Re:I just want something...real hunger...

[Guest guest]

,I've really noticed a difference between "thinking" (thoughts about food) versus just knowing/feeling my hunger. When I start "thinking" about different food (like the food on a commercial I've just watched or saw my brother eat), I'm not aware of whether I'm hungry or not...I just start "thinking" about food. "Thinking" about food is a new cue that I use to check-in with myself. It's become obvious to me, that thinking about food whether I know that I am hungry or not can be an unconscious trigger that starts me on the path to eat for more emotional reasons. So, I've begun to shift me thoughts to other activities or interests and my need to eat has gone away.Also, if I notice that I have started to think about food, then I check-in with my body...I sense for body cues, like heat around my stomach, or a knawing/empty feeling, or

wait 5-15 minute to see if my stomach growls or gurgles. The only reason why I know that knawing and heat are my body cues is that I created a hunger log, where I tracked what I ate and when I ate it and then in the time between my next meal, I sensed how hunger developed in my body. After a meal, I start with a sense of fullness and then typically about 2 hours later a knawing feeling in my stomach begins to build...and culminates in gurgles or growls if I wait long enough. It's really quite fascinating. Allowing and watching myself get hungry has been a real gift to myself at times. I've been trying to make it much more obvious to myself about what real hunger feels like for me as a way to make emotional eating more obvious. I've noticed that when I really just KNOW that I'm hungry...my stomach usually hasn't growled or gurgled. A growl or gurgle typically comes within 5-10 minutes after I "know" (get a clear sense/have no question of my

hunger).Latoya:)

[Guest guest]

,I've really noticed a difference between "thinking" (thoughts about food) versus just knowing/feeling my hunger. When I start "thinking" about different food (like the food on a commercial I've just watched or saw my brother eat), I'm not aware of whether I'm hungry or not...I just start "thinking" about food. "Thinking" about food is a new cue that I use to check-in with myself. It's become obvious to me, that thinking about food whether I know that I am hungry or not can be an unconscious trigger that starts me on the path to eat for more emotional reasons. So, I've begun to shift me thoughts to other activities or interests and my need to eat has gone away.Also, if I notice that I have started to think about food, then I check-in with my body...I sense for body cues, like heat around my stomach, or a knawing/empty feeling, or

wait 5-15 minute to see if my stomach growls or gurgles. The only reason why I know that knawing and heat are my body cues is that I created a hunger log, where I tracked what I ate and when I ate it and then in the time between my next meal, I sensed how hunger developed in my body. After a meal, I start with a sense of fullness and then typically about 2 hours later a knawing feeling in my stomach begins to build...and culminates in gurgles or growls if I wait long enough. It's really quite fascinating. Allowing and watching myself get hungry has been a real gift to myself at times. I've been trying to make it much more obvious to myself about what real hunger feels like for me as a way to make emotional eating more obvious. I've noticed that when I really just KNOW that I'm hungry...my stomach usually hasn't growled or gurgled. A growl or gurgle typically comes within 5-10 minutes after I "know" (get a clear sense/have no question of my

hunger).Latoya:)

[Guest guest]

Thanks for the explanation Latoya!

When you mentioned that if you see a commercial on T.V. for food or

you saw your Brother eat, you start thinking about food, well I do the

same thing. If someone else is eating around me, I try to take my mind

off it if I don't feel hungry, but sometimes the " call to eat " is

still there. And it can be very loud! I try to not give in, and I have

made mistakes before and wanted to kick myself for eating just because

I saw food or someone else was eating around me. I like how you turn

the " thinking " around so you allow it to check-in with yourself.

I think I will wait when I think I feel hunger for 5-15 minutes as you

described to see if it is real hunger or not. I have read before about

waiting 20 minutes to let a craving pass, and there might be something

to that as I'm sure I've had cravings I've given into when I wasn't

physically hungry.

This is really hard work because I'm so used to diets telling me what

to eat and when. Your self-discovery of your hunger is amazing! Can I

ask how long did it take you to get it right?

-

>

> ,

>

> I've really noticed a difference between " thinking " (thoughts about

food) versus just knowing/feeling my hunger. When I start " thinking "

about different food (like the food on a commercial I've just watched

or saw my brother eat), I'm not aware of whether I'm hungry or not...I

just start " thinking " about food. " Thinking " about food is a new cue

that I use to check-in with myself. It's become obvious to me, that

thinking about food whether I know that I am hungry or not can be an

unconscious trigger that starts me on the path to eat for more

emotional reasons. So, I've begun to shift me thoughts to other

activities or interests and my need to eat has gone away.

>

> Also, if I notice that I have started to think about food, then I

check-in with my body...I sense for body cues, like heat around my

stomach, or a knawing/empty feeling, or wait 5-15 minute to see if my

stomach growls or gurgles. The only reason why I know that knawing and

heat are my body cues is that I created a hunger log, where I tracked

what I ate and when I ate it and then in the time between my next

meal, I sensed how hunger developed in my body. After a meal, I start

with a sense of fullness and then typically about 2 hours later a

knawing feeling in my stomach begins to build...and culminates in

gurgles or growls if I wait long enough. It's really quite

fascinating. Allowing and watching myself get hungry has been a real

gift to myself at times. I've been trying to make it much more obvious

to myself about what real hunger feels like for me as a way to make

emotional eating more obvious.

>

> I've noticed that when I really just KNOW that I'm hungry...my

stomach usually hasn't growled or gurgled. A growl or gurgle typically

comes within 5-10 minutes after I " know " (get a clear sense/have no

question of my hunger).

>

> Latoya:)

>

[Guest guest]

I use a different strategy that probably wouldn't work for most. I

usually eat a bite or 2 and then I'm statisfied and no drooling over

what DH is eating. Drives him nuts. Sure is hard to keep up with this

group. ha! and double ha!

> Thanks for the explanation Latoya!

>

> When you mentioned that if you see a commercial on T.V. for food or

> you saw your Brother eat, you start thinking about food, well I do the

> same thing. If someone else is eating around me, I try to take my mind

> off it if I don't feel hungry, but sometimes the " call to eat " is

> still there. And it can be very loud! I try to not give in, and I have

> made mistakes before and wanted to kick myself for eating just because

> I saw food or someone else was eating around me.

[Guest guest]

I don't think that would work for me as I am trying to not eat based

on external cues. If it works for you then that's great. It is funny

that you mention it drives your DH nuts.

I've been making my boyfriend nuts when I eat a small bit of something

and decide I've had enough and put the rest back in the fridge even if

it's a small amount. He keeps asking me in frustration: " Why did you

leave this little bit " ? " Is this left for me " ?

-

>

> I use a different strategy that probably wouldn't work for most. I

> usually eat a bite or 2 and then I'm statisfied and no drooling over

> what DH is eating. Drives him nuts. Sure is hard to keep up with this

> group. ha! and double ha!

>