How do you decide that you're truly hungry?

kaleas

This has been an ongoing curiosity for me.

For instance, there are days like today after a 20 mile bike ride on a fixed gear, and a week of strength training, where I am constantly hungry. I mean to the point that my stomach is growling, rumbling, and screaming to people around that it wants to be fed.

So I feed it. Within 4 or 5 hours, it is doing it again.

Then there are days where I really don't ever feel hungry. I may start to get a little sluggish, so I'll have a snack, but it's no where near the noise and bolstering of before.

What signals do you pay attention to to know when you're hungry? Is the growling stomach actually my body telling me it wants to eat?

Toddrific

Someone once told me if you arent hungry enough to eat an apple you aren't hungry.
Sadly, I like apples. So I've modified it to brussel sprouts.

Oddly, I had to fast for a day for some dread medical tests. I didn't feel hungry at all.
Other days i think of cheesecake...and I "feel" hungry.

Weird right?

Di3012

Someone once told me if you arent hungry enough to eat an apple you aren't hungry.
Sadly, I like apples. So I've modified it to brussel sprouts.

Oddly, I had to fast for a day for some dread medical tests. I didn't feel hungry at all.
Other days i think of cheesecake...and I "feel" hungry.

Weird right?

I heard a similar statement once, but it wasn't apples it went along the lines of:

"If you are truly hungry you will find boiled chicken and brussel sprouts appetizing"

So I think you have it spot on Neoterrar lol

zyxst

For me, being hungry gives physically feelings like growling tummies, light-headedness, my body being hollow inside and, rarely, headaches. I have to feel something physical because I'm an "eat because I'm bored" eater.

I'd pay attention to the growling. You're more hungry after exercise, I think because your body wants more fuel to burn. If you haven't done anything then you might not be hungry as often. All my opinion and not based on science.

nebulinda

I found this ting about physical hunger vs. emotional hunger:

Physical hunger:
-Builds gradually
-Strikes below the neck (e.g., growling stomach)
-Isn't accompanied by a sense of compulsion
-Occurs several hours after a meal
-Goes away when full
-Leads to feeling of satisfaction after eating

Emotional hunger:
-Develops suddenly
-Hits above the neck (e.g., a "taste" for ice cream)
-Results in an urgent need to eat
-Is unrelated to time since last meal
-Is specific, often for a particular food or brand
-Persists despite fullness
-Leads to guilt and shame after eating

From here: http://www.everydayhealth.com/diet-nutrition/food-and-mood/your-attitude/physical-or-emotional-hunger.aspx

MaraDiaz

Someone once told me if you arent hungry enough to eat an apple you aren't hungry.
Sadly, I like apples. So I've modified it to brussel sprouts.

Oddly, I had to fast for a day for some dread medical tests. I didn't feel hungry at all.
Other days i think of cheesecake...and I "feel" hungry.

Weird right?

There are some foods I've never yet been hungry enough to eat, and I used to starvation diet, so that's saying something.

For me, if I think to myself, I want a pastry, and then can't say, but I'd settle for chicken, I know I'm not really hungry.