{"id":4141,"date":"2020-06-04T23:10:48","date_gmt":"2020-06-04T23:10:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/betterfood.co\/?p=4141"},"modified":"2020-06-06T20:04:53","modified_gmt":"2020-06-06T20:04:53","slug":"how-to-stop-food-cravings-when-not-hungry","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/betterfood.co\/how-to-stop-food-cravings-when-not-hungry\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Stop Food Cravings When You\u2019re Not Hungry?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Not hungry but you want to eat? Eating one meal a day to try to lose weight? <\/p>\n

Buckle up.<\/p>\n

We\u2019ll show you our ten best ways for how to stop food cravings when you\u2019re not hungry, so you can get back to the shape you want.<\/p>\n

We\u2019ll share top weight loss secrets, as well as answer questions around skipping meals, foods that kill hunger, and shrinking your stomach (or not, as it turns out).<\/p>\n

Read on, and see which reasons for eating when you\u2019re not hungry apply to you. (And what to do about it!)<\/p>\n

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1.  Am I Hungry or Am I Bored?<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n

How Hungry Am I on a Scale of 1 to 10<\/h3>\n

Find out what you\u2019re really hungry for, or if you\u2019re even hungry at all.<\/p>\n

How hungry are you on a scale of 1 to 10?<\/p>\n

For this scale, one means full and ten means famished.<\/p>\n

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I Eat When I\u2019m Bored<\/h3>\n

We often eat when we\u2019re bored. Try a few clever tactics to distract yourself from snacking.<\/p>\n

Keep a puzzle book next to the fridge and do a quick Sudoku, call a friend, or do a mini-workout.<\/p>\n

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I Eat Out of Habit<\/h3>\n

We also eat out of habit. if you show up in front of the fridge at 4 pm for that afternoon snack, you are training your body to want to munch at that time, whether you\u2019re genuinely hungry or not.<\/p>\n

However don\u2019t wait till you\u2019re at level 11. if you\u2019re ravenously hungry, you\u2019ll be more likely to reach for the first thing available.<\/p>\n

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2.  I Really Want Something But I Don\u2019t Know What (Hint: It Might Not Be Food)<\/h2>\n

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Ask the Food<\/h3>\n

Ask yourself (or the food) to give you what you really want. Often it\u2019s a form of emotional comfort. Can you get that from a chocolate pudding? Ask it and you\u2019ll see\u2026not.<\/p>\n

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Get Moving<\/h3>\n

Instead, engage in some quick physical activity such as a brisk walk or run. And if emotional eating is a problem for you, there are many trained therapists who specialize in supporting those of us with eating issues.<\/p>\n

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3.  I Eat When I\u2019m Stressed<\/h2>\n

What are the consequences of eating when you\u2019re not hungry? <\/p>\n

Remember what happens when you give in.<\/p>\n

It isn\u2019t about berating yourself, it\u2019s about remembering that you deserve to feel great \u2014 inside and out.<\/p>\n

One of the biggest consequences of eating when you\u2019re not hungry is added stress, which creates more problems as stress has been linked to increased fat<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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Laugh More, Eat Less<\/h3>\n

Laughter therapy<\/a> is a great stress-buster. And remember to congratulate yourself on what you do well. A gratitude journal is a great way to record your successes.<\/p>\n

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4.  I Just Want a Taste of Something<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n

Drink Water<\/h3>\n

We often crave \u201cmouth feel,\u201d in other words, the need to taste something just for the pleasure of it. <\/p>\n

This is where drinking water can work well \u2014 just be sure to drink water BEFORE meals<\/a>, not during and not after. This is because you don\u2019t want to dilute the digestive juices in the stomach. <\/p>\n

Not only does drinking water give you a bit of \u201cmouth feel\u201d (even more if you add a squeeze of lemon or lime), but it helps reduce appetite. You could also make flavored water by infusing it with some cucumber or mint.<\/p>\n

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Chew Gum<\/h3>\n

Chewing gum works great<\/a> too! Chewing gum has also been shown to help reduce appetite. <\/p>\n

Other ways to not eat when you\u2019re not hungry include deep breathing, talking to kids, watching cute cat videos, taking a shower, etc. They\u2019re all great options if you want to know how to prevent yourself from eating when you don\u2019t want to.<\/p>\n

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5.  I\u2019m Really Hungry All the Time<\/h2>\n

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Eat More Protein-Rich Foods<\/h3>\n

Add more protein to your diet. Frequent protein consumption has helped people (men, in this study<\/a>) who are obese or trying to lose weight. <\/p>\n

Foods high in protein are also great \u201cgrazing\u201d foods, as they are highly satisfying and help stave off hunger and the urge to eat.<\/p>\n

Chicken is a great source of lean protein, check out 21 Easy Chicken Recipes to Try At Home Now<\/a>! <\/p>\n

Some ideas for protein snacks:<\/p>\n