The thought of not eating gives me anxiety...

Emeener
Emeener Posts: 28
in Motivation and Support
Even if I know I won't be hungry for a certain period of time, or even the rest of the day, the thought of not being able to eat makes me feel really anxious and uncomfortable. Like if I don't bring a snack to class and don't have money, I freak out a little, even if I had a big breakfast and know I'll be able to eat once I get home. It's like I'm terrified of the chance of actually feeling hungry, which is weird, because whenever I'm hungry, I'm aware that it's just a sensation and it's not the end of the world as long as I eat eventually. Or today, for example, it's 3:40pm and I used up all my calories. I'm totally satisfied, and I can always work out if I want to have a small snack later, but the thought of not eating for the rest of the day just scares me. I guess I still have a really strong emotional attachment to food that I need to work through... are any of you like this too?

Replies

  • oceanblue6
    oceanblue6 Posts: 76 Member
    I totally know what you mean. I wish I had some answers, but I'm right there with you. Interested to hear the insight of others-- hopefully it will be of help to us both!
  • toutmonpossible
    toutmonpossible Posts: 1,580 Member
    I was like that when I tried Intermittent Fasting. The realization that I wasn't really hungry and could go without eating for several hours was liberating.

    Why don't you try delaying your first meal until 11 or noon one day as an experiment? Regardless of what you've heard, breakfast is not necessary. Or delaying lunch or dinner? Pick a fairly stress-free day in which you'll have things to fill your time.
  • ggxx100
    ggxx100 Posts: 520 Member
    I can relate! Back in my yo-yo dieting days, I often would blow my diet and calories for the day and be terrified of avoiding food for the rest of it. This mainly was from the fear that I wouldn't be able to and would ruin chances of weight loss. I associated food with comfort, of course, and it gave me a sort of stability and calm that nothing seemed to replace.

    What helped is I began to view food differently. Food is fuel, and nutrients to help me function. It is also something to be enjoyed, except not a large factor in my happiness. I always eat when I'm hungry..Why? Well before, I would eat even before I was hungry, and wouldn't know when to stop. Would I stop when I could no longer eat? Until my plate was finished? The reason why I was eating so much was because I had an attachment to food, but mainly because I was eating for a reason other than my hunger. Now I let my hunger dictate when I eat. Now that I eat when I'm hungry to fuel my body, I know when to stop-when I'm no longer hungry but satisfied (not stuffed). This was a huge factor in losing all that weight and quitting all diets once and for all.

    If you've eaten enough for the day, try and remind yourself that you had sufficient fuel for your needs, and you'll be able to enjoy a great breakfast the next day-not only that, but it will be fueling your body rather than appeasing any emotional stress.
  • Emeener
    Emeener Posts: 28
    thanks guys. I'm glad I'm not the only one. And I'm trying really hard to convince my mind that I'm going to be ok today without eating more. Because it's a few hours later, and I'm still not hungry in the slightest. This really is a psychological thing

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