Neutralising compulsive hunger
updated the 13 June 2014 à 22:28Don’t crack just yet!
Whether it is the irrepressible urge to poke around in the fridge at night, or to get your hands on some biscuits or a slice of cake in the middle of the afternoon:
“At this time, do three things: pause, breathe, and see how you feel,” advised the doctor. “By paying attention to this, you can tell if your sensation of emotional discomfort is acceptable or not, and if it’s worth cracking or not. Whichever your case, the key is to break the cycle of eating out of habit, and realize that it is up to us to decide either to wait, or to eat. In the latter case, you will be pushed towards choosing food that actually makes you feel good, taking time to calmly enjoy every bite. The day then passes, and if you then wait to be hungry, this snack will not have the slightest impact on your weight,” says Dr Zermati.
However, if you have such compulsions every day, and you continue to put on weight, the solution may best be found through behavioural, cognitive and emotional therapy, where you will work instead on emotions, frustrations, and reactions.
Discover the rest of our report “Learn to eat again”
Test the intensity of your hunger
Rica Étienne
