Myth Buster: Eat Only When You’re Hungry

We’ve all heard that you should only eat when you’re hungry. “Listen to your body’s natural cues,” they say! But the problem is that once you feel those hunger pangs, it is already too late. If you wait until you feel famished, you may make bad choices on the foods you eat, either in type or amount.

Busting the Diet Myth

It makes sense to believe the diet myth that you should only eat when you are hungry. If you are counting calories or carbs or points or using some other method to regulate your intake of food, there is no reason you should wait until you feel famished to eat. This doesn’t mean you should eat any time you want to just because you have a craving for something sweet-tasting or you are bored. Mindless eating can be the #1 killer of a diet.

A Better Option

Instead of waiting until you’re starving to eat, plan your meals and snacks according to your schedule so you’re ahead of the game. Once you are on a schedule (including exercise), your body will learn to expect food at those times and your metabolism will stay consistent, which can result in successful weight loss. While there will be days in which you find yourself missing one of your scheduled eating times, if you can stick to a plan for all meals and healthy snacks for the majority of the time, you will likely see the weight loss results you want.