 | Lisa Vermillion is President and co-owner of Get Fit Bee Fit and Thin and Healthy Weight Management. Lisa opened Get Fit- 4 years ago in Valley Center, after receiving certifications thorough the American Council on Exercise as a Weight and Lifestyle Management Consultant and Certified Personal Trainer. In January, she Grand Opened Thin and Healthy Weight Management in the same location. Lisa not only provides weight loss programs for individuals but she also implements business wellness programs for small businesses and large corporations. Additionally, Lisa is a Certified Life Coach providing guidance for individuals in the areas of career, relationship and personal development. She is available for speaking engagements in the areas of Physical Fitness, Weight Management, or any Life Coaching area (goal setting, positive attitude, sales, etc). Lisa can be reached for questions or speaking engagements by phone (316) 755-1115 or email at mvmillion@yahoo.com |
Diet & Nutrition
2009-08-01 12:16:00
Feeling hungry too soon?
Question: Have you ever eaten a meal, perhaps even a big meal, only to feel ravenously hungry a few hours later?
Answer: There could be a number of reasons you are hungry after you eat. One reason may be dehydration. Dehydration feels like hunger. Another reason may be lack of balance between carbohydrate and protein in the meal. This imbalance can decrease satiety. Occasionally, a medical issue like a thyroid problem or certain medications can enhance hunger feelings. The most common culprit, however, is emotional hunger. Differentiating between emotional and physical hunger, recognizing the true root cause of your hunger, and then creating an action plan will improve your feeling of satiety.
It’s important to differentiate between physical hunger and emotional cravings unrelated to an empty stomach. Emotional hunger comes on suddenly, invokes cravings for a specific food, such as chips or chocolate, and only that food will meet your need and demands immediate satisfaction. Physical hunger occurs gradually; you are open to options, and can wait for a while.
Emotional eating continues even when you are full and leaves feelings of guilt. If you are eating because you’re hungry you’re more likely to stop when you are full or even before without guilt.
If you identify you are hungry for emotional reasons, the next step is figuring out the emotional source. Ask yourself, “What am I feeling right now?” and “What’s behind that feeling?” Typically, emotional reactions stem from one or more of the following sources: lack of focus, negative belief, poor habits, social environment, or lack of time management skills. For example, an overbearing boss has piles yet another “to do by 5:00” thing on your desk and you don’t know where to start (lack of focus), you believe you’re “stuck” in a job you don’t like (negative belief), it’s your habit to grab something sweet every afternoon (negative habits), a co-worker gossips about you behind your back (social), the kids are driving you nuts and you have a fight with your spouse (relationships)/emotional), or you feel you don’t have enough time to complete everything you need to do (time management). Identifying the issues that cause you to crash on the couch with cookies is vital.
Once you identify the problem, you can begin taking positive action steps to overcome it. Ask yourself the question, “What do I need to learn?”Perhaps prioritizing tasks and focusing on the most important task till it’s accomplished is an area you need some additional resources. Perhaps identifying and correcting negative thought patterns or replacing negative habits with life enhancing ones needs to be your starting point. Perhaps improving relationships and surrounding yourself with positive people is your most important task. Wherever you begin, start right now improving and building a life free from emotional eating.
Decide who can help you learn what you need to know: a friend, clergyman, or life coach. Find someone you trust to help put your new knowledge into a workable plan. They can keep you accountable for your action plan, encourage you, and celebrate with you when you reach your goals.
Emotional response to hunger can be overcome by identifying the cause of your hunger, learning skills that allow you to respond appropriately instead of turning to food and finding a mentor who will help you create a plan of action. Not only will your physical health improve, but your emotional health as well.
