Exercise Training : Hungry or Thirsty?

I eat when I’m bored. I know I do it, so I have to make sure I keep myself entertained all the time. It was the main reason I gained an extra 30 lbs years ago, but it wasn’t the only reason. The other reason was just being plain ol’ lazy! Exercise became a chore for me and I thought I would always be in shape. Who knew you had to work at this especially as you got older? I surely didn’t think you had to and as a result, I stuffed my face even though I wasn’t hungry.

Are you really hungry?

How do you know you are really hungry? I would be willing to bet most of you reading this would say a symptom of hunger is a growling stomach. I use to think the same thing until I started intermittent fasting two days a week. Because of the fasting, I no longer associate a growling stomach with hunger as I am going 24 hours without food. I have gotten accustomed to fasting and no longer experience any hunger pains. Fasting has been the best way I have found to control my boredom and pointless eating. I can go on and on about fasting and the degree of control it has given me over my eating, but it also provided me with an epiphany. What distinguishes hunger from thirst?

Throat and Mouth

I discovered something during my first couple of times I fasted. Would you like to know what it was? I realized the stomach rumblings I had were cries from my body for water! I would drink water and the “growls” would go away. Once I discovered this, it was so easy for make to make it through a 24 hour fast! I wonder how many other people get confused over hunger and thirst? Is this why some people over eat? True hunger is felt in the throat and mouth and not the stomach. Most of us think we are hungry when it really is thirst. When your body asks for water, don’t ignore it. It just might be trying to save you a pound or two. See you on the lean side. Do you have any experiences with hunger vs. thirst? I would like to hear it. Leave me a comment….thanks!

Darren McDuffie
Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist
Certified Nutrition and Weight Management Specialist
Certified Exercise Foundations Specialist
Certified Fitness Testing Specialist