Living with ADHD: How It Affects Your Eating, Hunger Cues, and Movement
Welcome to She Thrives with Stef Barti, a podcast dedicated to empowering women to live their best lives and thrive unapologetically.
This blog post is based on Episode 49 of my podcast, She Thrives with Stef Barti. If you prefer to listen, you can check out the original podcast episode.
Tune in to explore how ADHD affects eating habits, hunger cues, and more—plus, discover the ways I’m learning to adapt to my body’s needs.
When I first started noticing that I wasn’t eating enough, I didn’t immediately connect it to my ADHD.
It’s crazy how certain things can fly under the radar until you really start digging deeper. After all, I was moving a lot, training hard, and feeling low energy, but the idea that my eating struggles were related to ADHD just never crossed my mind.
It wasn’t until listening to Dr Hallowell, who’s an expert in ADHD, that I realized the link.
ADHD affects more than just focus. It impacts various aspects of life, including our relationship with food.
It’s a struggle many women with ADHD face, but it’s not always obvious at first. I never registered hunger cues properly and could easily go the whole day without thinking about food.
To me, food wasn’t on my radar unless I consciously made it a priority.
The ADHD and Eating Struggle: Missing Hunger Cues
One of the things I’ve discovered about ADHD is that it can affect hunger in multiple ways. Some people may experience a loss of appetite or forget to eat entirely.
Others get distracted while eating, making it hard to finish a meal. For me, I wasn’t getting distracted—I just didn’t feel hungry.
I could easily go hours (even a whole day) without thinking about eating.
At first, this didn’t seem like a big deal.
But over time, I started noticing the effects of not eating enough, especially since I was moving so much.
It became clear that I had to make some changes to ensure I was fuelling my body adequately.
Finding Solutions: Meal Prep, Snacks, and Alarms
One of the strategies I’ve implemented is meal prepping. This helps me stay on top of my food intake even when I forget to eat.
I’ve also started snacking more frequently. While snacking isn’t my favorite thing, it’s a practical way to get more calories in throughout the day.
And yes, I’ve had to resort to setting alarms on my phone as reminders to eat. It’s funny how something as basic as remembering to eat has become such a conscious effort, but that’s where ADHD has its impact.
In a way, learning about these ADHD quirks feels like opening up a box of surprises. Every time I discover something new, I think, “Of course!
This is why I’ve struggled with this for so long.” It’s been eye-opening and liberating at the same time.
Movement and ADHD: The Dopamine Connection
Another thing I’ve learned is how ADHD affects dopamine levels.
Dopamine is a neurotransmitter that plays a role in motivation, pleasure, and focus.
People with ADHD tend to have fewer dopamine receptors, which can lead to an addiction to activities that boost dopamine levels—like movement.
For me, movement is an essential part of my life.
It’s not just about staying fit; it’s about managing my ADHD. I feel the need to move constantly to get that dopamine boost, and it’s why I enjoy long workout sessions.
While some people might be satisfied with just 30 minutes of exercise, I need a lot more to feel truly fulfilled.
On some days, I can work out for three to five hours without feeling exhausted. It’s almost like my body craves that level of physical activity.
Thankfully, my flexible work schedule allows me to fit these long movement sessions into my day. Whether it’s weight training, pole dancing, inversion classes, or roller skating, movement is my happy place.
It helps me feel grounded, focused, and energized—things that are essential for managing ADHD symptoms.
Working with My Natural Rhythm
Through all of this, I’ve been learning to embrace my natural rhythm rather than fight against it.
For instance, I used to try to do writing and creative work in the afternoon, but I quickly realized that my brain just doesn’t function well at that time. Now, I reserve my mornings for writing, when I’m at my sharpest.
It’s incredible how productive I can be during these hours, often writing thousands of words in one sitting. When I work with my natural flow instead of forcing myself to fit into traditional schedules, everything becomes easier.
This has been such an eye-opening experience for me. Rather than feeling frustrated about my ADHD or trying to fit myself into a mold that doesn’t work, I’m learning to accept who I am and honor my body’s needs.
ADHD is Not a Flaw, It’s Part of Who We Are
One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned is that ADHD is not something to be ashamed of. It’s simply a part of who I am, and it affects how I approach food, movement, work, and even relationships.
Understanding ADHD has allowed me to create systems that support my unique brain and body, rather than fight against them.
No Need to Feel Shame
There’s no shame in needing to set alarms for meals or working out for hours to get the dopamine I need—it’s just the way I function best.
In fact, it’s been empowering to embrace these quirks instead of hiding them. And I encourage you to do the same, whether you have ADHD or not. Our bodies are incredibly wise and capable of showing us what we need if we are willing to listen.
Final Thoughts: Embracing Who We Are
I hope this post resonates with those of you who may be struggling with similar issues, whether related to ADHD or other life challenges.
Remember that you are not alone, and there’s no one right way to live or to thrive. Take time to get to know your body and mind, and honor what they need to feel nourished and fulfilled.
If you need some help to embody your magic, I created the perfect self love course to ignite the goddess in you ✨“Unleash Your Wild Feminine” ✨
Thank you for joining me on this journey of self-discovery and healing. And before I go, I want to remind you that you are a unique, beautiful creation, worthy of love and joy every single day of the year.
With love,
Stef Barti
Host of She Thrives with Stef Barti Podcast
Feel free to share this post with anyone who might benefit from it. And remember, you are a unique, beautiful creation, worthy of love and joy every day of the year.
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