The Hunger Game (and How to Play)

Hey guys! Long time no blog....but really. It's been 3ish months since I last posted and a lot has happened. More on that later, but I wanted to let you know I am back for real. Now, on to today's topic!

Today, I am here to teach you how to tell the difference between emotional hunger and physical hunger by playing the “Hunger Game.”

So, why am I talking about emotional hunger versus physical hunger and what’s the difference?

Emotional hunger means you turn to food either to avoid uncomfortable emotions or to heighten pleasurable ones. It means you eat based on how you feel instead of what your body needs. Examples of emotional hunger (FEELINGS) may include:

• Eating for comfort or out of loneliness or sadness

• Eating from boredom

• Eating to try to soothe anxious or depressed feelings

• Eating to fill an aching heart

Physical hunger means you eat when your body signals to you that you are in fact, hungry. And it means that you stop eating when you are satisfied and before you are uncomfortably full. Examples of physical hunger (SENSATIONS) might include:

• Your stomach growls and gets that hollow hungry sensation

• Your body feels weak and your energy goes down

• Your blood sugar gets low and you feel shaky

• You feel lightheaded or faint

So what will learning to listen to my body do for me?

It will free you from being a slave to food! What that means for you is that you’ll feel more in control of your eating and less dependent on food to “help” your moods and emotions.

By listening to your physical hunger signals, you can determine how hungry or full you really are. With practice, you'll be able to pinpoint where your body is at any given moment.

You will train yourself to stop eating BEFORE you are too full and not turn to food when you are not actually hungry (but are in fact bored, upset, anxious, or depressed). Everyone knows that's a vicious cycle...so let me show you how to end that cycle and have some fun while doing it! Enter, the "Hunger Game!"

How do I play the Hunger Game?

Let me first clarify that I'm not talking about undergoing top-secret weapons training to learn to kill off your coworkers or friends....no need to volunteer as tribute here! I'm talking about a simple but helpful game that you can play all by yourself (even in a busy restaurant!).

Here's how you play:

• See if you can be the slowest eater at the table - no one has to know you're playing or that you're trying to win the game

• Periodically check in with yourself throughout your meal and honor when you're energized and satiated by completing the meal

• Use an end-of-meal ritual/routine, such as putting your napkin over your plate or ordering a hot tea and fresh fruit to symbolize completion of the meal

What do I do now?

In my health coaching practice, I help my clients learn to tell the difference between emotional hunger and physical hunger. Together, we come up with a plan to help you keep identifying the difference so you can lose weight naturally and double your energy.

If you think you may be engaging in emotional eating and you don't know how to change it, then click here now to schedule a time to talk with me today!

Hope you all have a lovely weekend!