I’ve also found that when I travel, I can get ravenous. Again- am I really ravenous? Or am I nervous that I won’t find a suitably healthy meal and not totally blow my calories out of the water. I tend to travel a lot, so this is an issue that I deal with a lot. And ironically it makes me nervous to travel so much for this reason alone. On the one hand I want to experience all of the wonders of the locations but on the other hand, I cannot eat as I wish I could. sigh! Last week I was in Annecy, France by the way- i know you spent some time in France

When I’m home, I have a somewhat annoying habit of getting a frozen yogurt (the sugar-free/fat-free kind when possible) and/or making popcorn (that i spray with truffle oil from a mister…yum!) at home. Again- more just out of habit than for reasons of hunger. I do enjoy them both but they are gone so quickly and leave me wishing I could have another one. Meanwhile more ‘optional’ calories are ingested.

Thanks for the reminder to try to get back to basics here.

1. When I feel hunger pangs coming on, I drink a big glass of water. That usually resolves the grumbles (and satisfies the need to get up from my desk to stretch and take a computer break). AND it keeps me hydrated.

2. Portion out the snack as you suggested. Putting a small serving on a plate and eating it slowly satisfies genuine hunger and prevents the eating of a meal’s worth of calories in a snack.

Great article!
Zara

That’s one of the problems, personally I find, today. Too often we’re told what ‘is right’ — but what is right for me may not be best for you. So always listen to your body. Yes, advice from a professional is helpful, but like I always do with my clients….it’s about finding what works best for them.

Now — back to the blood sugar: Make sure you’re eating enough protein, and foods that keep your blood sugar more on an even level. Like WHOLE grains, legumes, nuts, etc.

I find the American Diet has a LOT of sugar. Even if the food is labeled “healthy”, oftentimes it has hidden sugar. For example, yogurt. Good for you, but lots of these ‘low fat’ ones and ‘fruit’ ones have added sugar. And a LOT. So as far as yogurt goes, best to choose a plain flavored one (personally, I like the whole milk one….the sugar in there is natural sugar from the milk, and has no added ‘fillers’ or fake sugar. (Which, by the way, these fake sugars can make your metabolism out of wack, and your body thinks it’s sugar…but doesn’t know how to properly use it, as it’s ‘foreign’ so-to-speak).

So you might want to try larger snacks (if you find that works for you) and be sure to eat ‘balanced’ snacks too — meaning, don’t eat too much sugar or too much of one thing. Have an apple and some cheese, so you’re getting some good protein, and not just fruit. And don’t just eat carbs. Add some protein to it.

As far as ignoring your hunger signals — if you do find your hunger goes away after a while, that may or may not be a good thing. If you do have hunger signals, I say it’s best to listen to it. Even if you just eat a little to get your blood sugar back up. Most of the time it IS better to listen to it than just let it go. Even if the ‘hunger’ signal goes away, it was there for a reason: it’s your body saying “I need something” so to speak. So if you do feel the hunger, then best to listen and give it some needed healthy energy.

Okay, I could go on all day on this subject. I hope this helps.

If you have any additional questions, just let me know!

Dinneen