LISTEN TO YOUR BODY!
(Yes, that’s my hand.)
Your body knows best. If you understand the different levels of hunger, losing weight will become easier.
1.) Starving: RED ALERT! This type of hunger is associated with discomfort and an empty feeling. It’s typically accompanied with light-headedness and an alert “I NEED TO EAT NOW” feeling. Due to low blood sugar levels, you may feel lethargic (lack of energy). At this level of hunger, the risk of binging is very high.
2.) Hungry: Food is on your mind. You may be conjuring up meal ideas in your head and how to obtain them. If you don’t satisfy this feeling within an hour, you will risk moving into “starvation mode.”
3.) Moderately Hungry: You may experience “tummy talk” (growling). You know what that is. It usually happens in an awkward quiet place like a doctor’s office or classroom and you’ll try to cover it up by coughing or rustling some papers. Am I right or am I right? We’ve all been there. But, it’s just your body warning you that you should eat something.
4.) Satisfied: OPTIMAL! This feeling is smack dab in between being hungry and full. You’re not too hungry and you’re not too full. You’ll feel comfortable and likely be able to hold off a little while longer until your next meal.
5.) Full: You’re no longer eating because you’re hungry. Food will become more and more unappealing. Each bite may seem like a difficult task and it’s definitely a good time to STOP eating if you haven’t done so already. Continual eating could lead to bloating, stomachaches, or even worse…the other red alert zone.
6.) Stuffed: You know that feeling, when it’s difficult to breathe and you just want to unbutton your pants and take a 12 hour nap? You’ll feel very uncomfortable and food will probably be the last thing on your mind. You may experience heartburn from stomach acids going up into the esophagus.
So, how do you stay satisfied?
