I Ate Cheese for Protein and Still Felt Empty

I used to keep a block of Parmigiano Reggiano in my bag. Not for the taste, but because it felt like a loophole—high protein, low guilt, no sugar. Every time I cut off a chunk, I told myself I was making a smart choice. I’d scroll past protein bars and meal plans, thinking I’d cracked the code. But it never really felt like eating. It was more like performing hunger, checking a box, staying in control. The cheese was salty and sharp, but mostly it was quiet. No one asked questions. I didn’t have to explain why I was hungry again an hour later. I just kept chewing, hoping the emptiness would fill itself. #FoodGuilt #ControlIsExhausting #NotJustAboutTheScale #Health #Diet