Days Where it is Hard to Eat

Linli_Anne

Do you have days where you don't ever register the hunger signals? Days where it feels like after breakfast you feel like you don't need anything else to eat?

I have days now where I feel like I am force feeding myself to get to the 1200 calorie minimum....and that's not even taking into consideration any calories I burn during exercise.

How do you get through that? It is obviously a mental thing, but I do get concerned about the effects that days like that can have on my metabolism and my desire to be a healther weight.

RoseAmongThorns91

I have had days where that has happened. Just keep an eye on it - if it continues for long (i.e. longer than a week) then I would seek out a professional. If it's only for a few days, then no big deal. IMHO

itsuki

On days like this I look for food with high calorie density (ie, you don't have to eat a lot of it to get the calories you need). I love peanut butter, which is pretty high-calorie, and good cheese. Since they have higher calories it doesn't feel like I'm stuffing myself when I'm not hungry.

sunnyside1213

Yes, very occasionally. I wouldn't worry about it. Instead enjoy that fact that you aren't starving which I am today.

lacurandera1

Eat calorie dense things if you really have that much of a problem with it. Any sort of nut is a healthy and around 200 calories for a serving (1 oz). You're not going to do yourself any favors not even eating 1200 calories. Whole milk and dark chocolate are also relatively healthy ways to boost your intake. Meat, full fat cheeses, peanut butter.

If your mind is scaring you away from eating, start adding some of these into your diet to compensate. But, really work on what in you is keeping you from eating. it's not good, it's not healthy, and if you're working out regularly, it will be detrimental.

Touchdown73

It's pretty simple. Listen to your body. If you are hungry eat. If you are not hungry - don't eat.

nanainkent

I am the same way. I preplan up to my goal and that night before bed ALOT of times I have to go in and take stuff off that I didn't eat. Eating to reach my goal when I am not hungry and the thought of eating makes me grimmace. I don't always follow my own advice but here goes. You could try filling in to reach goals with a protien shake. It will add calories, give nutrients, and it is easier to drink something than to eat it. I find that with shakes if you add things to it it becomes thicker but if you do just powder and milk or juice it is like drinking a milk. There are many flavors to choose from, you can even get vanilla and add what ever flavoring you want that night. Or if you are Lactose intolerant (Like me) there is one that has no dairy in it. If you get one to try that make sure you get one labeled "Whey Isolate" it is easier for the body to digest. Anyway, I am in your position too,, so good luck.

jacksonpt

On days like this I look for food with high calorie density (ie, you don't have to eat a lot of it to get the calories you need). I love peanut butter, which is pretty high-calorie, and good cheese. Since they have higher calories it doesn't feel like I'm stuffing myself when I'm not hungry.

This. Cheese, pepperoni (or snack meat of choice), and crackers make a good, high calorie snack. Anything with PB does too.

crystalflame

Plan it all out ahead of time so you know what you're eating for the day. It might help to break it down into small chunks - an apple around 10AM, a sandwich at 12:30, a handful of nuts at 3 - so you never feel like you're forcing down a ton of food. Also, drinking nutritious calories like orange juice or milk is a pretty easy way to get them in without noticing.

Kat5343

I really hate it... There will be days I am literally forcefeeding myself and then others where I cannot seem to get enough to eat. I tend to follow my bodies cues.. If I am not hungry I try not to force it... When I am starving I might go over calories a bit but in the scheme of a week it balances out..

TeachTheGirl

For me, today especially, it's that I can't get out to the store and what I have at home doesn't make a complete meal or isn't exactly healthy. So I know I'm probably going to be under at the end of the day. >.<

jesswait

That's good advice, I wasn't hungry at all yesterday and I ended up eating a bunch of nuts to pad my calories so I could net a healthy amount. Now today I feel horrible, it's almost 2:30 and I haven't even had breakfast yet. If I had left well enough alone yesterday I might not have ruined today too. If I don't end up eating something soon I'll have to skip the gym tonight, and I would really rather not do that.

crystalflame

It's pretty simple. Listen to your body. If you are hungry eat. If you are not hungry - don't eat.

This can be pretty bad advice. You need a minimum number of calories to function. As someone who's struggled with EDs, I don't always register the signal from my brain that I'm hungry. There could be something medically wrong as well. If the lack of hunger persists, the OP should talk to a doctor about it and make sure everything's OK.

auroranflash

Not sure how this happens...

Overeat, gain weight. Join MFP. MFP tells you 1200 calories. People say they struggle to eat even that. That they're just 'too full'.

Well, that wasn't the case before when you were overeating, so how are you too full now, eating a fraction of what you were previously? Is it really that you 'feel full' or that, now that you can see the calories, you're too anxious to eat because you know you will have to log it and you're trying to lose weight faster by eating less?

I'm really not understanding how this works out. I'm not trying to be rude and if it comes across that way I apologize.

jesz124

You have to force feed yourself to eat 1200? I'd be worried....

Chief_Rocka

It's pretty simple. Listen to your body. If you are hungry eat. If you are not hungry - don't eat.

Yes, because there is a 1-1 correlation between hunger and the physiological need for calories, amirite?

jesswait

Not sure how this happens...

Overeat, gain weight. Join MFP. MFP tells you 1200 calories. People say they struggle to eat even that. That they're just 'too full'.

Well, that wasn't the case before when you were overeating, so how are you too full now, eating a fraction of what you were previously? Is it really that you 'feel full' or that, now that you can see the calories, you're too anxious to eat because you know you will have to log it and you're trying to lose weight faster by eating less?

I'm really not understanding how this works out. I'm not trying to be rude and if it comes across that way I apologize.

I don't know about everyone else. I gave up soda, when I was gaining weight I drank up to 6 'normal/sugar' sodas a day (840 liquid calories). I have never been able to eat all that much, now that I'm eating healthier foods I find they are much more dense/have a lot more fiber and it's tough to eat enough. It's not really an option for me to go back to eating unhealthy just to eat more calories because when I did I never had any energy and always felt horrible.

sa11yjane

I am sooooooooooooo jealous of you; it's never a problem for me although I do register full up and will happily skip a meal if I'm not hungry.

Are you feeling ok? You're not depressed or anything as that might impact on your lack of appetite? Maybe go and see your doctor for a check up?

Make sure you are eating little and often and take care of yourself xxx

Linli_Anne

Not sure how this happens...

Overeat, gain weight. Join MFP. MFP tells you 1200 calories. People say they struggle to eat even that. That they're just 'too full'.

Well, that wasn't the case before when you were overeating, so how are you too full now, eating a fraction of what you were previously? Is it really that you 'feel full' or that, now that you can see the calories, you're too anxious to eat because you know you will have to log it and you're trying to lose weight faster by eating less?

I'm really not understanding how this works out. I'm not trying to be rude and if it comes across that way I apologize.

I don't understand it either.,,and nope, don't think you are rude.

The food that I am eating now is not that different from what I would eat before. We have always tried to be healthy, and we rarely eat out. My biggest challenge was portion control and emotional eating - that's how I got to be 30 pounds over weight. So I have beenk working on breaking those emotional connections to food, and I guess somewhere in there that has made food less appealing, low or high calorie.

It is true, I do play the this or that game in terms of what I can have for the same amount of calories....so there may very well be some anxiety to it. I find it easier to hit my targets when I'm at work, and I have all my food packed for the day and logged from the morning. I do have to take usually one thing back off because I end up not eating it.

I like the idea of adding in something more calorie dense in a small amount - I'm thinking maybe some ranch dressing for my carrots, or PB with apple slices etc.

With my deficit, before exercise, my daily calorie goal is 1680. On days where I am comfortably sated, and have had what I would consider a "normal" hunger cue I usually hit around the 1500 mark.

stephdeeable

3 ounces of cheddar cheese, 10 walnuts and a glass of 2% milk is about 700 calories and not a lot of food to eat.

2 tablespoons of peanut butter and 2 slices of whole wheat toast is about 350-400 calories and not a lot of food to eat.

A container of greek yogurt, an apple and a handful of raisins is about 300 calories and not a lot of food to eat.

I'm not trying to insult anyone, but I will never understand the "struggling to reach 1200" problem

kdiamond

I have days like this. I don't eat when I'm not hungry. I listen to the signals my body gives me. There are also days I feel like eating a ton. I also listen to those signals. I've maintained my weight for over 8 years. I think its a good idea to listen to your body.

deb3129

I do every once in a while. On weekends I tend to eat a lot less because I stay really busy and just don't think about it. I try to keep an eye on it and not be too low. But if it is occasional, I don't think it is a huge thing.

jofjltncb6

It's pretty simple. Listen to your body. If you are hungry eat. If you are not hungry - don't eat.

Yes, because there is a 1-1 correlation between hunger and the physiological need for calories, amirite?

Good point. I mean, listening to our bodies has led most people to a totally healthy outcome.

Why fix what isn't broken?

newcs

I agree that if it persists, you should see your doctor. But in the meantime, if I were you, I'd get some meal replacement shakes so you're at least getting the calories and nutrients even if you don't feel like eating.

ETA: By getting the meal replacement shakes, it might also take some of the pressure to hit your calorie minimum off of you and that might help. Sometimes stress will cause appetite issues.

jacksonpt

I'm not trying to insult anyone, but I will never understand the "struggling to reach 1200" problem

It's because people are scared of fat and carbs. They want to eat "clean", and 1200 cals of lean chicken breast gets old fast.

MoreBean13

Not since I adjusted to an appropriate amount of calories.

jofjltncb6

I agree that if it persists, you should see your doctor. But in the meantime, if I were you, I'd get some meal replacement shakes so you're at least getting the calories and nutrients even if you don't feel like eating.

Doctor advice? Yes.

MRS advice? No.

jesswait

I'm not trying to insult anyone, but I will never understand the "struggling to reach 1200" problem

Netting 1,200+ is more of the problem for me. Yesterday we went hiking (according to fibit I burned around 914 calories.) So I needed to eat at least 2,114 calories to net the bare minimum (1,200) for the day. I was tired and just wanted to go to bed, I didn't want to eat anything but I decided to eat really calorie dense foods since dairy makes me sick I usually go for nuts or chocolate to pad my calories, but that is not ideal for me. I've personally found this thread helpful.

myofibril

I like Tom Venuto's breakdown on this issue:

Stage 1: Unconscious incompetence - you are eating the wrong foods in the wrong amounts and you're not even aware of it. (You don't know what you're doing and you don't know that you don't know what you're doing)

Stage 2: Conscious incompetence - you are eating the wrong foods in the wrong amounts, but for some reason, you now become aware of it. This is often because of a "hitting bottom" experience or an "I'm not gonna live like this anymore" epiphany. (You don't know what you're doing and now you know that you don't know what you're doing!)

Stage 3: Conscious competence - you educate yourself and begin to eat the right foods, but it takes a lot of thought and effort to eat the right things in the right amounts. (You know what you're doing, but you have to think about it and work very hard to make it happen because you're using willpower and still learning)

Stage 4: Unconscious competence - you've made the conscious effort to eat the right foods in the right amounts and you've counted calories and kept a nutrition journal for long enough and with enough repetition that these behaviours become habits and a part of your lifestyle. (You know what you're doing and you do it easily and automatically without having to think about it).

What you should be doing depends on where you are an individual. Generally, if you are new to dieting it's much better to eat consciously to avoid hunger even when you are not hungry. It results overall in better choice being made.

MoreBean13

I'm not trying to insult anyone, but I will never understand the "struggling to reach 1200" problem

Netting 1,200+ is more of the problem for me. Yesterday we went hiking (according to fibit I burned around 914 calories.) So I needed to eat at least 2,114 calories to net the bare minimum (1,200) for the day. I was tired and just wanted to go to bed, I didn't want to eat anything but I decided to eat really calorie dense foods since dairy makes me sick I usually go for nuts or chocolate to pad my calories, but that is not ideal for me. I've personally found this thread helpful.

If you have days where you have a big calorie burn- like a long hike- there's nothing wrong with using the calories as "rollover" calories the next day or couple of days. You don't HAVE to stuff your face before bed.

jesswait

If you have days where you have a big calorie burn- like a long hike- there's nothing wrong with using the calories as "rollover" calories the next day or couple of days. You don't HAVE to stuff your face before bed.

That's why I was saying this thread has been helpful. If I could redo yesterday I would have had a larger lunch and left over calories so I didn't feel so awful today. I was only posting that as an explanation for the people who can not wrap their head around someone not being able to eat 1,200 calories a day.