EP 239: "Am I Eating Too Much?" ~ Understanding Extreme Hunger (What's Really Happening in Your Body & How To Cope)

Are you experiencing intense hunger in recovery and wondering if something is wrong? Feeling like you can't get full no matter how much you eat? In this essential episode, Lindsey breaks down everything you need to know about extreme hunger in eating disorder recovery - why it happens, what it looks like, and most importantly, that it's completely normal and necessary for healing.

Whether you're early in recovery or experiencing hunger waves after years of healing, this episode will help you understand your body's wisdom and navigate this phase with self-compassion instead of fear.

Today's Truth: Extreme hunger is your body's way of healing and honoring it is one of the bravest things you can do in recovery.

Key Topics Covered:

🍽️ What extreme hunger actually is - The different types and what they feel like in your body

🧠 Why extreme hunger happens - The science behind your body's need for extra nourishment

⏰ When it can occur - Early recovery, years later, or anytime your body needs healing

🚫 Myth-busting - Why extreme hunger isn't binge eating and doesn't mean you'll "blow up"

💪 Practical coping strategies - How to navigate extreme hunger with confidence and self-compassion

🤝 Dealing with others - How to handle comments from people who don't understand recovery

Types of Extreme Hunger Explained:

🔹 Mechanical Hunger: Physical growling, gnawing sensations, feeling like a bottomless pit

🔹 Mental Hunger: Obsessive food thoughts, inability to concentrate on anything but eating

🔹 Reactive Eating: Eating large amounts quickly, especially previously restricted foods

🔹 Primal Hunger: Desperate, urgent need to eat that feels impossible to ignore

What this might look like:

• Eating a full meal and feeling hungry immediately after
• Waking up hungry in the middle of the night
• Needing snacks every hour
• Intense cravings for calorie-dense foods

Remember: All of this is your body's wisdom in action.

Why Extreme Hunger Happens:

✅ Metabolic restoration - Your metabolism needs extra energy to speed back up to normal levels

✅ Physical repair - Your body is repairing damage to organs, bones, hair, skin, and tissues

✅ Replenishing stores - Restoring depleted fat stores, glycogen, and energy reserves

✅ Trust building - Your body needs to learn that food will be consistently available

Key insight: Extreme hunger can happen at ANY stage of recovery - sometimes years later when your body feels safe enough to ask for what it really needs.

Myths About Extreme Hunger (DEBUNKED):

❌ Myth: "Everyone experiences extreme hunger in recovery" ✅ Truth: Not everyone does, and that's okay - every body is different

❌ Myth: "Extreme hunger is bad or means something is wrong" ✅ Truth: It's your body's intelligence and healing in action

❌ Myth: "Extreme hunger means you're binge eating" ✅ Truth: This is biological necessity, not psychological binge eating

❌ Myth: "If you honor it, you'll gain too much weight" ✅ Truth: Your body will settle at its natural weight when fully nourished

Practical Coping Strategies:

🌟 Honor Your Hunger - Eat when hungry, as much as you're hungry for, whatever you're craving

🌟 Challenge ED Voice - Replace "This is too much" with "My body is healing"

🌟 Don't Compensate - No extra exercise, meal skipping, or restricting the next day

🌟 Include All Foods - Your body often craves calorie-dense foods for important reasons

🌟 Practice Self-Compassion - Remem