TM

TM

ARE YOU REALLY HUNGRY?

Is it in your head?

* You're often hungry just because it's "time" to eat.
* You see or smell something that triggers the feeling of hunger.

Outside influences sometimes tell your brain when and what you want to eat.  For example, you may feel hungry just because you look at your watch and see it's lunch time, or you may drive past a bakery and suddenly crave donuts.  "studies have shown that we make over 250 decisions about food each day."  "Very few of them have anything at all to do with true hunger."

TRUE-HUNGER TEST
Try hiding your desk clock for a week: do you still troll for treats at 3 p.m.?  If not, chances are your afternoon snack is a force of habit-not the result of physical hunger.

Is it in your heart?

* Your hunger comes on suddenly.
* You tend to eat in response to your moods.

Unlike true hunger pangs, those that come from your heart are likely driven by emotions like sadness, frustration, anger, and boredom.  Researchers believe that a key to long-term weight-loss success lies in the ability to identify and control emotional eating.  One sign you're eating from the heart?  A sense of urgency that makes it virtually impossible to be mindful of what you're putting in your mouth.

TRUE-HUNGER TEST
The next time you reach for a cookie, ask yourself, "what am I feeling now?"  If your emotions are in check, go ahead and have one.  If they're not, put the cookie down and try this trick: Visualize your negative feelings on a conveyer belt, and watch as they disappear.

Is it in your stomach?

* Your tummy is growing.
* Your head hurts, or you feel slightly spacy.

Physical hunger signals are the real deal, and they come with their own set of physical warning signs.  "hunger is an internal sensation that usually occurs every 3 to 4 hours."  When you're hungry, your stomach contracts."  The trick is to listen to your body and identify the signs.  Another clue that your hunger's real?  True hunger comes on more slowly than the other types, giving you more time to make better choices.

TRUE-HUNGER TEST
Ask yourself, "would I eat a bowl of broccoli even though I'm not a broccoli fan?"  If the answer is yes, chances are you are genuinely hungry.