Why Do You Eat? A Multiple Choice Test Question
Posted: Thursday, February 19, 2009
by Barbara Clark
http://www.spiritedstrides.com
Why do you eat? Are you asking yourself, "Is this a trick question?" Or perhaps you're thinking, "The answer is obvious: because I get hungry!" While that may be the obvious answer, there are a significant number of people who eat for a variety of other reasons. In fact, I would guess that many of us eat for many reasons, but rarely because we are really hungry. If we do, many of us don't stop when we feel satisfied, but continue to eat to the point where we overeat: so we are eating for some other reason than hunger.
As part of my goal to live intentionally and improve my overall health, I am learning how to eat when I'm hungry and stop when I'm satisfied. In Marna Goldstein Thall's research of naturally thin people, she discovered that the only reason the truly naturally thin eat is because they are hungry. They don't eat for any other reason: period.
I am intending to develop this same habit and become a thinner me. So if in the process of eating when I'm hungry and stopping when I'm satisfied, I eat 8 times in one day and 2 times the next, then that's ok because I'm listening to my body. It's as if I am pretending to be a baby again but the difference is that I don't have to whimper and cry to my mom to feed me!
Being the overweight person that I am, this has been a very big learning experience for me, as I'm realizing that I had forgotten how it feels to really listen to my body: to stop and ask myself "Am I really hungry?" before I take that next bite, and to really taste each bite, ideally without distractions.
Having never been naturally thin, I am learning from this new process that I eat for a lot of reasons other than hunger. Thus, I am actually "feeding" something else, other than a hungry stomach! In my quest to live my life as intentionally as I can, I am learning to change these habits that contributed to my current bodily condition. In doing so, I'm addressing the real reasons why I eat and it's pretty complex. It's a lot of work asking this question and searching for those answers.
With today's "diet mentality," following this simple strategy of "eating when I'm hungry and stopping when I'm satisfied" can be particularly challenging as there are so many "experts" who offer their advice saying that we have to eat certain foods, avoid others, always eat breakfast, stop eating after a certain time of day, or count points or calories, to name a few. Have you noticed the variety of opinions about all of the "ideal ways to lose weight?"
So if you want to stop dieting once and for all, my advice is to eat when you're hungry; stop when you're satisfied. You will begin to change the way you approach food and to get back in tune with your body. For many, it may be the first time since you were a baby that you're so in sync with your stomach! In doing so, you will begin to discover the real reasons you're feeding yourself and the process of self-discovery can be very healing.
If you find yourself going to the refrigerator out of habit at night, opening the door and standing there-searching for something that looks good within it to eat, ask yourself, "Am I really hungry?" You may find that you actually are not, and you are looking for something else to comfort yourself. If you always eat something while watching television, are you really paying attention to the signals that your stomach may or may not be sending you? I bet you're paying more attention to the television and less to your body. Try turning off the television and pay attention to what your body is saying to you. Savor each bite. Pay attention to your food and try to eat as slowly as you can. You will taste your food (perhaps for the first time in a long time).
So, why do you eat? It's a simple question with a multitude of answers, even longer than a typical multiple choice test question! I intend to eliminate those choices on this multiple choice question down to one that I can check: because I am hungry! What about you?
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Top-level comments on this article: (5 total)Barbara, first of all, I would like to thank you for reading my article about the key chain thingy bobs, and I want to apoligize that I said welcome to SearchWarp, I looked at the amount of work that you have done, and wow, you have been here awhile......but then again, what do you expect from a newbie?? (ME)lol ..... Anyways... I love your article, you know, I never thought about why I eat, but now that you mention it, you are absolutely right on the money with this one.....I eat when I am stressed, and I eat when I'm upset, and you are right!!! I eat when I really don't need to, I just need to eat when I am hungry, what a concept!!! I honestly never realized that we do this. From now on, I am going to test myself, and perhaps ask why I am eating the next time I get the urge to eat....and if I am honest with myself, I will probably find some of the answers that I have read about in your fantastic article...Well done my friend, well done!!! Just for that, I'm going to join your fan club, and read somemore of your work, hope you don't mind, your fan, and friend in pen......Gary W. Halsey Sr.Gary, Wow, what encouragement! Thank you so very much! I'm joining your fan club, too! Let me know how that eating plan goes. It's working very well for me so far. Warmly, Barbara
Dearest Barbara~ You know, this is such a beautifully written piece. There may be some who won't bother to read it, because they have no 'weight issues'...and the truth is, I don't either. I'm one of those "naturally thin" people you speak of here. {I'm told that even as a baby, I screamed for food every 3.5 hours "like clockwork' (my mom said). To this day, that's precisely how I eat. I'm a 'grazer'. As a result, I've never had a "fat" day in my life.} So how come I read this? I know, as you now do, that food is for nourishment. It is not a drug. It is not arms to hold you. It is not a safe place to hide. Food is ENERGY! And now that you've got it, I can already SEE you in the body you wish to wear. Your Spirit is already there. And believe this: your willingness to allow that Spirit to shine is the only "diet" you'll ever need. I wish you delicious journeys!Camille, I am truly touched by your comments and inspired by your words. Thank you so very much for stopping by, reading and for such uplifting comments. I really appreciate you. Warmly, Barbara
*applause* Barbara, I applaud you for all the reason Gary and Camille said including my own. You helped me with this article. I will take the rollercoaster approach to eating and gain weight. My problem is I always saw myself as fat but wasn't. Then, what I visualized, happened. I have used that to help me with other areas of my life. I not only would see myself as fat but would also say it. The power of our words and visualization. Now, I use them to be the best I can be, as you're doing. I know you will succeed. I recommend Myla Madson's article for you which is today's pick. It may give added reinforcement. Your article has done that for me. Thank you!Avis, Thanks so much for your encouragement! I really appreciate all these comments and for you taking the time here. Blessings, Barbara
Hi Barbara, thank you for sharing your heart. It is a question we all wrestle with--not only with food, but in general. Its a brave thing to think beyond the obvious and deal with the "why's". True healing and victory come when we deal with the whys'. Thank you for an inspirational article. You will continue to do well, I am sure. Blessings to you! TeresaTeresa,
You are so right about the discovery process in asking "why." I do that in other areas of my life as well. Thanks for your encouragement and blessing to you, too! Warmly, Barbara
I am a yo yo dieter and as you know it does not work. You are so right about changing our perception. I have done well in the past with small mini meals and still do the best with that. I just have to be careful not to fall into taking my comfort in food. Tall order for such an undisciplined person such as I. Thank you for a great article.Linda DLinda, How I know about using food for comfort! It's amazing how we eat for so many reasons but hunger, isn't it? Thank you for commenting on this article. I appreciate the time and insights you've shared. Warmly, Barbara
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