Emotional vs. Physical Hunger

Do you know the difference between emotional hunger and physical hunger?  It's ok if you dont, i didn't either before I started looking deeper into it.  I had a basic understanding, based on my own assumptions but i definitely clarified things upon researching better.  Emotional hunger can be powerful. As a result, it’s easy to mistake it for physical hunger. But there are clues you can look for that can help you tell physical and emotional hunger apart.

• Emotional hunger comes on suddenly. It hits you in an instant and feels overwhelming and urgent. Physical hunger, on the other hand, comes on more gradually. The urge to eat doesn’t feel as dire or demand instant satisfaction (unless you haven’t eaten for a very long time).

• Emotional hunger craves specific comfort foods. When you’re physically hungry, almost anything sounds good—including healthy stuff like vegetables. But emotional hunger craves fatty foods or sugary snacks that provide an instant rush. You feel like you need cheesecake or pizza, and nothing else will do.

• Emotional hunger often leads to mindless eating. Before you know it, you’ve eaten a whole bag of chips or an entire pint of ice cream without really paying attention or fully enjoying it. When you’re eating in response to physical hunger, you’re typically more aware of what you’re doing.

• Emotional hunger isn’t satisfied once you’re full. You keep wanting more and more, often eating until you’re uncomfortably stuffed. Physical hunger, on the other hand, doesn't need to be stuffed. You feel satisfied when your stomach is full.

• Emotional hunger isn’t located in the stomach. Rather than a growling belly or a pang in your stomach, you feel your hunger as a craving you can’t get out of your head. You’re focused on specific textures, tastes, and smells.

• Emotional hunger often leads to regret, guilt, or shame. When you eat to satisfy physical hunger, you’re unlikely to feel guilty or ashamed because you’re simply giving your body what it needs. If you feel guilty after you eat, it's likely because you know deep down that you’re not eating for nutritional reasons.

     Simply put, Emotional hunger leads to alot of typically bad food decisions and can typically give itself away if you know that what you suddenly crave is in no way nutritious or will probably make you slightly hate yourself half an hour later.  Physical Hunger makes the stuff my girls usually make funny faces at look just as appealing as chocolate coated cavity givers.  Mind you with physical hunger everything looks good so you can still make bad decisions, its just alot simpler to make good ones.

Need tips on how to stop emotional eating? Keep following my blog, tips coming soon!!

Start with Water (The icecubes in your Rum & Coke do not count!)

Water, yes water.  If you want to make the best of your day and be fully hydrated for the weekend of whatever you plan on doing than best start drinking your H2O!!

I find water utterly boring most of the time.  Yes i know that's not overly motivational but hey its true.  And naturally i gravitate towards alcohol on thirsty Thursdays if i could but being the responsible parent i am I had to show my young kids that water can be FUN!! (betcha said that in your head in your best perky cheerleader voice eh?)  Also, kids don't understand the beauty of an alcoholic beverage yet, i hope.

My girls take after me though, water is boring to them too, so in order to get them to drink it i had to find some neat tricks to kind of force them to drink it without them realizing it was intentional.

Underhanded? perhaps.

Smart? definitely.

Here they are.  Try em out for yourself even, you might be surprised.  Especially if you keep track of the water you end up drinking compared to before.

Trick #1. Drink a glass of water with all your meals, or at the very least always say YES when water is offered, even if you are getting another drink with it like coffee or milk etc.

Trick #2. Always have a water bottle with you wherever you go!!  You can even buy a pretty bottle if you want it to be like a little accessory type thing.  I love my pretty Lululemon Water bottle and i am not ashamed haha. 

Trick #3 Always have water near you at work.  Trust me, even if you work from home like me primarily.  **This one even helps keep you focused!!**

Trick #4. Feeling peckish? Drink some water first! Not saying you have to have only water for a snack, cuz hey, thats just mean.  But take a few sips of water first and give it a few minutes.  If you are thirsty you will definitely end up making worse or larger snack choices.

Trick #5. Substitute your regular go-to's for water.  Examples are morning coffee or that Pepsi at lunch!!

Trick #6. Keep track of your water intake!! Make it a competition even.  Drank 4 cups today? psh i will drink twice that tomorrow just watch!! 

Try these tricks out.  Make it fun and don't spend your Thursdays being Thirsty!!