Hi friends! Happy Thur Friday! 😀
Miss one day of posting and my whole concept of time is thrown way off. Eesh. But I was just in no state to post yesterday… Any time I’d sit down at the computer and try to write, I’d only end up frustrated because no words would come. None. My thoughts were muddled. I was tired. I was cranky. It was just a bad day overall, and I think I know why…
… I was out of cantaloupe…
… which would explain why today has been so much better…
I restocked 😀
In all seriousness, though, I’m pretty sure I know why I had such a bad day yesterday; and although it had nothing to do with cantaloupe, it did have something to do with food… or rather, the lack of it…
My guess is that I was simply hungry…
And I say “guess” because I didn’t exactly feel overtly hungry – there was no rumbling stomach or hunger pangs… not even feelings of weakness or fatigue. I mean, I wasn’t exactly bouncing off the walls, but I wasn’t ready to pass out from exhaustion either.
Rather, what I was experiencing was a general feeling of “off-ness”. Irritability. Slight hyperactivity. An inability to concentrate. Minor stomach complaints… Nothing good…
… this, on the other hand, was very good… Baked Apple Pie Oatmeal. It was a stormy night and a dreary day, so it felt comforting to fire up the oven and cozy up in a warm kitchen.
Hunger is a funny thing that shows itself in a variety of ways… one time my stomach will be growling, and the next time I’ll be growling at everyone I see. So, although I always do my best to honor my hunger, the problem is that I don’t always recognize it for what it is; and I think part of that has to do with the fact that it’s hard for me to believe that I might actually need to eat more than I already do…
See, I eat a lot, which is fine – I’ve reconciled myself with the fact that I eat like a horse… But the idea that it might not be enough is extremely difficult to grasp, especially because I’m not exactly running marathons or training for hours a day, so how could I possibly need even more?
And here’s where the back-and-forth begins…
Maybe I don’t. Maybe I nibble from boredom. Maybe my symptoms aren’t those of hunger – maybe it’s something else… But then why do I always seem to feel better after a meal or a snack? Why do my symptoms temporarily clear up? If it’s not hunger, then why am I only able to focus on things other than food after I feel satisfied with what I ate?
Actually, that’s one of the more reliable symptoms of my hunger. When I’m hungry, I can’t think about anything other than food, and I’m not really interested in doing anything other than eating…
Parfait made with blueberries, chia goo, and maple sweetened Greek yogurt.
A few of the other, more come-and-go, signs that I’ve noticed are:
- Increased irritability and moodiness
- Inability to concentrate or focus
- Increased anxiety and hyperactivity
- Inability to relax or sleep
- Feeling heavy and fatigued
- Headaches and vertigo
- Digestive complaints
… and experiencing any of those makes me think that I should grab something extra to eat; but at the same time, it’s hard for me to believe that I actually need it, especially when I start thinking about food a mere hour after I finished a big meal… it’s like “how can I already be hungry again?“
Gah! So frustrating. But I’m still learning, and trying to let it sink in.
What I do know is that I hate feeling that way, and that I’d do anything to fix/prevent it. But what I don’t know is if more food is the right answer. I guess the only way to find out is to eat more and see if it helps; and I already know that it will… I’m just still having a hard time believing it.
. – . – . – .
Can anyone relate? Some advice? Please tell me I’m not some sort of freak of nature 😆
I can relate and it looks like a lot of people have the same thing. There are times when I don’t feel hungry, but my mind is screaming at me to eat. From what my nutritionist has told me and others, it means you’re lacking something or didn’t get the right protein. I know I experienced it a lot when I was gaining weight. It’s your bodies way of telling you you need to eat more. I’ve found just eating a little extra calms my mind down and even my stomach (odd?). Just trust your body, as my nutritionist said “Your body will never lead you wrong.
My advice to you is that if you want food, then eat it. Your body is telling you something, whether or not you realize it. Our hormone balances, our moods, our overall energy…are all affected by what and how much we eat. Your stomach won’t always grumble. Actually, I’ve read a lot of expert advice that says it’s not healthy to even let your body reach that stage. Point is, your stomach isn’t always going to sound like a growling lion when it wants food. You might get lightheaded or a tad nauseous, or even shaky if your blood pressure is too low. Maybe you’ll just become a bitch. We’ve definitely all been there! I think people have wrapped their heads (too tightly, in my opinion) around the idea that eating without feeling a physical pain for food is wrong, and worthy of guilt, because you must not be actually “hungry” if you don’t feel that gurgle. Wrong. So wrong. Don’t deny yourself an extra snack if you want it, or stop yourself from getting seconds if you simply “feel” like more food. Your body is making you feel that way. That’s what true “intuitive eating” is. Honoring those feelings. That’s your body speaking to you. Listen to it! 🙂
Hunger is a temperamental beast, isn’t it? You would think it would be so simple, but if I know if I don’t have the ‘typical’ signs of hunger like the gnawing in my stomach and light-headedness, then I start to go through this tug of war with myself. Have you ever read Intuitive Eating? If I recall correctly, they talk in there about how to identify hunger, and how there are some people (most men I’ve known come to mind) who never have to second guess themselves. They know when they are hungry, they eat until they are full and then they stop. I find it fascinating, but of course it’s a skill we all have. I think the fact that they have to have a section on identifying your hunger is a testament to how difficult it can be for those of us who have fought our natural instincts in the past. I think it’s part of the process of healing. I personally have been ‘recovered’ for a decade and I still struggle from time to time.
What’s finally worked best for me is to increase the size of my meals and stop snacking as much. Of course the solution is different for everyone, but I found that the grazing (which I did for about 15 years!) was leaving me with this low-level hunger all the time. I didn’t realise that at the time though, and I just kept lamenting, “Why am I so hungry all the time????” I thought that I couldn’t eat big meals because of my sensitive stomach, but after about 6 or 8 weeks the feeling of being overly full from a normal sized meal went away and I adjusted to 3 squares + a snack when I am hungry. Worked for me, anyway!
My mind tells me to keep eating a lot. My stomach feels full and I know I’m full, but my mind is like, “Just another bite.” I don’t know really.
Girl, I feel the same way. Lately, I have been so hungry. I thought it was boredom or maybe “that time of the month” but my stomach is just craving…something! I think it’s natural but I have been feeling the same kind of guilt. If you figure it out let me know, I felt like a solo freak-show!
I’ve been thinking about this post more…I think it’s REALLY important to not say, “I eat so much”. Honestly, every time I catch myself saying that I know it’s my ED talking. I correct myself and say, “I eat what my body needs and wants”. It is not “so much” or “too much”. It’s also important to recognize their may be many bloggers who eat more then you and saying you “eat like a horse” may make them feel bad. Ya know? That is obviously not an attack on your dear, you know I love ya! I just think its something you should look into….when you do your daily posts and eats I never think, “wow that girl eats a lot”. Sometimes I think, “she still eats on the lighter side” if anything!! I’m not judging you or saying anything bad about you. I’m just saying that maybe you could have a warped perception still of what is healthy for your body? I could be wrong though? What do I know?! haha
xxo
You do bring up a lot of good points, hun, especially about saying “I eat what my body needs and wants” – I’m definitely gonna have to start saying that to myself.
I have to agree with Dana: I’ve never read a post of yours and thought that it looked like a lot of food, particularly with someone with a history of EDs. You might eat a lot of times during the day, but the actual portions are very small, relative to sizes of spoons and dishes as I can tell. This contrasts with someone like me, who may eat less times during a day but has MONSTER portions that fit in a huge dish (or dishes!)
I do definitely feel bad when i see people saying they eat like a horse or eat SO much because I know I get through a lot more than that…but that’s my problem in terms of a comparison thing! I’m just saying that, yes I think you probably are hungry because you’re a little and often person, which is fine, but perhaps things need to be a little less ‘little’ and a little more ‘often’ 😉
Love your blog: I’ve only just realised this was ‘you’ as I read Seek ever since you started writing there.
xxx
I agree with Dana and Jessica!
Yes – I can relate!! Sometimes it’s frustrating for me because I rarely have “hunger pangs,” or a grumbly stomach…but rather, just start feeling like I’m dragging and grumpy. I’m not sure if that’s a good or a bad thing…but it’s how I am a lot of times! Sometimes I’d wish I had hunger pangs instead. First I get draggy, and then when I start thinking snarky things or almost give lip to my boss I know it’s time to eat! haha.
…now that I think about it, it’s only at work when I get like that…when I’m at home I usually do notice my stomach start to complain. Huh…maybe I’m just so focused @ work that I don’t even notice…
…mand, you’re making me have some epiphanies here! haha.
Don’t worry, though – you’ll figure it out soon 🙂 The fun thing about experimenting is that you learn about yourself either way. I’m sure with all the strength training you’ve been doing lately, your metabolism is on fire! Just another thought, too – though I know this could be a bad suggestion if you have the potential to get obsessive with it…but are you paying attention to your servings and making sure you’re giving yourself enough? I know for a little while after I started running, I started measuring to make sure I was giving myself big enough portions. Turns out what I was eyeballing as a fair amount was really less than I was intending to give myself for a snack or meal. I try to go by “how I feel” – eat when I’m hungry, stop when I’m full – but often I would be full, just not for very long!
Totaly understand cha! when I work out more, my hungry is OUT. of control, (even sometimes when I dont work out at all!) I am still learning to realized that its okay when your hungry all the time. You are NOT a freak girl! 🙂
I can completely relate to this! It’s the worst internal struggle for me right now. I wish I had some words of advice but I think the idea of adding more food and seeing what happens sounds like the most reasonable and logical thing to do.
You truly are an inspiration to me 🙂 I’ve been struggling with an ED for far too many years and I’m beginning to realize that there is soooo much more to life than being a certain # on the scale…. I know its going to be a long process to actually be ok and feel ok at a higher weight, but I’m realizing it has to be better than living like this. Thank you for sharing your journey and Yummy eats 🙂
It took a long time, but I think I’ve finally found the balance of being able to eat whenever I need to. And I’ll be sure to eat before leaving the house for a few hours if I know I’ll be hungry..even if I’m not that hungry before leaving. I really, really, really hate being hungry! No clue how I stood starving myself a few years ago.
Girl I can relate to every word of this! Sometimes I really wonder whether eating intuitively is enough… and so part of me thinks maybe I should count calories for a week or so and see if it matches up with my EER (estimated energy requirement). But then the other part of me thinks that could just be asking for trouble. I would hate to stir up food issues that have long been laid to rest. So for now I’m just content with continuing to honour my hunger, even if it seems out of control. As long as my clothes fit, I know I’m doing it right. 😛
I can totally relate. There are times when I know I am reallly hungry — my stomach is growling and my body is just screaming “FEED ME”. I try to never get to that point. But regular old hunger? I’m not sure. Some days I eat a lot. Some days, not so much. It all depends on how busy I am — at work or at home, so I usually tell myself that I’m not hungry, that I”m just bored.
It is such a inner battle sometimes, and it sounds like it is that way for you too. I have no advice, except to really listen to your gut — to me if you are questioning “am I really hungry?” then the answer is probably no. But I could be wrong!
I too can relate to this post and is something i struggle with, i feel that sometimes i underestimate how much food our bodies really need. Im starting to realize that our bodies are truly amazing “machines” that need fuel and when it doesn’t get it it smply cannot be as efficient as it could be. That’swhen i start to feel stressed, tired, irritable too!
I guess my only advice is to try and listen to your inner self – it won’t steer you wrong – i promise! P.s. Your blueberry parfait looks wonderful as does your english muffins with avocado and cream cheese!
I so recognize this! I used to eat very little to the point that my mother started to worry. I couldn’t finish my meals and rarely had an appetite. Now it’s just the opposite! I started eating more healthily, and just more. And it leaves me wanting even MORE. But it’s not really a feeling of hunger, but more like me craving something salty! I usually get pretty ‘hungry’ after dinner and even dessert isn’t enough. So I eat leftovers pretty late at night, which sometimes is annoying to me, but even more to my boyfriend, who is actually trying to eat less. I really don’t get why and how I can eat so much, I never gain any weight, I have been really skinny all my life, so it’s very strange to me. I also feel very bored or anxious when I get the ‘hunger’ and feel like I should eat just to keep myself busy. So now I just make sure I have foods that I can eat when I get the cravings; leftovers, eggs, bread with some sort of spread etc. this way I can’t get cranky or bored and be happy!:P
I
I can’t believe how many people experience the same thing. I’m like that almost all the time and I thought I was going crazy. There are days when all I can think about is food even though the food I eat seems more than enough and definitely more than the amounts everybody around me considers enough. I am afraid that I’m eating so much not because I need the energy but because my brain sends me the wrong signals like “I’m lonely -> I eat”, “I’m sad -> I eat”, etc. I wish I could be completely sure that the weight I am gaining is muscle from the cycling and I will stop gaining at some point but I am not sure and it is freaking me out. I am glad that I am not the only one who has to fight with the same feelings and almost everybody mentions training as a possible cause of the never-ending hunger. Let’s just eat when we feel like eating despite the dieting world around us that hates fruit, milk, nuts and all the real food in general, shall we? 🙂
Oh yeah, I relate BIG TIME.
I hate being hungry without feeling hungry. Total mind screw for me. And it didn’t even pay for my dinner or text me afterward saying it had a good time.
I also hate being full and still hungry. That happens when I eat too many filling veggies for too many days. My body is like “can we get some more protein and carbs up in this joint?”
Man oh man I can relate! Sometimes literally an hour after I have a meal I’ll already be ravenous, especially on my leg workout days. I mostly try to combat the hunger with nut butters since they tend to fill me up, but it can get overwhelming having to cram in more food. I’m actually really amazed at how much I’ll eat–my mom jokes I’m her teenage son going through puberty and eating a fridge worth of food a day haha 😉
“one time my stomach will be growling, and the next time I’ll be growling at everyone I see” <–AMEN! I turn into the ultimate diva when I'm hungry, people gotta watch out!
I have no doubt you'll figure this out, you're a strong gal with a great head on her shoulders 🙂
I’ve been having crazy constant hunger as well. I feel tired, and I tell myself it is from a lack of caffeine. I really think that I’m loading up on too many veggies that I get really hungry about a half hour after my meals… then I just go eat chips or ice cream or something fast and satisfying. I’m going to try incorporating more beans and nuts into my meals– I just bought more hummus and a big bag of lentils!
I hope you feel better!
I struggle with the same problem a lot–it’s very frustrating, but I’ve found over and over that denying my hunger is pointless and actually elevates my desire to eat even more, especially if I’m craving a certain food. I often assume that my hunger should be pretty much the same day after day. I also sometimes wonder if I just have “appetite” or if I really need to eat as much as I do. Listening to one’s body isn’t always easy, but I’m learning. 🙂
I relate to a lotta what you have said.
I love your blog and I hope this doesn’t come across as critical or mean in ANY way. Iv known quite a few people who have/had ED’s and its very common for them to actually overestimate what their intake is & just think they are eating a lot. I can understand how you think you eat like horse if you compare what you eat to some bloggers, but I don’t think the blog world is a realistic representation what a normal intake is for the general population.
BUT I obviously don’t know everything you eat because you don’t post it , which is totally cool.
Also I know you don’t weigh yourself. But if you are underweight it could be the reason you feel hungry a lot- specialists have told me that an underweight body is always in starvation.
I’m just like you with feeling like I could knaw my arm off within an hour of a large meal- but we’re young so I just try to embrace a raging metabolism while it lasts!
P.s I bought dark chocolate, vanilla & caramel soya puddings today- wonder who could have inspired such a purchase?
Xxx
Hi Amanda, I’ve been reading for a while and this post has made me really want to say something that I’ve worried about in the past with your blog. It’s great that you don’t feel the need to know your weight, but you REALLY REALLY should be seeing a doctor who knows about eating disorders can keep tabs on your weight and, perhaps even more importantly, vital signs. Listening to your body is wonderful, but it’s not perfect, and when you’ve suffered from an eating disorder (1) your nutritional needs may not fall within the scope of “normal” and (2) there are many physical and psychological obstacles to knowing what your body needs. Especially considering the tendency of recovered anorexics to develop hypermetabolism, it’s possible that you still aren’t getting enough. Some people actually do have to eat far past their “comfortable fullness” level to really recover, or to then stay healthy.
Anyway, whatever you decide to do about doctors, at LEAST you should make sure you eat more since it does seem like you are getting quite hungry. There is really not a single reason in the universe why you wouldn’t – you have no tendency towards being overweight and overeating is simply not a health problem for you. Why not try to add something to your diet that you are sure to eat every day, at least for a week or two to try it, like a substantial appetizer/salad/soup course before dinner?
One last thing – you shouldn’t feel ashamed of what you eat! It’s not scant, but it doesn’t strike me as being excessive at all.
Thank you for the sound advice, Alexa 🙂 I’ve been picking at things a lot more throughout the day, but you’re probably right that I just need to add another substantial snack to see if it helps.
I can definitely relate and I wish I could offer some advice, but the truth is: I don’t have any! It’s a struggle and a process for me as well. I think simply being mindful and asking yourself if it’s really hunger you’re feeling or if it’s something else is the first step. It seems like that’s what you’re already doing, so at least you’re on the right track. I think everyone is a never ending work in progress, constantly unfolding. And it’s our job to explore the many facets of our being. So, all I can say is keep on doing what you’re doing and you’ll figure it all out!
P.S. I missed you! I have been camping and away from a computer so I have not been able to read any blogs! It’s good to be back 🙂 Sending you love <3
My appetite and I have serious wars some days. Sometimes I literally have to force myself to eat because I’m just not hungry and others I am scarfing down everything in sight. But your body KNOWS. Don’t let your BRAIN mess with you. Just listen to what your body is telling you and don’t THINK about it!! You are doing great girl, and you have such solid eats. I know you’ll figure it all out!! 🙂
I can relate to that 100%. Some days I am in awe at the amount of food that I consume, while other days I am perfectly satisfied with small snacks. Strange.
All of those symptoms are friends of mine, and no one likes to be around me when they come out to play. It’s crazy how our moods change when the hunger monster strikes.
I began adding more grains to my diet which helps keep me full longer. I find that even though I stuff a huge salad down my throat with some tuna, it doesnt hold me over for long. If I add a slice of bread or some brown rice however, I seem to stay full longer. Veggies make you full for moment, but wait 1/2 hour and you’ll be hungry again. Also, the more muscle you have, the faster your metabolism is, resulting in major calorie burn even when you’re not exercising. bonus!
I have also realized that sometimes I am actually thristy, so I will chug a glass of water/crystal light/vitmamin water, or a simple cup of tea and see if my hunger subsides. If it doesnt, I know that I am truly hungry and will eat a snack. If the water seems to help, then I’m good to go!
Dont get frustrated, it’s hard to get a grasp on hunger cues. I think the main reason is that you began lifting weights and now your body needs more calories that it did before.
Truth. The lifting really threw a wrench into any success I had with intuitive eating 😆 I’m hoping to get things figured out soon so that I don’t end up going crazy.
I rarely have an appetite 🙁
many times i am hungrier after a meal than when i first started eating. most of the time i am hungry 2 hours after eating… and its not uncommon to have days where i have to have another meal 1 hour after- its the nature of the beast…the internal hunger beast that is 🙂
xoxo
It’s exactly what I’ve been feeling recently too – I have difficulty recognizing true hunger.
Sometimes I eat, and then I get hungrier. This confuses me a lot, since in the start of the meal/snack, I wasn’t ‘that’ ravenous As a result, I end up putting spoonfuls of nut butters in my mouth at like 11:30pm, literally. Not only it confuses me, but it also scares me gravely because I would feel so out of control.
Anyways, thanks for the “symptoms” you listed. It seems my symptoms are similar. Perhaps it’s like this: my body gives me those “iffy” signs throughout the day (fatigue, etc) and then gives me the real signals (like growling) late at night. I’m still working on my intuitive eating; as a person who just finished whatever I had on my plate, it just seems hard, but I’m proud to say that I’ve learned by myself that I need so much more than what the “calculator” tells me. lol.
Ugh those calculators are garbage. I haven’t even found them to be useful for a baseline estimate…
Sorry you had an off day yesterday – it could be hunger, but it could also be something else. I say if you keep feeling that way to go get some bloodwork done. You never know!
I totalllllly second this! I used to have all these symptoms (aka “bottomless hunger, anxiety, mood swings, horrible difficulty sleeping/staying asleep, extreme cold intolerance, amenorehea) when I was “overexercising”/underfueling (which I learned for my body was actually not that much compared to many people in the blogging world).The blogging world is definitely way more active than the “real” world. Bottom line: exercise really affects adrenal/thryroid/metabolic functions and a blood test showed that my T3 levels were low (hypothyroidism aka slow metabolism – despite being constantly hungry and exercising daily). Basically, that whole if you eat too little and exercise too much your body and goes into “survival” mode thing is actually REAL.
It really becomes a vicious cycle too. When your appetite feels completely bottomless, you feel like you are literally eating for 2 or 3 people, and its extremely difficult not to feel anxiety over not only how much you are eating but also WHAT you eat (*this cereal I am craving for breakfast will never fill me up/or keep me full*). As a result, you casually sneak in some extra exercise at the end of the day or an extra mile on the treadmill in the morning to hopefully help cancel some of the extra calories you ate. In the end, your hunger/satiety cues become totally out of whack. Because of my slow metabolism, I actually ended up gaining about 5 lbs in a few months despite working out for 2+ hours some days.
For me the proof is in the pudding. I’ve been tapering my exercise to extremely light activity (think walking and golfing) and have actually lost about 3 lbs in a few weeks. The first week was superrrrr scary (I literally thought I was getting fatter everyday I didn’t do “real exercise” and I was super anxious all the time). I was actually too afraid to weigh myself at first because I felt “too fat” but gave in and found that I had actually lost a pound. I simply focused on eating when I was hungry, what sounded appetizing, and stopping when my body/tummy felt good/satisfied and decided that finding my natural weight through hunger/satiety cues rather than a caloric standard was going to be more stable in the long run considering my hormonal imbalances. I definitely eat smaller portions than I used to although calorically I’m not sure I actually eat less. Either way, most of my symptoms have really cleared up (especially the anxiety and bottomless hunger).
Sorry for being sooo long winded! As a reader, I know that you are very good about honoring your cravings/appetite and don’t work out like a maniac, so I guess I would just suggest going to doctor to get some blood work done just to make sure everything is normal, possibly eating more calorically dense foods so that eating more does feel so overwhelming, and just don’t be afraid to experiment to see what works best for you!
You know what’s freaky? Every single one of those “symptoms” you listed apply to me — pretty much ALL the time!! That either means that I’m not eating enough (possible since I have no idea what hunger even is these days), or that I’m just a cranky irritable person by nature (which is also extremely likely). Hmm.
In any case, I think it’s pretty safe to say that this doesn’t make you a freak of nature!!
<3 <3
Oh gees girl, I don’t know how you do it – I would try and try to explain that I was feeling this way but I would never be able to put in words like you do. Glad to see others relating to me!
I mean, I run a fair amount I guess. About 3-6 miles 5 days a week, But I don’t think it means I should have this hunger that can never be shut up.
Don’t get me wrong, I love food, I love to eat. But I hate having to worry about it every where I go.. If I don’t eat every 2 hours on the dot, my stomach will grumble, I’m cranky, mean. But sometimes I can’t tell if I’m hungry, I’m just cranky and food just seems to make the crankiness go away?
Who knows, I’m hoping someday this will eventually balance itself out.
I have the same running habits and I also have unquenchable hunger! I hate the worrying about eating every couple hours… sometimes I feel like I need to overload so I will be able to last more than a couple hours.
I very much second this… If I have to do something for more than a few hours, I start to get a little panicky if I know I won’t be able to eat…
I always feel hungry, so I know that what I’m experiencing is due to hunger. Sometimes, I get those signs when I’ve gone way past hungry. I think that being hungry and hour after you eat a large meal is normal- I am the exact same way. Especially since we lift weights, I think hunger occurs more often than if we were just cardio junkies. Our bodies are constantly burning…oh the ups and downs of eating food and trying to figure out the best and healthiest ways to do it
I think what might be the problem here is that even though you eat a lot, you eat a lot of fruit and veggies which may indeed be filling, but they aren’t all that high in calories. On blogs I see of people lifting heavy weights, they decrease their veggie intake because they make them feel falsely full and are unable to get the calories (I should really say “energy”) into their body that their muscles need in order to grow. I think that’s one thing to accept when you start lifting heavy weights – you are going to need to eat a lot to maintain energy levels.
It’s just one suggestion but it’s a suggestion from experience. You see, while I was gaining weight, I would fill up on fruit and vegetables and think, “Oh my, I am full so I mustn’t need anymore fuel.” Trouble was, I would get cranky and I’d be so low in energy except I couldn’t fit anymore food in because I had filled up so much on fibrous and filling vegetables. It wasn’t until I cut back on my veggies and fruit that I actually began to feel *real* hunger and I noticed a HUGE difference in my moods and energy levels. I still eat plenty of veg and fruit, but I don’t go crazy with it.
I missed you yesterday <3
xxx
Hrm. Good point about the fruits/veggies… I’ve already decreased the amount of veggies I eat, especially the really fibrous ones, but it’s hard to say no to the fruit! Especially now that it’s summer. I might give it a shot, though, and see if it helps.
I can relate SO MUCH. I think it’s a combination of a few things that makes us so “scared” of our hunger…1) always comparing yourself to other people or what you use to eat or what you ‘should’ eat. There all these “general” guidelines that try to “GUIDE” people into eating and our bodies are just so different I dont understand how they could do that. I met someone in recovery who was maintained on like 3500 calories a day. Actually, I can think of another women I know who does that as well. We ALL have different metabolism. There is no “magic number”. It’s just what your body NEEDS and what your body wants. Easier said then done. I have a fear of over eating or eating because im bored. BUT do I have a history of over eating and emotional eating? NO. So why do I fear it so much? haha because im nuts obviously! Plus, the media makes it out to be the end of the world if we “enjoy food” or have a little bit to much one day. I mean, so what if we sat around one day and ate out of boredum? GASPPPP… Not like the world would end, nor would we die of a heart attack. I think we all tend to get to rapped up in eating the “perfect” way. like the other commenters said, i think you if your having those symptoms you DO NEED to eat more. All the advice I can offer is just remember that we are all unique and your just honoring your body. You cant “mess up” so just dont over think it. Also, I find it helpful to concentrate on the perks of honoring your body, like you dont have to think about food all day if your eating well! LOL
Dana xo
Yup, definitely know what you mean!! I definitely get cranky and lethargic when I need food! I also think it’s a lifting thing!! When I first started strength training with BodyPump a few months back, I saw my NEED for food increase a lot, and now even more so with NROLFW! Sometimes, I don’t actually have hunger pangs, but I get the feeling that I NEED more food, if that makes any sense? Haha don’t worry in recent months I’ve been eating like an ELEPHANT and the changes have only been GOOD, like more muscle! LOVE it, and so lets just eat as much as our body asks for and look like the woman on the cover of NROLFW! 😀
I totally understand what you’re going through. I’m not sure what’s been up with me lately- I feel like I need more food than ever but I haven’t really increased my activity level. Sometimes I finish a meal and I’m hungry again within two hours or so when I never used to need food again so quickly. Either that or I find myself napping more or feeling generally “under the weather”.
Have you been drinking enough water? I know thats a problem I sometimes have. I just… forget to! It sounds silly, I know. It seems like the hotter the weather becomes the more food I feel like I need. I’m thinking it might be that I’m mistaking dehydration for hunger-ish things. No pangs like you said, but a sort of muffled grumble-type-feeling here and there.
I’m going to try starting my day with a big glass of water along with my oats methinks and see if that helps. Perhaps the combination of more coffee than I’ve had in a while and the hot weather has made me lack much needed fluid! Eeeep!
I’ll cross my fingers that we can both get back to a better state! <3
I was thinking that it might be a dehydration thing, but I already drink a tonne of water as it is, and feel like I’d make myself sick if I tried to force in more. Maybe it honestly is just hunger 😆
Haha, I know right? I keep forgetting to drink throughout the day so I chug a big glass until I feel like I’m going to explode. EEEP!
Gah this is something that I struggle with, some days my stomach will just not stop growling even though I keep feeding it and then other days I don’t get that and I feel like I’m eating for the sake of eating. And some days, because I tend to snack at the same sort of times everyday, even when I’m not feeling hungry, I’ll still and go get something out of habit. And what confuses me most, is that my stomach will growl sometimes when I’m working out and it will only be 15 minutes maximum until I can give it some food. But when that time comes, I don’t feel hungry at all. Why are bodies so weird?! If you ever find the answer, please tell me 🙂
I completely related to everything you wrote in this post. In fact, I could have written the exact same words with the way I’ve been feeling lately, today especially. And I’m having the same problem/confusion you are as to whether or not it is truly hunger. So even though I don’t have a solution, I must admit, it made me feel a lot better to know that I’m not going crazy and the only one having an issue with this weird feeling. Definitely keep me updated if you figure it out! :o)
I think maybe since at one point you were trying to gain weight, your metabolism just sped up like crazy? And now, with weight training, that can’t exactly be helping the sitch, if you know what I mean. You definitely need to eat more! Otherwise your body won’t be able to keep up with your metabolism and you’ll start dropping weight.
I can totally relate. There are many days when I’m physically full but my mind is telling me I’m hungry. When this happens I experience all the same symptoms as you. I find myself so inpatient with absolutely everything. Take for example yesterday I got home from a long day of work to cook dinner just to find that my brother finished the plain greek yogurt I was sooo looking forward too to dipping my veggies in and having as dessert. I honestly started crying, that’s when I know I am SUPER hungry without any physical hunger. So strange, so annoying and so hard to listen too!
I’m glad to know I’m not the only one this happens too, I’m sure we will figure out the right balance soon enough! 🙂
Definitely relate- I’m still struggling to come to terms that hunger/food needs are NOT always logical/uniform and that some days I’ll simply be hungry and need more food than others due to hormonal fluctuations or whatever it else is that my body is trying to tell me. Sometimes if I feel like I’m still hungry not long after finishing a meal, I drink a glass of water and wait half an hour- if I’m still hungry by then, I’ll eat something.