In praise of Hunger

I am someone who struggles with their weight somewhat. It’s not that I am fat or anything, but I work in a sedentary job, I don’t exercise nearly as much as I should, and I love chocolate and fresh bread too much. As a result, I am usually 3-4 kilos above what I should be, and I am in a permanent struggle to lose that weight.

Thus, any self control techniques that allow me to consume less carbohydrates are like gold.

Recently, after polishing off three rows of Milka chocolate in quick succession and then sitting down to lunch, I reflected on hunger and our attitude to it.

We tend to view Hunger as a pain, something to eliminated as quickly as possible . Most diets I know focus on combatting hunger in a variety of creative ways, such as frequent snacks and food that makes you feel full.

And yet, hunger, whether metaphorical or physical, is a powerful life force. Hunger is the yearning for something we really want. Its the anticipation that makes our mouth water.

On the rare occasion when I get the flu, one of the first symptoms is a lack of appetite. It’s usually one of the last things to return, often one or two days after the other symptoms have disappeared. And it’s not a pleasant feeling. It’s as if one of life’s greatest sources of joy has been temporarily taken away from you.

So next time you get hungry, resists the temptation to extinguish it with some readily accessible piece of junk food, whether chocolate bar or potato snack. Enjoy it. Revel in it. Savor the feeling for as long as you can. Then, when you finally sit down to eat, enjoy the satisfaction of a truly great meal. Food is always at its most enjoyable when you are really hungry.

To be clear, I am not advocating starvation as a form of diet. One should always eat well. I am also well aware that there are millions or people in world for whom starvation is a semi-permanent state. I pray that humanity will succeed in solving this problem. This post is intended for those of us lucky enough to live in a world where hunger is a temporary state.

What I am suggesting is that you aim to satisfy your hunger with the highest quality of food available. Your body is worthy of no less. In the process, you might find that you are eating better and feeling healthier.