Hunger versus Food Cravings

Your body gives you physical cues when it needs food.  Many times for dieters though we learn to tune them out and ignore them.  Other times our head hunger for food cravings is interpreted as hunger.  You can trust your body.  There is a difference between hunger and food cravings.  All you have to do is pay attention and listen to your body.

You might feel lightheaded and possibly get a headache when you’re hungry whereas someone else might get irritable or get a churning sensation in their stomach.  True hunger comes on gradually and allows you time to address the cues by eating something.  Real hunger then progresses to the physical sensation that your body needs to be fed but not for something specific.  Just feed it.

A craving is different.  It is a desire for a specific food.  If you’re telling yourself that you’ll feel better if you eat a cookie, and only a cookie will do, you’re probably experiencing a craving.  People that eat a healthy, well-balanced diet tend to have fewer cravings.  They also tend to overeat less because they eat when they’re hungry and stop when they are satisfied.  So, if you’re hungry and anything will do, you’re physically hungry.  However, if a certain food is the only choice that will do, chances are it is a craving.

A great way to lose weight and maintain it is to learn to eat in response to your body, not your your brain. 

Believe In Yourself,
Cathy