How come I have more energy the less I eat?

KrazyKrissyy
KrazyKrissyy Posts: 322 Member
edited December 2016 in Fitness and Exercise
It doesn't matter what macronutrient my meal primarily consists of. And it doesn't matter how big or small the meal is. Once I eat, my energy goes downhill. I exercise best on an empty stomach/fasted. I can focus, study, test, and do homework better without eating. I can easily go 24 hours without any food (and have). The more "roughage" I have inside me, the worse I feel, and by roughage I mean food. When I do eat (even a small meal) my body becomes fatigued, crampy, upset, and my focus isn't as good. My appetite doesn't even peak until the evening. I already stopped eating gluten, peanuts, and lactose as I was tested allergic but have tried elimination methods and changing macros. At this point I've realized it's not the type of food but the fact that food is there in the first place. My question is...why does my system prefer to be empty for full functionality and daily performances?
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Replies

  • AnvilHead
    AnvilHead Posts: 18,343 Member
    ^ Agree with all the above.

    You can get away with abusing your body like that for a while, but eventually you're going to crater.
  • KrazyKrissyy
    KrazyKrissyy Posts: 322 Member
    edited December 2016
    GottaBurnEmAll wrote: »
    Your posting history suggests that you have an eating disorder, and this post is concerning.

    You have a history of starting posts asking about very low calorie intakes, then came back and said you had gastroparesis, and said that you were eating more and better and were over your restricting ways...

    And now here you are with this.

    You probably feel best without food because you have a long history of a disordered relationship with it and need help dealing with that. Please see a professional.

    I have gastroparesis but I recently went on a forum for people with digestive issues and the others didn't have this with it (the higher energy on low-no food). And please stop assuming I still have an ED. There's a difference between starving yourself to lose weight and avoiding food because it causes digestive discomfort, chronic diahhrea/constipation and fatigue. Think of medication. It's needed for patients. But there are cases where the side effects are so extreme, it outweighs the benefits of the medicine. And sometimes those patients even start skipping doses to avoid the horrible side effects. Same concept.
  • KrazyKrissyy
    KrazyKrissyy Posts: 322 Member
    edited December 2016
    AnvilHead wrote: »
    ^ Agree with all the above.

    You can get away with abusing your body like that for a while, but eventually you're going to crater.
    It's a double edge sword because I seem to "abuse" it after eating (read my post-meal complications). Any suggestions, doc?
  • cmriverside
    cmriverside Posts: 34,404 Member
    I can see how you might be associating a full digestive system with discomfort if you in fact have a digestive disorder. Our brains and psyche are pretty complicated and I know if I grab onto something and start believing it, I come up with all kinds of confirmation bias arguments.

    What I'm saying is what you believe you make true.

    You do need psychological help. This isn't a "thing" that is normal and the cognitive (thinking) problems you are having could very well be being caused by your malnutrition/under-eating AND it will get worse.

    Please seek help other than a forum.
  • KrazyKrissyy
    KrazyKrissyy Posts: 322 Member
    MichelleLei1 wrote: »
    I'm not assuming you have an ED, just sharing my experience having had one. When I was anorexic I always felt better without food. I felt better being hungry, in fact I thrived off that feeling. I used to get such mental clarity and energy from not eating for 24+ hours. I convinced myself that my extreme hunger was nausea, ergo I should avoid eating because it will worsen the nausea. Physically I was dying, but psychologically I was accomplishing my goals.

    What did you end up doing about it? Like I mentioned earlier, when I do eat, I'm prone to cramps, fatigue, diarrhea, headaches, distended stomach, etc. even impaction (worst pain ever). It's a catch-22.
  • KrazyKrissyy
    KrazyKrissyy Posts: 322 Member
    edited December 2016
    GottaBurnEmAll wrote: »
    KrazyKrissyy wrote: »
    GottaBurnEmAll wrote: »
    Your posting history suggests that you have an eating disorder, and this post is concerning.

    You have a history of starting posts asking about very low calorie intakes, then came back and said you had gastroparesis, and said that you were eating more and better and were over your restricting ways...

    And now here you are with this.

    You probably feel best without food because you have a long history of a disordered relationship with it and need help dealing with that. Please see a professional.

    I have gastroparesis but I recently went on a forum for people with digestive issues and the others didn't have this with it (the higher energy on low-no food). And please stop assuming I still have an ED. There's a difference between starving yourself to lose weight and avoiding food because it causes digestive discomfort, chronic diahhrea/constipation and fatigue. Think of medication. It's needed for patients. But there are cases where the side effects are so extreme, it outweighs the benefits of the medicine. And sometimes those patients even start skipping doses to avoid the horrible side effects. Same concept.

    You never get rid of an ED. You manage it. You live in recovery. You remain vigilant to it creeping back.

    You certainly do not turn around from it in months.

    So the solution is to trigger my severe digestive symptoms by eating regularly? I really don't understand how this is an ED when I'm just avoiding what is causing the problems. I'm not doing it to lose weight. If my stomach and colon weren't this crazy, I wouldn't have to avoid eating to feel comfortable.
  • KrazyKrissyy
    KrazyKrissyy Posts: 322 Member
    AnvilHead wrote: »
    KrazyKrissyy wrote: »
    GottaBurnEmAll wrote: »
    KrazyKrissyy wrote: »
    GottaBurnEmAll wrote: »
    Your posting history suggests that you have an eating disorder, and this post is concerning.

    You have a history of starting posts asking about very low calorie intakes, then came back and said you had gastroparesis, and said that you were eating more and better and were over your restricting ways...

    And now here you are with this.

    You probably feel best without food because you have a long history of a disordered relationship with it and need help dealing with that. Please see a professional.

    I have gastroparesis but I recently went on a forum for people with digestive issues and the others didn't have this with it (the higher energy on low-no food). And please stop assuming I still have an ED. There's a difference between starving yourself to lose weight and avoiding food because it causes digestive discomfort, chronic diahhrea/constipation and fatigue. Think of medication. It's needed for patients. But there are cases where the side effects are so extreme, it outweighs the benefits of the medicine. And sometimes those patients even start skipping doses to avoid the horrible side effects. Same concept.

    You never get rid of an ED. You manage it. You live in recovery. You remain vigilant to it creeping back.

    You certainly do not turn around from it in months.

    So the solution is to trigger my severe digestive symptoms by eating regularly? I really don't understand how this is an ED when I'm just avoiding what is causing the problems. I'm not doing it to lose weight. If my stomach and colon weren't this crazy, I wouldn't have to avoid eating to feel comfortable.

    If you can't understand what's wrong with not eating and starving yourself, you definitely need help beyond the scope of this forum.

    How do I eat without digestive complications? What would you personally do if you had no availability to your doctor for the next 3 weeks and every time you ate, you had a myriad of digestive problems, drop in energy, headaches etc. Put yourself in my shoes. What exactly would you do? Suggestions?
  • jgnatca
    jgnatca Posts: 14,464 Member
    I had a different breakfast this week that was a lot harder on my stomach. My performance dropped in all areas including running the stairs. If I had a do-over I'd eat something different or eat less.

    Nevertheless once digested that meal still served me.
  • Gianfranco_R
    Gianfranco_R Posts: 1,297 Member
    KrazyKrissyy wrote: »
    AnvilHead wrote: »
    KrazyKrissyy wrote: »
    GottaBurnEmAll wrote: »
    KrazyKrissyy wrote: »
    GottaBurnEmAll wrote: »
    Your posting history suggests that you have an eating disorder, and this post is concerning.

    You have a history of starting posts asking about very low calorie intakes, then came back and said you had gastroparesis, and said that you were eating more and better and were over your restricting ways...

    And now here you are with this.

    You probably feel best without food because you have a long history of a disordered relationship with it and need help dealing with that. Please see a professional.

    I have gastroparesis but I recently went on a forum for people with digestive issues and the others didn't have this with it (the higher energy on low-no food). And please stop assuming I still have an ED. There's a difference between starving yourself to lose weight and avoiding food because it causes digestive discomfort, chronic diahhrea/constipation and fatigue. Think of medication. It's needed for patients. But there are cases where the side effects are so extreme, it outweighs the benefits of the medicine. And sometimes those patients even start skipping doses to avoid the horrible side effects. Same concept.

    You never get rid of an ED. You manage it. You live in recovery. You remain vigilant to it creeping back.

    You certainly do not turn around from it in months.

    So the solution is to trigger my severe digestive symptoms by eating regularly? I really don't understand how this is an ED when I'm just avoiding what is causing the problems. I'm not doing it to lose weight. If my stomach and colon weren't this crazy, I wouldn't have to avoid eating to feel comfortable.

    If you can't understand what's wrong with not eating and starving yourself, you definitely need help beyond the scope of this forum.

    How do I eat without digestive complications? What would you personally do if you had no availability to your doctor for the next 3 weeks and every time you ate, you had a myriad of digestive problems, drop in energy, headaches etc. Put yourself in my shoes. What exactly would you do? Suggestions?

    Doctor, as soon as possible.
    Your GP will likely write a referral for a gastroenterologist.
  • KrazyKrissyy
    KrazyKrissyy Posts: 322 Member
    PennWalker wrote: »
    KrazyKrissyy wrote: »
    AnvilHead wrote: »
    KrazyKrissyy wrote: »
    GottaBurnEmAll wrote: »
    KrazyKrissyy wrote: »
    GottaBurnEmAll wrote: »
    Your posting history suggests that you have an eating disorder, and this post is concerning.

    You have a history of starting posts asking about very low calorie intakes, then came back and said you had gastroparesis, and said that you were eating more and better and were over your restricting ways...

    And now here you are with this.

    You probably feel best without food because you have a long history of a disordered relationship with it and need help dealing with that. Please see a professional.

    I have gastroparesis but I recently went on a forum for people with digestive issues and the others didn't have this with it (the higher energy on low-no food). And please stop assuming I still have an ED. There's a difference between starving yourself to lose weight and avoiding food because it causes digestive discomfort, chronic diahhrea/constipation and fatigue. Think of medication. It's needed for patients. But there are cases where the side effects are so extreme, it outweighs the benefits of the medicine. And sometimes those patients even start skipping doses to avoid the horrible side effects. Same concept.

    You never get rid of an ED. You manage it. You live in recovery. You remain vigilant to it creeping back.

    You certainly do not turn around from it in months.

    So the solution is to trigger my severe digestive symptoms by eating regularly? I really don't understand how this is an ED when I'm just avoiding what is causing the problems. I'm not doing it to lose weight. If my stomach and colon weren't this crazy, I wouldn't have to avoid eating to feel comfortable.

    If you can't understand what's wrong with not eating and starving yourself, you definitely need help beyond the scope of this forum.

    How do I eat without digestive complications? What would you personally do if you had no availability to your doctor for the next 3 weeks and every time you ate, you had a myriad of digestive problems, drop in energy, headaches etc. Put yourself in my shoes. What exactly would you do? Suggestions?

    Doctors with full schedules can always refer you to another doctor who can fit you in.

    Does this count for doctors who are out of state? I'll be up north for 3 weeks.
  • successgal1
    successgal1 Posts: 996 Member
    It does sound like its possibly a medical issue AND your brain translating the feelings from food digestion incorrectly.

    Another posted above shared this "Eat only very small amounts of food, and consume progressively more from day-to-day until you can finally eat a normal diet."

    Have you tried eating small amounts maybe in 2 hour intervals to see how it goes? Maybe a liquid meal would help? A blender like blendtec sort of pre-chews the food for you. You can't have lactose but you can use a veggie protein powder, or liquid eggwhites, along with a low sugar fruit like blueberries and see how your system handles that.

    When I eat an overlarge meal I get tired, when I eat foods that I have trouble digesting I can get constipated (red meat, too much cheese, too much pasta), constipation makes me fatigued and irritable.

    I too am on the boat that its because you don't eat regularly enough, that when you do, your body overcompensates to digest, its actually a fair amount of work and energy to digest, if you have no fuel in you to begin with, your body has to take the energy from elsewhere to digest.

  • KrazyKrissyy
    KrazyKrissyy Posts: 322 Member
    edited December 2016
    singingflutelady wrote: »
    If you cannot eat enough by mouth I would be discussing tube feeding or tpn with my doctor

    This is actually a great idea/suggestion!
  • KrazyKrissyy
    KrazyKrissyy Posts: 322 Member
    successgal1 wrote: »
    It does sound like its possibly a medical issue AND your brain translating the feelings from food digestion incorrectly.

    Another posted above shared this "Eat only very small amounts of food, and consume progressively more from day-to-day until you can finally eat a normal diet."

    Have you tried eating small amounts maybe in 2 hour intervals to see how it goes? Maybe a liquid meal would help? A blender like blendtec sort of pre-chews the food for you. You can't have lactose but you can use a veggie protein powder, or liquid eggwhites, along with a low sugar fruit like blueberries and see how your system handles that.

    When I eat an overlarge meal I get tired, when I eat foods that I have trouble digesting I can get constipated (red meat, too much cheese, too much pasta), constipation makes me fatigued and irritable.

    I too am on the boat that its because you don't eat regularly enough, that when you do, your body overcompensates to digest, its actually a fair amount of work and energy to digest, if you have no fuel in you to begin with, your body has to take the energy from elsewhere to digest.

    Thanks for the suggestions and input. I've never tried meals as close as 2 hours apart. The closest I've gotten was 3 hours. I would eat raw stuff like nuts and fruit when doing that (my stomach didn't enjoy the raw snacks).
  • nutmegoreo
    nutmegoreo Posts: 15,532 Member
    Can you handle supplements? As in liquid meal replacement, something high protein. You could take a shot glass of that every 15-30 minutes (depending on calorie counts).
  • KrazyKrissyy
    KrazyKrissyy Posts: 322 Member
    nutmegoreo wrote: »
    Can you handle supplements? As in liquid meal replacement, something high protein. You could take a shot glass of that every 15-30 minutes (depending on calorie counts).

    I can as long as no-low lactose. You mean like a protein shake diet?
  • nutmegoreo
    nutmegoreo Posts: 15,532 Member
    KrazyKrissyy wrote: »
    nutmegoreo wrote: »
    Can you handle supplements? As in liquid meal replacement, something high protein. You could take a shot glass of that every 15-30 minutes (depending on calorie counts).

    I can as long as no-low lactose. You mean like a protein shake diet?

    Or like a boost or ensure, but high protein formulation. Anything that will give you essential nutrients.

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