Day 3: Hunger: True and Emotional

The sensation that occurs in our body that says, "You are hungry! Eat something!"

Big Idea: True Hunger and Emotional Hunger are two different things.

When faced with the sensation of "hunger" during your Clean Program, consider the possibility that it might not be true hunger. In our Western culture what we call hunger is often the physical manifestation of an emotion that is asking to be “numbed” or comforted. If left alone and quietly observed, emotional hunger becomes an opportunity for immense growth. When that “hunger” sensation arises, mindfully keep your attention on it and ask yourself:

What am I really feeling?

If it’s boredom, restlessness or any another emotion, truly allow yourself to feel it. You donʼt have to wallow in unhappiness or negativity, but simply recognize what the true feeling is and put a name to it.

Am I truly hungry or am I feeling anxious / nervous / sad / upset right now?

With a little effort, this exploration can help bring awareness to the difference between true hunger vs. emotional hunger and stop the cycle of bad habits that can lead to food cravings, weight gain, or poor health.

Here is a useful way to determine if what you are feeling is real hunger:

Here’s to awareness,

Jenny
Clean Wellness Coach

Take Action!

Emotion Hunger

1. Drink water or have a cup of tea instead. Hydrating yourself during your cleanse is important to keep the bowels moving and to help flush out released toxins.
2. Switch it up: Get up and go for a walk, call a friend or write a letter to a loved one. Finish a work project or simply stay with that feeling and let it rise up and then fall away naturally (which it will inevitably do) without having consumed any food. You may even feel the negative sensation change to a very pleasant one. The sense of empowerment that comes from this change can be amazing.

True Hunger

1. Snack Mindfully. Eat in serene and distraction-free environments in a mindful way. Hummus, guacamole with veggies, raw nut butter on some apple slices, a quick soup or fresh green juice are great options.
2. Check in on your daily caloric intake. While we at Clean are not big fans of calorie counting, noticing how many calories you’re eating is useful. Often, people new to a cleanse program will under-eat and this can cause cravings, anxiety, and poor sleep. The amount of nutrient-dense food a person needs each day depends on their level of activity, but a good benchmark is eating a minimum of 1200 calories and 50-90 grams of protein each day. For example, try adding avocado, fruit, or coconut oil to your daily shakes.

Resources:

• Here is a great article that coach Jenny wrote about cravings and their remedies, click here.
• Additional reading: Your Body Speaks Your Mind by Deb Shapiro

booknote: See Clean by Dr Alejandro Junger, page 186