Why eating makes us hungry!
It’s not exercise nor having long gaps between meals nor even forgetting to eat - who does that!? No the biggest hunger trigger is... eating!
Eating makes you hungry. Daft I know. The very thing eating should do is sate your appetite but all too often it does the complete opposite. It makes you more hungry! You finish a meal, or a snack, think, mmmm... that was nice. I want more! Even a filling meal can leave you longing for seconds, thirds or even fourths. A wafer-thin mint? Give me the whole box! And bring me some truffles too oh and a cheese board.
I can’t eat grapes anymore as one is never enough. I want the lot. The entire bunch. I’m convinced grapes are as addictive as sweets and chocolates. They are very high in sugar. Granted, grapes have a lot more goodness in them than sweets which are just sugar but even so, it’s the sugar makes us want more. We can never get our fill. We can never have enough.
We know processed snacks are designed to be moreish. But sweet fruit is also very moreish. And in some ways way worse because we think we’re being virtuous eating an entire vine of grapes. But a meal should be filling so why, sometimes, do we still feel hungry after we’ve finished? Why is there so often room for more? And this isn’t just dieters. Many people can eat a full meal but want more after. We aren’t being pigs - such language isn’t helpful. It’s just that it takes time for our brain to receive the “I’m full now thanks” signal. As long as 20 minutes. So the trick is to wait and see if you’re still hungry after, say, half an hour to give your slow brain time to adjust. Eating quickly means you’re not giving your brain enough time to register that you’ve eaten. If you’re dieting a bit too strictly you may be tempted to eat quickly when you allow yourself to eat. Then all too soon it’s all gone and you’ve hardly noticed you ate!
Letting go
I am terribly guilty of this. I make myself go for hours without eating, feel very virtuous for letting myself get good and properly hungry then when I finally let myself go oh boy do I let myself go! And then feel dreadful for “giving in” to temptation. For being out of control. For lack of discipline.
Eating more slowly and savouring every mouthful is much better not just for dieters but for everyone. It’s not ideal to watch TV while you eat or read an article (and I often do both!) because you’re not registering that you’re eating. That’s the advice I was given when I first joined WeightWatchers way back in the early 80s. They had a point but I enjoy eating to a TV programme I’ve lined up specially or an article I want to read. It enhances the pleasure. But I do know it’s better to eat without other stimulation. To concentrate on food and food alone. So you say to yourself, I am eating now. This is my breakfast/lunch/tea/snack/whatever. I do try to do that more now to avoid the over eating. But knowing what’s right and doing it are rarely the same thing.
Eating to the clock
It’s also probably a good idea not leave too long between meals. Not to let yourself get hungry. Or not too hungry. Eating to the clock works for some people but I do find I enjoy my food more if I wait till I actually want it. The trick is not to wait too long thinking oh aren’t I being good! Only to overdo it because you let yourself get too hungry.
As ever it’s all about balance. Eating the right amount that you need and no more save for occasional snacks and treats without which life wouldn’t be worth living.
Just six weeks till Christmas now. You can either park the diet and start again in the new year or diet beforehand in order not to gain too much over the festive season. I’ve sort of parked mine as I said in my last newsletter but I’m keeping an eye. I’ve gained two pounds since that newsletter two weeks ago. Not bad after coming off the diet but shows even when not dieting if you’ve ever been overweight it’s still a good idea to keep an eye on your weight. So easy to kid yourself that you’re not over eating but it really doesn’t take much to tip the scales back up again. It’s that balance again. And balance is really tough to achieve when you’ve spent most of your adult life either bingeing or dieting. But we’ll get there. Good luck with yours. More later this month.