Occasionally something will happen to us so often that we accept how it feels and then when it's no longer there we forget why we ever accepted the way things were.
I've been making it a habit with my healthful eating plan to make note of how I feel in a little journal. Noticing small and big changes as I move through the next few weeks. One big change that is so confusing and well accepted by me is my lack of hunger and cravings.
I first noticed this on saturday when I had a green apple for lunch before I went out to go shopping. I forgot about eating until that evening. Which is not a good thing, but so surprising for me I just went with it. Sure I was tempted by all of the comforting ideas of seasonal food (flavored coffee, or christmas candy were high on that list) but, aside from my initial knee-jerk reaction to comfort myself I just did not have hunger.
Hunger for me that I can recall after all of these years is very uncomfortable. I get grouchy, irritable, nauseous and that feeling of IF I DON'T EAT RIGHT THIS SECOND I WILL EAT YOUR ARM OFF. Which looking at it more closely could be a symptom of high and low blood sugar spikes.
Now that I feel stable in that area, I seem to be able to go longer periods without food and caving to cravings. When I wake up I don't feel that empty -sick feeling of hunger. Hunger is there, but it is more subtle and less uncomfortable.
Its too early to assume I am cured of this desire to overeat, because I'm not. But, I really like how I feel. I like being able to go about my day and not be consumed with the thought of eating or wondering how I'm going to sneak extra food in my day.
Sounds like you’re heading on the right path, congratulations.
Hey, that’s an accomplishment! Good for you!
Yay! That’s great!
I’ve noticed the same thing and it totally freaked me out. But I say go with it!
Definately a revelation. Hunger is truly not a terrible, OH MY GOD, “thing”. I usually feel hungry before dinner, but I’ll drink some green tea (which really helps me) and just think, “Ok, in an hour or so..I’m going to have a big, delicious, healthy dinner and I’m going to enjoy it!” The impulse to EAT right away when you feel hungry is not necessary, kind of ridiculous. Also, going for a little walk outside (15 minutes) helps me with my hunger. It’s important to view food as nourishment for your body and mind. Hunger is over-rated.
Hey Lorrie
Congrats on starting the journey.
Have you cut down your carbs? As soon as I cut them down my ravenous hunger disappeared now I’ll feel empty rather than the “pain in the stomack I’m going to be sick unless i eat now” hunger.
It worries me a little as I hope I’m still losing the weight & not doing more damage…
Aoife
That is amazing news! Eating right does that.
love your blog!
I can definitely relate to the ‘must eat NOW’ feeling. It usually leads to me making spontaneous, not great decisions because I’m so fueled by the desire to have the first thing I can find. So it’s great that you have been able to get past those feelings, I think it means you’re making better food decisions and your body is responding to that. Awesome job.
I am a chef, certified personal trainer and a mom. I have discovered that the mindset regarding eating is the most important thing, not necessarily the diet methods that don’t fit you. I discovered this when trying to
get my toddler to eat and wrote a book about it - Diet Secrets of A Toddler, By Laura Andolini. It is on my website if you are interested. http://www.cooking-for-fitness.com , or amazon.com. I hope you enjoy it!
Great site, good info, especially like the fact that you keep a journal, good tip.
You are not alone. In my research, I found out that the craving is like addiction to food that’s difficult to overcome. The secret though is portion control — just like the French and the Japanese.
A Japanese friend let me try their tsuru reishi vegetable dish. But its too bitter for me. So she gave me some tsuru reishi capsules instead. Label says it will work both for weight control and my diabetes. I’m using it for a week and its making wonders so far. I hope I can return to this blog in 30 days and blog to brag about the results.
Good for you. Right now I’m at the point where I’m not even hungry and I’m craving everything. But I hope to be in a better place in a week or two. (In the past I’ve stopped craving junk after about two weeks of eating healthy.) It’s just hard to start the process.
Good for you… It really is such a nice place to wake up an realise you dont think about your body or food, you just live. Well done!