 |
Hunger and Emotions-What IS That Feeling?
Do you find yourself using food as a barrier to feelings of loneliness, anger, frustration or worthlessness? Sometimes emotions and feelings masquerade as hunger, and it's difficult to know the difference. Some people feel everything as hunger. Try this exercise the next time you feel the urge to eat. 1. Stop for just a moment and ask yourself, "Is this actual stomach-growling-hunger I'm feeling or something else?" Know that if the answer is YES, of course you can eat… but be honest…not all feelings are actual hunger for food. 2. What am I feeling in my body right now, and where am I feeling it? See if you can locate the physical sensation that you're feeling. 3. Can I relax that feeling in my body a little bit, and if that is possible, how does it affect this feeling I'm calling "hunger"? What happens when I take a deep breath? 4. What would really satisfy this feeling right now? If it's really an empty-stomach feeling, what food would satisfy that hunger? Self-deprivation and discipline are not the answers to your body/food dilemma. Overly restrictive eating habits create compulsiveness, bingeing, and the "yo-yo syndrome" of weight loss and gain, making maintenance of your ideal weight even more difficult. By changing your thoughts and emotions about your body and food, you will be able to say: "I KNOW I can have it, but I don't WANT it."
|
