Tuesday, June 21, 2011

Are You Really Hungry?

We started coaching a new nutritional cleanser yesterday and she amazed me with some of her realizations.


It can take some of us longer than 30 days to recognize some of our eating habits. Not this particular individual! There was excitement for her, as she started the program but there was also a lot of uncertainty.


On more than one occasion yesterday, I heard,"I feel like I should be eating", or 
"There is no way this snack is going to keep me full". By the end of the day though, she had this overall feeling of accomplishment and pride. She had not only made it through the day, but realized that what she ate was really enough and that she was feeling pretty good.  


It amazed me that when she was having a moment where she was feeling like she needed more she would stop and say, "I don't think that I am really hungry. It just feels weird having a hard boiled egg for a snack or some cut up vegetables, I would normally eat more."


We are very proud of our newest cleanser and her accomplishments. We can't wait to see her results.  


As we say, this is not about a diet, it is about a lifestyle change. The changes we saw in this person in just one day, are truly amazing.
This is what makes our job so much fun.


The below article gives some great tips on helping decipher if  you are really hungry or if it is just your mind playing tricks on you.


I can't change the direction of the wind, but I can adjust my sails to always reach my destination.” ~Unknown



Being in control means being healthy and happy



Most people at some stage eat when they’re not physically hungry maybe at a party or holiday celebration, or sometimes just because the food is so delicious it’s hard to resist.
Are you really hungry?
When you’re physically hungry you tend to have difficulty concentrating, you can’t perform to the level you usually do, and you might even feel a rumbling in your stomach to alert you that your body needs food.
Then there is psychological hunger and lots of things trigger it. The aromas and presentation of food and your own emotions such as boredom or depression, to name a few. Or when a food is really delicious, the clues that tell you you’ve had enough don’t kick in the way they should and you end up eating more than you physically need.
Are you really hungry or is your body playing tricks on you?
Next time you feel a rumble in your tummy wait 5 or 10 minutes from the time you feel the hunger pangs. If you’re still hungry chances are your body really does need the nourishment. The same goes for that second serving if you’re eating appropriate portions of a balanced meal, one serve should be enough. If it’s not, take a break and do something else for 10 minutes before you refill your plate. If the distraction cures your appetite then you’ll know it was psychological hunger. Eat slowly and chew your food fully. If you eat slowly and savour each bite you are likely to eat less than if you gulp your food down. Focus on the food, don’t eat mindlessly in front of the TV, the computer or at you’re desk as you’re still trying to work. Instead take some time to actually taste and enjoy the food. Wholesome nutritious foods, particularly low-fat proteins and whole grains tend to make you feel more full for longer than their fatty counterparts.
Emotional eating
1. Do you eat because you’re bored?
2. Do you find yourself craving food when times are stressful?
3. Do you raid the cupboards when you’re in a bad mood, upset or depressed?
Some people turn to food for reasons other than hunger. We eat to celebrate or commiserate; we eat when we’re sad, lonely, bored, or anxious. This is called emotional or comfort eating. If you eat to soothe your emotions chances are you will be eating too much, and the foods you are choosing won’t be nutritious ones. Often you will be uncomfortably full at the end of an “eating therapy session” and burning off all the kilojoules you’ve consumed will be a challenge to say the least. It’s common to turn to fatty, sugary foods for a quick feeling of pleasure. But eating doesn’t resolve the problem it’s only a quick fix with a long-term impact on health and well-being.
Signs to recognise emotional eating include:
  • you’re craving junk food
  • the cravings come suddenly
  • you eat without thinking about what you’re doing
  • you don’t feel satisfied at the end
  • you feel guilty
  • you have some sort of unpleasant emotion when you’re eating.
Dealing with non hungry eating
The important things to remember before you eat is to:
  • stop and rate your hunger to see if you’re really hungry?
  • if you’re not hungry, how are you feeling and why are you heading to the fridge?
  • try to figure out what’s motivating you
  • if you’re feeling anxious try talking to a friend or health consultant about your feelings
  • if you’re sad take time to reflect or get help
  • go for a walk or try another form of exercise to de-stress, or
  • put your favourite music on and enjoy

8 comments:

Anonymous said...

Excellent article. I'm an emotional and boredom eater and some of these tips will come in handy for me. They are just so darn hard to implement!

Welcome to voiceBoks!

Christina

Anonymous said...

I'm right now working on my perception of food and eating. Great article!
New follower from VoiceBoks!
Ro :)
Have you had YOUR daily Mom-ME Moment today?
http://www.MommyMindSpa.com

Nikki said...

great post! I am visiting from voiceBoks! You have a great blog! I am your newest follower and would love it if you would follow me back! thanks so much!
-Nikki
http://chef-n-training.blogspot.com/

Unknown said...

Wonderful information here! I have a bad habit of eating when I'm really tired, because it helps me to stay awake. Especially at night when I'm spending time with the hubby watching some TV. It's the only real time we get together and I don't want to fall asleep 5 minutes after my butt hits the couch, so I tend to eat to stay awake. Very bad habit, I know! :)

Stopped by from VoiceBoks to say hello. Now following you!

Blessings,
Rosann
http://www.christiansupermom.com/

Healthyliving4you said...

I know I used to be a huge emotional eater and night time eater for that matter. But I find the biggest thing for me to ask is "Do I really need this?" This really does help me stay on track. That being said, I am human and still have the odd time, that nothing would stop me from having that little treat. It usually does not help me feel better though.

Rosann, maybe just try having some cut up veggies or fruit in the fridge, so if you do snack with your hubby at night, it is healthy. Better yet, get him on board. Paul and I used to be the same way, it makes it so much easier when you can both be on board.

Thank you for all your comments, I look forward to reading your blogs today.

Erin said...

Hi, I found you at voiceboks. I really enjoyed your post. I have 8 kids, 5 of them grown & gone. I've never had weight issues until now. I think it's because my last child only has 3 yrs left at home and I've become an emotional eater. :( I've got to get this under control.
I hope you stop by my blog and visit me! www.mynuggetsoftruth.blogspot.com
~Erin

Healthyliving4you said...

Hi Erin,

Thanks for taking the time to read our post. 8 kids. Amazing! What a huge accomplishment.

Take some time and look over some other posts, please don't hesitate to contact me if you have any questions. We would love to help you out.

I will definitely stop by your blog. We have two children, and I am thinking with you having 8 kids, you may have some great tips for us. Have a good day!

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