Is All Food Noise Bad?

Is all food noise bad?

I think we've reached a point where almost any thought or feeling around food can get labeled as food noise, and once it receives that label, there's an assumption that it needs to go away.

I think there's more nuance to it than that.

If you've spent years or even decades dealing with thoughts about food that came with anxiousness, guilt, shame, or a constant mental tug of war, finally experiencing some quiet can be an enormous relief.

If you're taking a GLP-1 and you're experiencing that relief right now, I think you should give yourself permission to enjoy it. You don't immediately have to turn that quiet into another self-improvement project. Take the time you need.

But eventually, I think there's another question worth considering.

Do you actually want to have no thoughts or feelings around food forever?

Thinking about food isn't inherently a problem. Hunger cues, wanting something to eat, enjoying food, remembering to eat and drink, and recognizing what your body needs can all involve thoughts and feelings around food. Current expert discussions similarly distinguish normal food thoughts from persistent, unwanted or disruptive thoughts.

In this episode, I talk about why I think the Food Noise conversation needs more nuance, especially as it has become closely connected to GLP-1 medications.

You don't have to be afraid of every thought about food. And you don't have to rush yourself into rebuilding habits simply because the noise has gotten quieter.

The bigger goal is figuring out what relationship with food works for you while building a lifestyle you can enjoy for the long run.

If you want to continue the conversation around food noise, join the Your Level Fitness live streams:

yourlevelfitness.com/stream