What do you do on days that you're not hungry?

teamAmelia
teamAmelia Posts: 1,247 Member
edited February 1 in Food and Nutrition
I've only had about 300 cals today. I'm sure I can eat something later tonight, but certainly not 1,000 calories, unless it's something not really all that good for me. Do you force yourself to eat when you're not hungry? Will barely eating for a day every wk or so mess up my metabolism?

Replies

  • dwh77tx
    dwh77tx Posts: 513 Member
    Are you sick? Are you in bed? Did you eat a lot last night? I'm just curious. Even when I'm sick in bed with a cold I'm usually hungry ! :)
  • pinkraynedropjacki
    pinkraynedropjacki Posts: 3,027 Member
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W9Aj6hRYg4A

    Basically you would be doing a fasting day & NO it wont mess you up. I have 3 fasting days a week & I eat nothing at all, end of the day I still have 0 cals recorded.
  • S0nsh1ne
    S0nsh1ne Posts: 218 Member
    I'm always hungry. I didn't get fat from not eating ;)
  • chatnel
    chatnel Posts: 688 Member
    depends what you usually eat. You can have a day under but you would need to go over on another day or two.

    Wednesday I only eat about 500 calories but I like to use the extra calories over the weekend.
  • MoreBean13
    MoreBean13 Posts: 8,701 Member
    If it's only this isolated incident, don't worry about it. You can save the calories and splurge a bit later in the week. If it happens fairly regularly, use better planning so that it doesn't happen. Plan your meals ahead, and eat them. Choose calorie dense foods if you're really not very hungry- 200 cals of peanut butter isn't much to get down. It is not a good thing to undereat and will hinder your progress as well as cause a host of bad complications.
  • ChristineinMA
    ChristineinMA Posts: 312 Member
    In the heat of the summer, I really did not feel like eating some days (weird for me!). First time it happened I was all worried about it, but I am learning to listen to my body better because of it.

    There are some people who truly only eat based on hunger cues - I would love to be one of those!

    :-)
  • MoreBean13
    MoreBean13 Posts: 8,701 Member
    In the heat of the summer, I really did not feel like eating some days (weird for me!). First time it happened I was all worried about it, but I am learning to listen to my body better because of it.

    There are some people who truly only eat based on hunger cues - I would love to be one of those!

    :-)

    Hunger cues are really, really unreliable when you're trying to lose weight. Just the act of eating at a deficit screws them up...sometimes it makes you more hungry, sometimes it suppresses the cues as a self-preservation mechanism. Not to mention, hunger cues are largely trained behavior...for example, you might find that you get hungry for lunch at the same time that you always eat lunch regardless of the calorie count you had at breakfast.

    TL;DR If you're not one of those people already, don't expect to become one until you're well in to maintenance.
  • MyaPapaya75
    MyaPapaya75 Posts: 3,143 Member
    im sure you could eat a nice 600-900 calories salad its not that hard...pack it with nuts steak cheese croutons spinach tons of veggies a side of soup and dressing lol
  • TheBaileyHunter
    TheBaileyHunter Posts: 641 Member
    In the heat of the summer, I really did not feel like eating some days (weird for me!). First time it happened I was all worried about it, but I am learning to listen to my body better because of it.

    There are some people who truly only eat based on hunger cues - I would love to be one of those!

    :-)

    My eldest only eats when hungry and only until he's not hungry any more (unless it's hot italian sausages then he could eat an entire pig's worth). He's very slender, and toned.

    My middle son on the other hand is a freakin' locust. He'd eat ALLL the FOODS if it was there. He has to stay very active (which he is for now) to maintain a healthy weight.

    As for OP, try getting some more Healthy, calorie dense foods if it's common, but if it's only a day every 10 or so, I wouldn't worry to much about it. Fasting days are not uncommon and wont' hurt. It's only when it's an every day thing that it is more of a concern. At least from all the health journals and studies I've been reading. *shrug*
  • 1longroad
    1longroad Posts: 642 Member
    There are times when I am not hungry at all, today being one of them. When the night is said and done, if I am not hungry, I just wont eat anything else. If I am, I have calories to spare.
  • jojo86xdd
    jojo86xdd Posts: 202 Member
    I'm always hungry. I didn't get fat from not eating ;)

    ^this...i didnt get fat from only eating 300 calories perday lol. i have to have my 3 meals per day with a couple of snacks in between if im still hungry...i will add though that I'm always on the go. I walk everywhere, my job requires me to be on my feet and walking back and forth all the time, plus I work out 6 days per week, soooo I need food and a lot of it
  • princesspea234
    princesspea234 Posts: 182 Member
    Don't worry about it. Use the calories on another day.

    I once nannyed two little boys whose parents were doctors. Something they told me is that to get a true idea of a diet, you have to take a snapshot of the whole week... not just one day. While they did restrict sugar to a "once in a while" thing, if the boys wanted to eat pasta all day.... it was ok as long as sometime in the week they got fruits, veggies and protein. The boys had lots of energy for soccer and playing outside, lots of brain power for imagination and homework and hardly had behavior problems.

    While MFP is a great tool for watching calorie intake for those of us who aren't used to seeing what a normal amount of food looks like, I don't think forcing yourself to eat is ever a good thing.... Also not great to not eat when you feel like you're starving... eat a healthy snack and watch the calories the next day.
  • jen_zz
    jen_zz Posts: 1,011 Member


    There are some people who truly only eat based on hunger cues - I would love to be one of those!

    :-)

    me too!
  • astartig
    astartig Posts: 549 Member
    I have days like this. it's usually preTOM. It's hormones. the same ones that make you ravenous can steal your appetite. not eating much one day out of the week isn't going to hurt you. try to take your vitamins and still drink a ton of water though
  • MoreBean13
    MoreBean13 Posts: 8,701 Member
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W9Aj6hRYg4A

    Basically you would be doing a fasting day & NO it wont mess you up. I have 3 fasting days a week & I eat nothing at all, end of the day I still have 0 cals recorded.

    If the OP isn't doing 5:2 (or whatever fasting program you're on) it's kind of irresponsible reckless to tell her it's perfectly fine to not eat out of context and there's no consequences. That's the kind of advice pro-ana people use to justify unhealthy behavior.
  • vienna_h
    vienna_h Posts: 428 Member
    Depends, is this a regular thing? Is it medical related?

    If its a once in a while thing, not related to a medical reason, I wouldn't be worried. I have days like that too. If I realize I'm really too low on calories, I'll have a smoothie, shake, meal replacement drink... basically something that has nutrients and some calories. Some days drinking is easier than eating.

    One day of low calories isn't gonna wreck anything. no need to "make up" for it later, either.
  • pinkraynedropjacki
    pinkraynedropjacki Posts: 3,027 Member
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W9Aj6hRYg4A

    Basically you would be doing a fasting day & NO it wont mess you up. I have 3 fasting days a week & I eat nothing at all, end of the day I still have 0 cals recorded.

    If the OP isn't doing 5:2 (or whatever fasting program you're on) it's kind of irresponsible reckless to tell her it's perfectly fine to not eat out of context and there's no consequences. That's the kind of advice pro-ana people use to justify unhealthy behavior.


    But it is. I personally don't eat. Many others eat the 500cals. Some have been doing it for years. 5:2 means you eat at TDEE 5 days a week.... so where is the unhealthy behavior? OP asked if it would mess her up not eating her cal goal for one day...I showed it would not.

    Really high horse you have there.
  • CollieFit
    CollieFit Posts: 1,683 Member
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W9Aj6hRYg4A

    Basically you would be doing a fasting day & NO it wont mess you up. I have 3 fasting days a week & I eat nothing at all, end of the day I still have 0 cals recorded.

    If the OP isn't doing 5:2 (or whatever fasting program you're on) it's kind of irresponsible reckless to tell her it's perfectly fine to not eat out of context and there's no consequences. That's the kind of advice pro-ana people use to justify unhealthy behavior.


    But it is. I personally don't eat. Many others eat the 500cals. Some have been doing it for years. 5:2 means you eat at TDEE 5 days a week.... so where is the unhealthy behavior? OP asked if it would mess her up not eating her cal goal for one day...I showed it would not.

    Really high horse you have there.

    Agreed. :drinker:
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