Lose weight the fun way.

Posted on January 12, 2016

For anyone who worked with sport animals (such as sport horses, dogs, etc.) it is clear that what they get to eat is carefully controlled. Animals such as horses are ALWAYS HUNGRY - despite being fed precisely enough to keep or even increase their weight. Every meal is a JOYFUL EVENT that they are looking forward to. Constant feeling of hunger is the biological norm. Dont get me wrong. Not starvation. Not shaking-hands-barely-alive-hungry. Just anxiously-awaiting-the-next-meal-hungry.

The conclusion I have is simple. The feeling of being satiated, not hungry, is what our civilization has afforded us - and a curse. We have decided that we should feel full all-the-time, and never-every hungry, not for more than a few minutes it takes to grab a snack. That's the reason behind the obesity epidemic thats plaguing the western world. Not wrong diets. Not lack of exercise. Just eating too much, too often and assuming we should always feel not-hungry.

For the last 6 weeks I have been hungry non stop. Not even immediately after consuming a meal did I feel full, except for a few "accidents" when I ate too much. Now not being satiated is the norm for me. It did not affect my professional life, I can function all right and, frankly, I haven't felt better for the last 10 years. I've lost nearly 9kgs of weight since the end of November and that shows not just on the scale, but in the bloodwork, in how I feel through the day etc. I used to *require* a nap during the day just to be productive. Not anymore. Etc. etc. I used to think that when I am hungry I can't even think, much less be productive. That's only true for the first 1-2 weeks it takes to get used to the hunger-as-the-norm setup. Again, hunger as in "looking-forward-to-the-next-meal" not hunger that makes you lay down and wait for the death to come ;-) Counting calories helps to reach that equilibrium safely.

The advice I have for anyone looking for one is simple: learn to live with the feeling of not being satiated even immediately after a meal. Consider each meal a JOYFUL EVENT. Don't overdo it, I think we should feel hungry but definitely not starving, control your calories and you will see you can get used to it ... and that it pays off.

(Picture related - that's one of my two horses, an eventer called GG)

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sine

01/14/2016 1:47AM

Susan, thanks for replying! We also let them have as much forage as they want - but clearly, they are hungry considering how they react to grains. Maybe they are a bit like those of us who can eat salad all day but feel empty and hungry for a "real meal" :-) In any case, I think they never quite feel full - ever. My other one is called Altair, he's a 6 year old gelding, mix of a thoroughbread and a local race - he's a showjumper, we tried him on two occasions on cross but he is a bit too spooky for that and worse yet, his eyes don't react quickly enough to changes in light intensity level (think galloping from the open into the woods - he will often refuse a jump after such transition, so no eventing for him). GG, on the other hand, is a "I am afraid of nothing and I will jump over ANYTHING if you only guide me correctly" kind of an animal. Jump over a truck? Why not. Ditch? Why not. A pile of colourful garbage? Hell yeah. :-) Do you have pictures of your horses handy?

Susan S.

01/13/2016 6:29AM

Interesting theory. My horses get excited at meal time too, but I don't deprive them (or myself) throughout the day. My horses get their tasty grain meals twice per day, which I know they love, but throughout the day they have free access to forage. So do I. Just like my horses, I am a grazer :) I enjoy 2-3 moderate meals, paired with all day access to snacks. GG is a handsome dude! I too am an eventer. I have a paint named Clyde and a thoroughbred mare named Unshakeable Peace (Bonnie)

Suzi

01/13/2016 4:36AM

hmmm... I'm eating roasted vegetables, sliced fruit, even a little bread and grilled chicken and or turkey and I never feel hungry. I'm down 7 pounds in 12 days. I know it's water weight. I have given up monsters, ice cream, chocolate, late night snacking, peanut butter sandwiches, big greasy breakfasts LOL...

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sine

(and we all know people who can consume whatever they want, and as much as they want, don't exercise and somehow stay thin)

Suzi

I have done experiments with waiting until I get the gnawing hunger pangs. I don't have a problem with how that feels physically. But I've always ate because I enjoy food like you say. I struggle with it. People tell me all the time eat this or that so you won't feel hungry. But I don't eat because I feel hungry. I don't think though I could handle it if I were. As for exercise, yes, that's my thing. I have a treadmill, elliptical, and trampoline. I do them as much as my knee and ankle allow. I average between 45 and 55 miles per week with my fitbit :)

sine

01/13/2016 2:23AM

Thank you! (on behalf of GG as well ;-))

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JAZZ

01/12/2016 10:27PM

Great post. I have tried to change my thinking, such that empty feels good and full does not. Feeling empty is not the same as feeling hungry; awareness of the difference between the two helps me. I am amazed at how little food I really need to function and feel good. GG is beautiful!

sine likes this comment.

sine

Thank you! That's a good way to put it - "empty" vs. "hungry" - that's exactly what I meant. English is not my first language, I lacked the right word for that.