I am not hungry

mynewlife10
mynewlife10 Posts: 52
in Introduce Yourself
Hello All,

I battled a heart problem for a year and had surgery to fix it. Finally, I am able to get back in to the swing of things after gaining close to 40 pounds. The minute i started, I found myself not being hungry anymore. In fact, looking at food makes me ill and I feel like having nothing to do with it. I am wanting to find foods that I can eat the least of so I can just digest it without much preparation. This seems not too healthy of a start and I am already getting the message - "You are not eating enough calories." I am just not hungry. Maybe because I am just a few days in to it my body is still adjusting itself and will find its balance?

I am exercising 1 hour a day and will step it up with weight training.

Anyone here have this experience?

Replies

  • diannethegeek
    diannethegeek Posts: 14,776 Member
    Have you tried shakes and smoothies? A lot of people find that they can drink more calories when they can't eat them.

    You can start adding calorie dense foods to your diet. Nuts, nut butters, ice cream, full fat dairy, Greek yogurt, cheese, olive oil or coconut oil, dark chocolate, etc.

    But really, this might be something to talk to your doctor about.
  • beachlover317
    beachlover317 Posts: 2,848 Member
    I think that you are beginning to look at food in a very unhealthy way. If looking at food makes you ill - that is not normal. I would recommend that you talk to your doctor about your caloric intake and your feelings about food. Exercising an hour every day, without fueling your workouts is a recipe for burn out.

    Talk to you doctor. That needs to be your first step.
  • mynewlife10
    mynewlife10 Posts: 52
    Yes, I am using vanilla shakes with a high protein content mixed with soymilk. It is not as if I don't eat - I am just tired of the whole "I have to eat, but can't eat too much so now I have to eat this but not that." It's a hassle and it has always been too little or too much food.

    I think we all got here because we have had an unhealthy relationship with food, in some form or fashion. This is what makes sense to me - what doesn't make sense is why I am not more hungry or hungry for the most part.
  • deksgrl
    deksgrl Posts: 7,237 Member
    You don't have to eat special foods or restrict to not eating certain foods (unless your doctor has told you to for medical reasons). You just have to fit the calories into your plan. Don't think of it as a diet, think of it as "how I will eat for the rest of my life".
  • QuietBloom
    QuietBloom Posts: 5,413 Member
    Not being hungry can be a sign that something is wrong. Sometimes people who are extremely depressed lose their appetites completely - any chance that has anything to do with it? Keep some Ensures on hand, and don't hesitate to call your doctor if things don't turn around within a week or two.
  • mynewlife10
    mynewlife10 Posts: 52
    It's interesting you would bring up depression. I took a "Temperament and Personality Traits" evaluation (for my own curiousity) recently and it came back that I was a very positive person, with a Go Getter attitude. And, I agree with this. So, I don't think that's what could be causing it. I am thinking it is rooted in my brain saying: "Here we go again - you had this heart problem and now you are starting all over." But, I can't be sure. I think I will give it a few days and see where it takes me. I have to dig deeper than I ever have and take it one day at a time. I like the advice to have Ensure and other nutritional drinks available if I just don't feel like eating. One can always drink some liquid.

    Thank you :)

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