Re: true physical hunger vs. 'satisfied' sensations

[Guest guest]

Like others who replied, I experience hunger as a gnawing sensation about midway

between my sternum and belly button. I seldom sense 'growls', maybe because my

stomach acid is lower than normal. If I wait too long to eat or eat foods that

cause my blood sugar to rise and fall rapidly, when I get hungry I may also

experience light-headed sensations, a little nausea, a slight headache or even

panicky, irritable feelings. When I'm hungry, I'm very sensitive to smells,

textures and tastes of food, even unseasoned foods with subtle flavors.

I've struggled more with recognizing 'just enough', 'no longer hungry' or

'comfortably full'. Could others share what sensations tell them they have eaten

just enough food to satisfy and comfortably fill their stomachs?

SUE

>

> this is a big question for either overeaters or undereaters.

> where is tru physical hunger felt?

> is it supposed to be felt around the navel?

> under your sternum?

> I have been experiencing this strange feeling kind of butterflies in my

stomach or kind of that feeling you get when you are feeling the first symptoms

of a pregnancy and I am trying to decide what it is.

> it could be hunger but I never learned to feel it.

> it could be that i am pregnant. It is a familair feeling..but I am interested

in finding where true physical hunger is supposed to be felt.

> any idea?

> I I

>

[Guest guest]

Like others who replied, I experience hunger as a gnawing sensation about midway

between my sternum and belly button. I seldom sense 'growls', maybe because my

stomach acid is lower than normal. If I wait too long to eat or eat foods that

cause my blood sugar to rise and fall rapidly, when I get hungry I may also

experience light-headed sensations, a little nausea, a slight headache or even

panicky, irritable feelings. When I'm hungry, I'm very sensitive to smells,

textures and tastes of food, even unseasoned foods with subtle flavors.

I've struggled more with recognizing 'just enough', 'no longer hungry' or

'comfortably full'. Could others share what sensations tell them they have eaten

just enough food to satisfy and comfortably fill their stomachs?

SUE

>

> this is a big question for either overeaters or undereaters.

> where is tru physical hunger felt?

> is it supposed to be felt around the navel?

> under your sternum?

> I have been experiencing this strange feeling kind of butterflies in my

stomach or kind of that feeling you get when you are feeling the first symptoms

of a pregnancy and I am trying to decide what it is.

> it could be hunger but I never learned to feel it.

> it could be that i am pregnant. It is a familair feeling..but I am interested

in finding where true physical hunger is supposed to be felt.

> any idea?

> I I

>

[Guest guest]

Sue,I can't remember where I heard this, but it said that when you put your utensil down and take a pause that it is a signal you are getting full. They said there is a natural break signal that most people miss. I have noticed this is true for me sometimes. I;ll put the utensil down and have a little conversation or get up to get something non food related. If I pay attention to that break, I realize I don't need to eat anymore. - Georgia

I've struggled more with recognizing 'just enough', 'no longer hungry' or 'comfortably full'. Could others share what sensations tell them they have eaten just enough food to satisfy and comfortably fill their stomachs?

SUE

[Guest guest]

Thanks, Georgia. I've also read (and noticed) that when I stop thinking about

how great the food tastes and feels in my body and start thinking about anything

else (when I'm eating without distractions), I'm reaching 'satisfied'. I've

tried either stopping at that point or refocussing on eating to ascertain

whether I feel comfortably full AND satisfied.

IMO 'Full' is more of a quantitative, physical assessment, whereas 'satisfied'

describes how I psychologically experienced the eating episode in terms of

taste, texture and physical comfort (or discomfort). At 'comfortably full', I

sense food in my stomach, but I don't feel discomfort or bloated. " Satisfied "

is my peak moment when more food won't make me feel better or be more enjoyable.

I know I enjoyed the food and eating experience. So 'more satisfied' is an

oxymoron at that point.

SUE

>

> Sue,

>

> I can't remember where I heard this, but it said that when you put your

utensil down and take a pause that it is a signal you are getting full. They

said there is a natural break signal that most people miss. I have noticed this

is true for me sometimes. I;ll put the utensil down and have a little

conversation or get up to get something non food related. If I pay attention to

that break, I realize I don't need to eat anymore.

> - Georgia

>

[Guest guest]

Thanks, Georgia. I've also read (and noticed) that when I stop thinking about

how great the food tastes and feels in my body and start thinking about anything

else (when I'm eating without distractions), I'm reaching 'satisfied'. I've

tried either stopping at that point or refocussing on eating to ascertain

whether I feel comfortably full AND satisfied.

IMO 'Full' is more of a quantitative, physical assessment, whereas 'satisfied'

describes how I psychologically experienced the eating episode in terms of

taste, texture and physical comfort (or discomfort). At 'comfortably full', I

sense food in my stomach, but I don't feel discomfort or bloated. " Satisfied "

is my peak moment when more food won't make me feel better or be more enjoyable.

I know I enjoyed the food and eating experience. So 'more satisfied' is an

oxymoron at that point.

SUE

>

> Sue,

>

> I can't remember where I heard this, but it said that when you put your

utensil down and take a pause that it is a signal you are getting full. They

said there is a natural break signal that most people miss. I have noticed this

is true for me sometimes. I;ll put the utensil down and have a little

conversation or get up to get something non food related. If I pay attention to

that break, I realize I don't need to eat anymore.

> - Georgia

>