Started a little more than a week ago, now not hungry

Liamsm0m
Liamsm0m Posts: 102 Member
in Getting Started
Please be nice... I’m relatively new to all this so I’m learning. Remember that when you answer. :)

I am working with an RD to help shape my eating to help with weight loss, nutrition and help to prevent (or decrease my likelihood) for diabetes and high BP, as one runs in my family and the other I had issues with when pregnant (BP) that took a while to resolve post partum.

I’ve been keeping track and I’ve noticed I’m more conscious with my food, which is eye opening for me. But I’m not hungry anymore! Lol

I am not depriving myself. I feel well fed and have more energy through the day, but yesterday, I was waaaay below my calorie count (so low MFP wouldn’t post that I completed my diary), but I really wasn’t hungry. Thought it was stress (this is something she and I are working on) but today is relatively the same. I have never been the type to just eat to eat. Before all this I was a true food lover lol and I still am but dare I say I feel “different” about it? Idk if I’m explaining this right.

- is this what happens when we slow down and pay attention to food? I am ok with it, I just need to know if it’s “normal”
- is it possible my calories are too high? (I will do metabolic testing at my next appt)

Thanks for your time.

Replies

  • Liamsm0m
    Liamsm0m Posts: 102 Member
    Thank you! I was thinking maybe I was doing something wrong. I guess since I’m eating regularly through the day as opposed to waiting mostly until dinner, I’m not “famished”, as I usually was, which I’m seeing made it hard to control the urges to eat everything in sight and then some.

    I appreciate your response. <3
  • AliceDark
    AliceDark Posts: 3,886 Member
    A few thoughts:

    1. Hunger is really variable, and not just in response to physical things. When I cut, the first week is always super easy, because I'm excited and things are new, and that tends to make me feel less hungry even on reduced calories.
    2. Different types of foods are more satiating than others, so if you've started taking in more protein or fiber, it's totally normal to feel less hungry.
    3. Exercise can also be an appetite suppressant, so if you've started incorporating exercise, that could explain some of it as well.
    4. However...people are universally terrible at gauging calorie intake. Are you using a food scale? If not, you may be eating more than you think. (In this case, that's a good thing. Eating so few calories that you can't close out your diary isn't good for you in the long term).

    If you are using a food scale and you're sure that you're currently under-eating to the point that you can't close out your diary, that's not a good place to be in the long term. If that's truly the case, start looking for opportunities to adjust your meals so that you're getting enough calories to maintain your health while still losing weight. Things like fats are easy to incorporate without making you feel overly full.

    Satiety is really individual, and there's a learning curve while you learn how to track and to negotiate a different way of eating. Everything you've described is totally normal, but just keep an eye on it. The goal is to feel full on fewer calories, but it's also to make sure that you're taking in enough fuel to stay healthy. Great job so far!
  • CSARdiver
    CSARdiver Posts: 6,252 Member
    Welcome aboard!

    I've been at this a little over 3.5 years and I had a very similar experience initially. My initial motivation drove me to not eat and I spent a great deal of time asking the question "Is this hunger or appetite?". I implemented multiple simple tricks to help with hunger as my portion size adjusted to deficit/maintenance and also learned which foods had a high level of satiety for me.

    On these times when I didn't feel hungry and had low appetite I looked at my logs and ensured I was getting sufficient protein and carbs (these being my primary concerns based on my goals). I also invite the MFP veterans to comment whenever I had a question on how best to meet these goals.

    I also look at these times for bonus spending and will pull out a select brew from the cellar. Like finding a bonus $20 in your pocket when your on a budget.

    The fact that you have this concern puts you way ahead of the curve.
  • Liamsm0m
    Liamsm0m Posts: 102 Member
    AliceDark wrote: »
    A few thoughts:

    1. Hunger is really variable, and not just in response to physical things. When I cut, the first week is always super easy, because I'm excited and things are new, and that tends to make me feel less hungry even on reduced calories.
    2. Different types of foods are more satiating than others, so if you've started taking in more protein or fiber, it's totally normal to feel less hungry.
    3. Exercise can also be an appetite suppressant, so if you've started incorporating exercise, that could explain some of it as well.
    4. However...people are universally terrible at gauging calorie intake. Are you using a food scale? If not, you may be eating more than you think. (In this case, that's a good thing. Eating so few calories that you can't close out your diary isn't good for you in the long term).

    If you are using a food scale and you're sure that you're currently under-eating to the point that you can't close out your diary, that's not a good place to be in the long term. If that's truly the case, start looking for opportunities to adjust your meals so that you're getting enough calories to maintain your health while still losing weight. Things like fats are easy to incorporate without making you feel overly full.

    Satiety is really individual, and there's a learning curve while you learn how to track and to negotiate a different way of eating. Everything you've described is totally normal, but just keep an eye on it. The goal is to feel full on fewer calories, but it's also to make sure that you're taking in enough fuel to stay healthy. Great job so far!

    Thanks!
    Yes. I have a scale and following a general food plan from a list my RD gave me. It’s more an ingredient list but I do follow it at the store. I have not found this easy or fun. Intriguing maybe. But it takes me longer to make food and then I have to log it. But I’m sure with time I will get faster. I’m seeing accountability helps! :)

    It is likely I am eating more protein and fiber but I don’t see it that obviously. I meet with her next week and ask her about this because I will see calories left and I honestly do not feel I could eat more - like that would leave me feeling stuffed... a feeling I truly hate. Thanks for mentioning satiety is individual. Xo
  • Liamsm0m
    Liamsm0m Posts: 102 Member
    CSARdiver wrote: »
    Welcome aboard!

    I've been at this a little over 3.5 years and I had a very similar experience initially. My initial motivation drove me to not eat and I spent a great deal of time asking the question "Is this hunger or appetite?". I implemented multiple simple tricks to help with hunger as my portion size adjusted to deficit/maintenance and also learned which foods had a high level of satiety for me.

    On these times when I didn't feel hungry and had low appetite I looked at my logs and ensured I was getting sufficient protein and carbs (these being my primary concerns based on my goals). I also invite the MFP veterans to comment whenever I had a question on how best to meet these goals.

    I also look at these times for bonus spending and will pull out a select brew from the cellar. Like finding a bonus $20 in your pocket when your on a budget.

    The fact that you have this concern puts you way ahead of the curve.

    Thanks for the support! That’s a great point about the bonus. I’m learning that big bonuses aren’t for every day... they are for sometimes. This is totally new for me! I have found myself asking am
    I hungry or do I ‘think’ I need to eat? So thanks for mentioning that as well.
  • 1BlueAurora
    1BlueAurora Posts: 439 Member
    That happened to me when I first started logging. In addition to paying attention to every single calorie, I started drinking a lot more water and herbal tea, which was filling me up. After two or three weeks of eating on MFP, I settled into the program and was able to eat smaller amounts throughout the day and would hit my daily calorie goal instead of going under or over.

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