KEEPING BUSY
Dealing with hunger while intermittent fasting can be quite challenging, but there are tricks that you can learn.
One of the best tricks that I’ve learned to deal with hunger while fasting is by keeping busy. I find when I have a full day of work, I don’t think of food very often. I’m too busy for that
That’s why I love OMAD. I can go about my day working my butt off without ever having to worry about hunger, and then get home and reward myself with that wonderful meal.
Stay busy. Do your work. Be active. You won’t notice your stomach growling or cravings at all if you keep your mind off food.
AVOIDANCE
Sometimes it’s best to just avoid being around food. If my coworkers are having lunch I get out of the office if I can and go for a walk. That way I’m not tempted by the smells of their wonderful food.
Some people find it hard preparing food for their loved ones while fasting. That is especially challenging if you are a young mom with small children.
It takes an incredible amount of self-discipline to prepare food for other people and not yourself. But once you do this enough you will gain the confidence to do it over and over again without it affecting you as much.
I say just keep at it.
DEALING WITH TEMPTATION
Temptation is an evil thing, and food temptations are real. I especially hate it when I decide to do a fast and my husband doesn’t. When I see him eating, I wish I could have what he has.
Sometimes I end up breaking my fast because I’m so tempted with what he has, but other times I muscle-up my self-discipline and push through the temptation. It’s hard to do but the more you do it the better you get at it.
Sometimes creating an illusion helps. By that, I mean fooling myself into thinking I’m having a treat when I’m not. For example, if my husband is having some goodies while watching TV, I put on the kettle. I make myself a nice hot cup of water and pretend it’s tea.
Works every time!
WATCHING THAT WHICH TEMPS
It’s crazy, but I find that watching food shows helps me deal with hunger. Not every time, but on occasion.
This doesn’t help when I do short fast for some reason, but when I do long fasts like three or four days, I find that watching food preparation on TV is soothing. It’s almost as if my brain is tricking me into thinking I’m making it and eating it myself.
It’s a false satisfaction. It’s really strange I know, but for some reason, it works for me.
BUILDING THE IF MUSCLE
Like anything, if we do it enough, we build muscle.
I build my intermittent fasting muscle every day. The more I push myself to meet my fasting goals, the easier it gets.
This is part of the reason why I suggest that new fasters start slowly. You wouldn’t go to the gym and start lifting 200 pounds over your head, so why would you start fasting like a veteran?
You need to go slowly so you can build your intermittent fasting muscle effectively without damaging yourself.
When dealing with hunger, if you’ve built your intermittent fasting muscle up enough, you can more easily get through those growly stomach moments.
FAILURES
There’ll always be failures when you do intermittent fasting. No fasting regime is perfect, and no person is perfect. Sometimes you win and sometimes you lose.
I’ve had many times where I started out fasting, and then for some reason ended it before it’s time. Perhaps my husband wanted to treat me out for supper and I caved, or something bad happened at work and I gave up my fast.
It happens.
Give yourself a break and don’t beat yourself up over it. The beauty of intermittent fasting is, if you fail today, you can start up again tomorrow.
Read my intermittent fasting story here.
QUICK TRICKS OF THE TRADE
- Leave the room
- Trick your brain with tea
- Don’t drink too much water
- Watch cooking shows
- Don’t watch cooking shows
- Build your IF muscle
- Go for a walk
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For further information, go to the Hungry Old Lady Youtube channel by clicking on the video at the end. I hope you enjoyed this article and consider living an intermittent fasting lifestyle.
