If you’ve ever felt trapped in the cycle of restriction, cravings, and guilt around food, this episode is for you. One of the most common questions I hear is:“If I stop restricting, won’t I gain all the weight back?” In this episode, I gently—but powerfully—unpack why that fear makes sense, and why restriction, control, and calorie-counting actually keep the nervous system stuck in protection mode, driving binge eating and cravings instead of lasting peace with food. Why Restriction Triggers Protection ModeWhen we restrict food—calories, carbs, sugar, or “bad foods”—the body experiences it as scarcity. And scarcity doesn’t create calm eating. It creates urgency, obsession, cravings, and binge responses. I explain how restriction signals the nervous system that resources are limited, activating the survival response to store, crave, and overconsume whenever possible. The Intuitive Eating TrapMany people jump into intuitive eating thinking, “No limits, all foods allowed—I’ll just listen to my body.” But when the nervous system is already in protection mode, cravings aren’t intuition—they’re survival signals. This creates a frustrating loop: you stop restricting, cravings intensify, you assume something is wrong, and you return to control. I explain why intuitive eating can feel chaotic at first without nervous system regulation—and why that doesn’t mean it doesn’t work. Mind Hunger vs. Body HungerA key teaching in this episode is learning to tell the difference between mind hunger and body hunger. Mind hunger is urgent, loud, emotionally driven, highly specific, and craves fast, high-calorie foods.Body hunger comes in waves, feels calm and spacious, isn’t emotionally charged, and is open to many options. I explain why reconnecting to body hunger takes practice, especially after years of dieting. Power Foods & The Scarcity LoopWhen a food is restricted, it becomes powerful. The donut. The ice cream. The chips. Restriction creates obsession, dopamine spikes, and emotional attachment. I walk you through a thought experiment: What happens when you give yourself full permission to eat that food, as much as you want, repeatedly? The answer is consistent—the food loses its power. Not through willpower, but because abundance dissolves scarcity. Abundance Is How You Take Your Power BackFreedom with food doesn’t come from tighter control. It comes from removing scarcity. When food is allowed, urgency fades, obsession quiets, cravings normalize, and choice returns. I also touch on oral fixation and why the need to constantly eat may not be hunger at all, but rooted in deeper nervous system patterns the body still remembers. Key Takeaways Restriction triggers survival mode Cravings aren’t intuition when the nervous system is dysregulated Mind hunger is urgent; body hunger is calm “Power foods” only have power because of restriction Abundance restores choice True food freedom comes from safety, not control Closing Reflection If you’ve ever feared that letting go of restriction would make everything spiral, you’re not broken. Your body has been protecting you the only way it knows how. Peace with food comes from restoring trust, safety, and abundance—one decision at a time. Book your FREE 30-minute Food Freedom Call now and start your journey to lasting change! Schedule here: https://sherryshabanfitness.com/clarity Stuck in cravings, stubborn weight, or unwanted eating? Download my free e-Book Calm The Hormones That Drive Cravings and reset your body naturally. Get Your FREE Guide Here: https://sherryshaban.com/hormones Listen to more episodes at www.makepeacewithfood.com/podcast or subscribe to me on Spotify, Podcast, and YouTube so you never miss an episode! Join my Facebook Community: www.myfoodfreedomlifestyle.com Work with me: www.sherryshaban.com/transform Go deeper: www.makepeacewithfood.com Share your biggest takeaway and tag me on Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, LinkedIn
