Read Part 1 & Part 2 of this series.
For many years, we followed the traditional eating cycles, breakfast-lunch-dinner-snacks. Partly because we didn’t know any better, and partly because the society & work/school schedules dictated that. Then in 2019 the epiphany came!
Eating Based on (Authentic) Body Signals
Listening to one of Dr. Dixit’s lectures, it dawned upon us that our bodies are all wired differently, and our hunger cycles work accordingly. Some people are famished in the mornings while others can go hours without eating anything after they wake up. However, we have all learned to ignore those patterns and try to fit meals within schedules.
We wake up and immediately reach for coffee or tea. Then comes breakfast. Whether hungry or not, every person has some go-to food that they gulp down without giving much thought. We may skip it sometimes if there is guilt (or heartburn) from having indulged in a heavy dinner. That’s the typical routine for most people. But I encourage you to think about the following.
- Am I actually hungry when I wake up? What is the first time since waking up that I feel truly hungry?
- Do I really need the morning coffee or tea? If you answered yes, I suggest that you ask yourselves again. Even better, try going without it for a few days and see what happens.
- When I feel like eating ‘something small/light’, is it truly hunger? Or am I substituting for thirst, sleep, boredom, stress etc?
- Can my evening meal occur earlier? Do I really have to eat after 7 pm? What will happen if I don’t?
- Am I giving my gut at least a 12 hour rest? Am I allowing my body and the gut to renew, recuperate and mend the basic cell functions?
- Can I stretch myself from a 12 hour to a 14 or 16 hour rest?
- Am I sensitive to and in-sync with my body signals? Do I truly understand body’s hunger signal, separating them from noise and mental conditioning?
We asked these questions, researched a ton, experimented and over the last 1 year have found answers for ourselves. In the process, we have also developed techniques to successfully help others live their best life yet! That’s what DuéPasti lifestyle is all about.
When and how many times we eat (even if it’s small and healthy) makes a big difference! It is as important as what we eat.
The Slippery Slope of Snacking
Based on our extensive research, plus science-based self trials, snacking in between meals is a huge NO. Even if it’s small, healthy snacks. We go through the science and anthropology of this in our workshops, but the bottom line is this.
Humans (and animals) have evolved to feed themselves only when the body’s energy stores deplete significantly, and need to be replenished. Eating at other times is unnecessary from a physiological standpoint. So when that happens, the body has only one response – produce insulin and convert the food into fat. The more times you eat, even if it is “small and healthy snacks”, the more insulin is produced and the more fat storage occurs.
So how do we address our snacking habits? First by understanding how those beliefs and habits have come about, and then correcting them.
- Food Marketing: It has been drilled into our heads that snacking is important. Packaged “healthy” on-the-go snacks are good for us. Keeping our body full all the time with healthy food is important. We deserve that grande peppermint latte because we have been so “good” with our eating. The myths and marketing jargon is endless. Be VERY AWARE of what you are buying into.
- Social/Peer Pressure: In the pre-COVID era, when we were in offices, junk flowed freely on the pretext of birthday cakes, vendor sponsored cookies and goodies, meeting left-overs and many other sources. And we were always tempted to taste a bite, which usually ended up being a lot more. Learning to say no is a challenge for many.
- Stress Eating and Drinking: Many of us do this without realizing. Especially those of us with stressful careers are prone to it. I personally had a couple of phases when every day around 3 pm, my body would crave sweet and Peanut M&Ms were my go-to. The first time it happened was when I was juggling a 3 year old, a newborn and a stressful management job. The second when I was in a leadership position at a brand that had bad corporate culture. It’s more common than we think.
I hope this series has helped you to think about food and eating in a different light. I hope it has encouraged you to build an intelligent, balanced and loving relationship with food. I hope it has inspired you to embark on a path of sustainable wellness, beyond weight loss.
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