It’s talked about mostly in the context of social connections.
But the fear of missing out is often an obstacle when it comes to fasting and Keto or low-carb lifestyles.
Let’s talk about why that happens and what you can do about it.
What is the fear of missing out?
Sometimes abbreviated to FOMO, it’s an often overwhelming fear that we’re somehow missing out on something forever.
As if the food that we’re craving is not going to be available when we’re ready for it again.
And it’s not just food that we fear we’re going to miss out on.
It can also be the experiences that surround food, such as interacting with friends and family.
Some examples of FOMO
- You eat because everyone else is eating
- You eat because it’s a special food that you love
- You eat because it’s a holiday or a special social situation
- You overeat just before a fast
You eat in these situations even if you’re not hungry.
What causes FOMO?
So what causes us to have this big fear that we’re going to miss out?
Doing without
At the root of FOMO is this feeling of, “I deserve this,” even if the “this” is something that sabotages your goals.
That can be traced back to having had times in your life when you had to do without in some way.
Many people who grew up in poverty struggle with this, even if they have plenty of money now for food.
That fear of there not being enough is still there, and on an unconscious level we feel like if we don’t eat now, there might not be more later.
Even if you never did without food, it could be other things you’ve missed in life, such as love and friendship.
Yo-yo dieting
Many years of restrictive diets can also cause this fear of missing out when we fast or try to live a keto or low carb lifestyle.
Giving up our favorite foods over and over can leave us feeling cheated, especially when those diets fail us.
Survival instinct
When we’re fasting or not eating like everyone else is eating, and we focus on that, it can feel to our brains like we’re threatened in some way and trigger our survival instinct.
So how can we overcome FOMO?
Stop dieting!
Stop following extremely restrictive diets.
Try to focus instead on eating whole foods and including some regular periods of fasting in your lifestyle.
And when you eat, always eat till satisfied. Don’t restrict calories when you’re still hungry.
Take your power back!
When you feel that you can’t have something, it robs you of your power. But reminding yourself that it’s a choice puts you back in control.
Instead of saying you can’t have something, remind yourself that you can have it if you want it, but you’re choosing not to. Mindset is everything!
Call it what it is
What are you really missing out on?
It’s not that you’re missing out on a piece of birthday cake. You’re missing out on a big dose of sugar and a huge insulin spike.
Remind yourself that it will always be there
Food is not going away. There is no food scarcity.
That yummy dessert that everyone is eating on day three of your fast, there will always be more.
You can always make another pie.
Notice what’s really important
In social situations, what’s the most important thing? Is it the food, or is it the connection with friends and family?
It’s the connection, right? And you don’t have to miss out on that!
You can enjoy conversation and fun with family and friends, and that doesn’t have to involve food.
You’re not missing out
When you fast or follow a Keto lifestyle, you’re not missing out on anything.
In reality, you are gaining something really valuable - a healthier body and a longer, happier life.
Author: Roo Black
Roo is a fasting coach with over 5 years of experience. She leads the admin team of the Official Fasting for Weight Loss Facebook group - one of the largest fasting communities on social media with over 125,000 members. We highly recommend this group for anyone who is looking for fasting advice or coaching.
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