Weigh in Wednesday: Week 4---Hunger Scale and the Weight Scale

I lost another 2 pounds for a total of 10 pounds lost in 4 weeks. Not sure if it was a fat loss or a hair loss. I also cut about 10 inches off of my hair this week so maybe that's all it was. I strep throat this week too so there was a day or two in there that I didn't eat much. So there you have it, cut your hair and contract a sickness where you can't eat and you'll lose weight!

For a tip that you can actually apply, I have been thinking on the "hunger scale" that I read about in a book called "Thin Within." We've messed up our natural hunger signals by over scheduling, dulling our taste buds, eating instead of drinking water, getting too little rest, stressing ourselves out, eating for emotional reasons, treating ourselves with food and over eating too often. If we could learn to "listen" to our hunger signals, our body might just find it's natural weight and let go of the extra it never needed.

The hunger scale goes something like this...that when you are truly hungry, you are at a "0". When you've over eaten and are incredibly uncomfortable (like so many people after Thanksgiving), you've eaten to a "10". Waiting to eat until you are at a "0" is best and then never really eating over a "5" or "6" will help you to get to your body's preferred weight. If you often eat over a "6", you tend to gain weight. If you often eat under a "5", you tend to lose weight and feel low in energy. People who fluctuate between "0-6" will maintain or adjust to what is good for their body. I think I ate to a 7 or 8 for the first time in a long time today at lunch. It was really good and I kept eating and talking and then it was too late.

I was thinking on this this last week. Sometimes, I eat because it's "time to eat", not necessarily because I'm at a "0". But sometimes, I DON'T eat because it's not "time to eat" and I'm all ready at a "0". How do we get these crazy ideas in our heads? I feed my 3 month old baby when he's hungry and he tells me when he's hungry. Would I tell him, "Sorry son, it's not dinner time. You can't eat." No, that's silly. At the same time, would I feed him an extra time because he was a "good boy". No, that seems silly too. But, in reality, that's what we do as adults.

As the "feasting" holidays approach us, I think by practicing the hunger scale, we can avoid weight gain unlike many Americans. AND, we can ENJOY the meals and treats if we eat when we are at a "0" and stop at a "6". Try it out this week. See what crazy mind sets you have to adjust.