How to Tell if You're Hungry

Do you sometimes confuse wanting to eat with needing to eat? Learning to tell the difference is an essential skill for breaking your eat-repent-repeat cycle.

You were born with the innate ability to know when and how much to eat. Have you forgotten how to use this information?

Maybe you never feel hungry because you eat regularly in response to other emotional and external cues. Maybe you ignore hunger until you’re starving then eat anything you can get your hands on. Perhaps dieting has caused you to dread feeling hungry or taught you to eat by the clock to prevent it.

Why Using Hunger Helps

Using hunger and fullness to guide your eating helps because:

• You'll eat less. If you aren't hungry when you start eating, how do you know when to stop?
• You’re more likely to choose nourishing foods. If you’re eating because you’re stressed or bored, what kinds of foods do you crave?
• Food tastes better when you're hungry. Hunger really is the best seasoning.
• You’ll feel more satisfied because food is great for satisfying hunger but not so great for satisfying other needs.
• You’ll notice you’re hungry before you get too hungry, decreasing the likelihood you’ll overeat.
• Most importantly, when you recognize that you want to eat because of some other need, you’ll have the opportunity to address it more effectively than with food.

Trust Your Body Wisdom

To break your eat-repent-repeat cycle, develop the habit of asking yourself, "Am I hungry?" before you eat. Think of it this way: When you see a gas station, you might consider stopping to fill up—but first you’d check your fuel gauge.

So how do you know whether you’re hungry? Pause and take a few deep breaths. (Download a complimentary two minute deep breathing exercise.) Do a brief mind-body scan and look for physical symptoms of hunger. (Try one of our new Mind-Body Audios to guide you through the process.)

Here are the most common signs:

• Hunger pangs
• Growling or grumbling
• Gnawing
• Empty or hollow feeling
• Slight queasy feeling
• Weakness or loss of energy
• Trouble concentrating
• Difficulty making decisions
• Light-headedness
• Slight headache
• Shakiness
• Irritability or crankiness

Notice that hunger is physical. It's not a thought, a craving, or a rationalization.

You're not asking the question, “Am I hungry?” to decide whether you're allowed to eat but to figure out why you want to.

Get in the habit of checking your fuel gauge before you fill up. You’ll soon find yourself eating less, feeling more satisfied, and meeting your needs more effectively.

(Excerpt from chapter 2 of Eat What You Love, Love What You Eat.This is the first in a series of Am I Hungry? "basics" -  an important foundation for all of our new subscribers and a great review for all of our longtime fans.)

Eat Mindfully, Live Vibrantly!
Michelle May, M.D.
www.AmIHungry.com 
www.MichelleMayMD.com  

P.S. Be sure to check out our new Mind-Body Audios and download a complimentary two minute deep breathing audio.

Ahhhh...Am I Hungry? Fall Retreat

Retreat, restore, renew, and re-energize! Join us this Fall 2010 for an Am I Hungry? Retreat facilitated by Michelle May, M.D. You'll experience life-changing workshops, amazing mindful eating experiences, joyful physical activity, and connection with others who know exactly how you feel. Details and early registration coming soon.  

---

Eat What You Love wins awards!

Download the first chapter of Eat What You Love, Love What You Eat from our website, If it resonates for you too, you can get your copy there, Amazon (please post your reviews!) or in bookstores everywhere including Barnes & Noble, Borders, and your favorite independent book retailer (if it's not on the shelf, please ask them to order more!).