Hungerless Eating

Hungerless eating is another common bad eating habit of many overweight people. We eat because food is put in front of us (for example, at work, when someone brings in treats). We engage in "mindless" eating, such as eating while watching TV, when we can easily consume a lot of food, without noticing how much, or even thinking about fullness. We eat as an emotional response to something, sometimes sadness or joy, but sometimes boredom.

If you are struggling with weight loss, always, always, think before you eat. Are you hungry? Separate wanting to eat from true physical hunger. When you are really, really, wanting to eat but you know you are not hungry, find something else to do. Easily said, not easily done. Call a friend, read, do a crossword or other type of puzzle, have some water or diet soda (I know it's not great for you but it can be a good crutch), munch on a raw veggie, or go for a walk if you can. Very often, when you resist that hungerless eating urge, it goes away after a while.

For me, not starting to eat if I am not hungry has pretty much become habitual. I no longer seek food just for the sake of food. But I still struggle with the other kind of hungerless eating: stopping when I am full. I suspect it will be an ongoing struggle. It helps me to know I need to be always conscious of this pitfall.