Kristina here, CEO of the Institute for the Psychology of Eating.  Recently, I had an interesting experience on social media, after coming across a headline from NPR warning about a potential asteroid hitting Earth in 2032. (Scientists estimate there’s just a 1% chance of it hitting, so nothing to worry too much about.) What was… The post Transforming the Cynicism of the World appeared first on Institute for the Psychology of Eating ..read more

If you’re of a certain age, you’ve probably noticed that young people – teenagers, especially – have a strong need for approval from others.  Young adults want to fit in and feel accepted, a natural desire that is part of our normal developmental process at this stage of life. Feeling that we belong helps us… The post Letting Go of the Need for Approval from Others appeared first on Institute for the Psychology of Eating ..read more

Jill, 44, wants a new relationship with food – one where she can enjoy a more easygoing, intuitive way of eating. She’d like eating to be fun and lighthearted, and feel satiated after a great meal.  But her dreamy new relationship with food seems so very far away. Jill has an intense desire for food… The post Trusting Ourselves with Food & Pleasure appeared first on Institute for the Psychology of Eating ..read more

Food is intended to be our source of nourishment, but all too often it can feel like a losing battle.  Perhaps you’ve been struggling with your weight, and why it’s so hard to lose it – or keep it off. Or maybe you binge or emotionally eat, and are frustrated that you can’t stop these… The post Does Food Hold Power Over You? – In Session with Marc David appeared first on Institute for the Psychology of Eating ..read more

Negative body image is something that so many of us struggle with – regardless of our nationality, age, or background. It almost seems to be part of the human condition, something that is innate to our journey here on Earth. But is it, really?  While not liking our body – or constantly trying to achieve… The post Healing a Negative Body Image by Embracing Your “Enoughness” – In Session with Marc David appeared first on Institute for the Psychology of Eating ..read more

Perhaps more than any other food group, carbohydrates can really freak people out. You might say, carbs are one of the world’s great nutritional “hang-ups.”  And a big reason for this is we’ve been told carbohydrates will make us … fat. Eat the wrong kinds, too much, and too often, and you’ll be popping the… The post Our Beliefs About Carbohydrates: How They Freak Us Out & Make Us Fat appeared first on Institute for the Psychology of Eating ..read more

Many of us struggle with emotional eating. And that’s because food is a reliable way to manage our unwanted emotions. Think: Bored. Stressed. Lonely. Angry. Anxious.  When we’re experiencing difficult emotions, it’s natural to turn to food.  But here’s something that’s also common: some of us label ourselves as emotional eaters, when that’s not actually the case.  For some of us, something else altogether is going on: We just LOVE food. A lot. The truth is, some of us love food so much that we don’t know how to contain ourselves.  We overdo it because we love it so much. In ..read more

For those of us who struggle with weight, are in a battle with food, or who have ongoing anxiety around eating, it’s no secret that these unwanted food and body challenges can have a myriad of possible causes. Well, one of the more overlooked causes is something that many of us experienced when we were young: Having an absentee parent. This can mean: A parent who was never there, or was seldom there, or who came into and out of life in an erratic way. A parent who was around, but was emotionally absent and didn’t really show up for us in a meaningful way.  Spending time in foster care, o ..read more

Ever hear the phrase “health is wealth?”  For many people, we don’t quite recognize how valuable our health is until we find illness or injury knocking. Enjoying robust health is truly the foundation of a happy, fulfilled, and connected life. But it’s also true that worrying about our health, or being vigilant about every aspect of our diet and lifestyle, can actually take us in the opposite direction of vitality – as Marc David, host of the Psychology of Eating Podcast, explores with 53-year old Daniela.  Daniela’s health anxieties – like many people – were born at a young age.  ..read more

A suprising fact about the weight loss universe is that despite so many built-in difficulties, plenty of people have success. So often, we do actually lose the weight, we hit our target number – or come close to it, we celebrate, we feel good, we fit into our clothes, and life is finally great. We did it. But then, something happens. Somehow, the weight we lost finds its way back home.  Our efforts worked, but only for a brief time. If this sounds at all familiar to you, you’ve probably asked the question, “Why does the weight come back on? And what can I do to ensure that this unwanted r ..read more