Jacklinger
01-08-2010, 08:15 PM
So I'm now week 12 on my diet and I've begun to notice there appears to be at least 2 “phases” of hunger pangs that I feel when restricting. A poem that I quoted a while ago by an Indian woman mentioned 3 “waves” of hunger, and I believe I've felt the first 2.
The first phase that I like to call the carb phase, happens about 3 to 7 hours after eating a full sized meal of 500-1000 calories. The hunger is very intense and feels like a burning sensation in the center of my mid-abdominal region. I've felt this type of hunger many times before starting this diet, and this is usually what I think about when I have said “I'm hungry.” It can get quite painful and before I began my diet, I would always eat as soon as feeling these pangs. Now I either drink coffee, tea, or just suffer through it. This phase seems to last about 8 to 12 hours, which is a long time to be in that amount of pain. However, when I first started my diet, this phase lasted a whole freaking week. I also tend to get very sleepy and fatigued towards the end of this phase and may even doze off if I'm not moving around.
The second phase that I like to call the fat phase, starts after the first phase ends: about 11 to 19 hours after eating a full meal. The burning pain I felt in my middle area goes away and is replaced by a dull, hollow, ache in my lower abdomen. The grogginess at the end of phase 1 starts to go away and my energy levels seem to stabilize. I never feel hyper, but I seem to be getting a steady supply of energy from somewhere. I believe this is when my body has switched over from burning carbs to fat and when I am losing actual weight.
The third phase that I will call the death phase, I have not experienced. In the poem I read, it's described as a “well that has run dry,” and “when your strength leaves you.” The woman describes that she can barely stand up and even has trouble swallowing. I believe this is when the body begins cannibalizing its own muscle tissue and viscera, and even brain tissue. There's no sugars to power the muscles and the heart has to struggle. I'm certain that this phase is only accessible to people who aren't fat, so there's no risk for me getting to it, yet. As long as the body has access to fat deposits, it will use those for energy before slipping into the third phase.
Previously, I really disliked life in the 2nd phase of hunger. I don't like that hollow feeling at all. It just reminds me of the pain of being hungry constantly. I daydream about food until I get fairly depressed about my situation and then try to distract myself with something else. I would look forward to finally getting to eat, but then face the pains of phase 1 hunger as the small meal I would eat would not be enough to sate me completely. Today I came home with my phase 2 blues and began preparing my ritual Friday spaghetti dinner. But then I felt annoyed knowing that as soon as I eat it, I will have to go through the phase 1 to phase 2 transition all over again. I find the dull hollowness of phase 2 is not quite as painful or annoying as the burning pull in my stomach during phase 1. And I also lose the steady, reliable, energy that I get in phase 2 and get the phase 1 sleepies.
I can see why some people may simply want to avoid eating altogether, and remain in a permanent fast. Other than a small 300 cal sandwich, the spaghetti I just ate is all I've had today. But this is the first time I'm beginning to regret eating it. I was feeling down but not too down before eating it, and can't really remember why I wanted it now, other than it was just something I do every Friday. I think this will be my final Friday spaghetti, at least for a long time. Anyone want the leftovers?
The first phase that I like to call the carb phase, happens about 3 to 7 hours after eating a full sized meal of 500-1000 calories. The hunger is very intense and feels like a burning sensation in the center of my mid-abdominal region. I've felt this type of hunger many times before starting this diet, and this is usually what I think about when I have said “I'm hungry.” It can get quite painful and before I began my diet, I would always eat as soon as feeling these pangs. Now I either drink coffee, tea, or just suffer through it. This phase seems to last about 8 to 12 hours, which is a long time to be in that amount of pain. However, when I first started my diet, this phase lasted a whole freaking week. I also tend to get very sleepy and fatigued towards the end of this phase and may even doze off if I'm not moving around.
The second phase that I like to call the fat phase, starts after the first phase ends: about 11 to 19 hours after eating a full meal. The burning pain I felt in my middle area goes away and is replaced by a dull, hollow, ache in my lower abdomen. The grogginess at the end of phase 1 starts to go away and my energy levels seem to stabilize. I never feel hyper, but I seem to be getting a steady supply of energy from somewhere. I believe this is when my body has switched over from burning carbs to fat and when I am losing actual weight.
The third phase that I will call the death phase, I have not experienced. In the poem I read, it's described as a “well that has run dry,” and “when your strength leaves you.” The woman describes that she can barely stand up and even has trouble swallowing. I believe this is when the body begins cannibalizing its own muscle tissue and viscera, and even brain tissue. There's no sugars to power the muscles and the heart has to struggle. I'm certain that this phase is only accessible to people who aren't fat, so there's no risk for me getting to it, yet. As long as the body has access to fat deposits, it will use those for energy before slipping into the third phase.
Previously, I really disliked life in the 2nd phase of hunger. I don't like that hollow feeling at all. It just reminds me of the pain of being hungry constantly. I daydream about food until I get fairly depressed about my situation and then try to distract myself with something else. I would look forward to finally getting to eat, but then face the pains of phase 1 hunger as the small meal I would eat would not be enough to sate me completely. Today I came home with my phase 2 blues and began preparing my ritual Friday spaghetti dinner. But then I felt annoyed knowing that as soon as I eat it, I will have to go through the phase 1 to phase 2 transition all over again. I find the dull hollowness of phase 2 is not quite as painful or annoying as the burning pull in my stomach during phase 1. And I also lose the steady, reliable, energy that I get in phase 2 and get the phase 1 sleepies.
I can see why some people may simply want to avoid eating altogether, and remain in a permanent fast. Other than a small 300 cal sandwich, the spaghetti I just ate is all I've had today. But this is the first time I'm beginning to regret eating it. I was feeling down but not too down before eating it, and can't really remember why I wanted it now, other than it was just something I do every Friday. I think this will be my final Friday spaghetti, at least for a long time. Anyone want the leftovers?