Bigger Leaner Stronger: The Simple Science of Building the Ultimate Male Body

by Michael Matthews

Research shows that a willingness to think thoughts and feel feelings without having to act on them is an effective method of dealing with a wide variety of challenges, such as mood disorders, food cravings, and addiction.6 On the other hand, trying to suppress negative thoughts and feelings, like self-criticism, worries, sadness, or cravings, can lead to greater feelings of inadequacy, anxiety, and depression, and even overeating.7 In other words, instead of “fighting the urge,” if you can “ride the wave” until it crests and peters out, cooler heads can prevail. This isn’t hard to do, either. When a disturbing thought or longing appears, face it calmly instead of trying to forcefully eject it from your mind. You don’t have to contemplate its meaning or read into it. You just have to accept that it’s there and play it down as something unimportant that will fade. “Riding the wave” is particularly relevant to dieting, as research shows that the more you try to suppress thoughts about food, the more likely you are to struggle with cravings and binge eating.