It's About Hunger!

This post is short and sweet! Eat when you're truly hungry and stop when you're satisfied. There. I'm done.




:)
Ever eaten because you're bored, stressed, sad, depressed? Or eaten just because? Just because you're at the movies? Just because your friends have asked you out? Or just because you smelled it?


Were you really hungry when you ate at those times?
If not - guess what?


You didn't need those calories and so your body stored them as fat = weight gain. Stinks, huh?


On the flip side - have you eaten when you were hungry, but ate SO FAST that you ate beyond the point of satisfaction? The kind of "full" where you physically feel uncomfortable? Maybe even, on occassion, like Thanksgiving?
Guess what?


If so, your body didn't need those extra calories and it stored them as fat = weight gain.


The biggest question I've heard to date is: "How can I lose weight?" And this is it:


1. Recognize true hunger. A lack of energy, stomach growling, maybe feeling irritable, for some a headache. Hunger should have symptoms from BELOW the neck :) Hunger DOES NOT occur suddenly. It approaches gradually and doesn't occur again until 3-4 hours after the previous meal.


2. Recognize any OTHER reason you may be eating (mentioned previously). For some reason, when out brain sends out an emotion like boredom, stress, etc.. we think it's a hunger cue!?! Guess what? That's not the response our brain wanted for that signal..so, that signal will be sent out again! If we eat because of these emotions (and we're not truly hungry) we don't need the calories = weight gain. We also tend to overeat during these times, right? Find ways to relieve boredom, relieve stress, etc before reaching for food and you may find that you don't need the food :)


3. Once 1 & 2 are done. Practice it with every bite that goes in your mouth. If you truly follow it, you will reduce the amount of food you consume = less calories consumed = weight loss.


4. Recognize true satisfaction. A point after a meal where you feel you have consumed enough food to last you a couple of hours. Satisfaction is NOT a state where our bellies are tight, our pants are suddenly uncomfortable, we are physically uncomfortable, even feeling the need for a nap. We have access to food 24/7...you do not need to eat an abundance of food in once sitting. It takes 20 minutes for your brain to tell you that you are satisfied. Do you take at least 20 minutes to eat your meal? Or do you eat it faster than that? If so, how do you feel?
If you do this - you will most likely have food left on your plate!! Less food eaten = less calories consumed = weight loss!


5. Combine steps 1 & 2 with step 4 and you will see results!


Sounds easy enough ;) Not really...this takes practice, but you can do it!!!!