Do you force yourself to eat?

whatalazyidiot
whatalazyidiot Posts: 343 Member
edited December 2024 in Health and Weight Loss
When you're not hungry?

I do NOT condone trying to eat too few calories. This is super rare for me, but I was shopping all day today and I ate a light dinner, and have no appetite.

If it's just one day, do you just let it go, or do you try to find something appetizing. I could probably drink a protein shake or something if I have to, but I also have a history of disordered eating (both eating too much and too little on purpose), so I don't know if it's better to just force the calories?

I'm at 1,185 calories for the day, so it's not crazy low, but it's a few hundred less than what I usually eat.

Replies

  • kami3006
    kami3006 Posts: 4,979 Member
    edited December 2018
    whatalazyidiot wrote: »
    When you're not hungry?

    I do NOT condone trying to eat too few calories. This is super rare for me, but I was shopping all day today and I ate a light dinner, and have no appetite.

    If it's just one day, do you just let it go, or do you try to find something appetizing. I could probably drink a protein shake or something if I have to, but I also have a history of disordered eating (both eating too much and too little on purpose), so I don't know if it's better to just force the calories?

    I'm at 1,185 calories for the day, so it's not crazy low, but it's a few hundred less than what I usually eat.

    I follow a weekly calorie goal so I can be over some days and under others. It balance out over the week. Some days, I am just full (cardio curbs my appetite) so I have those calories another day (lifting makes me super hungry).

    ETA: With consideration of your history, if it's just the occasional thing, I don't see any reason to force yourself. I would think forcing calories would be just as bad. But, I'm no expert on ED or your specific issues.
  • whatalazyidiot
    whatalazyidiot Posts: 343 Member
    kami3006 wrote: »
    whatalazyidiot wrote: »
    When you're not hungry?

    I do NOT condone trying to eat too few calories. This is super rare for me, but I was shopping all day today and I ate a light dinner, and have no appetite.

    If it's just one day, do you just let it go, or do you try to find something appetizing. I could probably drink a protein shake or something if I have to, but I also have a history of disordered eating (both eating too much and too little on purpose), so I don't know if it's better to just force the calories?

    I'm at 1,185 calories for the day, so it's not crazy low, but it's a few hundred less than what I usually eat.

    I follow a weekly calorie goal so I can be over some days and under others. It balance out over the week. Some days, I am just full (cardio curbs my appetite) so I have those calories another day (lifting makes me super hungry).

    ETA: With consideration of your history, if it's just the occasional thing, I don't see any reason to force yourself. I would think forcing calories would be just as bad. But, I'm no expert on ED or your specific issues.

    Oh yeah I forgot people do the weekly thing. That might be good to give me a day this weekend where I can eat a little more (usually when I want to).

    I have a tendency to gradually eat less and less and less and push myself. Then I'm starving, eat too much, then I go off the rails and binge eat for a few months, then back to dieting, rinse and repeat. I have been trying really hard this time to not only eat my calories, but most of my exercise calories (Which I never would have done before).

  • psychod787
    psychod787 Posts: 4,099 Member
    edited December 2018
    Your appetite will come roaring back when you come back to maintenance. P.s. eat more maybe....
  • deannalfisher
    deannalfisher Posts: 5,600 Member
    I try to hit my goals because of overly restrictive eating in the past and it’s really easy for me to skip back into those habits - because after I eat I realize that I was hungry but that my brain was screwing with the signals
  • whatalazyidiot
    whatalazyidiot Posts: 343 Member
    deannalfisher wrote: »
    I try to hit my goals because of overly restrictive eating in the past and it’s really easy for me to skip back into those habits - because after I eat I realize that I was hungry but that my brain was screwing with the signals

    Yeah that's kind of what I have been trying to pay attention to. It happens so easily, almost subconsciously.
  • jaciejaciexoxo
    jaciejaciexoxo Posts: 49 Member
    whatalazyidiot wrote: »
    When you're not hungry?

    I do NOT condone trying to eat too few calories. This is super rare for me, but I was shopping all day today and I ate a light dinner, and have no appetite.

    If it's just one day, do you just let it go, or do you try to find something appetizing. I could probably drink a protein shake or something if I have to, but I also have a history of disordered eating (both eating too much and too little on purpose), so I don't know if it's better to just force the calories?

    I'm at 1,185 calories for the day, so it's not crazy low, but it's a few hundred less than what I usually eat.

    Sometimes I do. I’ve eaten like a bird my whole life. Don’t get me wrong I LOVE FOOD AND I LOVE COOKING...but I have no appetite half the time and eat well under what the average person does....but because my goal is to gain weight I sometimes do force myself to eat which turns out to make things worse bc I just hurl or am so full that I can’t eat the rest of the day....I’ve now learned to put most of the calories I need in a fruity smoothie which helps when you have to eat nearly 3000 calories to make up for what you burn
  • janejellyroll
    janejellyroll Posts: 25,763 Member
    Within a single day, no. I know from experience that if I'm not as hungry one day then I'll want more the next day and I just eat those calories then.

    The only exception would be in times of very high stress or anxiety and I do force myself to eat then because I know that is what is best for me personally. I try to stay honest with myself about how I'm feeling and what is going on -- is this a physical lack of hunger or is it driven by emotion?
  • mmapags
    mmapags Posts: 8,934 Member
    The occasional day here or there? No issue. A habit of this would not be good but that doesn't sound like an issue for you.
  • elisa123gal
    elisa123gal Posts: 4,333 Member
    "force" is a strong word. I don't force myself to eat.. but I remind myself to eat and fuel my body throughout the day to become as healthy as possible. I don't buy into the school of thought to only eat when you're hungry. That's true if you're stuffing your face for no reason..but ..,.not eating or under-eating is another matter.

    In the morning.. if I'm not hungry .. I still eat a vegetable egg white omelet with turmeric and eat a grapefruit... why? to get nutrients into my body and to give myself protein to start my day and fuel my body. I don't wait to be hungry to do what I need to do.
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