Why does food taste good? Why do we think about food?  Why can we be eating one meal, while already thinking about and planning the next one?  Because eating is a function of survival, and our brains are highly sensitive to the food supply.

Within our brains is an ancient motivational system that evolved at a time when food was scarce. This motivational system subconsciously motivates us to go and get food, particularly survival-promoting foods (sugar, fat, and salt!).  

The collision of this ancient system with our modern food environment can drive eating more calories than we need and contribute to weight gain. When we eat tasty foods, a signal is sent to the brain that encourages us to eat more of them. We learn to associate cues in our environment with these foods which then generates wanting after repeated associations. Wanting is also known as an urge, desire, or craving that exists in our subconscious and can lead to overeating. 

Typically, we're not at risk of wanting all day long.  There are high-risk times during the day when wanting hits us!  When you experience wanting, ask yourself, what are the cues, places, times, and settings that have been repeatedly associated with overeating and/or tasty foods? Learning to manage wanting and high-risk times can improve weight loss outcomes. 

If you want to learn more on how to manage wanting and high-risk times, schedule a call to speak to our weight management experts at MWM!