Food Noise - Is food taking up too much of your brain space? Olivia Oneid
Food Noise - Is food taking up too much of your brain space?
Guest Post - Olivia Oneid
Have you ever noticed how food can feel loud?
Not literally, but in your head. That constant chatter:
“What should I eat next?”
“Did I eat too much?”
“I can’t stop thinking about chocolate.”
That’s food noise. And it’s exhausting.
Here’s the truth → food noise isn’t about a lack of willpower. It usually comes from three things:
Under-eating – your body is literally begging for fuel, and it usually comes in the form of quick foods you can get your hands on
Over-restriction – labelling foods as “good” or “bad” makes them louder in your mind.
Lack of structure – when every meal feels like a last-minute decision, food thoughts pile up.
The good news? You can quiet the noise. You shouldn’t have to live as a prisoner to that voice in your head! Like anything, it just takes work, studying your behaviours, and finding solutions that work for you.
Here are a few steps I use with clients:
Eat enough: Yes, this probably means that you will need to spend a fair amount of time, I’m talking several months of eating more consistently. If you’re constantly focused on losing weight, being smaller, and fear of gaining fat, that food nosie will continue to rule your life. What’s more important to you?
Reduce decision fatigue: have go-to meals you can put on autopilot. Have a few staple meals that you thoroughly enjoy, are easy to put together, and have a PLAN for what you will be eating
Neutralize foods: track the cookie like you would the chicken breast — no moral labels attached.
Break the guilt cycle: one meal doesn’t ruin your progress. Note it, REFLECT on it (important step here to learn), move on, stick with structure.
When food noise fades, you stop obsessing and start living. You think about food when you need to — not all day. You train harder, enjoy meals without guilt, and actually have the mental space for the rest of your life.
👉 If food noise is something you’ve been battling, this is exactly where having a coach can help. Book a call with me or one of our coaches at www.masterathletic.com. Together, we can figure out the specific strategies that fit your life — so you’re not stuck relying on generic tips or another “quick fix.”
Olivia Oneid
Coach, Master Athletic Performance
