For many, the journey with food and body image is long and winding—littered with failed diets and guilt-laden binges because you failed again in the relentless pursuit of a shape we’ve been conditioned to believe is “ideal.” Eating everything in sight to fulfil a hunger that is never satisfied no matter what you feed it. Weightwatchers, Noom, keto, carnivore, plant based, lose 10lb in 10 days, fast, cleanse. Start over detox teas, shakes, cabbage soup….. We try everything in desperation yet despite the booming weight loss industry, most diets fail in the long term. And we are left confused, overwhelmed by all the conflicting advice and no longer knowing where to turn because nothing works.
Why Diets Don’t Work
Scientific research is clear: 95–98% of dieters regain the weight they lose within 1–5 years (Mann et al., 2007). Diets are not sustainable because they trigger a biological and psychological backlash. When we restrict food, the body senses famine. It responds by slowing metabolism, increasing cravings, and amplifying the psychological obsession with food. This is not failure—this is survival. Food is hardwired into the human brain as a source of life. Hunger is not a weakness; it is a primal, intelligent signal. But the diet cycle comes with failure, blame and shame. And food is often the comfort for this failure, for many it has become the soother and, in a world, full of well marketed ultra processed foods that deliver the right combination of addictive ingredients, it is no wonder our mind drives us to eat the very thing that got us into this situation in the first place. Yet we know what is healthy and what is unhealthy so why are we driven to self-sabotage, why can’t we stick to our goals?
Why Do We Eat When We’re Not Hungry?
We eat for far more than physical hunger. Food becomes a coping mechanism for:
- Emotional regulation: eating when sad, anxious, lonely, or bored.
- Reward and celebration: conditioned associations with joy, success, or comfort.
- Fear of hunger: especially after repeated restriction, we eat in anticipation of future deprivation.
- Cultural and familial beliefs: “don’t waste food,” “clean your plate,” “Eat up or….”
Diets don’t address why we eat. Emotional eating is common and deeply rooted in the subconscious. We eat because:
- We’re stressed, sad, lonely, bored, or celebrating
- We’ve learned food = comfort, reward, love
- We’re disconnected from our inner hunger and satiety cues
- Without healing the inner landscape, no external plan will stick.
This behaviour is not a sign of brokenness. It’s a sign of survival strategy, adaptation, and unmet emotional needs. Your body, with all its cravings, hungers, and patterns, is not your enemy—it is your most faithful ally and it’s only trying to protect you by soothing your discomfort.
Weight, Health, and the Body Beyond Appearance
Carrying excess body fat can sometimes increase the risk for certain health conditions like Type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, sleep apnea, and joint strain (CDC, 2023). But weight is not the sole determinant of health. Many people in larger bodies live long, vibrant lives, while others in thinner bodies may struggle with illness. The real issue isn’t fat—it’s inflammation, insulin resistance, sedentary lifestyle, and chronic stress.
Moreover, weight stigma itself is a major health risk. Studies show that shame-based approaches to weight increase cortisol, lead to disordered eating, and discourage people from seeking medical care (Puhl & Heuer, 2009). True wellness is not about punishing your body into thinness—it’s about supporting it into vitality, however that may look and feel for you.
When we view our bodies through this multi-faceted lens, we see that every craving, every hunger pang, and every moment of perceived weakness is actually a profound message. It invites us to explore not just the physical realm, but the emotional, mental, and spiritual dimensions of our being.
Our bodies are complex systems, finely tuned to seek balance and homeostasis. When our dietary choices are influenced by external stressors or internal emotional turbulence, our body’s biochemical responses, such as the release of cortisol and insulin, reflect this disharmony. These responses can lead to inflammation and metabolic shifts, making it vital to address the root causes rather than the symptoms alone.
Empathetically, our eating patterns are often cries for help, echoes of unmet needs, and strategies for coping. By acknowledging these patterns without judgment, we create a space for healing and transformation. It’s about understanding that our bodies are not at war with us, but rather, they are communicating in the only way they know how.
Spiritually, food is more than sustenance. It is a sacred connection to the Earth, an act of self-love, and a reflection of our relationship with ourselves and the world around us, it’s nourishment. By approaching food with mindfulness and gratitude, we can transform our relationship with nourishment into one that honours our holistic well-being.
Hypnotherapy: Rewiring Your Relationship with Food
Hypnotherapy is a powerful way to address the subconscious roots of eating behaviours. Unlike willpower, which resides in the conscious mind (only 5–10% of brain function), hypnosis works directly with the subconscious—the realm of belief, habit, and emotional memory.
Through hypnotherapy, we can:
- Uncover and heal the emotional drivers behind eating patterns.
- Reprogram limiting beliefs about food, weight, and self-worth.
- Reconnect to the body’s wisdom—its hunger, fullness, needs, and signals.
- Create a new story around nourishment, one rooted in respect, compassion, and sovereignty.
This is not about control—it’s about communion.
Your Body Is Not a Problem to Be Solved
It is a brilliant system of self-regulation, always seeking balance. When we tune into its signals instead of silencing them, we shift from self-abandonment to self-partnership. Your hunger really does tell a story.
Final Thoughts: Reclaiming Body Sovereignty
Sovereignty means the right to rule oneself. It’s time to reclaim your body as your own—free from shame, free from diet culture, free from war. You are worthy of deep care, respect and kindness and it is time to honour yourself with the reverence and respect you deserve. Through hypnotherapy, presence, and embodied awareness, you can release the old programming and come home to yourself.
You are not broken.
You are becoming.
If you are ready to reset and live more consciously with your body, I offer hypnotherapy sessions that gently support you to:
Reset your relationship with your body and food
Reconnect to your inner compass so you can achieve your health goals
Honor and nourish the skin you are in
This is body sovereignty
Email me on kirsty@thelastknownwilderness.com for more information
The Last Known Wilderness 
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