My confession time...

I think I've done something truly remarkable. A few weeks ago I got tired of the noshing and I decided that I was going to address it in my head. My therapist, she left me for the sunny skies of California so in my warped head I went through and did an inventory. I determined that I act on a fear of being hungry and that fear stems from someplace in me that doesn't feel like anyone else will take care of me but me.

So I decided to stare hunger in the face for a few days and see what happened. I don't know how I mustered up the will to do it but for about five days I pretty much fasted. I kept quiet about it because I didn't want to encourage other folks to do what I was doing because a) it's kinda crazy and b) my issues aren't everyone's issues and therefore my remedies aren't everyone's remedies.

S'anyway...for those five days I did my  liquids and some very light meals (my blood sugar will crash if I straight up fast. I don't have RHG but if I don't eat my sugar does get wonky). And I was hungry. And I pushed through it. And guess what? I'm still here.

Coming back out of that was sort of hard. Anyone who has ever suffered from anorexio nervosa (which I don't but I think I now understand it better) would probably tell you that not eating becomes as big a compulsion as eating. So the last few days I've been saying "I'm not feeling food" and what I really meant is that my body became accustomed to not eating and I'm having trouble convincing it to do so again.

But after a few fussy pouch days, I got back to eating a reasonable amount. Knock on wood, I haven't been noshing since then. I haven't had the desire to.

Not to sound dramatic, but going through that...allowing myself to be hungry...for the first time in a LONG time...I realize that there is nothing to be afraid of. Even if there were no humans on this earth to take care of me (and there are, there truly are), God always will. So I don't know, things are feeling a bit different for me. I don't know how long that will last but to give you an example of where things are, there has been a jar of peanut butter in my cupboard for the last week and I've not touched it. I haven't needed to.

All this brings me to the conclusion that, for me at least, hunger is a necessary feeling. I'm grateful for it. It's my body's way of reminding me to take care of myself. As I continue to work to know the difference between the hungers of my body and those of my soul, I have a whole new appreciation for hunger and eating.

And for now I feel a sense of peace that didn't take any food to achieve.

There...I had to get that off my chest.

DISCLAIMER: Again, I'm not suggesting anybody do what I did. Just sharing something going on with me.

they always say  "hunger is NOT an emergency"

and you just proved it.

Way to go Nik. I just did sort of the same thing with my husband the past 2 days. I did get hungry, but by no means was I actually starving, like my mind was trying to tell me I was.

Nessa hit the nail on the head. Sometimes getting myself to understand that can be hard. lol

Interesting experiment! I don't have the gumption to do something similar.

I'm glad you came through it with a sense of increased serenity.

I love that saying "Hunger is not an emergency."

Quote: 
"The fasting high that you experience during longer fasts are due to an increased release of endorphins (the body’s natural pain killers) - similar to the endorphin high experienced by long distance running. Endorphins alleviate pain by binding to mu opioid receptors located on neurons within the brain and spinal cord. Ultimately, this is part of the reason why starvation can become addicting and partly explains the biology behind Anorexia Nervosa.  There are several other biological and environmental causes for anorexia, and a lot of it has to do with brain chemicals being out of whack – especially serotonin seems to be a main issue with regard to whether one develops Anorexia."

fasting - after a few days feels good. Really good. 

Yeah I noticed that. And I noticed myself becoming repulsed by the thought of eating.

 

And if I challenged you, you could probably find a study that correlates with this. When I was in the midst of my experiment, I swear I looked skinnier in the mirror. The minute I ate, I thought I looked fat.

 

The human brain amazes me.

Endorphins..  wonder of hood feeling natural hormones.
Also- while fasting  -- we lose a lot of water -(low carb -) so we do get less "puffy" swollen,

I sued to do juice fasting for 20-28 days.  Old times... the high from that was very good... First 3-5 days were not that nice... but after that - I needed only 3-5 hrs of sleep... and felt great...

I've done this before too, and yes some folks do not agree with it but I found it very enlightening as to understanding my eating pattern and what was true hunger vs. trying to feel some other need.

It was rewarding to me to feel the difference and helped me better understand my body.

I understand completely the fear of being hungry.  So many times I overate because I was afraid I wouldn't get enough.  It also makes sense to experience real hunger so you can tell the difference because that and head hunger.
I'm glad it worked out for you.

Nik, that sounds like you really did some great work.  I think it would be good for all of us to learn that feeling hungry isn't a bad thing, it isn't an emergency, it won't kill us.  I'm not suggesting everyone should fast for several days in order to learn that, but I bet most of us are afraid of feeling hunger.