Are You Really Still Hungry?
You know that old saying – “your eyes are bigger than your stomach”. And by the way, no one is sure of the phrase origin, but it has been around for hundreds of years.
It tends to crop up when we are so enticed by food that we overeat, and then pay for it with digestive upset. If you do not have chronic GI issues, then things resolve quickly. Maybe a nap or a quick after-dinner walk solves the issue. Your digestive process starts doing its thing and the next thing you know, you are back to normal.
What is Normal?
For those of us with IBS, our “norm” can be anything from diarrhea to constipation – sometimes both – extreme bloating, excruciating cramps, clothing that binds so tightly it hurts, and embarrassing bathroom needs. And don’t forget farting (passing wind).
And yet, we are humans, too, and sometimes we see a dish and damn, it just smells and/or looks so good we can’t help ourselves and we overeat. My husband, Damon, put it perfectly. I had made the Pork Loin with Maple Mustard Glaze and it was, I have to say, really fabulous.
Here’s what happened:
Damon: “Oh. My. God”. These are the first words out of his mouth when he first tried the pork. “This meat is unfreakin-believable. I say in your top 10”.
It was pretty delicious. After he had had seconds, he said to me, “you know, I really want more”.
Me: “Honey! If you overeat you’ll feel sick!”
Damon: “Maybe, but my tongue will be happy!”
I couldn’t help but laugh out loud and I told him I was going to quote him in this article. He got it; I got it. I’m sure you do, too. We’ve all been there.
When faced with something really, really delicious, it is sometimes hard to exert willpower. All we are thinking about is getting that food in our mouths.
Willpower Is Your Friend
For my husband, an overfilled belly isn’t too much of a problem. For me, overeating means potentially a couple of days of not feeling well. I have had to learn that as great as the food looks, that the physical agony that might follow just aint worth it.
And yet, I do on occasion overindulge.
We Sometimes Fail
So, yes, sometimes I am just not great with the willpower. Luckily for us, IBS is a “functional gastrointestinal disorder”. The IFFGD (International Foundation for Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders) describes them as follows: “The term “functional” is generally applied to disorders where the body’s normal activities in terms of the movement of the intestines, the sensitivity of the nerves of the intestines, or the way in which the brain controls some of these functions is impaired.”
They go on to explain that no structural abnormalities will be present and therefore diagnosis will come through identification of symptoms and perhaps certain tests, mostly to rule out other issues, such as celiac disease, diverticulitis, endometriosis, IBD and others.
One great thing to know is that functional GI disorders are not deadly. Now I can tell you that at times I have been in so much pain – pre-FODMAP – that I wanted to die, and that is not an exaggeration. But know that we do have tools to mitigate our symptoms and that the low FODMAP diet is one of the best at our disposal – and that some willpower comes in handy, too.
You Are Not Alone
Also know that you are not alone if every now and then you eat something you know you shouldn’t, just because it smells and looks so damn good. And know that the pain will likely pass and you can get back to eating, and feeling, “right”.
We are here for you at FODMAP Everyday® to talk about this kind of stuff. The everyday stuff that pops up in your IBS stricken life.
We have over 1000+ recipes, hundreds of articles by Monash trained registered dietitians – and sometimes just stories and rantings like this – that we hope help you feel understood and at the very least, not alone.
Helpful Articles
Take a look at these:
- 10 Tips For Avoiding A Bloated Belly
- How To Relieve An IBS Attack
- I Had An IBS Attack At The Gym
- IBS Attacks And How To Re-Set Your Gut
- The Hidden Culprits, 12 Common Triggers of IBS You May Not Know About.
