The FastDay Forum

I've been trying to work out what sorts of hunger I feel. There's 'the fast day is going well and I'm empty but it's not a problem' sort. Then there's the other feeling, that means I eat too much on a non-fasting day because the more I eat, the more I want to eat. They're very different feelings and sorting out whether they're physiological, emotional, or whatever, is quite difficult. I'm guessing that other people may have very similar experiences?

On non-fast days my eyes tell me to eat the same amounts of my "normal" diet that I used to (habit hunger?). But after such meals I feel uncomfortably full. After almost 3 months you'd think my habits would be changed. More re-education work to do to avoid feeling too full.

Marybeth, I've been a member of the clean plate club for a long time. I've been really working hard at stopping when I am full, even if there is lots of food left on my plate. It's a tough thing to learn but I'm sure it'll pay off when I master it.

Yep that's what I've been learning too. I'm working on overcoming the "I'm bored I think I'll eat something" hunger. I don't even realize I have that hunger until I come to scavenging thru the refrigerator.

EXACTLY! I was brought up to clear my plate too. I don't think I ever learnt, as a child, what real hunger was. Nor did I learn how to recognise when I'd had enough to eat. I learnt to eat to a timetable rather than to eat when hungry. I realise that our parents (having lived through rationing and lean times) just never wanted us to experience hunger. Unfortunately, we have all paid the price in adulthood with overeating. I must say that since following the 5:2 WOE I'm also seeing a change in my appetite generally - a definite bonus! My suggestion is to drink water or tea, wait a bit and if you're still feeling hungry you probably do need to eat.

Oh every single night when I'm on the sofa I get that "bored" hunger O'Dell. In fact I don't think it is hunger, I think it's just "what shall I do" feeling.
I'm fasting and I have it now!! Guess I need a hobby (that's not eating!)

I had the same upbringing Magashelley and now try to leave a bit of food on my plate after every meal to break the habit of scoffing everything in sight! Emotional eating is my hardest one to beat. After a tough time at work I still find that I use food for reward. I'm trying to do my nails, face pack etc rather than heading for the cheese etc but some days it's hard going.
Cups of tea, water etc and waiting are good strategies too.

Badge wearing, clean plate and 'there are starving kids in Africa' upbringing dieter here. To such an extent that I have had two recent bouts of over eating till I was nearly sick, because I tried to eat an old me portion size.
I will try your trick Queen56. It seemed to have worked for my husband who had a public boys school upbringing where it was good manners to leave a little bit on the plate because then it would seem that you weren't going hungry. Yet all the years I have known him, he would leave the little bit and I would scoff it myself so it wasn't 'wasted'.

My OH does the same thing to me! It does seem to work even if its only a few peas or dare I say the odd chip!! I also try making my portion sizes smaller, reasoning that I can always have a second helping if I'm still hungry and often I'm not. However I must still be eating too much (or not moving enough!) as my weight loss is infuriatingly slow. But as a 56 year old at least the pounds are coming off and not going on as they have done for the past few years before I found this WOL.