Atkins, no hunger, can't hit calorie goal

BigAnnieG

I'm on Atkins induction (yes, I know it isn't for everyone but as an insulin resistance PCOS thyroid devoid fibro queen I'm giving low carb a go) and am finding something really weird is going on.

I'm not hungry.

Bear in mind I am your classic volume eater. I like to eat, and I like to eat big plates of it. Hence my need to lose weight.

I've lost 13lbs in 9 days and am aware it is mostly water weight. But I can't seem to motivate myself to eat...well, anything.

My calorie goal is 1770 a day, to lose 1.5lbs a week (6'2 with a start weight above 260lbs). But for example today, even after several hours wandering a shopping mall and a half hour dog walk, I'm just over 450 calories and could quite contently not have another bite the rest of the day.

Does anyone else on a low carb diet have a similar problem? What do you do to make yourself eat to meet a calorie goal?

I should add that I am feeling 100% fine on such a low cal diet. No dizziness, nausea, easy to wake up, not exhausted as I expected I would be. But I'm aware that staying sub-1000 calories a day, especially at my size, is not ideal. So anyone have any suggestions?

Thanks!

VintageFeline

You just make yourself eat. Being high fat it's pretty easy to get the calories in with low volume. Set a reminder on your phone and eat when it goes off.

I have a feeling that at some point, if you don't make yourself eat, you're just going to wake up ravenously hungry one day.

Rammer123

Depending on how far into doing Atkins you are, I would suggest just listening to your body. If you've been eating like this for weeks on end, I might say to atleast get closer to 1,000-1,200 but just like @VintageFeline said, I also think at some point, you may wake up and feel like you have insatiable hunger, and then it may feel incredibly hard to stay within your calories. But if you genuinely do not have a desire to eat, I think you should just listen to those feelings, just be aware, there may come a day (or a few days in a row) where you feel very very hungry and will have to be mentally strong to stay within a couple hundred of your calorie goal.

VintageFeline

At 450 calories and not being hungry, I rather think it's not okay to listen to your own body.

BigAnnieG

Thanks for replying so quickly!

It is a weird one because I *know* under 1000 cals a day is bad, but I'm feeling so good I'm scared of messing it up by eating more. It's a similar feeling I expect people who do short fasts feel.

Had anyone tried making "fat bombs"? A ton started coming up on my Pinterest feed but I don't really get what they are. Worth a try for the calorie boost?

Rammer123

VintageFeline wrote: »

At 450 calories and not being hungry, I rather think it's not okay to listen to your own body.

Ok thanks for your input on my opinion.

Rammer123

BigAnnieG wrote: »

Thanks for replying so quickly!

but I'm feeling so good I'm scared of messing it up by eating more. quote]


I think that can be a problem. That can lead you to start having eating issues, convincing yourself that you need to eat less in order to stay on track. If that comes into play when deciding if you're hungry or not, that's not listening to your body. If you feel hungry, but then decide, nah I'm not thatttttt hungry and I'm doing so well I just shouldn't eat anymore, that's not good.

tabletop_joe

You'd be best served if you got closer to your set daily calorie goal, however you choose to get there.

Good luck; I'm glad you're not struggling with hunger right now!

cgrout78

even if you're not hungry, try something like a spoonful of peanut butter or something like that. Or try oil on your veggies as a way to add more fats and calories without seeming like you're eating more?

danigirl1011

Maybe you finally found something that works well for you? I would say make sure you are getting enough water, it helps me feel hungrier sometimes. But sounds like its good for you so far. I would see where it takes you. Good luck!

toxikon

I'm also following a keto diet (basically what Atkins Induction is) and lack of hunger is a common side effect.

I'd recommend throwing some extra high-calorie foods into your day. Almonds, nut butters (peanut butter), add more butter/heavy cream to your dishes. A few tablespoons of heavy cream in your coffee or tea helps a lot.

While you adjust, I'd recommend a daily multi-vitamin and some supplemental potassium and magnesium to replenish electrolytes.

janejellyroll

danigirl1011 wrote: »

Maybe you finally found something that works well for you? I would say make sure you are getting enough water, it helps me feel hungrier sometimes. But sounds like its good for you so far. I would see where it takes you. Good luck!

If, over time, someone can't eat enough to sustain their life, I would argue it isn't working well for them.

A short period of decreased hunger is relatively common at the beginning of a new diet or meal plan. But long term, OP is going to have to find ways to eat more than a few hundred calories a day, especially if she is planning on being active.

JohnnyLowCarb

I too am LCHF, dont worry the hunger will come. Your on an adrenaline and ketones high because you are seeing results. But your body will certainly catch up and you will eat.

BigAnnieG

Thanks everyone! I have only been on this for 9 days (almost 10) so you're probably right about the "ketone high" and the hunger will come! If it stays away, I'll try adding the extra cals in with nut butters etc as suggested :-)

GLady1980

At 450 cals that is pretty low to not feel any hunger but I wonder have you properly calculated your cals? If that is not it then I am with the majority to add high fats and protein they are usually high in cals but healthy such as nuts, hard boiled eggs, cheese

bluets2011

Ive asked a similar question on the low carb group here (worth joining many knowledgeable people there). And someone said hunger comes back. Today I was able to meet my calorie goal.

MelodiousMermaid

BigAnnieG, I was in the same boat as you last week (low cal, no hunger on a keto diet). I'm still doing a keto diet, but have leveled out a bit by going to six small meals a day. It's a tad tedious, especially if you're looking to get enough protein so you don't lose muscle, but I've found that I'm functioning even better!

Then again, perhaps it won't be as tedious for you, if you don't have food allergies yourself or in your household! (Mine has tree nut (me+daughter)/coconut (daughter) issues, which adds a lot of complication.

The meals/snacks should be somewhat consistent (I was eating a big breakfast in the morning, and this was causing some of my troubles). I'm aiming for 1500 calories a day, and am trying to be in the range of 200-350 for the first five "meals" and going a bit smaller on the last one. I've only been somewhat successful (I've found I'm still having 400-450 calorie meals here and there), but it's a lot closer than I was.

Also, for extra calories, something that's been recommended to me (but I haven't tried because I don't like one of the ingredients and I don't keep one of the others in the house due to my daughter's allergies) is "bulletproof coffee." I've been told that it's a good way to get a "meal" in for the breakfast spot but keep your body in "full keto mode." I'm not overly familiar with the intricacies of the whole deal, but figured it's "food for thought."

Also, if you're interested in learning more about macronutrient percentages for keto diets, here's a pretty great page that was recommended to me: https://keto-calculator.ankerl.com/

StaciMarie1974

I noticed you posted this at 12:50 in the afternoon. I'd suspect you would have feelings of hunger later in the day... If its an occasional/random day of no appetite, no worries. Stay hydrated but listen to your body on food. Should not be a regular thing though.

LAT1963

Listen to your body. After a few days you'll probably be hungry again, don't worry about it unless the issue persists more than a few days.

BigAnnieG

StaciMarie1974 wrote: »

I noticed you posted this at 12:50 in the afternoon. I'd suspect you would have feelings of hunger later in the day... If its an occasional/random day of no appetite, no worries. Stay hydrated but listen to your body on food. Should not be a regular thing though.

It was a lunchtime pondering, really, as I suddenly realises that I was around a lot of food (lunchtime in a shopping mall!) And realised that since starting the diet I hadn't thought about food or felt hunger at all - even with all those lovely food smells around!

lemurcat12

If you are doing keto because you want it to kill hunger, I think you have to accept that it might and eat for the sake of getting in the calories and nutrition (and not just fat bombs, which aren't really nutritious).

If you feel like you don't need to, that's the keto effect talking, it's still not good to eat 450 calories per day (unless you are fasting and have a scheduled low day).

If you can't possibly fit in more food, something problematic is going on, talk to a doctor.

LAT1963

To me this doesn't sound like it has been going on long enough to be a problem, lemur.

Take some vitamins to be on the safe side until your appetite returns which I expect it will in 1-2 days.

ccsernica

You have hit on the big secret to why Atkins works. It leaves you feeling extremely sated, so you automatically eat less without really concentrating on it.

lemurcat12

LAT1963 wrote: »

To me this doesn't sound like it has been going on long enough to be a problem, lemur.

Take some vitamins to be on the safe side until your appetite returns which I expect it will in 1-2 days.

Yeah, probably not.

I always think it's important to stress that absolutely no appetite, as in "I can't choke stuff down, eating seems unpleasant" after 450 calories in day (which is SUPER low, we aren't talking 1000) is NOT normal or good. Usually I think it's that people are used to being hungry all the time or just thought they would be, so are exaggerating "I could eat, but don't feel like I need to, so should I?" -- and if so and you've only had 450 calories, the answer is YES, especially since apparently the goal is to feel that way (that some get with keto, I guess). If the issue is really that the idea of eating is too hard to manage I worry there's something more going on and that people are seeing something that's not good as good.

But I think low cals for a day or two, even that low, is no biggie. I do think it's bad and needs to be checked out if it lasts for any length of time as a real "no appetite at all" or "eating seems unpleasant" kind of thing.

nvmomketo

Low carbers often approach the macros this way:

Protein is a goal - strive to hit it
Carbs are a ceiling - try to stay under it
Fats just fill in the rest, and quite frankly most of us who use low carb have plenty of body fat without adding in extra dietary fat.

So my advice would be to try to hit your protein goals, and at least meet the minimum. For many women the minimum is around 40-60g per day but a bit more is usually better. Get your 80,90 or whatever grams of protein on most days. If still hungry, eat more fats, or fattier cuts of meat. If not hungry, eat fewer fats and carbs.

I would also advise you to enjoy the lowered appetite. It often doesn't last forever at that extreme. Many find it stays lower than it used to be but most have not problem meeting their caloric goals after a while.

BigAnnieG

Thanks for the input!

I'm still not hungry this morning, but did manage a small dinner last night which took me to around 1000 cals.

I wonder if restarting metformin (slow release) only a few days ago might also be having an effect? It dawned on me today that could be some of it.

For now, I'm going to enjoy being hunger-free, but if it's the same in a week I'll go to the doc and make sure it's nowt sinister :-) I think if I manage around 1100 cals a day for now, without it making me feel odd, that's a goal I can reach.

I'm sure as you say the hunger will return, so I'm just going to ride it out and make the most of feeling fine (for the first time in a LONG time!).

Thanks everyone, your input is so helpful :-)

amusedmonkey

If hunger doesn't return, you need to either force yourself to eat. If it's too unpleasant to force-feed yourself, gradually increase your carb intake until you hit a level that is still low carb but is not affecting your food intake too negatively. You don't need to stay married to any named diet if it means being undernourished or any other negative health concerns. There is a middle ground.

BigAnnieG

blomsj wrote: »

Also, if you're interested in learning more about macronutrient percentages for keto diets, here's a pretty great page that was recommended to me: https://keto-calculator.ankerl.com/

Wow, that calculator is so helpful, thank you!

stanmann571

VintageFeline wrote: »

At 450 calories and not being hungry, I rather think it's not okay to listen to your own body.

If it's just a day or two, NBD, if you go 3-5 days and you're still not hungry, it's definitely time to force feed, or adjust the particulars.

When I did induction a few(15) years back, I already had developed the habit of deliberate eating... so breakfast was 2-3 eggs, and bacon, lunch was a salad(lettuce, broccoli, cheese) with a bacon cheeseburger(naked) or 2. Dinner was about the same. Snack during the day might be a half cup of salsa and 10 oz of tuna.

Spread out the eating. Mind the calories and nutrients.

FattieBabs

Proteins do make you feel fuller and you don't get the mid-afternoon sugar rush like you would with refined carbs..... to be honest I lost weight with Atkins but didnt feel too well on it and put all the weight back on after.... but it does work for a lot of people and the doc was impressed with my chlorestrol levels!

stanmann571

lemurcat12 wrote: »

To me this doesn't sound like it has been going on long enough to be a problem, lemur.

Take some vitamins to be on the safe side until your appetite returns which I expect it will in 1-2 days.

LAT1963 wrote: »

Yeah, probably not.

I always think it's important to stress that absolutely no appetite, as in "I can't choke stuff down, eating seems unpleasant" after 450 calories in day (which is SUPER low, we aren't talking 1000) is NOT normal or good. Usually I think it's that people are used to being hungry all the time or just thought they would be, so are exaggerating "I could eat, but don't feel like I need to, so should I?" -- and if so and you've only had 450 calories, the answer is YES, especially since apparently the goal is to feel that way (that some get with keto, I guess).

THIS, If you're nauseated by the idea of food, that's a problem. If you're comfortable, that's the goal. That being said. set up a plan and eat to the plan.