panic over fear of starving???

Shrinking

New member
Hi. This is going to sound very strange, but I've suddenly realized why I used to eat the way I did (too much, all junk, shoving it in until I just can't fit any more in). Hopefully someone else out there will know what I'm talking about.

I used to eat constantly.... because I was afraid to be hungry. If my stomach would growl, I would almost panic and need to eat something -- a lot -- right away. I would be rude to people if they got in the way, etc. It was almost a survival instinct, almost uncontrollable, and I didn't realize how much it ran my life. I grew up in a house with plenty of food to go around, so it's not like I've ever had to fight for food before, or struggle to get enough. It's more than craving a food, it's feels like I'm going to die if I don't get it.

Wow. I didn't realize this before. For the past month I've changed my eating habits and find that I'm much better than I used to be, but I'm shocked to realize how I was feeling. I feel very embarrassed now, and don't want to go back to the way things were, but thought I might share, in case anyone can relate.
 
I don't know if I was afraid of being hungry, because I never really let myself become hungry. I snacked and ate large meals, and hunger became relatively unknown to me.

I am sure once you've been in the habit of eating healthily you will find this urge will pretty much disappear, but who knows if it will ever truly leave? I still get the urge to binge eat but I've been able to resist mostly.
 
Hello! I don't know about that extreme! But I know that when I am eating I do not want to be disturbed b/c I fear that I won't ever finish. But that is b/c I was in the Navy and basically got my 3 squares and thats it!
 
I think that I used to let myself get hungry much more often when I was overweight, as a result of eating the wrong kind of foods, and eating badly (skipping breakfast, lunch, eating snackfoods and big evening meals etc). While I was losing weight, I didn't have that much hunger either - I ate lots of high fibre food starting with a breakfast, and drank lots of water. It was more about dealing with cravings than actual hunger. I don't think that weightlosers should let themselves get that hungry, it sends your body into starvation mode - bad for metabolism.

Now, as a post weightloser, I eat better. I start with a great breakfast, then eat small and often throughout the day. I aim for at least five portions of fruit and veg, wholegrains, good fats, and lots of lean protein. I eat maybe 5 - 7 times each day, and try to avoid starving my body. I eat alot, but I eat clean. I also actively fuel my metabolism with lots of exercise.

Personally I felt more hunger when I ate badly!
 
I recently watched something on TV about the human species and the fact that it wasn't long ago that we would eat large quantities of food, because of the uncertainty of the next meal.

Perhaps it's a survival instinct? I'm sure you aren't alone.
 
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