Why Are You Eating?
How often when you are eating, do you stop to think about why you are eating?
Are you eating because it's ‘time’ to eat? i.e. it’s lunch time or supper time, so you sit down to eat.
Are you reaching for something comforting because you are feeling sad or anxious?
Or something tempting and yummy because you’re bored?
Or something loud and crunchy like crisps when you’re angry? You’ll know what I mean if you’re an angry eater like I am.
Are You Even Hungry?
Do you even notice that you’re not even hungry? You’re just feeling something. And you’re eating to try and push that feeling back down so you don’t notice it anymore.
But feelings don’t just disappear, they are trying to tell you something. So pushing them down with food is only a very temporary fix. And soon after, the feeling will still be there and you’ll likely be feeling fat and guilty too.
But today's post is not about dealing with your feelings and emotions, that's a topic for another day. Today's post is about having you notice that it's these feelings and emotions that may be sabotaging your weight loss efforts, causing you to eat when you're not really hungry.
It's about challenging you, the next time you reach for a snack or bite to eat, stop and ask yourself this very important question:
“Am I really hungry, or do I just want to change the way I feel?”
And then listen, really listen, for the response. Your body will tell you, you just have to listen.
Food Is Not Going To Change Anything For You
And if you’re just trying to change how you are feeling, realise that food is not going to change anything for you.
Try sticking a note up on the fridge, and each time you go to open the fridge door and dig around for a snack that you don’t really want or need, ask yourself the question:
“Am I really hungry, or do I just want to change the way I feel?”
I know of people who say that doing just this one thing has helped them lose weight and keep it off.
Becoming conscious that you are eating because of feelings, and not because you're actually hungry, can be life-changing.
Is It A Habit?
And sometimes, it can also be a habit. I know when I come home from a long day at work, exhausted and just wanting to collapse on the couch for a few minutes. The first thing I do is pour a glass of wine. Yes, it's a habit, but it's also how I'm dealing with the emotions, the tiredness of my day. Almost seeing it as a reward for getting myself through the day. Or comfort, to take my mind off it.
And so now I know what it is, it is much easier to change that to a healthier habit. Like making a freshly squeezed juice, it doesn't take long at all. And my body is FAR more thankful for that, than the glass of wine. Which usually turns into more than one glass of wine.
Perhaps your habit is the pack of biscuits or crisps after dinner? Try to identify, is this just a habit which you can change to a healthier habit? Or is there something deeper. Is this the time of day when you need consoling? A reward? Are you bored? Ask yourself the question:
“Am I really hungry, or do I just want to change the way I feel?”
What Are Your Triggers?
Another thing you could try doing, is to see if you can spot your triggers. When you feel like eating that something, stop and think:
What was I just doing? Perhaps you just had an argument with your partner, and you're feeling angry, or deflated.
What was I just thinking? Perhaps you were remembering something that happened previously, and it made you feel sad.
What was I just feeling? Perhaps you feel lonely, stressed, happy even.
Ask yourself those 3 questions and see if you can identify what triggered this sudden craving. And keep doing this for a few days, and you may find you spot the pattern. Most of us just have those few things, those triggers, that knock us off balance. Sometimes it's thoughts, or times of the day, for example.
Stick A Post-It On Your Fridge
So write out a note, a card, a post-it, and stick that note up where you will see it. Perhaps the fridge, perhaps that one cupboard where you always hide the secret stash.
And when you reach for that snack, ask yourself the question:
“Am I really hungry, or do I just want to change the way I feel?”
And if you just want to change the way you feel, try doing something to help you deal with the feelings. If you're feeling sad, can you chat with a good friend? If you're feeling bored or lazy, how about a walk in nature? If you're feeling stressed, how about a nice long bubble bath, or a meditation session?
Do whatever works for you.
