Many people believe that fasting is accompanied by unbearable hunger. It’s important to differentiate between different types of hunger. In our overabundant society, we are mostly familiar with the uncomfortable feeling of a rapidly dropping insulin level a few hours after a carbohydrate-heavy meal. This leads to an uncontrollable and agonizing hunger, often accompanied by bad mood.
With our current eating habits, our body’s insulin stores are essentially always full. No wonder our system reacts so intensely to this unfamiliar situation. We also need to "untrain" our body in this regard.
However, there is another sensation of hunger that is due to slowly depleting energy stores in the body. Our body gently begins to manage its energy and becomes calmer. Often, this leads to a special sense of mental clarity and heightened body awareness. Rather than feeling desperate hunger, you may experience a "desire for food," and the enjoyment of the meal after fasting is particularly strong. This is the natural hunger your body learns through intermittent fasting.
If an overwhelming hunger strikes, try to engage in an activity you enjoy. Listen to music, go for a walk, or meet friends. Sometimes, a glass of water also helps. Even greater than the hunger will be your pride when you’ve made it through.