Unpopular Opinion:
Feeling hunger is not a weakness—it’s a sign of a thriving, healthy life.
Why Are We Afraid of Hunger?
My husband recently shared a conversation he had with a colleague who is on a GLP medication. I don’t know all the details of his health journey, but one thing he said to my husband stuck with me: “I don’t feel hungry—it’s great!”
My heart sank.
Why are we so desperate to eliminate or ignore our hunger? Why do we get frustrated when we feel hungry? We are born with hunger cues—innate signals placed within us by a wise and loving Creator. If you’ve ever had a baby, you know how quickly you learn to recognize those cries of hunger. No instruction manual needed.
That precious child isn’t being dramatic—they’re expressing a real need. They cry because nourishment is vital to their survival and growth. And the truth is that need doesn’t go away when we grow up. Children, teens, and adults all need consistent, adequate nourishment to thrive—physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually.
Diet Culture and the War Against Hunger
Somewhere along the way, diet culture taught us that our hunger can’t be trusted. We were encouraged to override it with rules, plans, and restrictions crafted by people we don’t know. Instead of trusting the body’s built-in wisdom, we outsourced that trust to trends.
If you’ve experienced years of disordered eating, your hunger cues might feel silent or confusing right now. Maybe that’s where you’re at. But the beautiful news is: your hunger cues can be restored. You can rebuild trust with your body.
This is where support from a trained Intuitive Eating Coach comes in. There is freedom from the fear of food. There is peace available—even joy—when you learn to listen to your body again.
The Glamour of Deprivation is a Lie
Denying our body’s needs is not glamorous, no matter how influencers or commercials dress it up. I’ve been there—living malnourished. The result? Increased anxiety, constant irritability, and survival mode. Life became something to endure, not enjoy.
This is not the abundant life God desires for us (John 10:10).
Yes, there are seasons of suffering and difficulty. But even in the valley of deep darkness (Psalm 23:4), we can live free of fear, knowing God walks with us, sustains us, and invites us to live fully—body, mind, and spirit (Psalm 23:5-6).
Summer Is Coming—and So Is the Pressure
I love summer! But each year, as the days become warmer, the noise of diet culture turns up. We’re flooded with messages telling us we’re not “summer ready.” Shame-based ads try to sell us the latest fix, promising confidence if we shrink ourselves just enough.
But here’s the truth: our freedom in Christ gives us the power to say “no” to cultural pressures.
Because of what Jesus did, and who we are in Him—beloved children of God—we are free to reject those lies. Free to listen to our rumbling stomachs and remember that hunger is a God-given reminder that we have needs. And God delights in meeting those needs. We are not in control of everything—and what a relief that is! God can handle all of it: our concerns, our health, our hearts (1 Peter 5:7; Philippians 4:6-7).
Let’s Rejoice in Hunger and Able Bodies
This summer, let’s be women who celebrate life by nourishing our bodies adequately. Let’s enjoy the variety and abundance of food God has blessed us with. Let’s rejoice in strong, mobile, capable bodies—not for how they look, but for what they do.
Let’s model for the next generation that so-called “perfect” bodies are not real, nor required. Let’s be present in the moments that matter—with laughter, connection, and gratitude.
Need Support? I’m Here to Help.
If you’re overwhelmed by the noise of diet culture or stuck in the exhausting cycle of ignoring your body’s cues, you don’t have to walk that path alone.
As a Christian life and mental health coach, I help women:
- Break free from controlling, joy-crushing food rules.
- Rediscover peace and joy with food and movement.
- Heal the root causes of food-related anxiety and shame.
- Set meaningful, realistic goals rooted in God’s truth.
Book a free consultation today:
Visit space4grace.ca or email info@space4grace.ca
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