Studies which found that babies would choose the perfect food and amount for their requirements, if given the opportunity to make the choices, impressed me in my university days. It made sense. A survival trait.
In the mid 80's, having kept ten pounds each after the birth of three sons, I came across Eating Awareness Training by Molly Groger and found that if I ate when hungry, stopped when full, let my body (hunger) decide what and when and how much to eat, I lost that extra weight and kept it off for years. As long as I ate when hungry etc.
When circumstance and situation changed and I ate when I wasn't hungry or did not stop when I was full – the weight returned.
But it fluctuates. Because, once having followed such a way of eating, I am influenced by the results of both following it – and not following it. And make observations. And experiment with adaptations.
It isn't usually convenient to "eat only when hungry", to let onself reach a certain degree of hunger. So I wondered if it is possible to eat to the degree of hunger that happens at 'convenient mealtimes.' Yes, it is doable. I continue to explore this. Mindful eating.
The psychology of food is important and listening to the body and trusting what it wants to eat and eating it ….. big time issues here – from the latest media hype to cellular metabolism. And everything in between.
Thing is, when you give the the body what it wants and needs, eating becomes an enjoyable experience and a single meal of such satisfaction tends to compound, to foster repetition.
It's worthwhile considering.