What if I'm just not hungry

amartine

So. I have a problem. Ever since I started not eating all the time (especially cutting back on the junk food), I find myself not as hungry. Great right? Well no, not exactly. This leaves me with large amounts of leftover calories. Like today...I ordered a taco salad with light dressing. I ate literally under 1/2 of the salad. Granted it was a late lunch (12:45pmish) and that's the reason why I'm not hungry, but by the time I'd out of college, it's 9pm. Even if I was hungry (which I generally am not) I shouldn't eat because it's so late. What to do?

amartine

So. I have a problem. Ever since I started not eating all the time (especially cutting back on the junk food), I find myself not as hungry. Great right? Well no, not exactly. This leaves me with large amounts of leftover calories. Like today...I ordered a taco salad with light dressing. I ate literally under 1/2 of the salad. Granted it was a late lunch (12:45pmish) and that's the reason why I'm not hungry, but by the time I'd out of college, it's 9pm. Even if I was hungry (which I generally am not) I shouldn't eat because it's so late. What to do?

kerrilucko

The time of day that you eat has NO negative effects. Ya, don't gorge yourselff before bed or you'll have a tummy ache, but a light meal at 9pm is totally fine, especially if you havn't eaten since 1! I'd recommend bringing snacks to class with you. Even a carton of milk or a bottle of juice is better than nothing. Eat your calories!:flowerforyou:

faythe

How much is a "huge number of calories"? What's your BMR? Chances are, if you're not hungry, you're at the right level of nutrition - I'm sure you know what hunger feels like! Are you set at the recommended level of 1 pound/week? There are a lot of factors in play here!

kerrilucko

How much is a "huge number of calories"? What's your BMR? Chances are, if you're not hungry, you're at the right level of nutrition - I'm sure you know what hunger feels like! Are you set at the recommended level of 1 pound/week? There are a lot of factors in play here!

I must respectfully disagree. Our bodies are easily trained to not feel hunger. Many of us have suffered eating disorders in the past and can vouch for this. Consistent undereating will result in feeling less hungry, so whether or not you FEEL hungry doesn't have much bearing on wether or not you should eat. Besides, most of us are here due to overeating in some way for some reason, we clearly aren't very good at reading our bodies' signals. Nothing to eat from 1pm until the next morning is never a good thing.

ChubbyBunny

I've also learned to drink some of my calories.
I agree that eating later won't cause you to hold onto weight per say, but don't gorge yourself or it could impact your sleep.

I also agree, recovering from an eating disorder, that there are TONS of times where I am not hungry...even if all I have eaten is 300 calories for a whole day. Lack of hunger is one of the first signs of starvation. Even if we aren't hungry doesn't mean our body has what it needs to function at it's peak.

:flowerforyou:

kerrilucko

I've also learned to drink some of my calories.
I agree that eating later won't cause you to hold onto weight per say, but don't gorge yourself or it could impact your sleep.

I also agree, recovering from an eating disorder, that there are TONS of times where I am not hungry...even if all I have eaten is 300 calories for a whole day. Lack of hunger is one of the first signs of starvation. Even if we aren't hungry doesn't mean our body has what it needs to function at it's peak.

:flowerforyou:

the bunny in your avatar is like... the cutest bunny EVER

ChubbyBunny

I've also learned to drink some of my calories.
I agree that eating later won't cause you to hold onto weight per say, but don't gorge yourself or it could impact your sleep.

I also agree, recovering from an eating disorder, that there are TONS of times where I am not hungry...even if all I have eaten is 300 calories for a whole day. Lack of hunger is one of the first signs of starvation. Even if we aren't hungry doesn't mean our body has what it needs to function at it's peak.

:flowerforyou:

the bunny in your avatar is like... the cutest bunny EVER

Why thank you... I was going for cute! :flowerforyou:

Phoenixflame

Calculate your BMR and plan off of that. And please, EAT! It's only because of this wonderful site that I've realized the stalling in my weight-loss is not because of me just being a stupid cow, but that I'd been accidentally starving myself for an entire summer. At first weight came off because, zomg, no more fries and burgers, but then it stopped.

And it's HARD to make myself eat. I'm trying to return to my recommended number, though I'm trying to do it slowly so my body can adjust and not put on too much "OMFG, famine over!" weight. And it's hard. I'll read the calories on something and drop it in disgust...before realizing that if I paired it with a light salad that I've have a LOVELY dinner.

Your body internalizes things. I know damn well that I would probably lose weight if I ate more...but some part of me still gives a giggle when I realize I can shave a certain amount of calories off of a recipe. Or thinking "I TOTALLY saved myself some calories!" And then there's the crushing fear of putting weight BACK on before my body can resume its weight loss. The only way I can attempt to rationalize it is that, as a history geek, I know that there have been generals who have had to give up ground to win the war. Or else you wind up with WWI trench warfare stalemate.