Eating Past When Hunger Strikes?

In a nutshell, when listening to your body, if you are hungry at a time (noonish) or two (fourish) and don't eat because it is not convenient, do you eat at the next available time (dinnerish) whether you are then hungry or not?

Not necessarily.  I try to have protein shakes, trimino protein water, and protein bars available in my office.  I keep a bar in my purse.  That way if I am hungry and cannot eat at work, I can always dring a shake or sip on the water.

I think it's important to eat enough, but not too much, in the big picture. Eating too much will add body fat due to too many calories.

Not eating enough runs the risk of down regulating thyroid hormones, causing a cascade of issues, that can also increase body fat or make it extremely difficult to lower body fat levels.

Depends. If you feel hungry but the hunger passes, then that's ok, don't eat.

Later, if it's actually dinner time, and the other person is having a meal, I would usually eat least a small meal with them unless I am really positively NOT hungry. If I don't, I'm bound to feel hungry later and then we have missed a meal together for no good reason. Also, eating at the "right" time would put me back on schedule again, otherwise likely to wake in the night or be out of kilter again the next day. Does that make sense?

Marcadav, thanks for the input. I am definitely not in danger of overeating at this point. My body does not tell me it is hungry very often. I do get concerned sometimes about eating too little. I am trying to adhere to the path of eating when my body tells me to. I can't help but think it will all turn out fine.

Yes, Annie, that makes sense, and I did eat a little when M at last night. By the time I had it all prepared I was sort of neutral in the hunger department. I am glad you agree that eating just for the sake of eating after skipping a meal is not necessary.

As for a schedule, my hunger hasn't found one yet.

Eating regularly helps to entrain circadian rhythm. In general, people should eat most of their food during sunlight hours. If you're going to skip meals, skipping an evening meal is preferable.

I have noticed that people who IF tend to eat highly rewarding foods when they do eat. I think that is counterproductive in the long run. The main problem with the modern food environment is that we have come to expect a great deal of pleasure from eating. Every bite has to be superawesomely yummy, not merely good. I'd say it's better to develop a habit of eating mostly plain foods that you can tolerate, with occasional treats like a restaurant meal or junk.

Should I eat at regular intervals even if I am not hungry? I don't IF intentionally. My goal is to eat when I am stomach hungry, which isn't often lately. I eat purely Primal right now — no 80/20 at the moment.

Annieh wrote:Depends.  If you feel hungry but the hunger passes, then that's ok, don't eat.

Later, if it's actually dinner time, and the other person is having a meal, I would usually eat least a small meal with them unless I am really positively NOT hungry. If I don't, I'm bound to feel hungry later and then we have missed a meal together for no good reason.  Also, eating at the "right" time would put me back on schedule again, otherwise likely to wake in the night or be out of kilter again the next day.  Does that make sense?

Agreed. This is what I do as well. As much as we might not like it, eating IS very much a social opportunity as it is a nutritional one. Our relationships with our close tribe members (family) serves us emotionally and "breaking bread" together allows us to share an inclusive moment with them. In my opinion this is more important than maintaining my personal schedule.