Have you ever felt like food was in control of you? Like the cookies in the pantry were calling your name, and no matter how much you resisted, you always ended up giving in? If so, you’re not alone. I spent years feeling like food had some sort of power over me—that I was stuck in a cycle of stress eating, emotional eating, and bingeing, completely at the mercy of my cravings. But here’s the truth: You are in charge. You can take back your power from food.
The Illusion of Control
When you’re deep in the habit of emotional or binge eating, it can feel impossible to stop. It’s like food enters your mind, and suddenly, you can’t focus on anything else. The urge takes over, and before you know it, you’re knee-deep in snacks, feeling out of control. But what if I told you that control is always yours? That the power to choose is always in your hands—even when it doesn't feel that way?
I remember the moment this realization hit me. I was standing in my kitchen, shoveling Teddy Grahams into my mouth after my kids went to bed, just like I had done so many nights before. And for the first time, I paused. What am I doing? I asked myself. Do I really want to do this? That pause, that moment of awareness, was the beginning of everything shifting for me. Because once I acknowledged the habit, I could begin to change it.
Recognizing Your Patterns
Emotional eating, stress eating, binge eating—it’s all deeply ingrained. Many of us learned to turn to food for comfort as kids, and over time, it became an automatic response. I used to get off the school bus and sneak food in the kitchen as a way to cope with being teased, feeling different, feeling not enough. Maybe your habit started in childhood, or maybe it developed later in life as a way to manage stress, loneliness, or boredom.
The key to change is curiosity and compassion. Instead of shaming yourself for reaching for food when you’re not physically hungry, try asking:
What am I feeling right now?
What do I really need in this moment?
Am I choosing this, or is this just a habit?
By checking in with yourself, you interrupt the autopilot response. And in that pause, you get to choose.
The Power of Choice
The truth is, food isn’t in control—you are. Even if it doesn’t feel like it right now, you have the power to make different choices. But it starts with being willing to see the possibility.
Maybe you’re not ready to fully believe that you’re in control yet. That’s okay. Just start with a willingness to consider the idea. Next time you find yourself in front of the pantry or reaching for food out of stress, pause. Just for a second. Ask yourself if this is what you truly want. That moment of awareness is everything.
And remember, this isn’t about perfection. There’s no failing here. Every time you pause, every time you check in with yourself, you’re strengthening your ability to make choices that align with how you truly want to feel.
You Are in Charge
If you take away one thing from this, let it be this: You are in charge. Not the diet industry, not old habits, not stress. You. And that’s an incredibly powerful thing.
So the next time food feels like it’s in control, remind yourself—you are the one making the choices. You can choose differently, one small step at a time.
If this resonates with you and you’re ready to reclaim your power with food, let’s talk. Book a connection call with me, and let’s take the next step together.
You are not alone in this. And you have more power than you think.
Listen to the full podcast episode for more insights and strategies. And don’t forget to follow the podcast so you never miss an episode!
xo,
Amy English
Creator & Coach | Fat2Fierce®
Empowering women to reclaim their power with food and find peace with their bodies.
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