Diets & Weight Maintenance Support Group
Chat about how well your latest diet is -- or is not -- working. This group is a great place to find support and accountability as well as share success stories and valuable lessons with the community. From where to start to weekly weigh-ins, get help from others to reach your dieting and weight maintenance goals.
I classify hunger in one of three categories: (1)Stomach hunger. That is when you're genuinely hungry. You may feel lightheaded, and your stomach is empty, hurting, or growling. (2) Mouth hunger. That is commonly called Appetite. You may not be truly hungry, but you just saw a tempting ad on TV or you just crave something that is going to "give your mouth a party". If we're going to lose weight, we need to recognize and control mouth hunger. (3) Brain hunger. That is the hunger we feel because of chemical or hormonal imbalance in the brain. Most common physical cause of brain hunger is low levels of serotonin. Sometimes a prescription is necessary. Anti-depressants or a drug called Meridia help for many people. Before you decide you are just a weak person, or before you think you need Overeaters Anonymous, consider whether it's your brain chemistry that needs alteration. (4) Emotional hunger. Trying to fill that void with food. Never works. You must distinguish between eating to fuel your body, and eating to comfort yourself. Therapy or Overeaters Anonymous may be helpful.
Hmmm maybe if we stop to think about what our body is actually trying to tell us and whether we are really the "stomach hungry" versus the "emotional or mouth hungry", then we could start having healthier eating habits.
i've never read anything quite like this. it makes so much sense!
when i'm trying to identify my hunger (i'm never quite sure), i ask myself if i'm hungry enough to eat an apple or carrots. if yes, then i know i'm genuinely hungry. usually, however, i fall under the category of brain hunger. i have very low serotonin levels, and i'm determined to start running again (at age 45) to counteract the levels. i decided it's either running or drugs, and since i used to run, i know exercise works. i haven't been successful on meds.
i'm afraid i'll always be emotionally hungry :(
i've been a member of oa on an off over the years.
i really need to seriously consider going back.
i also read that thirst will disguise itself as hunger as well.
thanks for sharing :)
meadow
I think that, at times, I experience all these types of hunger (actual hunger being the last on the list because I very rarely go without food long enough to be actually hungry :p).
A few years ago, I got this british tv special called "Paul McKenna will make you thin!" from a friend. He was talking about how we need to stop eating when we're not physically hungry, and gave some eating techniques to help.
The deal was:
- Eat only when you're physically hungry, and only until you feel comfortably full;
- Eat very slowly, chew your food, and focus on the taste and texture of the food;
- Do not combine eating with any other activity, like watching tv, reading, etc;
- Eat whatever you like, keeping in mind the other "rules".
The idea is that by not limiting yourself in what you can eat, you don't feel like you're on a diet. But because you chew your food well and focus on the taste and texture, a lot of food that you normally like lose its appeal, and you naturally tend to go for healthier choices. Also the fact that eating is your only activity helps you figure out better when you're full...
It worked for me for a while, until I started eating in front of my computer again, and gave up on the whole concept :p