Lately, I’ve been really intentional about stepping away from weight loss as a goal. Not because I don’t want to lose weight eventually… but because I finally understand something huge:
If I don’t rewire my brain first, any weight I lose will just come right back.
My brain has been wired since childhood to use food for comfort. Full stop. End of story. And until I address that, I can diet all I want, but nothing will change long-term.
So right now, I’m focusing on two things:
Consistency
and
Mindful eating.
These are the two areas I’ve struggled with the most—especially when life gets chaotic.
Thanksgiving Was the Test… and My Brain Wanted Comfort Food SO Badly
Thanksgiving break last week was rough in all the ways that usually send me spiraling:
- Family gatherings
- Cooking and planning
- Hosting friends
- Kids home all day
- Sensory overload
- Stress
- Noise
- Emotional tension
And, of course, a big one: my husband and I weren’t getting along.
In the past, any one of these things would have been enough to push me straight into a binge.
But this year, I made myself a promise:
No matter what happens, stay consistent with mindful eating.
Not perfect. Not restrictive. Just consistent.
Because here’s the truth:
Food doesn’t solve any of those problems.
Not the stress.
Not the overwhelm.
Not the noise.
Not the fighting.
Not the exhaustion.
If anything, it makes everything worse because afterward comes the anxiety, the guilt, the bloating, and the crash.
So This Year, I Did Something Different
Even through all the chaos, I slowed down.
I listened to my body.
I ate when I was hungry.
I stopped when I was satisfied — not stuffed.
I even did that at the Thanksgiving meal.
No seconds.
No rushing.
And yes, I had pie.
But I actually enjoyed the pie. I savored it without guilt, without fear, without using it as a shield to block out my feelings.
And the most shocking part?
I didn’t binge even once.
I truly don’t think that has ever happened to me on a holiday. Maybe not since I was little.
Rewiring My Brain, One Thought at a Time
The real work wasn’t the eating — it was the thinking.
There were moments where my thoughts said:
“Just eat the leftover pie. It’s in the fridge.”
Old me would’ve either fought the thought using willpower (and lost)…
or obeyed it instantly.
But this time, I watched it.
I didn’t argue with it.
I didn’t shame it.
I didn’t cling to it.
I just observed:
Do I actually want pie right now?
And the answer was an immediate, solid no.
So I had a coconut bar instead — something that tastes amazing to me, satisfies me, and doesn’t make my blood sugar crash or leave me bloated like pie does.
It wasn’t about choosing the “healthy” option.
It was about choosing what I actually wanted.
I’m Not Focusing on What I Eat — I’m Focusing on How and Why
This is the foundation I never built before.
This — the slowing down, the emotional awareness, the consistency, the self-trust — is the work that prevents binges.
This is the work that heals.
This is the work that allows the weight to release naturally later, without forcing it, without punishing myself, and without white-knuckling through cravings.
Right now, I’m not counting calories.
I’m not restricting.
I’m not trying to be perfect.
I’m not chasing a number on a scale.
I’m fixing the fundamentals I’ve ignored for years.
Because when my why is in the wrong place, my how will always follow.
And that’s exactly why the binges happen.
So this season of my life is about:
✨ Choosing consistency over perfection
✨ Eating mindfully, not mindlessly
✨ Listening to my body, not my stress
✨ Rewiring my brain with patience rather than force
✨ Being gentle but firm with myself
✨ Building trust again, one meal at a time
And honestly?
It feels like the first time I’m truly making progress.
chaosandcarrots.blog 
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