It seems to me we can never give up longing and wishing while we are thoroughly alive. There are certain things we feel to be beautiful and good, and we must hunger after them. George Eliot
I’ve been writing this blog in my head for some time and could probably write an essay on each of the types of hunger I have thought of so far. But that stops me publishing this synopsis, and everybody has their own subjective stomach that feels hunger-emotion in its own particular way.
If you’re not hungry enough to eat an apple you may be:
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bored
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craving a particular substance of food group
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or addicted to one
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comfort eating
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it’s your lunch ‘time’
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emotionally hungry – what do mealtimes mean to you; how did they feature in your family story?
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your blood-sugar levels have dropped
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your stomach is not full. That’s ok – it doesn’t necessarily mean you need to eat.
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satiety – the gut hormone leptin is produced when the bolus of food reaches the small intestine. This can be some time after eating.
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thirsty – when we drink anything except water we confuse our digestive system and many people try to satisfy thirst with tea, coffee or sugary drinks. This reaction may be pre-verbal; programmed by artificial/formula feeding instead of breastfeeding.
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nutrient-deficient
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emotional blackmail/people pleasing – ‘look what I’ve prepared for you’; ‘you must be hungry’ ‘naughty but nice’; ‘don’t get too thin’
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you have to clear your plate; that’s the rule
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you haven’t experienced being a lower weight/slimmer. Better the devil you know?
Would you like help with any of these issues?
Feed me ?