By Michelle May, M.D.
http://www.AmIHungry.com
Why am I hungry all the time?
If you find yourself thinking, "Why am I hungry all the time?" you may be confusing "head hunger" with "body hunger." If you're someone who's sensitive to food cues, weight management will be challenging until you are able to recognize the overeating triggers in your environment and break the associations that lead you to overeat simply out of habit.
Let's take a look at just a few of the common overeating triggers and strategies for coping more effectively with head hunger.
HIGH RISK TIMES: Many people have times of the day that are high risk for overeating. For example, you may experience a late afternoon energy slump or a tendency to munch when you come home from work to transition into your evening.
Strategy: Know when you're most at risk and develop an alternate strategy. For example, create a Recharge Ritual or Transition Time that helps you relax or unwind. Save a favorite magazine or book to read, call a friend or walk your dog instead.
You can also print a one-page handout, "101 Things To Do Besides Eat." Just highlight the activities that appeal to you and add some of your own. Keep your list (and any necessary supplies) handy and make a commitment to try one before eating simply out of habit.
So if you've wondered, "Why am I hungry all the time?" it's time to develop new strategies. By learning to recognize and decrease your overeating triggers, distracting yourself and coping effectively with head hunger, you'll soon break free from old habits. You'll find yourself eating less, feeling more satisfied and more fulfilled.
Discover what you need to know to change your destructive patterns for good in these nine "easy-to-read over a cup of coffee" e-book chapters from I'm NOT Hungry - What Now?
