346: Why Are We Struggling to Lose Weight and How It Ties to Food Addiction? w/ Dr. Susan Peirce Thompson

If You Are Ready to Lose Weight and Overcome Food Addiction, You Should: Ditch the processed foods and sugars that we all know are not serving us Work towards the goal of ‘3 Meal Magic’ by creating a routine and structure around your food Know that you are not alone and work with an expert to help find a sustainable plan for you Despite the fact that almost 50% of Americans try to lose weight every year, our country is in the midst of an obesity epidemic. The truth is, there is a scientific reason why we experience chemical dependency around certain foods. The good news is that with the right mindset and program to support you, you can shed that stubborn weight and get over your food addiction for good. The Psychology of Eating With Dr. Susan Peirce Thompson Susan Peirce Thompson, Ph.D ., is an Adjunct Associate Professor of Brain and Cognitive Sciences at the University of Rochester and an expert in the psychology of eating. After her own addiction struggles, Dr. Thompson dedicated herself and her research to the neuroscience of eating and the psychology of food addiction. She is President of the Institute for Sustainable Weight Loss and the founder of the worldwide Bright Line Eating movement. Her first two books, including “Bright Line Eating: The Science of Living Happy, Thin, and Free,” became New York Times bestsellers and instant Hay House favorites. Food Addiction is Addiction Food addiction runs on the same brain circuits that drug and alcohol addiction do. Even if you don't feel as though you have a food addiction, the processed foods that are so prevalent in our society are chemically altered to be addictive. In fact, ⅔ of the food that the kids and adolescents are eating today falls under ‘ultra processed’. These chemically addictive foods, combined with the breakdown of meal structures and our reliance on willpower, are setting our communities up for failure when it comes to losing that stubborn weight and taking back power over the snacks. Finding Your Way to Food Freedom Dr. Thompson’s Bright Line Program is designed to help you rewire your brain around what you eat, what you don't eat, and how you structure your meals. By thinking of eating in the same way you brush your teeth, you can transition your body from food addiction to food freedom. Food is a major player in all of our healing journeys. If you are ready to let go of that weight that isn't serving you, break your cycle of food addiction, and find a sustainable way to keep that weight off, Dr. Thompson is the expert you need to hear from. Do you or someone you love struggle with addiction? Share how addiction, food, or otherwise has played a role in your healing journey with me in the comments section of the episode page. In This Episode Learn about the neurochemistry of addiction, both food-related and generally (9:46) Why we have such a massive obesity epidemic in our country today (12:26) The problem with relying on willpower to address your food addiction (20:13) What you can do to break the cycle of food addiction through meal scheduling (24:55) How to rewire how your brain works around any addiction in your life, not just food (30:07) Resources Mentioned: Use Promo Code ‘podcast’ for 10% Off Your Order at the Essentially Whole Store Food Freedom Quiz Bright Line Eating Other Resources: Check out the full show notes page Keep up with everything Dr. Mariza Follow Dr. Mariza on Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Youtube Podcast production & marketing support by the team at Counterweight Creative