Tuesday, August 22, 2017

Hunger, Part 1

August 22, 2017

Last Saturday, a friend joined me at the Farmers' Market, and we had breakfast there--mine was an egg and cheese on sourdough sandwich.  This happened around ten o'clock.  Later, we met at Starbucks, and I had a frapp.  Hours later, we went to Ruby Tuesday for dinner; it was probably after six o'clock.  I didn't know how hungry I was until I went to the salad bar, even before placing my order with the server.  I'll rephrase that, my body didn't know, but my mind somehow did.  My stomach hadn't growled, and I hadn't had other signals.  It was only when I started eating that I physically recognized that I was famished.  How can that be? 

I found a hunger scale from 1 to 10 at Web MD and share it here:

1—Starving, weak, dizzy
2—Very hungry, cranky, low energy, lots of stomach growling
3—Pretty hungry, stomach is growling a little
4—Starting to feel a little hungry
5—Satisfied, neither hungry nor full
6—A little full, pleasantly full
7—A little uncomfortable
8—Feeling stuffed
9—Very uncomfortable, stomach hurts
10—So full you feel sick
They suggest eating at a 3 or 4 and certainly not waiting until reaching a 2, let alone a 1. 

I think one reason I didn't notice my hunger Saturday evening, and I should have been hungry, was that I was in my mind and not focused on my body.  This is a signal for me to check in with it more often.  Also, scheduling meals will help. 

The good news is I have made enough changes already to eat healthy foods and even took leftovers home.  But paying attention to hunger, not fearing it, is something I'm getting used to.


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