Do you know what you really want from food? I’m not talking about wanting food to give you energy or abate your physical hunger, but what you want food to do for you when you eat when you aren’t hungry.

Part of loving yourself is listening to yourself. You listen to others all day and do for others all day, what about what you want? If you don’t listen to yourself and pay attention to what it is that you really want, who else will?

For today’s exercise in Loving Yourself Thin, take out a piece of paper and at the top write, “What do I expect food to do for me? What do I want food to give me? Exactly what is it that I want from food?” Underneath, make a list of all of the things that you want from food, writing down exactly what it is that you want food to do for you. You might find that you want food to give you:

• Fun
• Pleasure
• Excitement
• Power
• Safety
• Love

No matter what your answers are, just write them all down. It doesn’t matter how silly or outlandish it might seem to you, you’re just listening to yourself and becoming aware of what it is that you are trying to get from food.

Reread your list and then go to the mirror, look yourself deep in the eyes and tell yourself, “I am now starting to understand what you really want. I love you for telling me what you want and I now have a better understanding of why you overeat. I love you no matter what you eat, how much you eat, or how much you weigh.” Repeat this to yourself (in the mirror) 10 times.

Tomorrow’s exercise in Loving Yourself Thin will be a continuation of today’s exercise. Until then, thank yourself for your bravery and honesty in revealing what it is that you really want (from food).

This exercise is part of a 31-day series in Loving Yourself Thin. To understand the foundation of the exercises, please read the introduction. Additionally, Day 14 will give you a good review of the exercises.