One thing I talk about often in my blog is my inability to be civil while hungry. If I say, “I’m hungry” to my family, it elicits no less than one “uh-oh” as they look around the room for the nearest escape route. If you kept me fed, I’m as happy as a little lark. Deprive me of food and I will throat punch anyone that gets in my way.
Last week in California, I began to go through what I like to call the levels of hangry. It was at this time I realized, there really are stages of hangriness. Like the stages of grief, everyone goes through it a little differently and we must respect this. Here is the standardized Hot Mess Pyramid of Hangriness:
Level 1- Inquire about other’s hunger
I begin to ask everyone around me if they’re hungry. If they respond yes, I secretly pat myself on the back for making them aware of their hunger. These compatriots will prove useful in getting the ones that aren’t hungry, to a restaurant quicker.
“Are you hungry?”
“How about you?”
20 minutes later I forget I already asked the question.
“Are you hungry?”
Level 2- You begin to talk and think only about food
This is when I begin to think about past delicious meals. I may begin to fantasize about the restaurant we will go to for dinner this evening. Despite hating to cook, I may even bring up a recipe and begin to discuss it with those around me.
Level 3- Every smell makes your stomach rumble
It doesn’t matter if it’s someone’s cologne or a dead skunk in the road. My stomach doesn’t know the difference. And if I actually smell real food, it only gets me to level 4 quicker.
Level 4- Lashing out
At this point, I’m a horrible person and bark at everyone. On the rare occasions I’m mindful of level 4, I opt to say very little and avoid all human contact. This limited communication is so I don’t offend family and friends. It’s like temporary Tourette syndrome, spewing obscenities.
Level 5- Only food can fix this now
This is the most dangerous and critical level. I’m not me at this point. This is also when any semblance of a diet is thrown out the window. If White Castles are the only thing available, 6 are going in my mouth. If all I have is a vending machine with an array of disgusting sun chips, I’ll get one in every flavor.
I also eat desperate at this level. You know what I’m talking about. Like you’re an extra on the movie Alive, and you’re just days away from eating the pilot because you’re so hungry. For example, I’m at a hotel right now for a soccer tournament and the minute my steak and potatoes arrived, I flung the container open and began to inhale the mashed potatoes. Not wanting to take the time to cut the steak (and because I’m alone right now), I considered picking up the entire filet and just eating it by hand. Fortunately, the mashed potatoes bought me some time and I was able to cut the steak with a plastic fork, like the respectable woman I am.
I get so irritable when I’m hangry. I get all of the above!!
They really should study it. We could probably end half of the wars in the world if hangry wasn’t an issue!
My husband gets into denial at stage one where be pretends he is NOT hungry. Then it can get full hangry swiftly.
You’ve given me a new level to consider. I too have tried to pretend I’m not hungry. This is until my stomach growls and I’m making bedroom eyes at a cheeseburger….
I think only the observer of stages can see it☺
I think you might be right!
Lol you are not alone with this! Everyone gets a little bit hangry.
One of my best mates in Japan was a nightmare when she got hungry. She didn’t realise it herself, but she’d suddenly go all quiet and moody (normally she was a super-happy lady!) I learned to always have some sort of chocolate in my bag to feed her on moody moments. It’d always fix her! We used to always plan our adventures around food! Eg, Let’s hike over to the village on the other side of that mountain because there is a good ramen shop there…
Yes! You have to plan that way! You are such a thoughtful friend to do that. And you carry snacks for her? You are a dream! I’ve always thought about carrying snacks then I decided not to as my “emergency snack” would ALWAYS be an emergency. I’d gain 40 lbs.!
Lol I just really liked spending time with her, but it’s more fun when she’s not hangry! We were always hiking or cycling so I didn’t have to worry too much about putting on weight. We used to be pretty healthy despite the choccy snacks!
Well that’s a wonderful friend!
I’m gonna have to whip out this post as scientific evidence that being hangry is a serious condition. If I tell you I’m hungry, stop trying to engage me in conversation. Finding food is our new priority.
Yes! NOTHING else….and I mean NOTHING else matters other than getting food. It’s down right primal instincts I think. How others announce at 2 PM on any given day in the office that they “forgot to eat,” is beyond me. Yes, keep this post handy and when I win the Nobel peace prize for my research and development on the topic, you can say, “I told you so” to everyone.
I love the image of you picking up the steak with your hands ? I feel your hungry stages and wholeheartedly agree with you.
Yeah, not my finest hour….I’ll say that much. But when you’re hangry, you aren’t thinking clearly!
Oh yes I know this well. I think by halfway in I will eat anything lol
See that’s the thing. When your not hungry, your prepared to eat fruit and nuts. When you are half way up the pyramid, you consider eating your young.
That’s why they say never go shopping when you’re hungry.
I am a possessed monster when I go shopping hungry. A legit nightmare!
I know what you mean. I can like see myself doing it but can’t help myself lol
It’s a gradual decline into normalcy for me once I’ve gotten food into my system. A few months ago, Fella and I were tiffing after dinner and he asked if I was still hangry and I told him I was just being a ‘fully’… 😀
I know! Exactly! Normalcy is restored once the food is restored. “Fully”! LOL!
As I read your Level 5, I pictured a Snickers commercial–you’re not you when you’re hungry. haha
I know! I don’t even recognize my voice sometimes. It’s like the primal instinct kicks in or something!