At the end of my review of Eat to Live I asked you tell me how you know when you are hunger - and all of you answered the way I would have - my stomach growls, it feels empty, I know I need to fill it!
I was shocked to discover that that is not actually hunger. I'll give you a moment for that to sink in. No really, its not! Trust me. I had a hard time with this information too. Especially since I can feel my stomach growling right this instant. Isn't that hunger? No? I had to look it up. Many times. This is legit folks. I even quadruple checked it - see for yourself: source1, source2, source3, source4.
We could go our whole lives without ever experiencing true hunger. This makes our nation one of the most overfed and malnourished in the world. Overweight and undernourished. It doesn't even seem like its possible. But its disgustingly easy.
So yes, I'm telling you everything that we've felt our whole lives is a lie. Its not real hunger. Isn't it a devastating feeling to find out headaches, fatigue, nausea, weakness, confusion and irritability, abdominal and esophageal spasm, fluttering and cramping in the stomach. . . all the symptoms that we have ever felt that have told us "put food in my body now!" is not really true hunger at all but toxic hunger.
Toxic hunger symptoms are the same (mild) symptoms a person goes through when withdrawing from drugs or alcohol. Which I guess means everyone I know is an addict. Does that make me a hippie?
Now the tough question, is this an addiction I really want to give up? You just try to take away someone's meat/dairy/soda/ice cream/candy/addiction of choice and find out how truly addicted they are. On second thought, no better not. You may not escape with your life. Even the mere suggestion of taking away these foods in my home has caused me to be met with serious mistrust and violent-looks while hoarding the aforementioned foods. Its not pretty people.
To know true hunger, you will feel a gnawing sensation in the throat, have increased salivation, and enhanced taste sensations, (pg. 154 EtL). I have never felt this. Have you? According to the good doctor it can even take up to two-to-fours months of eating a very healthy diet to detoxify your body and reach the state of being able to feel this true hunger. Sounds long and painful. Or, I have read that you can fast until you begin to feel true hunger, and pick up with your healthy eating after that. Fasting has never appealed to me, but I am curious to see if I can feel this 'true hunger,' so I may do it. Maybe. All in the same of science, that is.
I am still doing the 'six-week eating plan,' and the pros: I'm eating healthy. I'm losing weight. Even with all the beans I'm eating, I'm not gassy or bloated. Its a win-win for everyone.
Cons: I can't stop thinking about salted caramel ice cream, peanut butter truffle's, pumpkin cake rolls, and this peanut butter truffle mouse cheesecake.
Oh and chocolate caramel tarts.
Honestly, I must stop torturing myself.
Now for the lucky winner of Eat to Live.
I was shocked to discover that that is not actually hunger. I'll give you a moment for that to sink in. No really, its not! Trust me. I had a hard time with this information too. Especially since I can feel my stomach growling right this instant. Isn't that hunger? No? I had to look it up. Many times. This is legit folks. I even quadruple checked it - see for yourself: source1, source2, source3, source4.
We could go our whole lives without ever experiencing true hunger. This makes our nation one of the most overfed and malnourished in the world. Overweight and undernourished. It doesn't even seem like its possible. But its disgustingly easy.
So yes, I'm telling you everything that we've felt our whole lives is a lie. Its not real hunger. Isn't it a devastating feeling to find out headaches, fatigue, nausea, weakness, confusion and irritability, abdominal and esophageal spasm, fluttering and cramping in the stomach. . . all the symptoms that we have ever felt that have told us "put food in my body now!" is not really true hunger at all but toxic hunger.
Toxic hunger symptoms are the same (mild) symptoms a person goes through when withdrawing from drugs or alcohol. Which I guess means everyone I know is an addict. Does that make me a hippie?
Now the tough question, is this an addiction I really want to give up? You just try to take away someone's meat/dairy/soda/ice cream/candy/addiction of choice and find out how truly addicted they are. On second thought, no better not. You may not escape with your life. Even the mere suggestion of taking away these foods in my home has caused me to be met with serious mistrust and violent-looks while hoarding the aforementioned foods. Its not pretty people.
To know true hunger, you will feel a gnawing sensation in the throat, have increased salivation, and enhanced taste sensations, (pg. 154 EtL). I have never felt this. Have you? According to the good doctor it can even take up to two-to-fours months of eating a very healthy diet to detoxify your body and reach the state of being able to feel this true hunger. Sounds long and painful. Or, I have read that you can fast until you begin to feel true hunger, and pick up with your healthy eating after that. Fasting has never appealed to me, but I am curious to see if I can feel this 'true hunger,' so I may do it. Maybe. All in the same of science, that is.
I am still doing the 'six-week eating plan,' and the pros: I'm eating healthy. I'm losing weight. Even with all the beans I'm eating, I'm not gassy or bloated. Its a win-win for everyone.
Cons: I can't stop thinking about salted caramel ice cream, peanut butter truffle's, pumpkin cake rolls, and this peanut butter truffle mouse cheesecake.
Oh and chocolate caramel tarts.
Honestly, I must stop torturing myself.
Now for the lucky winner of Eat to Live.
Congratulations LG!! You did not leave me your email so I have no way to contact you personally. Please leave me your email in a comment below, and if I don't hear from you before Monday I will draw another winner.
Happy weekend friends!
Yay! I'm really excited to read this Heidi. This is Laura Gore. :) My email is laurargore@gmail.com. We need to see you guys again soon!
ReplyDeleteAwesome! I was sitting there trying to figure how who LG was and now I feel stupid.
ReplyDeleteI really wish I could give this to you in person. Maybe I can? I will send you an email.
Sad I didn't win, but happy for Laura :) But as far as the real hunger, I HAVE felt that before. I didn't know what it was, but I remember it. I had a good reason though... it was when I was in the hospital with a feeding tube for 28 days (yes, you heard that right). Every once in awhile they would "unhook" me so I could go out and about with my dad, and I would always come back ready to pass out, mouth salivating out of control, super salty taste. It was miserable. And to think there are some people who LIVE like that. Sometimes it happens to me still when I am sick and can't eat for a couple of days and can only eat clear liquids. Luckily, I know that as soon as I heal I will be better, and I know I won't die because I just head over to urgent care and get pumped full of potassium and calcium through an IV; I may still feel hungry but my body has energy again. And I only go through that once every two years or so. All of those hungry children in the world -- they don't have that option. Makes my heart break. With such confusion as to what "hunger" is, no wonder we are such a fat and unhealthy nation.
ReplyDeleteHow interesting Tiffany! Thanks for sharing. I had thought of you when reading about true hunger, and thought maybe you (and people who have suffered what you suffer) had experienced true hunger. I too cannnot imagine what it must be like to live like that - and my heart breaks for them.
ReplyDelete