In the quest for weight loss, the diet industry puts a lot of attention on what we eat but focusing on why we eat may be more important.
After losing over 70 lbs. permanently and becoming a weight loss coach for others, I've found most people have a pretty good idea of what they should eat. We have no problem categorizing foods into healthy and non-healthy lists. But ask someone why they eat and the usual response is "hunger." Unraveling the deeper reasons beneath the pre-emptive response of "hunger" may take a little detective work!
Here are a few things that might be lurking beneath the surface of hunger. Keep in mind that the categories can overlap and coexist!
Learned Behavior
Some people learn behaviors at an early age and never question them. A good example is milk and cookies at bedtime or a larger-than-usual meal on Sunday nights. We rarely think about Learned Behaviors, we simply do them unconsciously. However, the calories still count!
Availability of Food
Imagine you ate a satisfying breakfast. You don't feel hungry at all. Then, someone brings donuts to work. Imagine further that you don't even like the type of donuts that appeared! How many times would you eat them anyway? Nine out of 10 times? Availability of Food can be a real quagmire along the weight loss route, especially in the United States where food is abundant and relatively inexpensive.
Other examples of Availability of Food are all-you-can-eat buffets and social occasions.
Cravings
Cravings for food are chemical. For example, when the brain needs serotonin, the brain causes carbohydrate cravings. When blood sugar levels are low, we may crave sugary or sweet foods. When we experience cravings, eating what we crave will satisfy the body for a very short time, then the craving will return full force. Protein is actually a better choice when intense desire occurs because it will break the craving cycle.
Emotional Eating
Food can dilute, soften or dull emotions we term "unpleasant" like anger, resentment, frustration, guilt and hatred. Even emotions we label "desirable" can be so intense, food may be used to dull the feeling back into a manageable or tolerable level. Prime emotions for this type of eating are joy, happiness, desire, elation and excitement.
At other times, we may eat to substitute for a lack of feeling. A good example of this is boredom. Eating when you are bored can bring on feelings of self-hatred, humiliation, and shame, but the bored, empty feeling is gone!
Habits
A habit is a stable behavior formed through repetition over time. Many people ask how this is different than Learned Behavior. The difference is that Learned Behaviors are learned from other people, usually family, and have a long history. We are solely responsible for forming Habits. The good news is that good habits are as easily formed as bad habits.
Social Eating
It is rare to socialize in any way today in America without the involvement of food. Watching a football game at a neighbor's house, meeting friends you haven't seen for a while: these things don't need the involvement of food but it usually becomes an integral part of any social plan. This often intersects with Availability of Food. It might be wise to ask yourself if you are really hungry or just eating because it seems the acceptable and expected thing to do.
Environmental Eating
Does a visit to the ball park always mean hot dogs? Does a movie have to include 2000 calories of popcorn? Certain environments trigger eating that is unhealthy. Sometimes it can be any environment that is not home. For instance, do you always eat more than necessary when dining in a restaurant?
Hunger
Hunger, true hunger, is another reason to eat. And, ideally, it's the only reason. Humans were designed to eat to fuel their bodies. Fuel to survive. Fuel for the massive amounts of maintenance, healing and growth our bodies accomplish every day.
The first step in straightening out a negative eating style is to be able to recognize the why as it's happening.
It may take a bit of work to get to the point where true hunger can be recognized but we'd all be thinner and healthier if we ate only when we were hungry.
Got a Question? Ask.
Ask the community a question about this article:
Frequently Asked Questions
Is cancer insurance a good idea?
By: SuzieQ | 14-07-2008
Is cancer insurance a good idea?
Mocha cals.
By: gabby | 14-07-2008
does anyone know who many cals in a large mocha from star bucks or any other coffe house?
Metal smell
By: mxmom | 13-07-2008
after doing a hard cardio workout about 5 to 10 minutes later I get a metal smell thats hard to describe, What causes this
I'm doing the jayrobb fruit flush, and I didn't ...
By: Sarah | 13-07-2008
I'm doing the jayrobb fruit flush, and I didn't order his, I got Genisoy, Soy protein powder. What I found, that I'm only worried about is that it has 60mg of potassium iodide. Would that be alright? The other ones there had like 200+ of that stuff.Thanks.
Chest pain
By: Kolasmom | 13-07-2008
do you get heartburn only after a meal
I have to critique a qualitative research article ...
By: crscott | 13-07-2008
I have to critique a qualitative research article. As part of the asignment, the instructor has requested an 800 word abstact. I am accustomed to much shorter abstracts. How shoul I go about constructiong this one?
Q&A Powered by:
Latest Wellness Articles
Health Risks of Contaminated Pools on Holiday
By: Roger Munns | 25/07/2008
Travelling overseas can pose health risks for holidaymakers.
Contaminated pools in Majorca are just one example of this...
Diagnosing A Panic Attack
By: Bart Icles | 24/07/2008
Panic attacks can happen to anyone, but when do you know if your panic attacks become something more serious and you have developed a panic disorder? This article discusses how to diagnose and cope with a panic disorder.
Anxiety and Gender: Who Is More At Risk?
By: Bart Icles | 24/07/2008
Anxiety can happen to anyone, but are women more at risk? This article discusses why women may be more at risk to panic attacks and anxiety than men.
Did You Know Chlorine Causes These Problems?
By: Gordon Hall | 24/07/2008
First, let’s look at the problems that chlorine in drinking water causes.
There are many.
Digestive disorders are common.
Allergic reactions are frequent.
The odor and taste are unpleasant.
But, the biggest problem with chlorine in drinking water is the by-products created when the chemical is used for ...
Intermittent Fasting Weight Loss
By: Elle Nash | 24/07/2008
Intermittent fasting weight loss is a relatively new way of losing weight. Even though the concept of fasting this way has been around for a long time, it has never believed to be healthy or help properly in weight loss.
How to Get Six Pack Abs Easily
By: Charles Nash | 24/07/2008
I'm going to show you how to get six pack abs easily. It really isn't as hard as most people build it up to be. I think this has a lot to do with infomercials.
Global Response to Breakthrough Coaching TV Free Trial Offer
By: Dr. Mark Sanna, D.c. | 24/07/2008
This week, chiropractors from around the world flocked to www.breakthroughcoaching.tv to experience firsthand the new web-based seminar offering from Breakthrough Coaching. According to Mark Sanna, DC, the company’s CEO, within hours of launching the educational and motivational website, hundreds of chiropractors had registered to receive the month-long free trial membership. “We decided to make the service free to the entire profession for the month of July 2008 and never dreamed that we’d rec
Calorie Shifting: Losing Weight the Easy Way
By: Dwight Ferren | 24/07/2008
Weight loss is an ultimate goal for almost all people who have been struggling to eliminate bulges and unwanted fats in their body. The search for several dieting programs as well as other forms of alternative methods, dieting pills, surgery, exercise, all these are what comprise the various facets of dieting with the hope of losing weight in the process.
More from Pat Barone
Companies Fight Food Culture
By: Pat Barone | 23/07/2008 | Weight Loss
America lives in a food culture that is increasing obesity at an alarming rate. Businesses and corporations are finding re-education and changing their corporate food cultures a successful alternative to higher medical insurance cost.
Wanting v. Needing Food?
By: Pat Barone | 15/07/2008 | Weight Loss
Physical hunger and physical desire for food are two different, often-confused conditions. Learning to handle these conditions proactively has a positive impact on weight.
Winning the Long-Term Weight Loss Game
By: Pat Barone | 05/07/2008 | Weight Loss
Weight loss efforts eventually encounter resistance and sticking points, but being proactive can determine whether the tough spots lead to failure or renewed focus.
Fatten Up to Lose Weight!
By: Pat Barone | 26/03/2008 | Weight Loss
Healthy fats are a vital part of good nutrition and any successful weight loss effort. Learning the difference between healthy and unhealthy fats is more effective than utilizing processed "fat free" products.
Eat Healthy, Keep Your Job: Health Trends in America
By: Pat Barone | 13/03/2008 | Health
As the media emphasizes and glamorizes size 0, larger cities ban trans fats and corporations begin to force employees to live healthier lives. Which trends are helpful to the consumer, and which ones go too far?
Thirteen Tips to Improve Your Health
By: Pat Barone | 02/03/2008 | Wellness
Thirteen simple tips can have huge impact on your health and wellness, says a professional life coach. Implement changes in small increments for the best success.
No More "Rollover" Resolutions!
By: Pat Barone | 03/01/2008 | Motivational
Believing we can "magically" change at 12:01 a.m. on January 1st, is a recipe for disappointment, says "America's Weight Loss Catalyst" Pat Barone. Resolutions and goals are achievable, given the attention and focus necessary to grow them to fruition.
The One-Size-Fits-All Weight Loss Goal
By: Pat Barone | 03/01/2008 | Weight Loss
Large weight loss goals are too intimidating, says "America's Weight Loss Catalyst" Pat Barone. No matter how much you have to lose, breaking your goals into very small subgoals can be invigorating and motivating as well as help you focus on the immediate work you need to do to get your weightloss in progress.
Health 
