are you in tune with hunger?

For successful weight loss it is important that you can recognise the difference between hunger and a craving.

True hunger occurs when you haven’t eaten for hours, or you have not eaten enough to satisfy your body’s needs. A craving is a strong desire for a particular food (usually something sweet or savoury such as chocolate or crisps) when you are not necessarily hungry.

Dealing with cravings Ask yourself on a scale of 1-10 how hungry you are. Urges and cravings can be seen as a wave that comes upon you. The wave builds more and more as if it can engulf you. You feel overwhelmed and that you have to relieve these feelings by eating. However, the wave, your craving, can’t stay high forever – it has to subside. It may be helpful to think of yourself as a surfer riding up and down the wave. As you do, remind yourself that these strong feelings will subside within 15-30 minutes, even with no intervention. But there are things you can do to counter the feelings: 3 Wait 20 minutes first 3 Distract yourself by doing something else that gives you pleasure