The Record-Based Weight Loss Method: Accelerated Phase - Differentiating Between Two Types of Appetite to Aid Weight Loss

To help everyone understand better, I've divided appetite into two categories:

"What the brain wants to eat" and "What the body wants to eat."

In other words, appetite is formed by the memory of delicious food and the anticipation of delicious food, and appetite is the body's need for certain foods. I'll use "desire" and "craving" to represent the difference between these two types of appetite.

Taste is a "desire."

Need is a "craving."

"Desire" is triggered by various reasons.

First, there's the memory of delicious food eaten in the past. Actually, memories aren't solely composed of taste. They might be mixed with pleasant impressions, such as eating with a loved one, eating at a nice restaurant, or eating while traveling, constituted by the feeling of "wanting to eat it again." It's just that the individual isn't aware of these factors and naturally assumes it's appetite.

Imagined tastes, like "something that looks delicious on TV" or "it must taste like this," can also trigger appetite. Potato chips and chocolates constantly evolve with new products, and their success isn't necessarily due to their superior taste, but rather their ability to satisfy consumers' curiosity—a kind of "desire."

Modern society is rife with various traps designed to arouse your appetite. From cakes displayed in shop windows to new convenience store products and seasonal limited editions, every kind of pastry piques people's curiosity. It's not just about taste; it's about mobilizing your impressions and memories—the appetite driven by "desire."

On the other hand, the appetite signals—"desire"—sent by the body's needs are difficult to detect. While there may be times when they are clearly felt, they are generally ignored.

The secret lies in visualizing various foods in your mind when you are quite hungry. It's not about recalling abstract feelings like "delicious" or "happy," nor is it about data like "where I ate" or "who I ate with." Instead, it's about concretely recalling the sensations of chewing, tasting, and swallowing.

Importantly, recall the feeling as it's swallowed and absorbed by the stomach. At that moment, if you think, "Ah, that's what I want to eat!" you're right. The probability of finding it is high. Once you do, it's best to imagine similar foods. For example, when you want cheesecake, think about citrus fruits, oranges, dishes with lots of lemon, vinegared salads or pickles, etc. Consider other acidic foods. This way, you'll gradually know exactly what you want to eat.

What you want to eat may not be immediately available, so try to think of many different things.

When considering these, try to include foods you don't usually eat or don't like as options. If you have trouble remembering the taste of foods you don't like, try browsing the food section of supermarkets or department stores. Look at the shelves you don't usually frequent; you might discover your "desire" in unexpected places.