I get hungry when I fast. What can I do?

Fasting is different for everyone. Some fast in the hope of losing weight, some do it for religious reasons, and some to cut off the extra calories they consume during the holiday season. And the question arises if fasting is really effective. Or is it just another way of fooling yourself into something useless?

Well, the answer lies in actually doing it. When you fast, you not only give your body a break from food, but you give yourself a break from the kitchen too.

Fasting is easy in words but not in reality. It takes a lot of mind work to keep yourself on track. Because most of the time, hunger pangs would be hitting you. There are specific ways with which you can keep yourself on track during the fasting window.

There are many How-To's to keep yourself from hunger pangs, but you have to choose yours wisely.

In India, we fast a lot due to different reasons. And it is not easy to keep fasting without motivation and sudden hunger pangs. So what can you do to calm your appetite during that time? There are some techniques that you can use to get through fast.

When you feel hungry while fasting Try having these:

Drink water- Your brain basically fails to tell whether you are hungry or thirsty. During fasting, if you are feeling hungry, pour yourself a glass of water and keep yourself hydrated. It is an excellent way to keep yourself from hunger pangs.

Have herbal tea, green tea, or black tea- If you feel hungry while fasting, try a good cup of herbal tea, green tea, or black tea. Green tea and black tea contain caffeine, and green tea lowers hunger levels and also helps in burning body fat for energy. You can also opt for oolong tea, yellow tea

Have sugar-free gum- Chewing gum can help you feel less hungry. Do not take gums that have sugar in them. It will break your fast.

Train your mind:

You are fasting for a reason, and reminding yourself of the reason to fast will actually help you a lot in satiating your hunger.

Go for a walk- Distracting yourself is a great way of keeping yourself on track of not breaking the fast. And walking makes you feel good and distracts your mind from hunger.

Try exercising- If you are a gym freak or someone who likes to keep themselves indulged in physical activities, then try doing meditation or light yoga poses.

Call a friend- Calling a friend, or a family member can be an excellent option to get you through hunger.

If you like reading, then hop on the sofa with your favourite book and have your 'Me Time'.

Make yourself busy- Distract yourself with some work. Reply to that email that has been sitting in your inbox for a long time. Finish some unfinished tasks from last week. Organize your workspace or declutter your table.

Get 8 hours of sleep- It is essential to get proper sleep, if you fast or not. When fasting, you should be feeling well rested.

Train your mind- Whether you believe it or not, we are continuously surrounded by food items. Everywhere you see, you can find things related to food. Whether it is watching reels on Instagram or the magazines sitting at your side table. Try avoiding these kinds of stimuli and find some good distractions to your eyes and mind. And while fasting, these will work as a trigger to your hunger.

Fasting can be an overwhelming experience if you are not ready to do it. Please prepare yourself before practising this. It is more of a mental work than the body. If you can train your mind according to your needs. You can actually get through the fasting window quickly.