Honor Your Hunger

on February 23, 2010
in All Posts

I had a crazy work day (more about that tomorrow!), but once the clock hit 5:00, I was ready to go on a bike ride with Megan.

 

The first three miles of my rides (and the last three) are always really slow and crush my pace because I weave through a commercial area and a busy street to get to Megan’s apartment.

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Together, we ride to my secret spot behind the Orlando International Airport where there are almost no cars.

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However, as you guys know, there is always interesting wildlife!  Today, we spotted a deer and an armadillo.  I had to get off my bike for a photograph of the ‘dillo!  He was very brave and didn’t run away until I started to snap this photo!

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We did 18.5 miles in 1:30.  Pretty slow, but as I said, six of those miles are very interrupted. 

 

Two-a-days make me SO HUNGRY.  I always get asked how  many calories I eat, and although I give a range (1,800 to 2,400 typically, but it can certainly be higher on intense workout days), it really depends on my workouts and my hunger levels.  I don’t count calories, I just “check in” with my body every few hours to see if I’m hungry or not.  Especially because I’ve been training so hard, the answer is usually YES!  :)  Once I’ve determined I’m hungry, I try to decide what type of snack would fulfill me (mentally and physically) and fit in with the rest of my eats – for example, if I’ve been lacking fruit, I might have peanut butter and a banana.

 

After calorie counting for so many years, it was hard to retrain myself to just listen to my hunger cues, but it’s worth it because I don’t have to count anything and I’ve maintained my weight.

 

I had my two normal mid-afternoon snacks, an orange:

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And a Glo Bar:

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But around 4PM, my stomach was GRUMBLING again.  So, I listened to my hunger (it was saying “CARBS!”) and responded with a big bowl of cereal:

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Post-ride, I had a simple but filling dinner:

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I had two cups of potato soup (from Wolfgang Puck) and a grilled cheese and steamed asparagus sandwich:

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Off to watch Sixteen and Pregnant – my newest trashy TV obsession!

 

Do you eat according to your hunger cues or do you follow some sort of ‘plan?’  What works best for you?

 

**If you recently asked me a question and I haven’t responded, please re-ask! I am having issues with the comments section**

{ 99 comments }

 

  • Whitney @ whitinspired.wordpress.com February 23, 2010, 8:24 pm

    haha. 16 and pregnant and teen mom are SO addicting!!

    I try to eat every 2-3 hours, if I let myself get starving I overeat. So I try to keep myself satisfied.

  • Jocelyn February 23, 2010, 8:30 pm

    tryin to learn to honor my hunger! It’s sort of scary to tell ya the truth! (I’m hungry all the time) lol.

  • Becky @ flybynyght February 23, 2010, 8:32 pm

    I always just listen to what my body is trying to say. If I’m hungry, I eat – but I make sure that it’s nutrient dense. I also try to figure out if I’m perhaps just thirsty – a glass of water (or a cup of coffee!!!) can do wonders some days.

  • Jenna February 23, 2010, 8:33 pm

    I have spent many Saturday’s watching Sixteen and Prego marathons, lol.

    Although I try to have a general plan of attack with my eats, I really try to honor my hunger if it strikes.

  • Lily @ Lily's Health Pad February 23, 2010, 8:34 pm

    Besides consistently eating breakfast, lunch, and dinner, I just follow the cues.

  • amanda @ fake ginger February 23, 2010, 8:34 pm

    <3 Sixteen and Pregnant.

    I'm trying to lose baby weight. *sigh* I'm counting calories right now just to see about where I land everyday but I'm hoping to transition to just listening to my body soon.

  • Caitlin @ Right Foot Forward February 23, 2010, 8:38 pm

    I would never think to put asparagus in a grilled cheese sandwich, but I bet it tastes great!

    I usually follow my hunger cues, but I am pretty much on the same “schedule” from day to day. I’m usually a bit off schedule on the weekends, probably due to both sleeping differently and long run days.

  • Kim February 23, 2010, 8:38 pm

    I do both — listen to my cues and follow a plan. I have a general meal plan with 3 solid meals and 2-3 snacks, but I feel free to add to (not subtract from) this as I want to. Some days, I’m super ravenous for some reason. Also, I’ve gotten better at listening to what my body wants. I used to have a plan to tell me what to eat, exactly. Now, I know it’s snack time, and I see what I feel like and choose from amongst several options. I consider that getting closer to intuitive eating 🙂 I would love to just not think about it at all after years of anorexia!

    • Caitlin February 23, 2010, 10:23 pm

      i think that is excellent progress 🙂

  • Karla February 23, 2010, 8:39 pm

    OMG Armadillo!!! So cute!!
    I’m trying to eat more intuitively and based on hunger cues. Counting calories combined with stress wasn’t working for me. So now I’m concentrating on 3 balanced meals and 1 or 2 snacks. Hope it works!
    Also! I love 16&Pregnant! I go to the gym just so I can watch it!

  • lauren @ Eater not a runner February 23, 2010, 8:40 pm

    Now I’m trying to just listen to what my body wants. It’s been working so far….except when it wants LOTS of ice cream.

  • Lindsay Perrone (goodiesgalore) February 23, 2010, 8:41 pm

    Don’t get too committed if you’ve yet to see Tool Academy!

  • eliza February 23, 2010, 8:43 pm

    Ahh I had a question. I was wondering what it was like to live with the BF before you were married. I am moving in with my boyfriend and wondering what to expect. We are moving to a totally new place, too (Maine from NC)

    Do you have any tips or anything you could give me?! Thanks girly!! Love your blog AS always!

    Im sure you may notice an “Eliza” consistently posting– I post all the time! I am starting up a blog soon!!

    • Caitlin February 23, 2010, 10:24 pm

      yay im glad you are starting a blog!

      i would just set ground rules about what is expected in terms of cleaning, paying bills, etc. the hus and i kept separate bank accounts and split everything down the middle until we were married – it worked for us.

      and make time for yourself… it’s really important to have a life outside of each other, i think.

  • Anna @ Newlywed, Newly Veg February 23, 2010, 8:44 pm

    That asparagus sammie looks so good!!! And am I the only one who thinks that armadillos are really cute? It reminds me of the Friends episode where Ross dressed up as the Hanukkah armadillo 🙂

    • Caitlin February 23, 2010, 10:25 pm

      i thought the armadillo looked like maggie but scaly!

  • Jessica @ How Sweet It Is February 23, 2010, 8:44 pm

    I usually eat when I’m hungry, but try not to go too long in between meals. And I love my trashy TV. It is mind numbing.

  • Cynthia (It All Changes) February 23, 2010, 8:47 pm

    I do Weight Watchers and eat my points for the day. But I don’t freak if I eat more. My OCD is just comforted by having a running total of what I’ve eaten.

    • Kellie February 23, 2010, 9:51 pm

      I have OCD and do Weight Watchers too. I am in maintenance now, but I do love the counting thing. My husband thinks it is funny because I am always counting, but I figure it is a good way to channel the compulsions.

  • Keri February 23, 2010, 8:48 pm

    I completely agree…I can’t count calories…I would go crazy! I try to listen to my body. Sometimes in the morning I am not hungry for breakfast, but I try to eat enough because I know it will get me going for the day.

    Btw, you have inspired me to read The Tipping Point 🙂

  • Mary February 23, 2010, 8:50 pm

    I eat when hungry… simple as that 🙂

  • Kelly February 23, 2010, 8:50 pm

    I don’t count calories but I do try to follow a plan for the time of day that I eat. I could check in with my hunger cues, but I think my schedule has basically been formed from my usual hunger cues, and if I listen to them too much I might eat forever 🙂

  • Molly February 23, 2010, 8:51 pm

    I always eat what I want but I do count calories as well. I do not freak out if I go over a certain ‘number’ but my eats regardless of what I crave are pretty much always in the same calorie range… so really whats the point..

  • Allie (Live Laugh Eat) February 23, 2010, 8:52 pm

    What!? I can’t believe you saw an armadillo! I’m pretty sure I’ve only ever seen one at the zoo. Love the addition of asparagus to your grilled cheese.

  • Samantha February 23, 2010, 8:54 pm

    Wow what a cool armadilla!! I definitely always eat whenever I’m hungry. But sometimes I have to eat according to a plan since we have meal plans at school and there are certain hours for each meal.

  • Samantha February 23, 2010, 8:54 pm

    hahaha armadillo* I sounded like a hick above! I apologize for that!

  • Evan Thomas February 23, 2010, 8:57 pm

    Such a good message! I’ll admit, sometimes I get caught up in when I “should” eat and not when I want to. I just try to smack that from my mind

  • Megan (The Runner's Kitchen) February 23, 2010, 8:59 pm

    Ahh! I watched 16 and Pregnant (Janelle’s story) at the gym this morning. So addicting.

    Sometimes I eat when I’m not hungry (boredom!), but I never deny myself food if my tummy wants it 🙂

    • Caitlin February 23, 2010, 10:25 pm

      Janelle was screwed.

      • Bethany (Not Unless I'm Being Chased) February 24, 2010, 1:19 pm

        I spent most of the episode with my mouth hanging open. Her life choices were insane! I thought at one point she was just going to give her baby up…glad to see I’m not the only one watching 16&P. 🙂

  • Diana (Mymarblerye) February 23, 2010, 9:00 pm

    i’m always hungry. seriously. ALWAYS. I’m not even training for a marathon. BTW I get tooo emotionally involved with “16 and pregnant” or “teen mom”…i start yelling at the tv or crying with them…then I get hungry again. VICIOUS cycle.

  • Lauren @ A Fit Foodie February 23, 2010, 9:03 pm

    I completely just blogged about listening to food cues or just eating to eat! I’ve really tried to live by listening to my food voice, not food noise. It’s hard because sometimes you just crave food for no particular reason. But I’ve discovered I am a lot more ravenous now that I’m training for a marathon and running and strength training so much. And I don’t calorie count either. I wouldn’t even be able to tell you a calorie range that I eat in everyday! I used to be OBSESSED with counting calories and a number on the scale but since I gave that up, I’ve felt better, listened to my body more, and have enjoyed food and my life more! No stress. It’s fabulous! I’m right there with ya on that one!

  • Julie Glissman February 23, 2010, 9:04 pm

    I eat every 2-3 hours regardless of hunger or not, because I know if I don’t eat regularly I will have a sugar attack. I have a slight low blood sugar issue. This poses a problem at times because I have to eat, even though I’m not hungry, but then eating brings on more hunger and then I overeat! It’s a no-win situation, but I’ve been working on portion control and self control and I think I’ve got it regulated.

    • Caitlin February 23, 2010, 10:26 pm

      oh man! thats true.. my blood sugar goes nuts if i wait too long.

  • Melissa (It's a Veggieful Life) February 23, 2010, 9:06 pm

    Asparagus in a grilled cheese sandwich? You never cease to amaze me! And armadillos are soooo adorable. Thanks for the great pic. I’ve done “points” and counted calories. But right now I’m trying to listen to my body. Eating what I want, in moderation, and as healthy as possible. Stopping at the “content” point instead of waiting til stuffed is always difficult. Bethenny Frankel calls it the “point of diminishing returns” when your food doesn’t taste quite as wonderful as when you first started. I really enjoyed her book “Naturally Thin”!

  • Cyclist Kate February 23, 2010, 9:06 pm

    I go crazy with a plan! Not being able to eat when I’m hungry and feeling like I “have” to eat even if I’m not hungry because it’s my “chance to eat” feels really unbalanced to me. For just over a year, I have been learning and practicing intuitive eating, and I love it.

    It can feel a little tough when I’m not hungry and I feel an urge to eat anyway (sometimes I go for it, other times not)…whereas before, I would have eaten because it was “time to eat,” now I’m learning to honor my hunger *and* my fullness, so if I’m not hungry, I’m learning to wait it out. And it’s not easy sometimes. But it’s a practice, and so worth it.

  • Lia February 23, 2010, 9:12 pm

    This is really relevant for me today! I do try to honor my hunger but sometimes I inevitably end up going a little overboard. Sometimes, I just need more water…sometimes, I’m actually hungry.

    The asparagus grilled cheese looks fantastic!

  • Jessica @ The Process of Healing February 23, 2010, 9:17 pm

    I try to listen to my body but I generally eat every 3 hours… I pretty much know when I will get hungry and prevent myself from getting TOO hungry and starving and shaky. But it also depends on what I eat, how often I get hungry.

  • Jenn @ Livewellfit February 23, 2010, 9:17 pm

    I was just writing about something along these lines today!

    It has taken almost 2 years of learning to listen to my body and honor my hunger. I learned most of this practice from the book Intuitive Eating and it has completely transformed my ideas about food, balance and how to nourish the body. FOR ME…eating balanced works the best for my body. I lost track of this over the holidays and in stressing myself out with my wedding this July. Now that I am back on track for almost 3 weeks, my body AND my mind are much calmer and returning to balance. 🙂

  • Andrea @ Run, Eat, Date, Sleep February 23, 2010, 9:22 pm

    LOL @ the armadillo. My ex and I used to comment about the larger than normal population of them around the Orlando airport. I’m actually on the phone with him now and told him you took a picture of it. I said “those things sure are ugly” and he said “everything is beautiful in its own way.” I had to laugh because he used an Operation Beautiful saying not even knowing about OB. Funny!

  • Meghan@traveleatlove February 23, 2010, 9:22 pm

    I honor my hunger. Its almost always right!

  • Joelle (The Pancake Girl) February 23, 2010, 9:25 pm

    Eh, I eat pretty consistently- 3 meals a day, plus a snack or two every few hours.. But when I’m haaangry, I have to eat more haha or else I get pretty grumpy. Honoring your hunger is a must!

    Love the armadillo pic!

  • Jenny February 23, 2010, 9:35 pm

    I LOVE that you are able to eat with your hunger signals and “check in” with yourself every few hours. That’s an amazing skill.

    Throughout these first few years of my ED recovery, I’ve followed a plan because it works best for me. After 2 years, I truly believe I’m arriving at the VERY beginning of a place where I may be able to start eating more intuitively. Especially as I’m able to become more adventurous with my activities and activity level, it’s important that my day to day intake is able to “flow” with this aspect. I’m a work in progress 🙂

  • Niki@ Niki's Neverending Adventure February 23, 2010, 9:42 pm

    Ahh, listening to hunger cues, something I have been trying to work on. Problem is, I always feel hungry! So I try to keep myself at 3 meals and 2 snacks but I am working on listening to my hunger also. It’s hard!!

  • Alicia February 23, 2010, 9:46 pm

    I’ve been a bottomless pit recently. My metabolism is like clock work: I always eat breakfast at 8AM, stomach growling by 11AM for a snack to barely hold me over until 12PM. Stomach is growling again by 3PM. If I’m working out after work, I’ll have a power bar around 4PM to get me to dinner at 7PM. Problem is that I often wake up in the middle of the night absolutely starving. It’s crazy!

  • Lisa (bakebikeblog) February 23, 2010, 9:59 pm

    I gave up counting calories a while back and have never felt more liberated!!! Sometimes I can mistake thirst for hunger – so I do have to be careful with that!
    Great work on the bike ride!!!

  • John February 23, 2010, 10:04 pm

    I plan but if I’m really hungry I’ll have a little something. Sometimes just drinking water does the trick though because you can feel hungry if your thirsty too.

    Since you’re working out more you obviously need more than usual.

  • Heather @ Side of Sneakers February 23, 2010, 10:04 pm

    An armadillo?! Seriously?! I get excited if I see a squirrel..!
    I follow hunger cues- I figure your body knows better than anything else, and everyday you do something different, so you probably need a different amount of food. (Um I DVR 16 and pregnant….don’t tell)

  • Britt (Runnerbelle) February 23, 2010, 10:07 pm

    Ha! Love the armadillo!
    I do listen to my hunger. Yesterday I was HUNGRY! I think it was from my half marathon on Sunday, I hadn’t pushed myself like that in awhile….and apparently my hunger didn’t catch up with me till the next day. So I honored it and ate some eats.

  • Matt February 23, 2010, 10:12 pm

    I try to eat according to hunger. I mainly have to make sure I am getting enough rather than too much. Haha I love running 90 mile weeks 😉

  • Katie @ Health for the Whole Self February 23, 2010, 10:12 pm

    If anyone is really interested in the topic, I recently posted about intuitive eating in regards to honoring hunger and fullness cues. It can be a challenge at first, but so worth it!

    http://www.healthforthewholeself.com/2010/01/honoring-hunger-and-fullness/

  • Katharine February 23, 2010, 10:13 pm

    I tend to try to follow my hunger cues and listen to when I’m TRULY hungry – not just bored or emotional. However, since my daily routine is normally the same, I end up eating around the same times. On days where things are a little more hectic or out of order, I make sure I’m getting enough veggies and fruit instead of grabbing something that’s “easy.”

  • Ellen February 23, 2010, 10:13 pm

    Admittedly, I am more of a calorie counter. I used to be obsessed with it, but now I just do a quick estimate in my head to keep myself on track. It’s so easy for me to eat mindlessly. Even almonds, for instance. If I wasn’t aware of calories, I could eat 300 cals of almonds standing up as I try to figure out what I’m going to make myself for dinner! I’ve gotten a bit better about it…iff I’ve eaten reasonably healthy and feel satisfied, I don’t freak out about the numbers. On a random sidenote: That armadillo reminds me of the armadillo cake in Fried Green Tomatoes! Love that movie 🙂

    http://www.firednfabulous.blogspot.com/

  • Martha February 23, 2010, 10:14 pm

    Is it pedophilic that I thought the boyfriend from 16 and Pregnant was hot? It’s a good one!

  • Martha February 23, 2010, 10:15 pm

    pa- I am only 22- for reference sake.

    • Caitlin February 23, 2010, 10:26 pm

      hahahah great comment.

  • Heather February 23, 2010, 10:23 pm

    way to go on the bike ride! I have discovered armadillos are one of the most ugly creatures on this earth! They really are!

  • Emily Eats and Exercises February 23, 2010, 10:28 pm

    I’m figuring out how to listen to my hunger signals without going over board. I think it works for me if I really stop to think about if I’m hungry/thirsty/bored/stressed/etc. Only one of those is a good reason to eat!
    I’m liking your split two-a-day workouts. I think once summer comes and I’m more free in the evenings I’ll have to try splitting up my tri training.

  • Annalise February 23, 2010, 10:33 pm

    Hi, I’m a new reader and I really like your blogs! You seem to have a very balanced diet.. something which is hard for me. Wow you workout for a LONG time and the exercises you do seem quite hardcore too! How do you keep up your energy levels and make time for them?

    • Caitlin February 24, 2010, 7:43 am

      hi annalise! 🙂 thanks for reading. well, i definitely would say i am not a “normal” workout person. i really do consider myself to be an endurance athlete (i’ve done 20 races!). i say that because i dont want people to think you HAVE to work out 6 hours a week or whatever to be fit – you really don’t at all. part of the reason why i have time is because i’m a writer professionally and work from home, but also, i just MAKE time for it (when i worked in an office, i was the same way). racing is very very important to be and i’d rather exercise than oversleep or watch tv or read a book. re: energy levels, it took me a few years to work up this endurance, but i try really hard to get enough sleep and eat right. if i dont do those two things, i can never work out right!

      thanks for reading 🙂

  • Erin (Travel, Eat, Repeat) February 23, 2010, 10:34 pm

    Intuitive eating is a hard skill to master especially when you’re used to calorie counting. It’s something I’m still working on… which reminds me that I’m hungry right now!

  • Jamie February 23, 2010, 10:43 pm

    I TRY and listen to my body, but lots of times I eat based on time of day or when my friends are eating meals… It seems to work fine but not ideal

  • Jolene (www.everydayfoodie.ca) February 23, 2010, 10:46 pm

    I eat according to my hunger cues – always! Some days I am hungry and snacking all day, and other days I am not hungry at all … I think it all balances out.

  • Colleen February 23, 2010, 11:05 pm

    I still calorie count, but I have gotten way less stringent with it. I try to log my food the day ahead of time, but if I’m not feeling the lunch I planned on having, I change it up and try to keep it in the same range.

    Quick question – I would love to transition to eating only by hunger cues (so liberating!!), but did you gain any weight when you went from calorie counting to honoring your hunger, even if just for a short time?

    • Caitlin February 24, 2010, 7:44 am

      good question. my weight typically fluctuates by 4 pounds or so (real weight, not water weight) and i can’t really remember if i was in the upper happy range when i stopped or not. i kind of weened myself off of it slowly so i doubt it. i’ve never gotten back over this 4 pound range since i lost the 10 pounds.

  • Morgan @ Healthy Happy Place February 23, 2010, 11:05 pm

    I always follow my hunger cues. If I do that, and stop when I’m full, I find that my weight is always on the healthy side. My body is good at telling me how much it wants and when to stop!

  • Megan @ Healthy Hoggin' February 23, 2010, 11:19 pm

    I have a “rough plan” of how I’m going to eat on any given day. I try to start my day with a fresh green juice, which is kind of like my daily vitamin– makes sure I get a good base of fruits and veggies for the day!

    Then I try to eat lighter to heavier throughout the rest of the day– salads and veggies for lunch, then heavier fare for dinner. I find when I eat “lighter” foods during the day, I have loads more energy! (probably because my body isn’t working so hard on digesting) Funny how it works that way… 😉

    Looks like I’m going to have start recording 16 and pregnant!

  • Samantha @ Mama Notes February 23, 2010, 11:20 pm

    I follow my body. If I’m hungry, I eat!

  • Helena February 23, 2010, 11:41 pm

    I tried to eat intuitively, but my intuitions must be out of wack! So now I’m going with calorie counting to help me figure out how much I of what I eat is from hunger, or what was from boredom/emotional.

  • Madeline February 23, 2010, 11:42 pm

    Make sure you follow up on the 16 and prego girls on teen mom! It’s just as trashy and fabulous as it follows the same group through their baby’s first year. They are still angsty and have drama with baby daddies. Shocker.

  • Emily February 23, 2010, 11:51 pm

    First of all, the boyfriend on tonight’s 16 and pregnant was the king of all douchebags!

    Anyway I was just wondering about a couple things. Since January, I’ve been working out consistently and eating much much healthier than before. I’ve been doing a walk/run thing for 30 minutes at least 4 days per week. However, I haven’t seen any results! I haven’t lost any weight or inches. Do you have any idea what the deal could be? Also, my roommate says I need to be doing at least an hour at the gym per day to see results, and another roommate says your body doesn’t start burning fat until after 30 minutes of cardio. Do you know anything about these things?

    SO sorry this is extremely long, but I’m just getting so frustrated and I don’t know who else to ask! Thanks!

    • Caitlin February 24, 2010, 7:48 am

      while exercise is really important, diet is much much more important when it comes to losing weight. if you truly have weight to lose, you might be overeating a little bit even though you’re eating healthier (you can overdo it on healthy foods, too!). i would try keeping a food diary and calorie counting for two weeks or so just to get an idea of what you’re eating. if you’re really eating 2,000 calories or under (i don’t know your height or weight but if you’re working out 30 minutes a day and trying to lose weight that you should be trying to lose, 1,800 to 2,000 is prob a good blanket number), then i would take your food diary and exercise log to your doctor. there could be a medical reason behind your inability to shed the pounds and the first thing your doctor will have you do is keep a food diary – so you’ll be a step ahead of him!

  • Ally February 24, 2010, 12:08 am

    I used to eat strictly according to a plan – EVERYTHING was planned out, I couldn’t swap my PM snacks for my AM ones, if I’d had almonds/good fats on one day I wouldn’t have them on the other.

    For the past couple of months, although I occasionally calorie count, I’ve gotten a lot more flexible. I take a whole bunch of snacks to work and have options for when I’m hungry.

    Next hurdle: not eating when bored…

  • Gina February 24, 2010, 12:17 am

    I’ve been listening to my cues and they seem to always say banana and almond butter:) It’s hard though when I pack all my food for the day to bring to work…lately I’ve been stashing a variety of snacks at the office so I have a choice of fruit and yogurt or a glo bar (LOVE the Adore bars!)

  • eatingRD February 24, 2010, 12:22 am

    I always listen to my rumblies and it’s usually always about 3 meals with 2 snacks in between before lunch and dinner. Keeps my energy up for workouts. I’ve been very hungry since I’ve started to increase strength training. I’m going to try to tackle some hills in the am, I need to work on those 🙂 that one hill in napa scares me!

  • Freya @ foodfitnessandfreya.wordpress.com February 24, 2010, 3:09 am

    I generally just eat when it’s time to eat cos I hardly ever feel hungry! I make sure I eat every 3hours or so cos I get low blood sugar – so it’s 3 meals and 3 snacks a day for me 😀
    Big :O at the armadillo!! I don’t think I’ve ever seen one of them in a zoo, let alone just running about free!! Gosh you’re SO lucky!

  • Rachel (Suburban Yogini) February 24, 2010, 4:48 am

    Armadillos are one of those creatures that always look fake to me, like they don’t really exist outside of books. So freakishly cool to actually see one….

  • Emmanuelle February 24, 2010, 5:35 am

    I listen to my body and if I’m hungry I eat, if I’m not I don’t. I also eat more on days I work out, to fuel my body before and refuel it after 🙂
    We don’t have in continental Europe this “habit” of morning or afternoon snacks, I mean everybody does the way they want and not necessarily plan to have a snack. I never have a mid-morning snack, I just can’t eat anything between breakfast and lunch, but some of my coworkers will have a biscuit with their coffee, or a small thing.
    If I’m not hungry in the afternoon I won’t eat, except on days I work out (I work out in the evenings) or have a long yoga session planned. Then even if I’m not hungry I will have a snack otherwise my stomach will begin rumbling in the middle of the session and I will get distracted (not to mention weak and begin snapping at everyone around me!)

  • christie, honoring health February 24, 2010, 6:07 am

    I follow my hunger signals. No plan or person can determine if I am hungry except me. It has taken me a ton of work to get here though and it wasn’t easy. But I feel so much better about myself now that I just honor my bodies signals instead of giving in to emotional eating and binge eating.

  • Sarah (Running to Slow Things Down) February 24, 2010, 6:56 am

    I listen to hunger cues too! I think our bodies are generally pretty good about letting us know when to eat and when to stop, as long as we’re filling our bodies with wholesome, nutritious foods. 😀

  • Madison February 24, 2010, 7:12 am

    How is that Wolfgang Puck potato soup? I love, love, love the Corn Chowder and have yet to stray away from it.

    Your tri-training is making me jealous! Biking looks like so much fun!

    • Caitlin February 24, 2010, 7:48 am

      YES! so good.

  • Stacey February 24, 2010, 7:37 am

    Thats weird that you brought this up, because I have been seriously strength training over the past couple weeks and I feel like my hunger has just SOARED lately. I’ll eat a good, healthy snack and then an hour later it will be back. At first I tried to ignore the hunger, but this week I’ve been feeding it..literally. I think it’s important to listen to your body

  • Daniel February 24, 2010, 8:23 am

    I stopped calorie counting for Lent and I’m trying to relearn my hunger and satiety cues. It’s difficult at times because I’ve counted for so long, about 3-4 years, and now trying to find signals I find myself trying to figure out if my stomach pains are hunger, fullness, gas, or something else. It’s a work in progress but I’m glad I was able to stop counting!

  • Laura@FindingAHealthyBalance....after a 100+ Pound weight loss!!! February 24, 2010, 9:37 am

    I love to watch SIXTEEN & PREGNANT too! It was really good last season and I think it is great that it is on the air as young women (men) need to see it so they get how it really would be if they had a baby as it shows it isn’t all fun and games or fair to expect their parents to do all the work for them. Being a parent is AMAZING but also a LOT OF HARD WORK and it TOTALLY changes your life, you now are responsible for someone else not just you and you can’t just do what you want when you want anymore…… I was very impressed on how several of the moms really ended up being “great” moms! =)

  • jessica February 24, 2010, 9:44 am

    sixteen and pregnant is addicting. last season was great…and i still wonder about the girls…haha

  • Amy @ Second City Randomness February 24, 2010, 10:33 am

    Grilled cheese with asparagus? Why have I never thought of that? It’s combining three of my favorite things!

  • Susan February 24, 2010, 10:33 am

    I highly suggest you watch the first season of 16 and Pregnant online, then watch Teen Mom. The follow-up season was awesome!! More interesting to see how they actually dealt with the babies than with the pregnancy.

    I’m one of those rare people who never got obsessive or controlling about calorie counting. I count calories a few days a month just to check in, and I usually have a running tally in my head. I alwaysalways honour my hunger, but I also like to know a ballpark of how many calories are in my body. Helps keep me informed about what’s happening in there! 😉

  • Nicole, RD February 24, 2010, 10:40 am

    Both work for me. I follow hunger cues and tally calories because I am trying to lose some weight and it’s not laborious for me — it’s my job. Pretty much second nature at this point!

    Oklahoma has armadillos all over! I’d never seen one til I moved here! They’re funny looking 😉

  • Heather (Heather's Dish) February 24, 2010, 10:43 am

    i REALLY like that idea for the asparagus sandwich! i’m a HUGE fan of grilled cheese with stuff in it…looks like i might be trying that one this weekend!

    i try to follow my hunger cues since i’ve struggled with disordered eating in my life. counting calories becomes obsessive, and i think it’s more important to listen to my body anyway!

  • Sarah @ See Sarah Eat February 24, 2010, 10:43 am

    I try to do a little bit of both. I am counting calories right now but I also eat intuitively, totally not on a plan or schedule. I also don’t have a calorie “range” that I stick to, I just want to be aware of what I’m eating because sometimes my eyes can be bigger than my stomach 😉

  • Amanda February 24, 2010, 11:43 am

    What are your buying habits for organic produce?

    • caitlin February 24, 2010, 1:31 pm

      we dont buy a lot of organic produce – mostly organic dairy.

  • Lee February 24, 2010, 11:43 am

    Haha, I totally read dillo as dildo. Ooops.

    I kind of do both. I eat breakfast and then see if I’m hungry for a mid-morning snack or not, eat lunch and always eat a snack at 3pm. I find myself wanting it earlier sometimes, but then I get too hungry before dinner.

  • Amber K @ sparkpeople February 24, 2010, 12:01 pm

    I track my calories on Sparkpeople, it has become really easy since I have entered in everything already and adding everything up takes a couple of minutes.

    And I don’t really allow myself to get “hungry.” I always feel awful if I do and I usually can’t get the hunger switch to turn off no matter how much food I eat. Depending on what I ate I wait about three-four hours before I eat again. Unless I feel lightheaded or my stomach feels too empty, I just eat on schedule.

  • Ali @ Food, Fitness, Fashion February 24, 2010, 12:33 pm

    I honor my hunger for the most part, unless I feel like it getting out of control. When I get hungry, I can’t focus so I need to eat to be productive.

  • Sonia February 24, 2010, 1:20 pm

    Hi Caitlin! I have a question about the orange slices you eat! Do you find it easy to get the fruit off the skin when they are cut like that?? I have so much trouble with peeling oranges, and when I cut them into wedges I pretty much end up sucking the juice out of them… How do you do it?

    Thanks! Sonia

    • caitlin February 24, 2010, 1:32 pm

      I stick it in my mouth and rip it off. LOL I love tearing into the wedges. But navel oranges tend to peel pretty easily!

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