I think I've figured hunger out finally. It is not one simple thing, it is at least 3 distinct mental and emotional processes competing.
As I've written before, a few months ago I got a throat virus. My throat burned so badly for about 6 days that the act of eating or drinking anything was almost unbearable. I finally had to go the doc-in-a-box for a 2nd time and get some numbing gargle stuff just to be able to eat anything at all.
However, after I got over that, I found that I had no desire to eat. For the next 3 weeks, I ate as little as I could and felt great doing it.
That was 4 months ago and I seemed to have reset my body (all bodies are steady state machines) so a new weight about 10 lbs lighter than before.
I am trying to go back to that 1200 to 1600 cal/day diet for a while to reset my body again but I'm having trouble doing it. Now, I know why.
Hunger has 3 (or more) sides to it. It is a tripod of desire.
The first thing is actual physical hunger. I think this is the easiest thing to ignore. By itself, it is really managable. If you can avoid over eating, this pain isn't that bad. My biggest fear when I was sick and not able to eat was that my hunger pains would drive me mad. They didn't at all.
The second thing is our desire to consume. I think the connection with this and hunger is a learned response that can be unlearned. You simply get the strong desire to eat something. "I need something salty!" your mind tells you. This desire, I think, is stronger than hunger pains, but the two usually come together.
I have an inherited condition: I don't know when to stop eating. I can eat until I am full and I still want to munch on chips or deserts. I have to get up from the Thxgiving table for a few minutes for this desire to go away.
The third thing is our love of food; the enjoyment of eating. This is taste, the comfort of foods, and the calming affect a stomach being filled gives us. What I can tell you is that if all foods are excruciating to eat, this pleasure is not missed.
So, when dieting or 'eating right', try to tackle all three of these things seperately. It makes it much easier to deal with if you are just aware that your desire to consume is really independent from your hunger and that, really, you are not THAT hungry. Also knowing that your next meal will not be a seven course gourmet affair can help stifle your desire for comfort foods. A good cup of tea or coffee can suffice.
interesting.
How much did you weigh prior to your "reset"?
I struggled to stay around 190, now it's around 180. Basically, if I lost about 2 lbs I could fight Mariah Carrey and, in the event of a tie, I'd win!
Hunger is even more complex than you describe. It's a complex feedback loop involving several hormones, leptin, ghrelin, NPY (neuropeptide Y), amylin, obestatin, the orexin/hypocretin system, and the hypothalamus, of course.
To me, 1600 calories when you're not feeling hungry is a lot of food but anyway, I see your concept.
Also involved is Cholecystokinin (CCK), which seems to be involved in suppression of hunger.
As I've said in other posts, when you're eating sparsely, you can recognize your body's signals to eat specific foods. I normally don't eat tomatoes, but during sparse eating times, I'll get a craving for them.
Interesting thread.
CCK is debatable as it causes nausea amongst other things... you might be hungry but you still won't eat if you're nauseus.
Also you cannot forget the interacting higher systems of the brain, the dopamine circuits etc...
Very complex and interesting.
I advise the following free Yale audio/video course as an intro.
http://oyc.yale.edu/psychology/the-psychology-biology-and-politics-of-food/content/class-sessions
CCK is debatable as it causes nausea amongst other things... you might be hungry but you still won't eat if you're nauseus.
Also you cannot forget the interacting higher systems of the brain, the dopamine circuits etc...
Very complex and interesting.
I advise the following free Yale audio/video course as an intro.
http://oyc.yale.edu/psychology/the-psychology-biology-and-politics-of-food/content/class-sessions
That is interesting. It is all a psychological feedback loop. I'm looking for a better way to short circuit it but will-power seems to be only part of the key.
When you start looking at brain chemistry and endorphines, hormones and whatever else, don't lose sight of the simple and powerful affect just the smell of fresh baked bread can have on you!
Blanding up the diet really helps. It's an old weight watchers trick; when you know you won't be having a huge plate of Italian food for supper and that it will be bland turkey, you lose your gusto for eating, for example.
I'll let yous guys know if I figure out a better short circuit method than a toxic throat virus.
"I'll let yous guys know if I figure out a better short circuit method than a toxic throat virus."
Food poisoning seems to work pretty good for me. Let me know if you need any recipes.....
The thing is, most of us eat for all kinds of reasons other than hunger. Real hunger and satiety is one thing, but we also comfort ourselves with food when we feel stressed out, tired, lonly, bored, depressed etc etc. When you start using food and eating for all kinds of purposes other that to fuel your body and satisfy real hunger, then it's basically an abuse, like any other.
My great aunt forces food onto people with lines like "It's just ice cream, it won't hurt you." She's 93, btw. Her obese husband died about 40 years ago though.
Guess what happens if you workout really hard and intensely while you are very hungry? You get much hungrier!
I think the rush of blood to the stomach from heavy circuit training amplifies the affects of being hungry. I lifted just before lunch yesterday and the hunger pain got so intense I didn't think I was going to be able to finish. I had the shakes when I was done and that never happens to me.
"The thing is, most of us eat for all kinds of reasons other than hunger. Real hunger and satiety is one thing, but we also comfort ourselves with food when we feel stressed out, tired, lonly, bored, depressed etc etc. When you start using food and eating for all kinds of purposes other that to fuel your body and satisfy real hunger, then it's basically an abuse, like any other. "
I eat out of boredom pretty often (it's more fun to study, watch tv, or read with a snack).
I started just drinking coffee (cream and no sugar) as a soda/snack alternative , but I traded too much eating for a heavy caffeine addiction.
Tea stems hunger better than coffee I think and has less caffiene.