Unless you, for some reason, have no access to food, there is no problem filling the physical jar. None of us ever go hungry unelss we so chose. And it doesn't take alot of food to fill it to the top. So, there is rarely a problem with the physical side of eating. The problem almost always lies in the appetite, the emotional, aspect. You attempt to control eating by looking to external sources for information regarding food intake. Most everyone knows a lot about nutrition, fat grams, calories, etc. You look to this knowledge for the answers to consumption. And while information is inherently useful from a practical standpoint, it has little to do with controlling your weight.
The ability to lose weight and keep it off is grounded in being able to satisfy your appetite without eating more than your body needs for functioning. To do this requires an intimate knowledge of what you need to eat at any given time. This is easier to ascertain than you would at first believe. What you do is this: Every time you go to make a choice about what you are going to eat, the first question you ask yourself, the very first one, is "Am I going to enjoy this?" If you aren't, go to another food choice. It doesn't matter how healthy the food is, if it isn't going to satisfy you at this time, there is no purpose in eating it. All you'll be doing is putting food in that small, physical jar without adding to the all important emotional jar. So, from now on, eat only foods you are going to enjoy. Don't compromise.
More about this next time.
Copyright 2011 Lynn Borenius Brown
OnlineandTelephoneCounseling.com
Monday, October 31, 2011
Saturday, October 22, 2011
Hunger, Appetite, and Motivation, Part 2
What is appetite? It is the longing or yearning for something especially desirable. Appetite arises from previous pleasurable experiences. Because both hunger and appetite entice us to eat, they are frequently confused. Unfortunately, hunger is not required for eating - appetite alone is enough inducement. And, it takes only a little food to abolish hunger, but we continue eating because of appetite. And therein lies our main concern.
A good way to address this issue is to visualize two jars. The way I see it is that each day you have to fill both jars. One is the physical jar. That one represents hunger. And it is not very large. The second one is the emotional jar. It represents appetite. This one is almost always larger than the physical jar. What most of us do is overflow the physical jar in order to fill the emotional jar. And that is why we gain weight. Next time, we'll discuss this in detail.
Copyright 2011 Lynn Borenius Brown
For more information about video classes and individual sessions, please visit: http://EmpoweredDieter.org
A good way to address this issue is to visualize two jars. The way I see it is that each day you have to fill both jars. One is the physical jar. That one represents hunger. And it is not very large. The second one is the emotional jar. It represents appetite. This one is almost always larger than the physical jar. What most of us do is overflow the physical jar in order to fill the emotional jar. And that is why we gain weight. Next time, we'll discuss this in detail.
Copyright 2011 Lynn Borenius Brown
For more information about video classes and individual sessions, please visit: http://EmpoweredDieter.org
Sunday, October 16, 2011
Hunger, Appetite, and Motivation, Part 1
We are now going to start discussing hunger, appetite, and motivation. This information will become very useful to you as you go through the weight managment process. Being able to differentiate between hunger and appetite and meet your appetite needs will eliminate overeating as well as bingeing. Understanding motivation and how you can go about getting and staying motivated will allow you to get to your goal. So, let's get started.
What is hunger? It is a primitive, elemental sensation that is felt as a dull ache or gnawing pain in the mid-chest region or somewhat lower. Cycles of hunger-experience occur. A cycle iusually begins with weak contractions. These then become gradually more vigorous and appear at shorter intervals until the height of activity is reached, which may culminate in an actual spasm. After this, the stomach usually relaxes and remains quiet for a period of time after which it starts again with occasional weak squeezes and the cycle is repeated.
Other than eating, what can stop hunger pangs? Chewing movements and swallowing stop the sensation of hunger. Not only chewing or swallowing, but also emotional excitement arrests digestive functions. It also stops the muscular actions associated with hunger. Smoking weakens them and may completely stop them, depending upon the strength of the tobacco. Alcoholic beverages reduce contractions. And very vigorous exercise inhibits recurrent constrictions but afterwards they are likely to return with greater intensity. Oddly enough, tightening your belt also stops weak or moderate contractions. The stoppage is, however, partial and even when complete it lasts only about five - 15 minutes then the contractions reappear despite continued pressure around the waist.
So, hunger is a physical sensation with no emotional component. If this is so, then were do all our problems with snacking, overeating, and bingeing come from? This takes us to appetite.
Copyright 2011 Lynn Borenius Brown
For more information about video classes and individual sessions, please visit: http://EmpoweredDieter.org
What is hunger? It is a primitive, elemental sensation that is felt as a dull ache or gnawing pain in the mid-chest region or somewhat lower. Cycles of hunger-experience occur. A cycle iusually begins with weak contractions. These then become gradually more vigorous and appear at shorter intervals until the height of activity is reached, which may culminate in an actual spasm. After this, the stomach usually relaxes and remains quiet for a period of time after which it starts again with occasional weak squeezes and the cycle is repeated.
Other than eating, what can stop hunger pangs? Chewing movements and swallowing stop the sensation of hunger. Not only chewing or swallowing, but also emotional excitement arrests digestive functions. It also stops the muscular actions associated with hunger. Smoking weakens them and may completely stop them, depending upon the strength of the tobacco. Alcoholic beverages reduce contractions. And very vigorous exercise inhibits recurrent constrictions but afterwards they are likely to return with greater intensity. Oddly enough, tightening your belt also stops weak or moderate contractions. The stoppage is, however, partial and even when complete it lasts only about five - 15 minutes then the contractions reappear despite continued pressure around the waist.
So, hunger is a physical sensation with no emotional component. If this is so, then were do all our problems with snacking, overeating, and bingeing come from? This takes us to appetite.
Copyright 2011 Lynn Borenius Brown
For more information about video classes and individual sessions, please visit: http://EmpoweredDieter.org
Tuesday, October 4, 2011
Water and Your Weight Loss, Part 4
Preferably, water should be cold. It is absorbed into the system more quickly than warm water and evidence suggests that drinking water can actually help burn calories.
When the body gets the water it needs to function optimally, its fluids are perfectly balanced. When this happens, the breakthrough point has been reached. This means that endocrine-gland function improves, fluid retention is alleviated as stored water is lost, more fat is used as fuel because the liver is free to metabolize stored fat, natural thirst returnns, and there is a loss of hunger almost overnight.
If you stop drinking water, your body fluids wll again be thrown out of balance and you may experience fluid retention, unexplained weight gain, and loss of thirst. To remedy this situation, you will need to resume drinking water.
Copyright 2011 Lynn Borenius Brown
For more information about video classes and individual sessions, please visit: http://EmpoweredDieter.org
When the body gets the water it needs to function optimally, its fluids are perfectly balanced. When this happens, the breakthrough point has been reached. This means that endocrine-gland function improves, fluid retention is alleviated as stored water is lost, more fat is used as fuel because the liver is free to metabolize stored fat, natural thirst returnns, and there is a loss of hunger almost overnight.
If you stop drinking water, your body fluids wll again be thrown out of balance and you may experience fluid retention, unexplained weight gain, and loss of thirst. To remedy this situation, you will need to resume drinking water.
Copyright 2011 Lynn Borenius Brown
For more information about video classes and individual sessions, please visit: http://EmpoweredDieter.org
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