Hunger: The more you know

 

As we celebrate Christmas and New Years next week, a lot of people are more than likely going to over indulge.  Here is a scale to help you get ready for the New Year and any resolution you may be thinking about. We live in a land of plenty here in the U.S.  Do you know how to tell the difference between being starving, satisfied or stuffed? It seems it should be obvious and people should know the differences.  Here is a graphic to show the Hunger Scale:

At a 1, we are beyond a growling stomach.  We are weak and dizzy.  At this stage I think of how Jews were treated at POW camps by the Germans in WW2.  I also see this when there is an extended famine in Africa.  

At level 2, people have a constant growling in their stomach. Not occasionally but for a few days at a time.

At level 3, people are hungry with a slight growl of the stomach. People claim they are hangry at this level. Being hangry should be at a level 2, with a more constant growling stomach.

At level 4,   people are still hungry after having a snack. 

At level 5, people should be satisfied. Not hungry, not full. 

At level 6, we are slightly full, with no discomfort. 

At level 7, we are slightly full with some discomfort.

At level 8, we are so full, we can't eat another bite. Definitely have discomfort. 

At level 9, we are past full. Extreme discomfort at this stage. Thanksgiving-full as the diagram shows.

At level 10, we are so full, that one literally is making themselves sick. 

We should be between 3 and 6 on this scale.  Ideally, we should stop to eat when we reach level 5. However, there is a time delay between our bodies reaching this level and our brain recognizing that we have reached that level. Usually we continue to eat a little more when we reach level 5, that by the time our brain sees that we are full, we are at level 6 - maybe even at level 7. I know I have done this before.

The problem with waiting to eat until we reach levels 1 or 2 is that we are famished and are likely to over eat. Grateful I have never reached hunger to this level. 

I like to eat every 2-3 hours. I eat smaller meals but have enough time between meals that my hunger does not reach below a level 4. Something that helps is staying hydrated. Sometimes people feel hungry when they are dehydrated.  When hungry, drink a glass of water and see if you are still hungry.

At what level do you eat? At what level do you stop eating? Did you learn something new with this blog? Please let me know the answer to these questions and let's have a conversation.

Merry Christmas to all!