Not hungry so not eating. Solution?

TehLaughingDog

Hey everyone,
So I've realized that of late I have had issues trying to get myself to eat. Literally only about a normal meal to a small meal and a small snack is all I'm stomaching lately. I know it's not good to eat so little but I feel like I'm stuffing myself if I try to eat more than I want to.

So my question is, is it okay to just not eat and listen to your body or should I be forcing myself to eat?

lorrpb

You need to eat enough cals to nourish your body! About 1200 per day for women.

TehLaughingDog

Yup! I want to and perform the best around 1500-1750 calories. However lately I can't make myself eat. I'm taking in 600-800 lately which is insanely low. I'm wondering if I should be continuing to force myself to eat until my appetite returns or if I should listen to my body?

jgnatca

When I was on a medically supervised VLCD diet I worked really hard to achieve 1200 calories a day to avoid unintended side effects, like extreme weakness and dizziness. I say eat to your minimum, eating small high calorie snacks if necessary. Maybe finish a bad day with a protein shake.

blankiefinder

If you're using a food scale and truly consuming only 600-800 calories on a regular basis, you should probably visit your doctor because that would be unusual and risky.

AnnPT77

Could you shift some of your food choices to higher-calorie but still nutritious options? At that low a calorie consumption, I'd worry about whether you can stay strong and healthy, if it continues . . . especially if you do best at 1500 or so. The doctor idea sounds like a good suggestion, if you can't get yourself on a more consistent healthful calorie level soon.

distinctlybeautiful

Force yourself. Eat foods that are more calorie-dense. Drink your calories. Follow your cravings. There's no way you're body is giving you appropriate hunger/fullness cues right now. Could you subconsciously be linking food with weight gain and thus feeling like you don't want to eat? I've gone through periods of super low appetite, and in hindsight I can see that there was some mental aversion to food involved.

RodaRose

Milk shakes. Peanut butter, Doughnuts. Bacon.

amusedmonkey

If it's only for a few days then it shouldn't be a problem and you shouldn't stress about it, it will pass. We all have those days. If it's an ongoing issue, try smaller but calorie dense meals which would help you avoid feeling stuffed. Snack on nuts instead of your usual low calorie snacks, add calories that hide well in food like eating your potatoes fried instead of roasted and so on.

patrikc333

no it is not. you need the food.

eskimohugger

You should definitely eat more. Ive had a week or two where I didn't feel like eating but it would make me light headed and give me headaches from lack of nutrients. However, I forced myself to eat at the least 1,200 calories and within a week, my appetite came back! Be careful because a low appetite can cause binges soon because your body is not absorbing enough calories!