Hi Jenny

I can relate to what you're saying. I often used to forget to eat, to the point where I would only have 1 or 2 meals a day. Now that I've started MFP it's luckily gotten much better though.

I used to struggle a LOT with low blood sugar, from when I was maybe 10 years old up until about 25. I would have dizzy spells and nearly faint. I was a vegetarian for 3 years and my blood sugar suffered the most during that time as I found it difficult to make decent meals, and I ended up eating a lot of sugar and refined carbohydrates. That is the worst thing anyone can do to themselves. All that sugar and refined carbs wrecked havoc on my blood sugar and insulin and gave me dizziness, moodiness, huge lack of concentration and near fainting episodes.

In 2008 I discovered I had PCOS (Polycystic Ovary Syndrome). This is more common than women think, and you DO NOT have to be overweight to have it. My gyno recommended I'd start a Low Carb diet to control my insulin, which again would help my PCOS, and it's the best decision I ever made. I haven't had a single dizzy spell since I started 5 years ago.

You say you've been hospitalized to find out what's causing your low blood sugar and dizzy spells and all, yet they haven't found what's causing it? I find that so strange, the answer should be in exactly what you're saying. No proper meals every couple of hours = low blood sugar = dizzy and fainting. It wasn't just the sugar/refined carbs intake for me, it was not eating enough to begin with as well.

Have you been checked for PCOS? If not, and the doctors dismiss it without even checking you, demand a check. Some docs are rude and uneducated in that area and will dismiss it because you're slim. I had an ultrasound of my ovaries and both me and my gyno could see they were covered in water cysts. Not all women with PCOS have cysts on their ovaries though, so it's important to have a thorough check up. I also had acne and irregular periods which are two major signs.
Have they checked your thyroid as well? And metabolism?

How is your diet? Are you eating too much sugar or refined carbs? For me I found that eating salads with avocado and olive oil really help up the calories. Do you eat dairy? There's a lot of calories to gain from that. Full fat milk, cream, eggs, full fat sour cream etc.

Sorry for the long reply, I just felt that I could relate to your situation and I really hope you find out what the real issue is. I made an intro post a while back where I wrote a bit more specific about my diet, check it out if you like http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/913968-intro-what-works-for-me

Feel free to add me as a friend on here, I'd love to get more MFP buddies

- Hilde

Since you've only had blood sugar issues for the last 3 out of 15 years as a vegetarian I too doubt that has anything to do with it. The fact that you're a chef gives you a nice advantage too with coming up with nutritious meals!

I can relate to not having an appetite when stressed or upset. My stomach will just say no, can't get the food down. So I try my best to relax and be positive and do things that make me happy. You're so right you know, if for example you eat well for 5 days and then eat poorly for 5 days you won't see any progress.

The more sugar and refined carbs you eat the more insulin your body produces, to the point where the body can't regulate it properly. You might not have PCOS, but check also if you have insulin resistance. (Insulin resistance can go hand in hand with PCOS, and can apparently be triggered by using birth control pills, which is ironic cos a certain type of birth control pill is the top medication for PCOS... *facepalm*)

I didn't mean to scare you with the PCOS! It's not the worst thing one can have, but not the easiest either. About 1 in 10 women have it. It can be kept in check either through diet or both diet and meds. Ever since I got it and realized how common it actually is I try to mention it to women I meet who have similar symptoms. If I can help even just 1 person I'm happy

I'm sure having a fast metabolism can make it harder to gain. Eating more denser food than fruit and veggies could help, I'm sure you do this already though. I've just started using shakes too! I ordered the Naturade Weight Gain powder from iHerb. Made a shake a couple of hours ago with banana, full fat milk, oats, peanut butter, chocolate powder and the weight gain powder. Gave me a tasty 500 ml shake with over 750 calories

I hope you'll have more happy and positive days so you can eat well. I know how important it is.

Yay to you for making a change! I have managed to gain 5 lbs since starting this program I think like 6 weeks ago. I just shoot for over 2k a day. I do have bad days here and there, but find it much easier to take emotions out of the equation when I see the #'s I am aiming for each day.

Since you are a vegetarian, that is a moral issue and has nothing to do w/calories. You can do everything that a carnivore can as far as nutrition and weight goals. Just make sure you are getting adequate iron, calcium, protien ect.

i can defo relate!

Hi Jenny and Hilde,
It felt good to find you - people trying to gain rather than lose; finding such people had seemed a losing battle in itself ... I've been, as long as I can remember, on a mission to gain weight, while putting it on accidentally only to lose it promptly in a week or two ... over the years, I've gained a few measly kilos, but am always better at losing. Have also had gastritis and related issues for several years ... was also recently clinically diagnosed with oral lichen planus, so have had to, in one fell swoop, change diets to bland ... the first effect was severe weight loss ... and accompanying anxiety/ depression spirals ...
this is the first time i've tried calorie counting, but since joining this space, at least its making me actively look for the missed nutrients/ calories ... and even writing this down feels like a step ... I recently discovered all the smoothie/ thickie veterans, and it has helped me at least ensure that I have a filling and calorie dense breakfast while on the run ... the other thing i'm still trying to regularise but have found immensely useful is some form of yoga practice; the breathing techniques if nothing else, and maybe a fuller practice session on weekends or when there's time. the point, i think, is consistency - the bane of most of us trying to gain - or lose, i guess.
but looking forward to hearing, and sharing, something of our slippery journeys here