takes over when we pause, and think whether the cookies are worth it.
2. Yummy food is very reinforcing. Meaning food is like a reward to the brain; and because the brain sees food as a reward the brain seeks out that reward. When you eat a pizza.. It tastes so amazing. So every time you pass a pizza parlor, you want pizza. The same thing happens when you don't like something. You eat something that is nasty. You remember that, and can possible feel sick when someone mentions it, or you smell it.
3. Repeated stimulation creates high priority. This means.. The more you reward yourself with food, the more you will continue down that path. Each time you eat your favorite food it spikes your dopamine levels. This creates those had to resist cravings.
4. Sugar, carbs, fats, and caffeine are the most addictive substances because they provoke dopamine release. The more dopamine release, the more reinforce behavior. All of this leads to a higher risk of "addiction."
5. You can control your cravings by avoiding any triggers, such as sight, smell and memory. This is almost impossible these days.. There is literally food EVERYWHERE! So you have to practice will power. So here are some of MY TIPS TO CONTROL CRAVINGS:
-Always have food with you, or eat before you leave.
-Eat good, healthy food that you like! If you don't enjoy salads.. Then don't eat them.
-Drink lots of water. A lot of times people think they are hungry, but they are really just dehydrated. You can also drink some zero calorie drinks.
6. People tend to eat more if the food is new and exciting. This one is weird to me... But I guess once you have had a certain kind of food you will naturally eat less of it. This reminds me of a time Tony and I had a cheat meal. We loved it so much that we decided to eat the same thing our next cheat me.. But it just wasn't as good the second time.. So I guess this is why people naturally eat less. Unless you are me and Tony.. We still eat a lot. LOL. #teamfluffy
7. "When food reward and variety decrease, so does food intake."
This is a quote from the book. I have always said to mix up your foods. Have fun with the kind of foods you eat. But the book is say the opposite. When you have a limited variety of food there is little reward, which will make you crave it less, therefore make you eat less. Hmm.. Interesting...
8. RELATIVE REINFORCING VALUR OF FOOD
This is how hard one is willing to work for food. People with a high RRVfood tend to gain for weight than those with a low RRVfood. People with high RRVfood can gain about 5lbs a year. People with low RRVfood will only can about 1/2lbs a year. That's quite a big difference. How hard are you willing to work for food?
9. Impulsivity: A person's ability/inability to suppress or ignore basic urges that are beyond conscious control. Are you an impulsive/emotionally eater? When you are sad do you go straight for the tub of ice cream? Or when you are extra happy do you decide to go out to eat?
10. One's LIVING ENVIRONMENT with food plays a huge role in overeating and/or gaining weight.
Surround yourself with healthy food and you will be more likely to eat better. Also, surround yourself with people who eat healthier (or at least support your eating habits).
I hope all this made sense. I took notes on things that I thought were relatable for the every day/average person. Please let me know your opinion on these notes. Do you struggle with any of it? Have you in the past and got passed it? If so, how did you overcome it? Please comment below or email me a kaylie.trainer@gmail.com. I would to love hear from you guys.