Many people diet over and over again, just to keep failing and trying it all over again. Why is that? It is because diets are plans, guidelines and restrictions that you only stick to for a certain amount of time. Diets become cumbersome and boring, so people end up quitting and resuming their previous eating patterns. Usually, as they come off of a diet, they binge on unhealthy foods for an extended amount of time, which in turn can really pack the pounds back on.

How should people be eating? How are people actually aware of whether they are mentally hungry or actually physically hungry? People can eat a lot of times in reaction to emotional situations or moods. People must learn to eat 'intuitively.' Intuitively means actually learning when you are hungry. People need to allow their bodies to notify them that they are hungry, instead of listening to their minds.

Wait for a growling stomach or hunger pangs to know when you are hungry and should be eating. Do not overindulge or you risk becoming stuffed, which is truly unhealthy and very uncomfortable. People need to learn to listen to their stomachs and push away the plate when they are done eating. If you are at a restaurant, have the plate removed when you are finished.

Many people eat because their mind tells them that they are hungry. Others eat as a result of an emotional situation. Some people eat out of boredom. Whatever the case, all of these are cases of mental hunger, not physical hunger. Your body only needs food when you are physically hungry, not mentally hungry.

Are you one of the individuals that eat because of mental hunger? If you are, then you must start to listen to your body for real physical hunger cues. A lot of people with cases of mental hunger are binge eaters, overeaters and people with eating disorders. Teaching your body to "relearn" about eating is vital. Listening for physical cues is important for any successful weight loss plan and for healthy eating.

Another factor that can also cause you to eat more than what your body needs is enjoyment of the food itself. When we eat something that tastes good, we just want more of that but obviously this habit can ruin your weight loss efforts. One thing that you can do is to eat slowly because the brain still takes about 20 minutes before it can also tell you that you are full. When that signal comes, push your plate away and simply stop. Eating right needs practice and will take time to come naturally.

How to know if you are physically hungry is very important to a healthy eating lifestyle. Once you learn how to do it, you will no longer find yourself raiding the refrigerator or eating all the snacks in the house in one sitting.