MensHealth
  • News
  • Health
  • Fitness
  • Sex
  • Nutrition
  • Style
  • Weight Loss
  • Life
  • Podcasts
  • Subscribe
  • Motoring
  • Video
MensHealth
  • News
  • Health
  • Fitness
  • Sex
  • Nutrition
  • Style
  • Weight Loss
  • Life
  • Podcasts
  • Subscribe
  • Motoring
  • Video
Bjornsson Deadlifted 1,026 pounds On The Elephant Bar To Win 2020 Arnold Classic
Watch 0:10

Bjornsson Deadlifted 1,026 pounds On The Elephant Bar To Win 2020 Arnold Classic

{headline}

{headline}

Paleo vs. Keto Diet: Which Low-Carb Diet Is Right for You?

Paleo vs. Keto Diet: Which Low-Carb Diet Is Right for You?

This Is Exactly What Tom Brady Eats In A Day

This Is Exactly What Tom Brady Eats In A Day

6 Superfoods To Feed 6-Pack Goals

6 Superfoods To Feed 6-Pack Goals

3 Simple Nutrition Hacks For Getting In Fitness Model Shape

3 Simple Nutrition Hacks For Getting In Fitness Model Shape

{headline}

{headline}

4 Foods That Are (Usually) OK to Eat After the Expiration Date

4 Foods That Are (Usually) OK to Eat After the Expiration Date

Miguel's Crisp Skinned Roasted Mushroom Chicken

Miguel's Crisp Skinned Roasted Mushroom Chicken

The World's First 3D-Printed Ribeye Steak Is Here (And Yes, You Can Eat It)

The World's First 3D-Printed Ribeye Steak Is Here (And Yes, You Can Eat It)

{headline}

{headline}

Aldi's New $58 Hot Pot & Grill Will Make You A Soup-God This Winter

Aldi's New $58 Hot Pot & Grill Will Make You A Soup-God This Winter

25 "Superfoods" You Shouldn’t Spend Your Money On

25 "Superfoods" You Shouldn’t Spend Your Money On

How Many Carbs Are In A Sweet Potato?

How Many Carbs Are In A Sweet Potato?

Is Popcorn A Healthy Snack?

Is Popcorn A Healthy Snack?

8 Mistakes To Avoid If You're Doing A Ketogenic Diet

8 Mistakes To Avoid If You're Doing A Ketogenic Diet

FYI You Probably Don't Need To Eat More Protein

FYI You Probably Don't Need To Eat More Protein

The Best Christmas Gifts For The Foodie

The Best Christmas Gifts For The Foodie

  1. Home
  2. Health

5 Things Your Hunger Is Trying To Tell You

You can’t make out the words because your gut won’t shut up - by Jessica Migala
  • 30 Sep 2016
5 Things Your Hunger Is Trying To Tell You

Maybe you’re eating because there’s a grumble in your stomach. Or because those cookies your colleague brought in look irresistible. 

Or perhaps it’s because you’re hunched over your keyboard, stressed out at work.

Your hunger - whether it’s physical, mental, or emotional - can give you important clues about what’s going on in both your body and your mind. Here’s how to decode what it’s saying. 

 

1. HEY YOU! YOU’RE HUNGRY!

Okay, it sounds obvious, but it’s not always easy to tell if you’re physically hungry or not.

Emotions, your environment, and the people you’re with all play a role in whether or not you grab a snack. 

But when we’re talking real hunger, you have to listen up to the physical clues: an empty, rumbling stomach or sudden sleepiness or “hanger.” 

“It’s different for all of us,” says Evelyn Tribole, an intuitive eating expert in California. Other signs: feeling lightheaded, headachey, or weak.

Figuring out what true hunger feels like to you will make it easier to ID in the future. Oh, and if you’re hungry? Eat. 

It’s important to know and honour your hunger cues because then you’re more likely to heed your fullness cues.

“If you respond to your hunger cues on time and with the right amount of food, you’re not living in a feast-or-famine cycle,” says Lily Nichols, owner of The Pilates Nutritionist. “This helps maintain more steady blood sugar levels. And you’re sending your body the signal that you respect and respond to its needs,” she says.

2. YOU NEED A CHANGE OF SCENERY

In the absence of physical signs of hunger, there’s something more going on. 

Ask yourself, “What am I really feeling right now?” advises Tribole. It might be boredom or restlessness, for instance. 

Then, think about what you can do to actually address that feeling. If you’re restless, getting up for a walk outside can be a healthy distraction. (It’s also been shown to quash sugar cravings when you’re stressed, per 2015 research.) 

Addressing the actual need will fulfill you in a way that food likely can’t.

3. YOU NEED A BREAK

Sometimes you may use food to procrastinate on a task or because you’re not willing to give yourself a break otherwise, says Tribole. Give yourself permission to take a breather every now and again so you don’t have to use food as an excuse. 

If you’re having trouble starting on a task, set a timer for 10, 15, or 20 minutes and promise yourself you’ll work that long. After the time is up, you can have the snack if you still want to.

4. YOUR DIET IS TOO RESTRICTIVE

Everyone fantasises about food sometimes. (Gooey cinnamon rolls. Salty, crispy fries. Super cheesy pizza. Right?) 

“But if you’re suddenly thinking about it all the time, it can be a sign that your diet is too restrictive,” says Tribole. It’s not about willpower, because biology will always win out. 

“Your body has mechanisms like hormones to get us to eat,” she says. 

Hunger and cravings - especially for carbs - can be an indication that you’re not giving your body the fuel it needs. 

Integrate healthy carbs into your diet, focusing on complex carbs like fruits, vegetables, and grains (try quinoa, farro, brown rice), as well as beans and legumes.

5. YOU NEED TO PACK IN MORE NUTRIENTS

So you had an epic night of eating and boozing. Today, oddly, you’re hungry for all the vegetables.

This means your body is working and self-correcting, says Tribole. It’s huge progress and a great sign that you’re able to apply some principles of intuitive eating (eat what your body craves in an amount that satisfies). 

It can be a big relief to trust that your body knows what it wants - as long as you listen.

Subscribe Now-

Subscribe Now
Subscribe Now

Subscribe Now-

Subscribe Now
Subscribe Now

Recommended to you

Bjornsson Deadlifted 1,026 pounds On The Elephant Bar To Win 2020 Arnold Classic
Watch 0:10

Bjornsson Deadlifted 1,026 pounds On The Elephant Bar To Win 2020 Arnold Classic

{headline}

{headline}

Paleo vs. Keto Diet: Which Low-Carb Diet Is Right for You?

Paleo vs. Keto Diet: Which Low-Carb Diet Is Right for You?

This Is Exactly What Tom Brady Eats In A Day

This Is Exactly What Tom Brady Eats In A Day

6 Superfoods To Feed 6-Pack Goals

6 Superfoods To Feed 6-Pack Goals

3 Simple Nutrition Hacks For Getting In Fitness Model Shape

3 Simple Nutrition Hacks For Getting In Fitness Model Shape

{headline}

{headline}

4 Foods That Are (Usually) OK to Eat After the Expiration Date

4 Foods That Are (Usually) OK to Eat After the Expiration Date

Miguel's Crisp Skinned Roasted Mushroom Chicken

Miguel's Crisp Skinned Roasted Mushroom Chicken

The World's First 3D-Printed Ribeye Steak Is Here (And Yes, You Can Eat It)

The World's First 3D-Printed Ribeye Steak Is Here (And Yes, You Can Eat It)

{headline}

{headline}

Aldi's New $58 Hot Pot & Grill Will Make You A Soup-God This Winter

Aldi's New $58 Hot Pot & Grill Will Make You A Soup-God This Winter

25 "Superfoods" You Shouldn’t Spend Your Money On

25 "Superfoods" You Shouldn’t Spend Your Money On

How Many Carbs Are In A Sweet Potato?

How Many Carbs Are In A Sweet Potato?

Is Popcorn A Healthy Snack?

Is Popcorn A Healthy Snack?

8 Mistakes To Avoid If You're Doing A Ketogenic Diet

8 Mistakes To Avoid If You're Doing A Ketogenic Diet

FYI You Probably Don't Need To Eat More Protein

FYI You Probably Don't Need To Eat More Protein

The Best Christmas Gifts For The Foodie

The Best Christmas Gifts For The Foodie

MensHealth
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Chris Hemsworth Hugo Boss
  • Terms
  • Terms of Use
  • Privacy Statement
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Chris Hemsworth Hugo Boss
  • Terms
  • Terms of Use
  • Privacy Statement

Brands

  • Women's Health

Our Network

  • Paragon Media Pty Ltd
© 2021 Are Media PTY LTD
Get more from Men's Health

Magazine Subscription Offer

Subscribe Now-

Shop This Offer
Subscribe Now