We suggest that you drink only noncaloric drinks—such as water, diet sodas, and artificially sweetened tea—while you are learning how to sense the body’s needs. If you drink sugared tea, milk, fruit juice, sports drinks, or regular soft drinks throughout the day, the glucose (sugar) from them will keep your blood sugar up, the result being somewhat like an I.V. bag in the hospital. If the blood sugar levels stay elevated, then the stomach will not growl or feel hungry.

You will sense a clearer stomach signal while drinking only noncaloric drinks. Continually popping mints or hard candy, chewing sugared gum, and taking cream in your coffee will have the same effect on blood sugar. All of these things will keep your blood sugar level up and possibly keep you from sensing hunger. However, feel free to eat or drink whatever you want within the context of hunger. If you are having a meal and want sugared tea with it, that is fine.