Have you ever felt so disappointed that you just gave up for a while? Maybe you turned to food for comfort, even though you knew it would only make you feel worse. That’s exactly what happened to Max.
After being turned down from a military post for being over the weight limit, Max was heartbroken. Food became his way of coping with disappointment and he started eating fast food for every meal. Two years later, the weight had piled on. Max was 200 pounds heavier, out of breath walking from the parking lot to his desk, and on medication for diabetes and high blood pressure.
Max’s story is one many of us can relate to. When life gets hard, we fall back on what feels familiar. For Max, eating was his way to escape pain. But deep down, he knew it was time for a change.
A Turning Point
When Max started working on his health, he decided to face his habits head-on. Together, we created a plan that focused on smaller portions, balanced meals, and daily movement. Max began swimming almost every day. At first, it was slow and tiring. But as the weeks went by, he found strength in the water.
Over the course of a year, Max lost 120 pounds. He no longer needed insulin or blood pressure medication. But the biggest change wasn’t physical—it was emotional. Max realized that food wasn’t the answer to rejection. By facing his feelings instead of feeding them, he learned new ways to cope and stay committed to his health.
Healing What’s Behind the Habit
If you’ve ever found yourself repeating the same patterns, you’re not alone. We often use habits like overeating, overworking, or avoiding emotions to protect ourselves from pain. But these comforting choices can keep us stuck. The first step to freedom is recognizing what you’re really trying to soothe and finding new ways to meet that need.
Ask yourself:
- What emotions trigger my old habits?
- What do I really need in those moments?
- How can I meet that need in a healthier way?
When you heal what’s behind the habit, you create space to live differently. Just like Max, you can let go of rejection and turn it into purpose, strength, and better health.
Your Turn
Take a moment this week to reflect on what old habits might still be holding you back. Remember, you don’t need to change everything at once, just begin with awareness. Every mindful choice you make moves you closer to the future you want.
Ready to Take the Next Step?
Ready to heal what’s behind your habits? Take our free Top Inner Roadblocks to Weight Loss Success Quiz to find out what’s been standing in your way.
Need a reminder that change is possible? Revisit Breaking the Curse of “I Can’t” and rediscover the confidence to keep moving forward.
Source:
Loughrey K. Happy Life at a Healthy Weight: Creating a Shame Free, Healthy Relationship with Food and Life. Authentic Wellness Publishing Company, LLC; 2024.
Zhana Ivanova
University of Maryland – Nutrition and Food Sciences
Kay Loughrey, MPH, RDN, LDN Transformational Speaker, Breakthrough Coach, Nutritionist-Dietitian
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Kay Loughrey, MPH, RDN, LDN is a licensed Nutritionist-Dietitian and a weight loss coach with 30+ years of experience in helping people lose weight and develop healthier relationships with food. She coaches her clients nationwide providing weight loss planning, video check-ins, and more. Schedule your free consultation.