Do You Force Yourself to Eat if Under Calories

TyFit08

If you are significantly under your calorie goal for the day and you are not hungry, do you force yourself to eat? How important is it to you to hit that magic number? The last few days I have been active, running, swimming, etc, but I have had very little appetite. I am still full now from a meal I had six hours ago and now it is after midnight, so too late to really eat anything substantial. What do you guys do in this situation?

mgobluetx12

Focus more on your weekly numbers than a daily one. Eat more for the next few days to make up for it. If your lack of appetite persists, you should see your doctor.

MysticRealm

Depends on what your calories are and how often this is happening. If you calorie goal is 1200, and you eat well under a time or 2 a week, probably not good.
If you calories are 1900 and you eat well under a time or 2 a week, it's less bad.
If it's an often thing try to include things that are small but high in calories, like peanut butter, and don't use No Fat/Low Fat/ Low Calorie options.

TyFit08

I drink green tea daily. I think it is curbing my appetite. Normally if the day just flew by and I realized I was way below my calorie goal, I would eat something to hit my goal. But that is hard to do when you feel full. My goal is 1600, today I am at 1100 and I took a swimming class and I feel so full.

Pearlyladybug

if your hungry eat..if your not then don't. Im almost always under by about 200 cals and im soo full all the time and am getting really good results.

RonandDi

I am under almost every day, with the exception of the occasional day off. I have more energy and feel better now than I have in years. I am losing weight, but not much more than the 2lb/week. I am thinking that there is something wrong with my numbers, because I doubt I would lose any weight if I at as much as MFP says I can.

losinglbslovinglife

I eat when I'm hungry, if I'm under, I make an effort to eat more the next day.

queenhiphop

just listen to your body; if you're not hungry don't eat / if you're hungry eat

if you find you're ill a lot or feeling very tired but not hungry, go to a doctor

simpleeeeeeeeeees

contingencyplan

yup i do.

darrensurrey

I managed to eat 3000 before so I will force myself to meet my 2300 a day even if I am not hungry. Listening to my body got me my flab so I won't be trying that trick any time soon. And eating too little also didn't get the results I wanted.

chervil6

i never force my self to eat , diet or no diet

Vansy

No. If I'm not hungry, I don't eat. Sometimes I force myself NOT to eat when I'm over -- or like right now, I'm working night shifts so I quit eating around 12 or 1 and won't be "breakfast" until probably noon or so (really whenever I wake up...after I go to bed).

If you don't feel hungry, don't eat. I also concentrate on weeks as a whole -- I'll have some days where I net 1000 calories and I'll have other days where I net 1900; but the week as a whole I'll net on average about 1300 or 1350 (around my BMR).

Harlequin16

I do

88meli88

Im only on week 2, but I noticed that my appetite already adjusted tremendously. I was so hungry last week on 1200 cals, all I could think of was food. Then, I added exercise, drank loads of water, and I noticed that I am meeting the 1200 net calories much more easily. But I also pay attention to eat 3 full meals and fruit snacks. Also, last night I exercised more than planned so I had more space to eat and I asked myself what i would like to have with the extra calory spcae and opted for a glass of orange juice, considered a cookie but strangely, didnt feel like it.

suenewberry81

I can't understand how people can not eat 1200 or more calories I struggle keeping under 1600 :-( why not eat more full fat stuff not diet I.e butter etc... If your doing so much exercise you need to fuel your body

DonC2013

I struggle with this too. It doesn't happen often but if I work out later in the day I find it impossible to eat back my exercise calories. I am afraid of turning my metabolism down if I don't, however, which is what people say you will do......aughhh!

beachlover317

Think about what your body needs. If it takes my body 1700 - 1800 to fuel what I do during the day and my work out - I need to eat that much. It's important to your body that you get the correct amount of calories a day. If someone is eating bowl of veggies - you will never be hungry - but you will be denying your body the fuel it needs to operate. Try eating calorie dense foods to make sure your body gets what it needs. I love a spoonful of peanut butter at the end of the day if I need it.

Something else to think about - if you are restricting calories - and who isn't - research leptin. It's the hormone that controls when we feel hungry/full. It gets really screwed up when in calorie restriction. You will find you should never "rely" on your feelings of hunger or lack of hunger to determine when to eat.

PrincessNikkiBoo

i never force my self to eat , diet or no diet

This. I listen to my body and if I'm hungry I'll eat, if not then I'll 'bank them' for another day.

kingofcrunk

I would never force myself to eat if I'm under my calories for any reason. I know that one will I will have to go over my calorie goal and then it'll all even out. Sometimes its good for our bodies to have a bit less and sometimes a bit more!

Leslietheriot

If I'm hungry, I eat...if I'm not, I don't.

TyFit08

I like the eat when your hungry thinking. It is what I usually follow, but when I'm consistently low I wondered if I should do something about it. I gained weight eating just to eat, even though I wasn't hungry. So I'd rather trust my body and roll with it. If I feel full, energized and my workouts aren't suffering then I must be doing something right. And when I'm not, my body will let me know.

chiver17

my sister pointed me to this thread, because we've been having the same discussion between ourselves the past few days. she's gone dairy-free for a medical reason, and has been seeing visible results (less bloating, puffiness, etc) very quickly after making that change. I decided to make the same change, even if only for a short time, as I don't have the same medical issue she does. I am totally motivated by seeing positive changes, it keeps me on the right track.

since removing dairy completely, I am finding it ridiculously hard to meet my calories most days. it's been eye-opening to say the least, I had no idea I relied so much on it for so long. I've never been one to eat a large volume of food in a day, so to wipe out high-calorie stuff like cheeses means

that said, I'm turning my focus to finding healthy calorie-rich snacks that aren't necessarily TOO filling....which then totally spoils the next meal for me.
I picked up some dry-roasted almonds today, those will totally make up some of the deficits for me.

bathsheba_c

Your appetite might be suppressed from all the exercise, actually. If I have a major burn day, I often find that I am not hungry afterwards, but then ravenous the next day.

The short version is that I don't make a habit of under-eating, so if I have calories left, I don't force myself. (I also sometimes assume that I'm not hungry because I underestimated the number of calories.)

insearchofbees

If you are significantly under your calorie goal for the day and you are not hungry, do you force yourself to eat? How important is it to you to hit that magic number? The last few days I have been active, running, swimming, etc, but I have had very little appetite. I am still full now from a meal I had six hours ago and now it is after midnight, so too late to really eat anything substantial. What do you guys do in this situation?

If I'm under my calorie goal but I'm not hungry, I don't eat. Listen to your body. If you are under and hungry, eat. If not, don't.

elsinora

I never have, because that is exactly what got me into the mess of obesity later on. Always had to eat, always had to finish what's on my plate, always have to have meals when everyone had meals etc.

As long as you don't make it a habit, it's natural to have fluctuating appetite. For instance, some days I am the same, for whatever reason, even if I have worked out, sometimes I will not be hungry at all. I am under my "calorie goal" but if I do pick or eat something I will have something of better nutritional value, whether that's eggs or peanut butter and oatcakes.

But then some days I am just so damn hungry and I will eat. It balances out if you keep an eye on intake and out take but I would always recommend no "forcing" yourself.

faceoff4

I always do and it is a very bad habit I have. I know I shouldnt but I do love seeing it positive at the end of the day. I have even lowered my daily goal number to combat that in the hopes I would eat all the calories and even then I come in below. Guess I am just too competitive with myself. I need to get better at this part for sure.

geekyjock76

Do your best to eat based on known energy needs and not rely solely on hunger responses - which get somewhat impaired during calorie restriction. If it's one day a week, it isn't a big deal. However, if it's routine, or even chronic, it is a problem.

Melo1966

Do you drink only when thirsty? You should eat the calories, hunger is not a measurement of needing food. It usually does not come until you are beyond needing food or drink.

BusyRaeNOTBusty

I don't think I've ever ever had to force myself to eat.

taso42

I almost never have this problem, but lately due to starting a calorie surplus I am having a little trouble being hungry enough to make target. This is where 800 calorie bedtime milkshakes, and 10pm pepperoni pizzas help out.

srcardinal10

No because I'm not hungry. If I happen to be under then so be it. That's just one day.