The Truth About Food Noise: Why Silencing Isn’t Healing

Food Noise - Let's Listen

“It’s amazing — I don’t think about food at all anymore.”

That’s what so many people say when they start weight loss injections.

And at first, it feels like freedom.

The constant chatter — what to eat, when to eat, how much, whether it’s allowed — finally goes quiet.

You feel lighter. You feel proud.

You feel like the version of yourself you’ve been waiting to meet for years.

And as someone who used to carry that extra weight, too — I get it.

The Thrill of Losing Weight

When you’ve lived with the physical and emotional weight of obesity, the feeling of weight loss is like a miracle.

You walk differently. Your clothes fit better.

People treat you differently — sometimes kindly, sometimes shockingly.

You feel like you’ve finally joined the world instead of hiding from it.

That’s not superficial — that’s real.

I remember it clearly myself. After years of being overweight, then undergoing weight loss surgery and learning how to eat again, I felt like I’d been given a second life. The thrill of going down sizes, seeing the scale drop, and looking in the mirror without shame — it’s powerful.

But here’s what I also know:

You mustn’t let the excitement block out the truth.

Because dieting — whether it’s calorie control, injections, or surgery — is only part of the story.

The real transformation has to happen in how you relate to food.

Why Food Noise Isn’t Always the Enemy

When your appetite disappears — whether through medication, stress, or restriction — it can feel like you’ve finally got the upper hand. That background hum of food chatter goes silent.

“It’s so peaceful. I don’t think about food at all.”

But if that peace comes from a drug, not understanding, it can fool you into thinking the job is done.

Here’s what I want to gently but clearly say:

Food noise isn’t just a nuisance. It’s your body trying to talk to you.

It may be saying:

• “I’m tired.”

• “I need comfort.”

• “I haven’t had enough.”

• “I’m trying to cope.”

When we mute that voice without learning from it, we don’t heal our relationship with food — we press pause.

And eventually, the medication stops, the effect wears off, or life throws a curveball.

And that voice?

It doesn’t just come back — it returns louder, hungrier, confused… and often desperate.

What Happens When You Don’t Eat Enough?

I want to explain something really important, especially if you’ve found yourself eating very little because your hunger is gone.

It might feel like control, but underneath, your body is struggling.

Here’s what really happens when you don’t eat enough:

Your brain slows down.

No food = no fuel. You might feel foggy, low, anxious, or forgetful.

Your metabolism adjusts, and not in your favour.

Your body thinks food is scarce, so it starts conserving energy. It burns fewer calories and stores more fat to protect you.

Your muscles break down.

Without sufficient protein and nutrients, your body uses muscle for energy, weakening you physically and further slowing your metabolism.

You miss out on vital nutrients.

Essential nutrients like iron, B12, magnesium, and omega-3 fatty acids are often left behind. This can lead to tiredness, brittle nails, dry skin, hormonal imbalances, poor immunity, and a low mood.

Your hunger signals shut down, then come back louder.

You lose touch with your natural cues. And when hunger returns, it can feel overwhelming, leading to bingeing, guilt, and fear of eating again.

Not eating isn’t a long-term strategy. Nourishing is.

You don’t need big portions or a strict diet. You need  enough nutrients, enough protein, and enough consistency to keep your body thriving, not just shrinking.

Real People, Real Stories

SCENARIO 1: Karen – “I Thought I Was Fixed”

Karen came to me after losing 5 stone on weight loss injections. She looked amazing, and felt proud. But underneath, anxiety had crept in.

“I’m panicking. The food thoughts are back. I thought I was past all this.”

She hadn’t built a rhythm of eating. No structure. There is no way of listening to her body. She’d relied on silence — and now that silence had lifted, she was scared.

We worked together to rebuild a food routine that felt safe and sustainable.

Her food noise softened — not because it was suppressed, but because it was heard.

SCENARIO 2: Lisa – “I Never Knew I Ate to Feel Seen”

Lisa’s relationship with food wasn’t about hunger. It was about identity, comfort, and a sense of belonging.

When her appetite vanished, she thought, “Finally, this is what I needed.”

But then came the emptiness.

Food had been her friend, her routine, her emotional anchor. And without it, she felt lost.

Together, we explored what was really missing — rest, creativity, connection, self-expression.

Her cravings didn’t vanish — they changed shape. They became check-ins, not alarms.

A Health Coach’s Truth

Here’s what I’ve learned — from my own story and from guiding others through theirs:

• Food noise tells a story. And it’s rarely about food alone.

• Injections can help, but they can’t teach you how to eat, feel, or thrive. That’s your work — and it’s worth doing.

• You don’t have to eat perfectly. But you do need to eat enough.

• You’re allowed to eat for energy, joy, strength, and connection — not just to shrink.

• You are allowed to feel good in your body. You don’t have to punish it to change it.

And most of all:

Silence isn’t healing. Understanding is.

So What Do We Do About It?

The goal isn’t to eliminate food thoughts.

The goal is to listen to them — and respond with care, not panic.

Here’s how I help:

• We build a structure around your day — real food that suits your real life.

• We explore what your cravings are really saying.

• We stop fearing food — and start trusting our bodies again.

• And we shift the story from guilt to nourishment.

My Coaching Promise

If you’re ready to go deeper than dieting — if you’re prepared to understand your food noise, not run from it — this is where my coaching comes in.

• We won’t shame the voice. We’ll learn from it.

• We won’t restrict. We’ll nourish.

• We won’t chase silence. We’ll build strength.

So when food thoughts return — and they will — you’ll know how to meet them with clarity, not fear.

Because you won’t just feel lighter —

You’ll feel free.

Let’s talk about what your food noise is saying.

Visit www.wonderfulcoaching.uk or drop me a message to get started.

You’re not broken.

You’re becoming.