Hi blog buds!

Just got back from a very toasty 5.5 mile run with one of my clients – it was a gorgeous morning.  I absolutely love summer in Colorado.  We’re getting into monsoon season where we have higher humidity levels and I felt it today, swollen fingers and all!  But it’s still lower humidity than where I grew up, that’s for sure!  I am hoping for a very LONG summer this year followed by a very LONG fall.  Last winter was so cold and long, I feel like we should be allowed to just SKIP the upcoming one for time already served!

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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:

• If I’m TRULY hungry, healthy foods sounds appetizing to me.  I ask myself “Am I hungry enough to sit down and eat a big salad?  Or is it {insert snacky food here} that’s calling to me?”  Usually I’m not in the mood for a candy bar when I’m actually HUNGRY.  But if something healthful sounds hideous, I know it’s just a ‘habit craving’.
• If my stomach hasn’t growled at me but I ‘feel’ hungry, I have a little water or herbal tea first to make sure I wasn’t just thirsty.  If it was just thirst, the ‘feeling’ of being hungry goes away.   If it was true hunger, the growling will start shortly!
• After a meal, when I still feel ‘hungry’ is it because I truly didn’t eat enough or is it that I’m craving something sweet?  Do I feel hungry enough to eat more green beans?  No?  Then it’s likely not TRUE hunger.  This would just be wanting to eat for sensation and habit.

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.

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Tags: healthy eating, healthy weight loss