Is Hunger really your enemy?

I regularly see my clients desperately upset when we first start working together, because they constantly feel hungry. Some fear the hunger to such an extent that it takes over their life - it feels like something that they ‘should’ be able to control.

On the other hand, many of the women I work with find it hard to define if they regularly experience true hunger, when they first approach me for help.

Many respond to hunger as it were their enemy. They either feel it intensely in the pit of their stomach or they are craving food when not necessarily hungry. Perhaps they are using food as a coping mechanism – a replacement for something they are really needing. If either scenario is a reality for you, read on to discover what might be going on.

What’s the difference between physical hunger and head hunger?

The first thing to work out is if the hunger you are feeling, is true physical hunger or head hunger.

Physical, bodily hunger can be identified when you feel the sensation in your body – often your stomach. Perhaps it’s a hollow feeling, or light headedness. Your stomach sends this message to your brain and you will feel it whether or not you see or smell food.

Head hunger however, is affected by external cues. For example, you may walk past a bakery. You can see and smell freshly baked pastries and then think – I’ve really got to buy some of that.

There are no physical symptoms – it may be the pure fact that you’ve seen it and it looks good. It may habitual (ie you pass the same bakery every day and it has become your default behaviour to stop off and buy the pastry on your way home). Or you may be feeling sad, stressed, anxious, fed up or angry and think – that is exactly what I need to make me feel better.

If what you are experiencing is in fact head hunger– this isn’t a sign of weakness or something to fear. It is very often a signal that we have an unmet need. Learning to understand these signals with self-compassion is a key part of the process of creating positive change.

And what if you feel true bodily hunger all the time?

If your hunger is real and you experience it all the time, this is also something to embrace. It is your body’s way of telling you it needs nourishment.

Many of the women I work with have experienced intense hunger after they finish their meal. Often this is purely because they have not been allowing themselves to eat enough -following a self-imposed rule of how much they 'should' be eating.

One lovely lady expressed disbelief the other day when she realised what a difference it made to eat three balanced meals a day and give herself permission to have more if required. Following this she no longer needed to snack or binge in the evenings and was able to enjoy her eating experience.

What if you just don’t know?

We are all born to innately respond to hunger, fullness and satiety. Think of how babies and toddlers eat when they are hungry and push food away spit it out or throw it on the floor when they are not. They instinctively know.

Sadly, over time this skill becomes eroded by the influence of our environment, mass media and diet culture -Have you ever been on a diet that focuses on your hunger and satiety?!

The good news is that this skill can be relearned. It takes work and focus to start listening to your body to then be able to trust and respond to it. But it can be achieved. I have seen my clients change the way they think about food and eating, liberate their mind and make incredible life transformations

Are you ready to create change in your life? 

Are you stuck in a cycle of emotional eating, bingeing or yo-yo dieting? 

Are you ready to make peace with your body and build a happy relationship with food?

Come and join us in the FOOD FREEDOM COLLECTIVE, FREE Facebook community- a safe place where you can question, share, learn + feel supported without judgement, comparison and shame. I share tips, simple recipe, meal, and snack ideas along with strategies, motivation and supportive practices within the group and its FREE to join!

It’s time to release yourself from the shackles of diet culture + empower yourself to create positive change- start today!