Did you know everybody’s hungry time (HT) is different? Until I became a health coach, I figured everybody was the most hungry in the evening. When I discovered some people had their HT from 2 – 4 p.m., I was shocked. I’m never hungry then. Or in the morning at 10. Hunh? Really? They’d look at me the same way when I told them I wake up at 2:00 a.m. starving. (Don’t judge.)

One thing is consistent, though. Nearly everybody I talk to has an HT. Most people are aware of when it is as well. If you have never really paid attention to that, tune in, and see when your HT rolls around. It’s important to know because this is the time period when you are most prone to make poor choices. It’s easier to overeat. Going on autopilot can steer you away from your overall health goals.

Writing really helped me hone in on my HT. What I learned was I don’t like to go to bed hungry. Even a little bit. It’s as if I’m afraid while I sleep I’ll starve to death in case I sleep too long. I don’t know. It’s also the only time of day I’m really sitting down and relaxing. My stomach thinks relaxing involves food. And, for most of my life, that’s been the case. My French friend, Kimxa, doesn’t eat after 6 p.m. That only happens with me if I’m fasting–and I’m not happy about it. But I look at her in awe and wonder how the heck she does it. I tell myself it’s genetic. You can see how her program paid off here with me and my before shot (2.5 years ago) at Crustacean, our favorite birthday celebrating place.

I wonder if the HT is more about emotions. Am I really hungry? Lonely? Angry? Tired? Bored? That whole HALT thing, but just the ALT part. I do notice that when I’m tired, I’ll go eat something so I can stay awake instead of just going to sleep. Run through these questions in your mind and see what you get. You might be surprised by the answers.

I am very much in the process of trying to unravel the threads of this pattern in myself and am not closed to finished. The first step, though, is awareness. The second, desire. I’m not sure about the third, but I’ll let you know when I get there.

And I will get there.