Letting yourself feel hungry

bonitacash08

It's a crazy concept right? Just 5 months ago, I can honestly say I never felt hungry. I ate in anticipation of hunger because I hated the feeling. When I was growing up and living with my mom, we rarely had enough to eat--I'm talking butter sandwiches (a slice of bread folded in half with a pat of margarine) for meals. I haven't been in that position in YEARS, but I realized it still had a hold on my mind; the fear of being hungry pushed me to overeat like crazy.

I would overfill my plate. I would order entirely TOO much. It was crazy.

Don't get me wrong. I am definitely at fault for gaining so much weight. I would drive by McDonald's and make myself believe I was hungry just so I could stop and get some nuggets and a sweet tea. I remember last summer, the last time I "tried" to lose weight, I drove past McDonald's and CRIED because I wanted to stop and get something so badly but I couldn't because I was trying to lose!

It's crazy the power food has over us. Well, the power we give it.

Now, if I think I'm hungry and I'm like the ravenous Hungry Hungry Hippo, I make myself wait. I won't allow myself to mindlessly eat the first thing I see. I make my mind really determine if I really am hungry or if I'm just craving. I make myself plan what I'm going to eat.

I know.. Crazy.

But it's necessary (for me at least). Getting over that fear of being hungry. Getting over the fear of not knowing when I can eat again. It's a constant process. But I feel good! I feel hungry!!!

elainecroft

I'm hungry right now but going to lunch in 45 minutes - thank you I need inspiration just to wait it out!

FluffyDogsRule

Great post!!!

tigerlily8045

It is a struggle for me to do that. If I should drive by a food place and it was somewhat close to lunch, then i would stop. Knowing that I have good for me food 20 min away at home, helps some. But it is still hard to retrain your brain to wait a few minutes.

Lochlyn_D

conniemaxwell5

Very well said and I think true for many of us. We do allow food to have power over us - success comes when we take power over the food. Thank you for posting!

gph61

I sort of enjoy feeling hungry because it means I am working on the program but I do drink a bottle of water if I think about the hunger. I have bottles all over the house and in the car!

davescullion

I'm hungry NOW but I'll wait another 70 mins till dinner time, the nothing till breakfast tomorrow, no calories left for today lol

jillbeanschoop

I find that if I feel hungry at least once a day and don't overreact to that feeling by over eating then I lose weight. I think it's healthy to feel hungry once in a while. That is something new I've learned in the last 6 months or so. It's okay to feel hungry.

IIISpartacusIII

The way people deal with hunger is ultimately what decides their success or failure in weight loss. I think one of the most important things to keep in mind is that being hungry is not a license to treat others badly; they are not responsible for you being on a diet nor the fact that you let yourself get overweight. Be aware of how you treat others during your weight loss journey.

short_nerdy_lady

I know the feeling! After a run yesterday driving home we passed so many fast food places and I started calling out my favorite items. My fellow MFPer boyfriend was laughing ...

Me: Mcnuggets, curley fries, 1/2 chicken dinner with fries and Chalet sauce, Whopper, Baconater ...... footlong ham on wheat with white chedder ....

Him: STOP! *laughing*

bonitacash08

-Number10mediumfrylargesweetteabarbecueandsweetandsour

Akimajuktuq

Interesting experience. My experience is the opposite. I now intermittent fast every day, eat only 2 large meals (sometimes only 1) and I NEVER struggle with hunger. I'm losing weight and I'm the healthiest that I have been in my entire life. However, for me, it's all about WHAT I eat, not how much and/or when.

However, prior to changing what I eat, I was diagnosed with Binge Eating Disorder and could never feel full. No amount of will power, eating mini meals, filling up on water/giant salads ever worked for me. Trying to just ignore the hunger just led to even bigger binges later on. Why was I struggling so much? I was over-eating but I was malnourished; true story.

I drink the water I need, no more no less, and I eat the food I need. I really think this "fill up on water" instead of eating is NOT good advice for most people.

Confuzzled4ever

I'm usually really good.. Unless i'm not feeling well like today.. I feel like I have a cold.. and I'm starving.. I can never eat enough whenI have a cold. I just ate a ton and I want more.. I have nothing more to eat though and I don't need it. I feel bloated. It's a crappy day nutrition wise. but I'll get through it. I hate feelign hungry. I've been the same place as you.. where i had no food to eat in the house. I'm not pleasant to be around when i'm hunry.. I smell and early lunch in my future.. lol

Sandytoes71

It's a crazy concept right? Just 5 months ago, I can honestly say I never felt hungry. I ate in anticipation of hunger because I hated the feeling. When I was growing up and living with my mom, we rarely had enough to eat--I'm talking butter sandwiches (a slice of bread folded in half with a pat of margarine) for meals. I haven't been in that position in YEARS, but I realized it still had a hold on my mind; the fear of being hungry pushed me to overeat like crazy.

I would overfill my plate. I would order entirely TOO much. It was crazy.

Don't get me wrong. I am definitely at fault for gaining so much weight. I would drive by McDonald's and make myself believe I was hungry just so I could stop and get some nuggets and a sweet tea. I remember last summer, the last time I "tried" to lose weight, I drove past McDonald's and CRIED because I wanted to stop and get something so badly but I couldn't because I was trying to lose!

It's crazy the power food has over us. Well, the power we give it.

Now, if I think I'm hungry and I'm like the ravenous Hungry Hungry Hippo, I make myself wait. I won't allow myself to mindlessly eat the first thing I see. I make my mind really determine if I really am hungry or if I'm just craving. I make myself plan what I'm going to eat.

I know.. Crazy.

But it's necessary (for me at least). Getting over that fear of being hungry. Getting over the fear of not knowing when I can eat again. It's a constant process. But I feel good! I feel hungry!!!

I love this^^^^^ I'm going to try this. Also, I need to realize that hunger pain is not going to kill me. I need to be ok with being uncomfortable sometimes.

bcattoes

Now, if I think I'm hungry and I'm like the ravenous Hungry Hungry Hippo, I make myself wait. I won't allow myself to mindlessly eat the first thing I see. I make my mind really determine if I really am hungry or if I'm just craving. I make myself plan what I'm going to eat.

I know.. Crazy.

But it's necessary (for me at least). Getting over that fear of being hungry. Getting over the fear of not knowing when I can eat again. It's a constant process. But I feel good! I feel hungry!!!

Not crazy at all IMO. I think this is exactly what everyone should strive for. To really understand your body and be able to eventually feed it properly without any tool other than your mind. I think you are on the right track.

257_Lag

I have to say that 4 months into my journey a lot of my hunger has disappeared. Sure I get hungry sometimes but often I eat because I know I need to not because I am actually hungry. On a day that I am going to play golf I really struggle to eat enough before playing since on a typical day most of my calories are consumed after 4 PM.

muktyfitness

What works for me is water, when ever I am hungry I drink water and I feel good. What I learned that often our body get confused with whether its hungry or just thirsty.

Vness813

I've read that sometimes dehydration can make you feel like you're hungry when your body is really needing fluids. So, when I'm feeling hungry I stop to think about how much water I have had so far or if I've been active enough to need more than usual. I then try drinking water first to see if my hunger subsides. If not, then I eat something.

bonitacash08

I agree with dehydration and malnutrition. I've heard more than once that your body will keep producing that "hungry" feeling when it's deprived of nutrients so no matter how man fries or burgers you eat, until you eat something nutritious you'll be hungry.

Also, I've personally experienced the thirst thing. I would like to think I'm smart enough to know the difference between hungry and thirsty but apparently not!

gogojodee

-Number10mediumfrylargesweetteabarbecueandsweetandsour

Dayum, know me too well! Except I get an Unsweetened Tea!!

And I don't know where the Congrats came from - on my Blackberry, ugh.

dbmata

It's a crazy concept right?

I embrace hunger, depending on my mood. You embrace it long enough, and it goes away. Do it enough times, and you can learn a little bit about yourself, I think. I like fasting from time to time and reflecting on my relationship to food.

Nothing wrong with feeling a little hunger when you can choose to. As a hunter, I know that occasionally there might be something that happens that leaves me without food for a day or two, and I need to know I can do it.

We can all do it.

phurst00

I agree with the OP. Before I started eating better, I would almost never feel hungry because I was eating all the time. Now I actually do feel hunger once or twice a day and I actually enjoy it, because it's a nice reminder that no I have not been stuffing my face all day like I used to!

Also agree with the water. I've had issues before with feeling hungry at night but more than half the time I've had something to drink and the feeling has gone away. Sometimes your body makes you feel hungry when it should be making you feel thirsty!

I also want to put in that it's true about unhealthy food not filling you up. It's the reason I generally stay away from pizza - don't get me wrong, I love it, but it has never ever made me feel full, even if (back in the day) I were to eat half a pizza by myself. On the other hand, my usual dinner salad (green leaf lettuce, carrots, 10 crushed almonds, 1/2 cup chicken) is delicious AND makes me feel very full!

bonitacash08

I agree with the OP. Before I started eating better, I would almost never feel hungry because I was eating all the time. Now I actually do feel hunger once or twice a day and I actually enjoy it, because it's a nice reminder that no I have not been stuffing my face all day like I used to!

Also agree with the water. I've had issues before with feeling hungry at night but more than half the time I've had something to drink and the feeling has gone away. Sometimes your body makes you feel hungry when it should be making you feel thirsty!

I also want to put in that it's true about unhealthy food not filling you up. It's the reason I generally stay away from pizza - don't get me wrong, I love it, but it has never ever made me feel full, even if (back in the day) I were to eat half a pizza by myself. On the other hand, my usual dinner salad (green leaf lettuce, carrots, 10 crushed almonds, 1/2 cup chicken) is delicious AND makes me feel very full!

Salads can be crazy filling! I make a spinach one with chicken, pears, dried cranberries, sunflower seeds, tomato, red onion and cucumber and for somebody who can eat like I can, it sure fills me up fast.

Another thing I've noticed is that now that I've increased my calories, I think about food less. Staying at 1200 calories was insanely difficult; trying to figure out what I could actually eat was so hard! Now that I give myself enough food, I don't have to put as much though into it.

brainzap

I love letting myself get hungry. Hunger is the best seasoning.

JBsCrazyGirl

I love the true feeling of being hungry. So much better then a "craving". You are absolutely right.
I also found if I am truly hungry I will strive to find something nutritious and filling and at the same time satisfying.
:flowerforyou: good post!

bonitacash08

Lol I don't love being hungry.. But I love that I can tell the difference now!