Understanding your Bodys Hunger And Fullness Cues

 

Understanding your body's hunger and fullness cues is an important aspect of maintaining a healthy relationship with food. By tuning into your body's signals, you can eat in a way that supports your health and wellbeing. 

In this blog, we will explore the science behind hunger and fullness cues, and offer practical tips for learning how to listen to your body.

First, let's define what we mean by hunger and fullness cues.

 Hunger cues are the physical sensations that tell you when you need to eat. These can include stomach growling, feeling lightheaded, or having a headache. Fullness cues, on the other hand, are the physical sensations that tell you when you've had enough to eat. These can include feeling satisfied, no longer feeling hungry, or feeling physically full.

One of the key factors in understanding your body's hunger and fullness cues is recognizing that they are not just physical, but also psychological. For example, you may feel hungry when you are bored or stressed, even if you have recently eaten.

 Similarly, you may continue eating past the point of fullness if you are distracted or emotionally upset.

To learn how to tune into your body's signals, it can be helpful to practice mindfulness. This means paying attention to your thoughts, emotions, and physical sensations without judgment. When it comes to eating, mindfulness can involve:

• Checking in with yourself before you eat. Ask yourself if you are actually hungry, or if you are eating for other reasons.
• Eating slowly and savoring your food. This can help you tune into your body's fullness signals and prevent overeating.
• Avoiding distractions while you eat. Put away your phone, turn off the TV, and focus on your food.
• Checking in with yourself while you eat. Pause every few bites and ask yourself how hungry or full you feel.
• Stopping when you are comfortably full. You don't need to eat until you are stuffed to feel satisfied.

Another way to tune into your body's hunger and fullness cues is to keep a food journal. This can help you track what you eat, how much you eat, and how you feel before and after meals. Over time, you may start to notice patterns in your eating habits and be better able to recognize when you are truly hungry or full.

Finally, it's important to remember that everyone's hunger and fullness cues are unique. What works for one person may not work for another. Be patient and gentle with yourself as you learn to listen to your body. With practice, you can develop a healthy relationship with food that supports your overall health and wellbeing.