When you’re used to eating a lot and then you decide to go and stop eating a lot there’s a good deal of time where your gut (a real term for the brain system in your tum-tum area) is all confused. It wants what it’s used to. It wants more. You have to gently transition your gut from too much to enough and here are a few ways to do that.
First, realize that the crazy you feel is coming from your stomach and you are not really going to go insane if you don’t eat. Then, take a few deep breaths. When my hunger pangs get bad they make my teeth ache. Seriously. It’s horrible and makes me feel like I need to eat RIGHT NOW OR I’LL DIE – it sucks.
Of course, the best thing to do is time your meals so you don’t get that hungry. But when that doesn’t happen – because you’re human and things happen – here are four ways to soothe those massive hunger pangs. Also, please make sure to eat enough calories for the day to properly fuel your body. This is for pangs while you’re learning your bodies real signals, not tips for crash starvation diets!
Hot Tea or Coffee
While you should try to go decaf in order to not have an addiction to a crazy-powerful drug, it’s the warmth and the water that are the #1 ways to soothe your tummy and make those pangs settle down. My favorite hunger-balm tea is Pomegranite Rose from Zhena’s Gypsy Tea (not a sponsored link).
If you do have tea or coffee, please don’t ruin it with a bunch of sugar and cream. The point of the tea/coffee is to soothe your tummy, not add unwanted calories to the mix. Green tea is also supposed to help pangs, but that’s not really a proven thing. Also, the smell of coffee is supposed to help hunger pangs, also not proven.
See what works for you and then keep a stash of your favorite handy to make quickly. When the crazy-hunger hits, you don’t want to have to search your kitchen cabinets for tea bags because it increases the chances you will just give up and grab a snack instead.
Exercise
This is another one that only works if your hunger pangs are fakers and not because you’re truly hungry. Get up and move. If you’re doing something you’re not focusing on your hunger. Not focusing on your hunger makes it less obvious and bothersome.
If you don’t have the time or ability to walk around the block and get some fresh air and away from your fridge, then do an exercise video. Can’t do an exercise video? Clean something. Heck, maybe clean out the dishwasher – that’s gross and might help get you through to mealtime.
Eat Your Veggies
If you can’t ignore it, can’t clean it away, and can’t make it to your next meal or snack then you have no other choice but to eat some food! Don’t make it a big deal. If you have to eat, you have to eat, it’s okay. Don’t feel guilty or bad or gross about eating, because that will make you more likely to give up and grab a cookie instead of feeling good about your decision and choosing a healthy food.
There are veggies, there are fruit, there are portion controlled servings of cereal, whole grains, or peanut butter. There are healthy fats like avocados. There are so many ways you can eat and still feel good about yourself!
Foods aren’t good or bad – they’re just food. Some are healthy, some are unhealthy, some are packed with nutrients, some are cupcakes. They can all have a place in your life. Some more than others!
Do you have any great tips for abating fake hunger or getting through to that next snack or meal? I’d love to hear them!
