Today’s Challenge: Get Hungry
A lot of what I talk about here at FitFeat is what, how and when I eat (obviously I like to eat!) Today I want to flip it around a bit and talk about NOT eating! 
Do you ever find yourself eating for no good reason at all? Maybe you are at your desk at work and you feel stressed/bored/anxious so you start to munch? Or maybe you are at a movie and eat snacks just because? Or you sit down to eat lunch/dinner because it’s “mealtime” and that’s just the time you are supposed to eat? Drinking a latte when meeting a friend, even though you just had breakfast?
Yeah? Well, you’re not alone. I catch myself doing these things too.
We’re human and we’re social beings and sometimes we forget to really listen to the signals that our bodies are telling us. Hunger is one of those signals and we are bombarded with food so often (not to mention food advertising) that sometimes the act of eating is actually secondary to what’s going on at the moment.
When was the last time you really felt your stomach growl? For many of us, it might be hard to remember! We eat so often out of habit, a lot of times before we have experienced ‘true hunger’. Then unfortunately we also don’t hear our ‘true fullness’ and eat to the point of being stuffed.
We can also be prone to false hunger. That’s your “feast beast” talking – the one that likes to rear its ugly head when you see an ad on TV for some delicious treat, or when you feel the need for dessert even when you are stuffed to the gills from dinner – those types of scenarios. This is a danger zone when it comes to calories!
If you find that you have been struggling somewhat with weight loss or maintaining without gaining, today I challenge you to GET A LITTLE HUNGRY. Really pay attention when you think it’s time to eat. Are you eating out of habit or are you truly hungry? Did your stomach growl for food or is it fake hunger trying to trick you into eating that Snickers bar?
This definitely takes a little practice. Hunger signals can be tricky, especially if you haven’t heard them in a long time.
Here is how I tell the difference:
So today, be aware and see how it goes. Then do it again tomorrow. If you learn to eat when you are experiencing TRUE hunger not FALSE hunger (and feast beast cravings!), you’ll find that arriving at a healthy weight might be easier than you think!
Let’s hear from you – do you “listen” for your hunger or have you gotten to a point where you eat out of habit/boredom/stress/anger, etc.?
Have a TERRIFIC TUESDAY friends!
– Shari B. =)
NOTE: I promote healthful eating and healthful appetites. This post should in no way be misconstrued to think I recommend otherwise. I am absolutely NOT promoting the withholding of food or starvation, often associated with eating disorders such as anorexia nervosa and bulimia. If you think you might be suffering from an eating disorder, please be sure to seek the help of a medical professional.