54: Consistency Trumps Intensity

The Dr. Carolyn Coker Ross Show: Binge Eating Disorder, Stress Eating, Emotional Eating, Food Addiction

Consistency trumps intensity and novelty. What does that mean? I hear over and over how my patients are able to stick with a new (novel) eating plan, exercise routine, or (fill in the blank) for only a short time then they are off to something new (novel). Many tend to gravitate towards dramatic or intense new ways of eating or being physically active (ex. CrossFit). They feel pumped up by a new diet or by a new way to "lose belly fat," for example.

If you've experienced toxic stress in childhood, your brain is also likely to crave not just sweets but intensity and novelty. You may not feel like you're not working out enough unless you're dripping in sweat and sore all over. Why? Because what your brain is craving is the same thing it gets from starting a new/novel fad diet or eating emotionally - a spike in the feel-good brain chemical - dopamine. "If you've experienced toxic stress in childhood, your brain is also likely to crave not just sweets but intensity and novelty."

DISCUSSED ON THE PROGRAM:

FREE MEDITATIONS – bit.ly/crossmd

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES:

Check out my TEDxPleasantGrove talk on Intergenerational trauma here: https://youtu.be/ljdFLCc3RtM

To schedule a free consult with Dr. Ross – https://AnchorProgram.com