Why you mourn overeating & how to heal your relationship with food
Reframing the Loss of Overeating: How to Find Joy in Food Again
Many people silently mourn the ability to eat freely, especially if they’ve had bariatric surgery, started weight loss medication like GLP-1s, or committed to a restrictive diet. Losing the ability (or desire) to eat large portions or certain “comfort” foods can feel like losing a friend. And that’s because, for many of us, food was a friend. It was comfort. It was support. It was a break from stress, a way to self-soothe, or a means of connection. So when that relationship changes, it can feel like grief.
It’s Not Just About Eating Less; It’s About Loss
You may no longer physically want the same amount of food, but emotionally, you still miss it. You miss the comfort, the ritual, the distraction. You might feel like something is missing from your life, and you’re not wrong.
If you’ve ever:
Used food to cope with emotions,
Rewarded yourself with snacks or takeaways,
Looked forward to meals as your main source of pleasure…
…then removing or reducing that habit can create a void.
Mourning the Loss of Overeating Is Normal
It’s important to know this: this feeling is valid. It’s part of the psychological side of weight loss that’s rarely talked about in diets or even in many clinical interventions. But it’s incredibly common—and incredibly human. The key to moving forward isn’t willpower. It’s reframing.
The Power of Reframing
Author Allen Carr famously helped people quit smoking and drinking not through fear, but by changing how they viewed the habit. He encouraged readers to stop seeing cigarettes or alcohol as “pleasurable” and start seeing them as harmful, unnecessary, and unpleasant.
We don’t believe food is bad—in fact, quite the opposite. Food is nourishment, joy, culture, and life. But when overeating becomes the main source of joy, something’s out of balance. That’s where reframing comes in.
Instead of seeing food as something you’ve “lost,” start seeing eating in a new light:
As an act of self-care
As a way to nourish your body
As a moment of mindful joy
As a chance to reconnect with yourself
Eat Less, Enjoy More
When you eat slowly, consciously, and with intention, you don’t need to eat as much to feel satisfied. You can enjoy every bite more deeply. You get full faster, and you’re still happy.
This is the core of the Eatiful Method. We teach people how to:
Eat slowly and mindfully
Tune into their hunger and fullness cues
Let go of food guilt
Rebuild a joyful, balanced relationship with food
No More Autopilot Eating
For many of us, overeating was automatic. A response to stress. A routine. A habit. Now, you have the opportunity to eat with awareness; and that’s a powerful shift.
Instead of:
Mindlessly eating in front of the TV,
Rushing meals between tasks,
Or eating until you’re uncomfortably full…
You can now choose to:
Plan meals you’re excited about
Make food beautiful and intentional
Eat slowly and savour every bite
Listen to your body as it tells you: that’s enough
Food Joy Isn’t Gone—It’s Just Different Now
Yes, it may feel like you’ve lost something. But what you’ve lost is a habit—not your joy of food. That joy is still there, waiting for you to rediscover it in a way that supports your health and your happiness.
You don’t have to grieve forever. You can:
✨ Replace old food rituals with new ones
✨ Learn to love food again—on your terms
✨ Trust your body to tell you what it really needs
At Eatiful, we’re here to guide you through this process—helping you move from regret and restriction to confidence and calm.
If you’re on a weight loss journey, especially with medication or after surgery, don’t let anyone tell you that your love for food has to end. It doesn’t. It just evolves. Let it be joyful. Let it be mindful. Let it be Eatiful. 💛
