How To Begin Utilizing Fat From Your Body

Welcome to this weeks Mindful Weighs Wednesday friends!

Have you tried to lose weight and just don't see the scale moving? How often have you tried a diet to only feel "hungry" all the time. I would encourage you to pay attention to if that is truly hunger, or a habit you have created which is holding you back from seeing the results you imagine.

A key to losing weight is becoming more aware of knowing the difference between true physical hunger, and eating as a means to feel better. There are sensations of hunger, and feelings of hunger. Many people don't take the time to pay attention to the difference, and it truly can make all the difference as you lose weight. Sensations begin in the body and send signal to the brain. Examples of sensations include burning, cold, stomach grumbling or body feeling weak. Emotional feelings of hunger start in the brain and send a signal to the body. Emotions are feelings, or vibrations, like lonely, angry, bored or happy. We eat for both reasons, and there is not judgement around this, but in the quest to lose weight it is important to take the time to become aware of what is driving you to over eat. We want to eat when we have the sensation of hunger, and find other tools to cope wit the feelings.

Here is the thing - if we are truly hungry, a grilled chicken breast would do the trick. But a lot of the time it is a craving, or our over desire for food, that is causing thoughts of hunger. We have conditioned ourselves to be hungry even when we aren't by just seeing food and making associations. We are not going to die if we miss one meal - most of us have enough calories on our bodies to be ok. Now for some of us our brain would say otherwise. We can access fat storage from our own bodies. My coach, Brooke Castillo, likes to call this “dining in” — go get some fuel from your butt, thighs, and stomach - that’s the best snacking available for anyone wanting to lose weight.

This week I encourage you to become more aware of your physical sensations of hunger - describe them, and then consider the emotional needs/feelings that might make you feel hungry or want to eat. You will not only be fascinated when you start, but it will also allow you to make the progress you dream of.