Update on my fear of hunger
Posted at 13:56 in Food, Personal
Yes, I know it has only been a day but already, I am feeling so much better about things.
I’ve spent so long eating every 2-3 hours in order to stop myself from getting hungry and all I have done is make myself so paranoid about hunger that I actually feel panicky about the prospect of it.
However, I’m making progress. I’ve stopped eating according to the clock and am relying more on what my body is telling me. I didn’t eat dinner until 8pm last night as I purposely waited until I actually felt hungry. I ate breakfast much later than normal today so rather than 7am, I ate at 8am. I didn’t bother with the mid morning fruit snack I took to work as I didn’t feel hungry and just enjoyed a coffee instead. I didn’t eat lunch until 10 minutes ago as I purposely waited until I felt hungry.
It’s actually quite liberating – I’m not constantly thinking about food and what I’m going to eat. I also find that allowing myself to get hungry is helping me learn about those feelings before I eat, when I am most prone to bingeing and just sitting and appreciating the feeling for a while and knowing that I will eat shortly takes away that panicky feeling.
I’m not saying this will be the end of my bingeing (though I wish with all my heart that would come true) but it’s a step in the right direction and as long as I keep taking those steps, I’m going to get somewhere :-)
Well done hun and so pleased its going well for you.
I have been trying to do the same sort of things, but as you said it is on going and I just take it each day as it comes. Some days I am so hungry and then other days I am not hungry at all.
Chrissy xx
Thanks chick, it’s going really well at the moment – good luck to you too :)
Yay- good to know you are feeling better- that is the most important thing!
It is interesting, as I have almost the opposite, where if I wait until I am hungry to cook dinner, I will suddenly feel starving, and have a snack while I am getting dinner ready as I will be craving a sugar boost. So for me I have had to work hard to keep myself with healthy snacks on hand, and get dinner ready before I feel that starving! But hey-ho, we are all different!
Maria :)
Thanks lovely. So right in that we are all different – keeping healthy snacks on hand is a good idea :)
Sounds like you\’re making great progress I’m really happy for you!x
Thank you lovely *mwah*
I’ve been thinking about this since you posted on Thursday. Like you, I used to plan meals and snacks, and eat them when “the time” came, not really paying any attention to whether I was hungry, or whether I actually *wanted* to eat what I’d planned. But over the last six months I have really tried to eat intuitively. This has resulted in a lot more variety in my diet. I really try to eat what I want, when I want. Because that’s a big part of satiety. And satiety is a big part of not succumbing to cakes and other crap.
Sometimes this means that I eat quite a few big snacks over the course of the afternoon, and then a small dinner. I used to *always* want a big dinner, because it felt like an end-of-the-day treat. But I’ve managed to get away from that by sopping depriving myself at other times in the day. If I need to eat a second lunch at 4pm then so be it! As a result, food is about appetite, not reward. And if I don’t have an appetite come the evening, then I don’t eat much.
What’s surprised me is also how my appetite changes from day to day – that is probably the changes in my workout schedule, but it goes to show that trying to stick to the same calorie intake each day is not going to work for some people.
Trusting my body and my appetite was scary at first, especially when you’re used to logging calories and trying to stick to a particular quota. But eating as you’re describing is how we’re *supposed* to eat I think. And I think it’s a great thing to strive for. I feel so much more sane since I’ve stopped religiously planning! I’m also a lot more relaxed – and in great shape. What’s not to like!
So long story short – I think this is a really great move for you Jo. Good luck with it! :)
Hey Alison, thank you so so much for your lovely message – I’ve been there with the planning and eating regardless of whether I’m hungry – it’s crazy as my husband would ask me why I was eating if I wasn’t hungry. I have noticed my appetite changes from day to day, even when I planned snacks, etc, some days I just wouldn’t eat them as I couldn’t. On training days, my appetite tends to go through the roof.
It’s going to be a long and slow process I think, it’s not something I will just snap out of but I’m going to persevere with it.
No more religious planning for me either – thanks for the best wishes :)
xx
I just had to tell you… I had breakfast at half 7 this morning and then didn’t have my lunch until half 12. I normally would have had a snack at about 10.30am but I just wasn’t hungry so I didn’t! Small triumph! x
Hurrah – well done :)
Hi I just found your blog through Jack’s site!
I have a healthy recipe/weight loss blog. I’ve profiled 15 people so far on a page called “Weight Loss Superstars”
Can I interview you to add to that list? I just ask a few questions, and need a before and after pic.
Have a great weekend!
My e-mail is slim-shoppin@comcast.net
Hi Jenn,
Thanks so much for the lovely message – I would love for you to interview me, what a lovely surprise :) I will drop you an email with some pictures
x
On a total tangent…did you see The Libetines at Reading festival on TV tonight?!! Saw them and thought of you!
I missed them :’( I’ve been away for the weekend so not watched any TV at all. Hopefully, I’ll be able to watch them on You Tube *crosses fingers*
I’m finding that watching what I eat is the most difficult part of trying to get into shape. Going to the gym more often or doing extra reps with extra weights is easy, trying to break a lifetime’s eating habits is a lot harder. If anyone’s got any tips I’m all ears!!
How do you avoid those snacks that are borne of habit rather than hunger?
Alan
http://fit-like.blogspot.com/
So right Alan, it’s those life long habits that are so hard to break! I’m just trying to only eat when I’m hungry thus break the eating because it’s time habit but it’s not easy. Because I have a long history of binge eating, I started eating every couple of hours to stop myself from getting hungry as hunger was a trigger for me. All it did though was make me so scared to get hungry that as soon as I felt the slightest feeling of hunger, I would raid the cupboards to stop it. I’ve since made a conscious effort to let myself get hungry before I eat and am trying to control those feelings of wanting to eat everything in sight. So far so well – I’m sitting for at least 10 minutes to make sure I am definitely hungry and am allowing myself to just sit and feel those hunger pangs then I’m getting up, making a meal and sitting and taking my time with it.
I’ve realised that hunger isn’t going to hurt me, that it’s really nothing to be scared of and hopefully, I will be able to break this habit :)
Good luck to you Alan :)
Ah the fear of hunger, it’s a big step to realise that your body can tell you an awful lot about yourself. I have what would be called a mild eating disorder which I have pretty much under control.
What I have realised is that over years and years of dieting and exercising I have learned to ignore hunger – in fact, I actually enjoy the feeling of being hungry and being so in conttrol that I don’t eat. What I try to do is recognise the difference between the low-blood-sugar “I have to eat NOW” pangs and the “oh I’d like a biscuit with this cup of tea” type of want.
Snacking has been difficult to control – it’s an ongoing process but my experience is that getting out of the snacking habit is best handled by controlling the other habits. So that if you always have a cup of tea and a biscuit at 11am – try to have a different drink or clean your teeth (in fact, clean your teeth was one of the best diet tips I ever got)
Hi Sho, thanks so much for the helpful message :)
I have to be very careful with food because I starved myself in my teens so I too used to enjoy the feelings of hunger and not giving into them. I can be quite a control freak if I allow myself to be and no doubt my relationship with food has elements of control there which I really am trying hard to break.
I’m definitely learning how to distinguish between hunger and appetite :)
I used to have serious binge issues and overcame them by giving up so many rules and learning to trust my body. It was tough to do, but worth it. I actually have a 30 Days of Self Love starting on my blog this Wed related to all that.
Hi Tina, I’m slowly letting go of the rules that I stuck rigidly to. This time last year I was so strict about macros and getting a certain percentage of protein but I’ve no real desires to compete so I don’t need to eat like someone that does.
I really like the idea of 30 days of self love – i’ll be sure to check it out and give it a mention for you :)
You know I may have to start doing this. I eat because I feel I should and often overeat. I will start seeing if I can eat when I am hungry and if it helps.
p.s. I have tagged you in an award on my blog http://jamtartstopssmoking.blogspot.com/
L xx
Hi Lou, good luck with the eating only when hungry – it can be tricky and I’m still learning to try and distinguish it but I’m hopeful that I can overcome it.
Thanks so much for the tag, I will have a look :)
xx