Ep. 331 Hunger Habit: Impact of Lifestyle, Self-Talk and Trauma with Dr. Jud Brewer

Today, I have the pleasure of reconnecting with the incredible Dr. Jud Brewer, who was previously on the podcast in June 2020 in episode 99. Dr. Brewer is an internationally recognized addiction psychiatrist and neuroscientist. He is also a professor at Brown University and a former TEDx speaker, with his talk in 2016 amassing over 19 million views. In our conversation, we discuss his latest book, The Hunger Habit, and explore many subjects, from the differences between homeostatic and hedonistic hunger to detachment from body awareness. We look at self-talk, self-judgment, and dopamine survival mechanisms, addressing issues like stress-eating and comfort-eating within the context of the food and reward system. Dr. Jud also shares his perspective on macro tracking, explaining why he does not endorse it, and he introduces his 21-Day Challenge, emphasizing the need to build awareness around our habits and be present. Lastly, we dive into how trauma impacts binge eating, touching on adverse childhood events and effective ways to reflect on our past experiences and how they affect our current behavior. Dr. Jud's wealth of knowledge and insights offer a fresh perspective on the interplay between our habits, mental well-being, and relationship with food. Stay tuned! IN THIS EPISODE YOU WILL LEARN: What is the difference between hedonic hunger and homeostatic hunger? The evolutionary survival mechanisms that drive human eating behaviors How our self-talk impacts our eating habits and body image Why we cannot depend on willpower to change our behavior Dr. Jud shares his concerns about macronutrient tracking Dr. Jud discusses the simple three-step process to healthier weight loss he outlined in The Hunger Habit How the brain learns and remembers How past traumas and adverse childhood events can lead to binge eating How self-awareness allows us to create healthier eating habits Connect with Cynthia Thurlow Follow on Twitter, Instagram & LinkedIn Check out Cynthia’s website Submit your questions to support@cynthiathurlow.com Connect with Dr. Jud Brewer Website Instagram and Twitter TEDx Talk: A Simple Way to Break a Bad Habit Episode 99: How To Change Bad Habits – with Dr. Jud Brewer