# Do you ever eat when not hungry? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [January 21, 2014, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-ever-eat-when-not-hungry/679368 "2014-01-21T15:27:04Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Ambivalid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a5b964/32.png) [@Ambivalid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ambivalid)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2014, 5:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-ever-eat-when-not-hungry/679368/21 "2014-01-22T05:23:16Z")
> [@congodwarf](#): > > Yes I do. It’s why I’m fat. I’m working on it. Yes I do. It’s why I’m **not** fat. I eat regularly, to keep my blood sugar levels even, insulin levels from dipping and spiking and to prevent ravenous overeating. However, a couple of those feedings are somewhat forced, as I have little-to-no appetite at those times of day but I need the nutrition. Those times would be the meal before and the meal after working out, as my appetite is usually always MIA at those times. I make myself eat during those times, however, because it’s the most important times to eat when training in the gym. ---
**Author:** ![Arrogance\_Ex\_Machina](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/arrogance_ex_machina/32/192_2.png) [@Arrogance\_Ex\_Machina](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arrogance_Ex_Machina)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2014, 5:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-ever-eat-when-not-hungry/679368/22 "2014-01-22T05:44:01Z")
I don’t usually get hungry, but I do get weak (wobbly knees, cold sweat etc) from low blood sugar if I don’t eat regularly so eating is just one more basic body maintenance function done in advance so that won’t happen. If I have burned a lot of calories and skipped one or two meals then I get a sort of light-headed hollow feeling but even that isn’t very compelling as such. I think there’s something a bit off with my hunger reflex but since I’m not too thin nor fat I don’t really care. So yeah, 95% of the time I eat when not hungry. Works for me. ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2014, 6:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-ever-eat-when-not-hungry/679368/23 "2014-01-22T06:32:26Z")
I almost always hungry. Despite eating plenty. On the rare occasion I’m not hoping ry, I’m not eating. ---
**Author:** ![Aspidistra](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspidistra/32/3894_2.png) [@Aspidistra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspidistra)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2014, 6:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-ever-eat-when-not-hungry/679368/24 "2014-01-22T06:49:17Z")
> [@harmonicamoon](#): > > If I haven’t eaten all day, I may think “my body needs nutrition”, and will eat something. If I haven’t eaten all day, I am so ravenous I’m about to gnaw my own arm off. (IOW “no”) ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2014, 7:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-ever-eat-when-not-hungry/679368/25 "2014-01-22T07:10:31Z")
One of my worst habits is eating when I’m bored. I’ve pretty much gotten better about it, but I’ll still find myself doing so every now and then. ---
**Author:** ![amarinth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3be4f8/32.png) [@amarinth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amarinth)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2014, 9:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-ever-eat-when-not-hungry/679368/26 "2014-01-22T09:10:37Z")
> [@Skammer](#): > > “I don’t stop eating when I’m _full_. I stop eating when I _hate myself_.” - C.K. Louis pfft. amateur. You can look at me and see that I didn’t stop eating at the point where I started hating myself. I’m working on it. ---
**Author:** ![Clothahump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/51bf81/32.png) [@Clothahump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clothahump)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2014, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-ever-eat-when-not-hungry/679368/27 "2014-01-22T16:54:32Z")
Sadly, yes. Battling with my weight is an ongoing struggle for me. I am a semi-compulsive eater and I’ll eat just about anything that I don’t have to chase down and kill for myself. ---
**Author:** ![Yorikke](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yorikke/32/4335_2.png) [@Yorikke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yorikke)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2014, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-ever-eat-when-not-hungry/679368/28 "2014-01-22T17:02:23Z")
That’s how I got fat as fuck. ---
**Author:** ![LibrarySpy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f9ae1b/32.png) [@LibrarySpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LibrarySpy)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2014, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-ever-eat-when-not-hungry/679368/29 "2014-01-22T17:06:16Z")
I rarely eat when not hungry, I am not often hungry, yet I am 100 pounds overweight. ---
**Author:** ![Macca26](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/13edae/32.png) [@Macca26](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Macca26)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2014, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-ever-eat-when-not-hungry/679368/30 "2014-01-22T17:37:15Z")
Isn’t the very definition of “eating when you’re not hungry” dessert? I mean, since when has anybody ever been actually hungry when they decide to have a dessert after dinner? (Which means yes, I eat when I’m not hungry, because _dessert_) ---
**Author:** ![James\_Toothpaste](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e56c9b/32.png) [@James\_Toothpaste](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/James_Toothpaste)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2014, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-ever-eat-when-not-hungry/679368/31 "2014-01-22T21:57:36Z")
Yes, all the time. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2014, 2:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-ever-eat-when-not-hungry/679368/32 "2014-01-23T02:04:31Z")
> [@James\_Toothpaste](#): > > Yes, all the time. At least your teeth are clean! ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2014, 2:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-ever-eat-when-not-hungry/679368/33 "2014-01-23T02:44:06Z")
I barely eat even when I am hungry. Being divorced will do that to you. My BMI has dropped from 24 to 21 over the last year. ---
**Author:** ![flatlined](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/eb9ed0/32.png) [@flatlined](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flatlined)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2014, 3:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-ever-eat-when-not-hungry/679368/34 "2014-01-23T03:20:39Z")
> [@Arrogance\_Ex\_Machina](#): > > I don’t usually get hungry, but I do get weak (wobbly knees, cold sweat etc) from low blood sugar if I don’t eat regularly so eating is just one more basic body maintenance function done in advance so that won’t happen. If I have burned a lot of calories and skipped one or two meals then I get a sort of light-headed hollow feeling but even that isn’t very compelling as such. I think there’s something a bit off with my hunger reflex but since I’m not too thin nor fat I don’t really care. > > So yeah, 95% of the time I eat when not hungry. Works for me. That light headed feeling is why I try to be regular about feeding the machine. Plus, my husband worries when he doesn’t see me eat at least a token amount at meal times, so yeah, I usually eat when I’m not hungry. And even when my belly is yelling that its empty, I don’t really get hungry, but once I sit down to eat I realize how hungry I am and will often eat a whole meal then. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2014, 4:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-ever-eat-when-not-hungry/679368/35 "2014-01-23T04:14:20Z")
My grandmother’s philosophy was that one does not eat because of hunger but rather to keep from becoming hungry. I’m not completely that way myself, but I will often eat a meal ahead of mealtime if I think I may be too bust at the regular appointed hour. But there are plenty of times too that I find myself starving. ---
**Author:** ![Rushgeekgirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rushgeekgirl/32/3715_2.png) [@Rushgeekgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rushgeekgirl)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2014, 4:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-ever-eat-when-not-hungry/679368/36 "2014-01-23T04:44:10Z")
I eat all the time. But I don’t binge anymore. I don’t shovel. I just eat a lot. I just had two handfuls of Cheetos after a big meal of three bean burritos earlier tonight. I may eat something sweet before I go to bed in about an hour. I just eat whenever, whatever. I cook every day, usually dinner. I have three small meals. Then I graze. ---
**Author:** ![jrsone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f0a364/32.png) [@jrsone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jrsone)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2014, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-ever-eat-when-not-hungry/679368/37 "2014-01-23T19:19:49Z")
I did. I’m eating much healthier than I used to. I had to reprogram my brain to understand that I didn’t actually have to eat just because the food was available. I’m doing pretty good. ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2014, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-ever-eat-when-not-hungry/679368/38 "2014-01-23T21:00:56Z")
After years of dieting (and not eating when I was hungry) and binging (and eating when I was not hungry) I spent nine months learning to eat when I was hungry and stop when I wasn’t hungry. I still eat mostly cause I’m hungry. If I’m out with a group and the food and company are good, I will overeat. On my birthday a friend took me to breakfast and I had a cheese omelet, potatoes, whole wheat toast, garlic toast, fried potatoes, fried sweet potatoes, a hot fudge sundae and five cups of coffee. I next ate at 4:00 p.m. the next day. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [January 23, 2014, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-ever-eat-when-not-hungry/679368/39 "2014-01-23T21:18:40Z")
Yes, I’ll often follow a very big meal with none, or a small one. It seems to even out. **Rushgeekgirl** , may I ask, do you like (a) your weight, (b) your metabolism, or © both? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-ever-eat-when-not-hungry/679368.md?page=1)