Today I realized that I have a fear of going hungry. And I know where that fear originated. I developed a fear of hunger by going hungry when I was dieting. The fear floats to the surface when I’m just sitting on the couch—a little niggling sensation followed by the question: Am I hungry? Usually, I really am not, but I’ll eat something anyway, just to be safe. Otherwise, I feel a little panicky.
Dieting traumatizes us in so many ways. You’ll never find a doctor or nutritionist who agrees with you, but it’s true. Losing weight isn’t natural even when being thinner might be healthier. It’s been six years since I lost forty pounds and a couple of months since I gained them back, I’m still reacting to any threat of a calorie deficit: Am I hungry?
There is a deep social imperative to be thin. Even though we are living in a society where plenty has replaced want for most of us, we are supposed to get thin, be thin, and stay thin. This requires saying “no” several times a day and ignoring that little voice, asking “Am I hungry?” It pays to tune into your thoughts and feelings, especially when you’re asking yourself to do something hard.
Stop Losing and Win 