When Hunger Means More Than Food

Dinner is on the table. I stare at it, counting bites before I even start. Hunger used to be simple—a growl, a need. Now it’s a negotiation. I drink water first, hoping it’ll quiet the ache. Sometimes it works. Sometimes it just makes me feel emptier. I try to eat slowly, but my mind races ahead: Will this be enough? Did I eat too much yesterday? I wish I could just listen to my body, but the rules are louder. Every meal is a test I’m scared to fail. I don’t remember the last time I ate without guilt, or without doing the math in my head. #FoodGuilt #ControlIsExhausting #NotJustAboutTheScale #Health #Diet