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Hungry or Emotions taking over?  

Q: Have you ever noticed you're not feeling hungry as you head home from work because you had a " big lunch" at a meeting that day and have every intention on fixing something light for supper, salad maybe. When...you get a call on the cell phone from your teenage son telling you that the PTA meeting starts at 7PM, it is already 6:45 PM, and it is your turn to bring refreshments? 

Instead of bringing treats for other parents You want to make a mad dash for the nearest ice-Cream Parlor for a double fudge, chocolate chunk, mocha flavored ice-cream sundae? 

Are you drowning yourself in self-gratification when in stressful situations?

Q: What about... you're in the middle of watching a movie on Cable with the family, it is right after supper and you aren't really hungry. UNTIL... you smell the aroma of popcorn coming from the microwave that your husband just popped ~ All of a sudden, you're wanting that popcorn, too?!

OK what about this one... you're at the Country Fair, walking around looking at all the crafts and listening to the music coming from the Blue Grass Band playing on stage. It's a beautiful blue sky day, so you sit down a spell to soak it all in, when you notice a parade of people, person after person walking by you with Funnel Cakes, Fries, Sausage dogs, Candied Apples and... you get hungry when you had no inkling of any hunger pangs previous to arriving at the fair?! 

 Learning the difference between "True"  Hunger and "Triggered" Hunger is important. Especially if you are watching what you eat due to high Blood Cholesterol, LDL or Triglyceride levels. It is important too, if you are trying to lose weight, or trying to maintain weight. 

I know you've heard the expression, Hungry as a Horse?  

No matter what explicative you want to use to express your feeling of hunger, you need to determine if you are having "True" hunger, or "Triggered" hunger. Once you have figured which it is then you can learn ways to overcome the "Triggered" Hunger or (the emotions taking over) sending you to eat. Eating from being "emotionally triggered" is much like a person who heads for Alcohol, for a Cigarette, or any other vice. Using the "Hungry or Emotions Table" to chart when you eat, what you eat, and if you feel it is "True" Hunger or "Triggered" Hunger will help you work through where you may fall short and get you eating on a regular routine, in a well balanced, non emotionally triggered way. Having treats now and again is o.k. But if you find that you are constantly writing down your eating between meals, late at night, when something upsets you, then it is time to take charge of your own life, don't let your emotions take in charge of you.  Start by eating only when you are truly hungry. If you happen to be a hypoglycemic, or a person who is not very active and don't hunger as easy as others, or your have any other health variable that is preventing you from feeling hungry, it is important to eat three meals a day, or 5 small meals. But make it a point not to allow yourself to go without eating just because you are not hungry. Don't misunderstand what I am saying-- I know I have been telling you to distinguish between being hungry and emotional eating, and not to eat between meals. However, If you are medically challenged, and/or If it is 8am and you are not a breakfast eater, and your not usually hungry until 10am, then have a small piece of fruit when you wake, have a glass of juice, but have something! Then at 10am have your bowl of cereal, 12 pm have a small salad, 2pm have a half a grilled cheese sandwich or a serving of cheese and crackers, then have a small supper meal. But that will help your blood sugar remain more level without big mountainous highs or peaks and deep valley like lows. It may just prevent you from snacking on unhealthy type foods, too. Going for long periods of time without eating and then bingeing is just going to raise havoc on your system. Chances are you will end up eating more calories and consuming more saturated fat and cholesterol than had you eaten on a more consistent pattern throughout the day. That is why it is important in determining what type of eater you are.

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