Are you actually hungry?

When we get hungry, we instinctively reach for food. But, are we actually hungry? 

Real hunger is rooted in the gut and is associated with bodily sensations. For example, we might experience our stomach rumbling or growling, feelings of tightness or queasiness, nausea, headache, fatigue, weakness, dizziness, irritability, and so on.

You might recognize some of these sensations, such as irritability, as a part of being ‘hangry’– which involves real hunger, but in this case we have waited too long to eat.

It is also easy to confuse hunger with thirst and feeling dehydrated. Whenever you feel hungry next, start by checking in to see if you might actually be thirsty.

Drink 1-2 cups of water and wait for 5 minutes. If the sensations are gone, then maybe you were never actually hungry, and do not need to eat. If you continue to feel hungry, eat something healthy (i.e. fruits or veggies).

Remember, cravings and emotional eating are rooted in the mind (and/or heart) and may not require nourishment.