The first thing that comes to mind when we hear the word "diet" is: to starve. Of course, if you are looking for a quick method to lose weight, you will surely feel hungry. Therefore, fast or, also known as "miraculous diets" are not a recommended option. They tend to be very restrictive and monotonous, and therefore difficult to follow. It is advisable to follow a healthy diet.

Follow a healthy diet without having to feel hungry

It is not about being hungry, but neither it is about binge eating. And this last issue is what usually happens to us. Until we feel "full", we do not stop eating. That is one of the first aspects that we must modify. The best thing is to always remain just a little bit hungry.

We eat to feed our body with food for its nutrients it needs to function. But at times, I wonder: Are we really hungry? Well, it is not always like that. We eat, because it is time to eat, whether or not we are hungry, or simply just to silence our emotions. For this reason, it is so important to differentiate real hunger from emotional hunger.

Changing eating habits is possible, because habits can be re-educated. It is necessary, that yes, you set yourself some objectives and follow them strictly on your path to this change, until the new habits are successfully established in your daily routine.

Real hunger vs. Emotional hunger

Hunger (real) and appetite (emotional hunger) are not the same. Hunger is an instinct for survival. Blood glucose levels, temperature or stomach contractions stimulate the feeling of hunger. Instead, the appetite (emotional hunger) is the psychological desire to eat food. Many times we have an appetite, but we are not hungry. In this post, I want you to learn to differentiate these two concepts.

Stress or unpleasant emotional situations sometimes make us eat more. The main problem is that we usually choose unhealthy food to calm our emotions. As a consequence, we feel guilty afterwards and we start again. Having a feeling of guilt is usually a consequence of emotional hunger. When we eat, because we are genuinely hungry, we usually do not generate any negative emotions.

When we really are just hungry, anything in our life goes well. When we really are only hungry, we would wonder if we fancy a banana (just an example) and the answer would be yes! That would be "real hunger". On the other hand, if the answer is no, because "I want a doughnut", what we have here would be the "emotional hunger". Do you see the difference? Do the test and convince yourself!

First of all, do not worry or feel bad, if one day you do not meet your goals. Keep on motivating yourself as you would with another person and start again.

How to control emotional hunger?

To better handle the situation regarding emotional hunger, I advise you to also take into account the following aspects:

• Avoid buying unhealthy food. If you do not have them at home, you can not eat them.
• Practice a healthy diet, such as carrot sticks, raw or roasted nuts (no sugar / no salt) or season's fruit that you like. So, if you want to snack on something, the options should and will be healthier. If you are hungry, choose these options. If you are not, do not eat anything. Remember that it is not really being hungry.
• If your craving to eat is very strong, look for distractions. Keep your mind busy with something else, go out for a walk or exercise, take a shower, etc... Calming your mind with physical exercise or any other activity is what you really need in that moment. In any case, you can always ask a professional for help.

I recommend that you establish new habits and routines that are favorable for you.. Always try and choose the best option (you know which one that is), observe the intake of products rich in sugar and be strict with yourself and the objectives you have set for yourself to reach. Because you can achieve them!!

Look for options that are not only good for you, but also for your loved ones around you. It is about finding the balance between the pleasure of eating and what we actually really need. Follow your instincts. Follow a healthy diet.