Are You Really Hungry?
Hunger is something that we all struggle with when it comes
to dieting. Unfortunately, there is a strong psychological aspect to hunger
that many people do not talk about. It can go so far as food addiction in some
cases. So what is the difference?
Well, biological, real hunger happens when you have gone a
number of hours since last eating. This is true hunger and why the idea of
eating 5 or 6 small meals a day works well to curb that biological hunger.
Psychological hunger, on the other hand, is a mental component of hunger where
our minds trick us into believing we are indeed hungry when we are not. This
happens most often when you want to eat something soon after a big meal, when
you are craving something, or that nightly, routine snack before bed. These are
all psychological hunger pains.
The Appetite
Awareness Plan
The first thing to do is rate your hunger on a level of 0 to
10 with 0 being not hungry and 10 being starving. Next, ask yourself this important question: “Why am I
hungry?” You need to evaluate what is making you hungry. Maybe you skipped a
snack or a full meal. Are you having a bad day or are you emotional? Are you
just simply bored? Are you stressed out? These are all reasons that people get
hungry, but you need to be able to separate the biological from the
psychological.
Once you are aware of how hungry you are and why, it is
easier to gain control. If you skipped a snack or meal, it’s time to find a
healthy choice. One thing to do is always be prepared with a snack while you
are out. Pre-planning can help you to avoid bad choices at a fast food joint or
convenience store. If you are eating in response to an emotion or boredom, find
something else to do where you can channel your energy and not focus on food. Even
if you make a mistake and give in to that craving, just knowing why helps you
move on and get back on track.
The next time you are hungry follow the Appetite Awareness
Plan to know why you are hungry and put yourself in control of your eating.
Source: Maria Osnowitz
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