being stuffed but eating only 800 calories
SpiritBunny
Posts: 39 Member
Has anyone had a long term eating disorder (if just eating 800-1100 calories qualifies) and want to eat more but your body just feels full when you eat more?
I'm trying to eat more and did for a few days eating 1400 a day and I feel bloated when I eat. I can't use the 'I'm full' as a gauge because I'm finding it really hard to eat 1400 nevermind the 1800-2000 I should be eating. Do you eat fat just to get the calories you need?
I have pcos and fibro so the advice may be different for me in terms of metabolism.
I'm trying to eat more and did for a few days eating 1400 a day and I feel bloated when I eat. I can't use the 'I'm full' as a gauge because I'm finding it really hard to eat 1400 nevermind the 1800-2000 I should be eating. Do you eat fat just to get the calories you need?
I have pcos and fibro so the advice may be different for me in terms of metabolism.
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Replies
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It's super easy to bump up your calories with not too much bulk. For a few examples, saute your veggies in olive oil, add some peanut butter to your yogurt, protein shake, or toast, handful of nuts, sprinkle cheese on something. These are things I cut back on when I don't have the calories for it, trust me, they add up fast with very little bulk. Even drinking a juice, or adding a glass of wine to dinner can help :drinker:0
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Well,I've never been in your situation but : the body takes time in adapting to any such change,and you should let it..Increase your intake slowly,don't force yourself to change your eating habits on an immediate basis..
And ofcourse,foods with more calorific density will help.Doesn't mean that you should stuff yourself with unhealthy fats though.
I think drinking 2-3 glasses of whole milk can really help in increasing calories in healthy manner and it won't make you that full either.You can add sugars and whatever flavours you like!0 -
Lack of appetite can be a side effect of restricting your intake -- the fact that you're eating that few calories can be causing you to not feel hungry. The good news is that if you can stick with a higher intake consistently for a relatively short period of time, your appetite should respond appropriately and you'll likely start feeling hungry again. Try eating 1400, every day, for a week or two and see how you respond.
You're right to think that you shouldn't trust your hunger cues. People with histories of abnormal eating patterns, especially if you restrict, have a lot of practice ignoring hunger cues and very little practice correctly interpreting them. You're not getting adequate nutrition at 800-1100, no matter how hungry/not hungry you feel. You need a balanced 1400 calories -- if you eat 800 calories of food and another 600 of butter (or whatever other fat source), that's not helpful.
(Note: this is just general advice -- I don't know how PCOS or Fibro affect your metabolism. Those specific questions should be directed toward your doctor).0 -
avocado.0
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I feel that eating and dieting can be a catch 22. I love not being hungry and having energy at 800 calories. When I'm eating 1250 calories I feel like I get much hungrier and have to refrain from eating 2000 calories. When I do eat 2000 calories, I gain weight and feel tired all the time.
I think what is important is getting all of your vitamins and mineral naturally. I don't feel guilty eating too few calories as long as I am getting 100% of my calcium, iron, B vitamins and other nutrients that MFP doesn't track.
Your problem could be drinking too much water. Instead, try replacing your water quantity with soup. It will keep you hydrated without feeling bloated.0 -
I feel that eating and dieting can be a catch 22. I love not being hungry and having energy at 800 calories. When I'm eating 1250 calories I feel like I get much hungrier and have to refrain from eating 2000 calories. When I do eat 2000 calories, I gain weight and feel tired all the time.
You know what, I feel the same!!! I feel better at 800 calories sometimes than when I feel the *need* to eat 1,200. It's like I'm forcing myself to and when I do, I end up waaaay over 1,200. Sometimes twice or three times as much. Horrible, I know.0 -
Its hard (recovered from Anorexia myself, only to relapse over winter and getting weight up currently) but I've been progressively increasing over last couple of months. Its very important to keep increasing both the bulk AND calories. Calories are initially the priority so your body can start recovering and healing, but at some point you've got to become comfortable eating larger volumes of food again,
YES it can be uncomfortable, I've experienced bloating/gas/ bowel problems which have lasted for days,but its only when you 'push' through this that it gets easier. Trust me it does get easier to eat more-just trust yourself and your body!0 -
Yes! I've been in recovery many times, and initially, any increases leave me feeling so full and bloated. Even increasing my fluid intake can do this.
I was told it was partly psychological and partly physical. Our digestive systems slow right down and, in the early stages of physical recovery, it can take food up to four times longer to pass through our digestive tract than a 'normal' person. If you're consistent with your nutrition, that will improve though. You just need to push through it though - there's no quick fix. We often produce less digestive enzymes and hydrochloric acid too, which makes food digestion harder, therefore increasing the feelings of fullness. Constipation - which is very common in EDs - doesn't help either.
However, it might be worth checking it out with your doc as it can be a sign of other underlying problems.0 -
If I eat 800 calories in 1 sitting then sure0
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Hunger is not a good indicator of what the body needs....if you are eating below 1k calories you are missing massive amounts of macro and micro nutrients...
There are lots of ways to up calories...
Full fat dairy
Oils
Avocadoes
treats like chocolate, ice cream, pie etc
Peanut butter..I mean 15g is 90 calories...15g is not a lot
Nuts like almonds etc
Heck if I ate 800 calories and needed to get in another 700...hello large ice cream...0 -
If you have been eating 800cals for a long time then switched to 1400-1600 then you will get bloated, same as someone that eats 2000cals regularly and then doubles their cal intake bloating is gonna happen.
Up your calories slowly to allow your body to allow your body to adjust to the increased volume and also ensure you have adequate fats for hormone support0 -
I don't get it... one does not put on weight by eating 800 cals... How did you gain the weight you are intending to lose on your 800 cal diet? I'm not trying to be a **** but I really don't understand!0
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I don't get it... one does not put on weight by eating 800 cals... How did you gain the weight you are intending to lose on your 800 cal diet? I'm not trying to be a **** but I really don't understand!
She's posted this in the "gaining weight" section. The lady's trying to figure out how to eat again after skirting an ED. I've had the same thought when someone who's trying to *lose* is having trouble eating a reasonable amount, but in this case, someone's dealing with a real issue, not "I've filled up on celery and naked popcorn because I thought I should and now I have no room for actual food."0 -
Thanks for everyone's input. It's good to hear other peoples viewpoints
One thing I should clarify is that I'm a vegan so many of those options are dairy that definitely more calories but they aren't vegan.I don't want to go that route unless I must, Nuts/avacado's are expensive on a limited budget. I also would like to be mindful of the cheap oils that are high in omega 6 that hurts the omega 6/ 3 balance.
@Zeklea
I want to long term loose weight but my 'ultra low caloric intake' 800 calories when it should be 2200 calories has turned my body into a slug and I ended up plateauing at 191lbs @ 33%bf. I've been told to eat more at least a 1000 calories more and as will try and slowly work up to it. Getting fatter (literally) isn't helping anything but I guess I have to come to terms with 'teaching' my body that I'm not actually trying to starve it.. let go of the fat stores already!0 -
Thanks for everyone's input. It's good to hear other peoples viewpoints
One thing I should clarify is that I'm a vegan so many of those options are dairy that definitely more calories but they aren't vegan.I don't want to go that route unless I must, Nuts/avacado's are expensive on a limited budget. I also would like to be mindful of the cheap oils that are high in omega 6 that hurts the omega 6/ 3 balance.
Whether you answer this here or not doesn't really matter, but at least consider this question -- what are your reasons for being vegan? More precisely, are you vegan because of your eating disorder and/or a possible symptom of it?
What I mean here is that eating disorders have psychological roots, and sometimes it has to do with control. Typically, it's with amount ("Look how much control I have, I can eat only 500 calories and be fine"), but sometimes it's also with what you choose to eat ("Look how much control I have, I can live off only this list of foods"). It may be hard to admit if it is because of your ED, but dig deep and think hard about the real reason why you're vegan.
If it is because it feeds your ED tendencies, or even if it's just because you were told that being vegan is healthier, then I highly recommend rethinking it, especially since you're not eating enough and you're reluctant to spend the necessary money to eat calorie-dense vegan food. It sounds to me like you're at high risk for nutrient deficiencies on several different fronts, which isn't helping your cause. So, either you need to find a way to get the money to buy the calorie-dense vegan foods, or start eating meat again. (Regarding the idea that vegan is healthier, nutritionally - it's healthier than the standard American/western diet, yes, but that's not a high bar. Minimally processed meat, such as standard butcher cuts, are not inherently unhealthy. Being vegan takes effort and investment to get the proper nutrients to be on par with other whole foods based diets.) Regardless of your reasons, you need to eat more calorie-dense foods, one way or another.0 -
For me, it really depends on what I am eating. If I eat bread all day (which never happens,) than I get extremely full and feel bloated all day. I usually keep my carbs in the morning only, and 100% whole wheat, usually toasted.
It might depends on what you are eating.0 -
Up slowly. Like 100 cals a day each week. Dried fruit, trail mix, nuts (habanero bbq almonds are my current favorite but I love pistachios and cashews as well), whole milk (chocolate or white), chocolate, full fat ice cream or gelato, avocados, cheesecake, cheese, wine/beer/beverage, olive or coconut oil......0
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^ ThisThanks for everyone's input. It's good to hear other peoples viewpoints
One thing I should clarify is that I'm a vegan so many of those options are dairy that definitely more calories but they aren't vegan.I don't want to go that route unless I must, Nuts/avacado's are expensive on a limited budget. I also would like to be mindful of the cheap oils that are high in omega 6 that hurts the omega 6/ 3 balance.
Whether you answer this here or not doesn't really matter, but at least consider this question -- what are your reasons for being vegan? More precisely, are you vegan because of your eating disorder and/or a possible symptom of it?
What I mean here is that eating disorders have psychological roots, and sometimes it has to do with control. Typically, it's with amount ("Look how much control I have, I can eat only 500 calories and be fine"), but sometimes it's also with what you choose to eat ("Look how much control I have, I can live off only this list of foods"). It may be hard to admit if it is because of your ED, but dig deep and think hard about the real reason why you're vegan.
If it is because it feeds your ED tendencies, or even if it's just because you were told that being vegan is healthier, then I highly recommend rethinking it, especially since you're not eating enough and you're reluctant to spend the necessary money to eat calorie-dense vegan food. It sounds to me like you're at high risk for nutrient deficiencies on several different fronts, which isn't helping your cause. So, either you need to find a way to get the money to buy the calorie-dense vegan foods, or start eating meat again. (Regarding the idea that vegan is healthier, nutritionally - it's healthier than the standard American/western diet, yes, but that's not a high bar. Minimally processed meat, such as standard butcher cuts, are not inherently unhealthy. Being vegan takes effort and investment to get the proper nutrients to be on par with other whole foods based diets.) Regardless of your reasons, you need to eat more calorie-dense foods, one way or another.0 -
Avocados are not expensive. You can get them for a dollar or less and one can last a few days if you are adding it to salad, etc. We get a bag of almonds which lasts more than a week for 7 dollars but pb is cheaper and you can add that to fruit or just eat a spoonful.0
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Peanuts are cheap. Buy a 10 pound bag and eat the whole thing. You gotta eat big to get big!0
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Thanks for everyone's input. It's good to hear other peoples viewpoints
One thing I should clarify is that I'm a vegan so many of those options are dairy that definitely more calories but they aren't vegan.I don't want to go that route unless I must, Nuts/avacado's are expensive on a limited budget. I also would like to be mindful of the cheap oils that are high in omega 6 that hurts the omega 6/ 3 balance.
@Zeklea
I want to long term loose weight but my 'ultra low caloric intake' 800 calories when it should be 2200 calories has turned my body into a slug and I ended up plateauing at 191lbs @ 33%bf. I've been told to eat more at least a 1000 calories more and as will try and slowly work up to it. Getting fatter (literally) isn't helping anything but I guess I have to come to terms with 'teaching' my body that I'm not actually trying to starve it.. let go of the fat stores already!
Are you a vegan for ethical reasons? I know I'm going to get bashed on for saying this but as someone who is in recovery for EDs myself and who has been around a lot of other ED patients, I know a lot go vegan because it still allows them to pick and control their food a lot without seeming disordered. It's it's for ethical reasons, cool. If not, it's a good way to undereat without being honest with yourself.0 -
One of the remaining side effects that I have is screwed up hunger cues. I eat on scheduled intervals, or I would go all day without eating. I still struggle daily with this. It took me 2 full years to get to what most would consider "normal" for my caloric intake.
Here was my strategy:
1) split my meals into 6 smaller ones. The goal here was to eat smaller meals more often. Not for any "metabolism boosting" BS, but because the smaller portions were easier for me to eat, without anxiety.
2) Add 100 calories each week to total goal. When you're eating small meals, it's pretty easy to add an extra 20 calories here and there without stress.
3) Calorie dense foods. If budget is an issue, I would recommend checking out Costco. I get a 5 pound bag of raw almonds there for $12.00. They last quite a while, and I consider them to be a great value. Vegan protein shakes, coconut oil, olive oil, peanut butter, cashew cheese, etc.
I wish you the best of luck.
**Edit to add: the bloat is totally normal. It's part psychological, but it still sucks. It gets better0 -
I know someone who was put on an antihistamine that increases appetite. Maybe you can talk to your doctor about this if you continue having trouble with upping your calories..0
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One definition of anorexia is the absence of appetite. So asking yourself if you're hungry is a bad idea.
One thing a girlfriend of mine did when she confronted her disorder, which was anorexia/bulimia, was that she ate a lot of acidophilus yoghurt to try to "reflorinate her gut" or something.
There are pills you can get from the pharmacy for when you have antibiotics which are totally destructive to your gut flora. Get those, and that may be a start.
As to not being able to pay for calories, you can always eat bread. there are many many ways to get the calories in the door that don't cost a lot of money and in fact are cheap as anything. What about throwing a PBJ in for morning tea and afternoon tea?0 -
Just had a wee look at your profile and it says you have anxiety. It's been recently hypothesied that starvation diets reduce panic attacks, and is widely known that anxiety reduces appetite.
If you have the ability to get medication or assistance for the anxiety disorder, I think that could be part of the solution.
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@Dragonwolf, I'm vegan because of a combinatino of moral and digestive reasons. When I consume dairy I get nausea & diarhhea and the moral part is I don't want to use animal products if I have the choice.
In terms of psychological aspects, my ED is somewhat in my past and it did 'work' but obviously my body suffered for it. I’m not that obsessive about my diet I'm more anxious about other things than just focus everything on what I eat (or how).
I'm seeing a therapist to see what are the things I need I have a lot of reactive processes I have to go through
I am nutrient deficient even if I was on a diet I wouldn't have enough to really feed myself vegan or not. I've found that it doesn't cost that much more that it would make a difference financially, I'll run out either way. My last trip for food with protien and being asked to try and eat twice as much calories makes things difficult.
I could be nutrient deficient, I've been gifted from a friend a supply of efa-3, Myo-inositol , magnesium which has been added to my primroseoil and a prenatal vitimins (a,c,d,e,b1,b2,niacin,b6,folic,b12,calcium,iron,zinc) that I take daily. This is to help with my symtoms of PCOS and Fibro.
How effective it is I will only comment that after taking efa I noticed changes in my hair (it was falling out) and my periods came back (very surprising with someone who has pcos). It's unclear what the inositol and magnesium will do anything. My hair is growing thicker but I hear that's from 3 months a
I will not easily give up being a vegan as I have strong feelings regarding the use and abuse of animals for consumption. I don't agree with the killing
@lilawolf, thanks for the suggestion because I'm vegan and dairy free that leaves me with avocado nuts, oils, wine and chocolate if there is no dairy in it. I will admit that I don't like the texture of avocado
@DavidPFJ, peanuts/butter like many nuts are higher in EFA6 which we eat too much of. It's a great source of protien ~16% and fat though.
@Kellyemotana, that's an excellent point but I only bring up my ED just to be open about what has happened. I'm vegan for the reason I mentioned but I do struggle and have ED tendency. I don't want to eat but I know I should so I do.
I've been a vegetarian since high school I only became vegan recently maybe a year ago.
I've tried to eat eggs (for the protien/calories) and it really upset my stomach. I didn't much like the smell for them.
@ giggitygo Thank you for your tips, I am not looking forward to up to 2 years of this I hope I don't gain back everything I lost in terms of fat. It was difficult to do it and it's even more so when fibro doesn't let you move around like a normal person could.0 -
@kpedersen3, antihistamine haven't heard of that I'll have to read up on it.
@bridgie101 , I eat what I'm told but I get full really easily. I can't seem to digest protein but it could be something else like like lack of vitamins. I'll need to ask about that, but I really hope there is another form of protein that I can have that's vegan and not expensive.
Unfortunately yogart isn't vegan, and I’m also gluten intolerant so bread is out. And rice bread is stupidly expensive and very perishable and it also tastes like crap.
I've also recently been put on some anti anxiety type meds but its only been a week, it will take 2 weeks to really know if I am changing or not. I feel less anxious but the symptoms of the fibro/PCOS has a very strong hold in my life.0 -
DId you get the nausea before or after your eating disorder?
Restrictive eating can cause symptoms that mimic a lactose intolerance, but aren't really. And for people recovering from a restrictive eating disorder, milk is a godsend.
Trust me. Been there.0 -
I will not easily give up being a vegan as I have strong feelings regarding the use and abuse of animals for consumption. I don't agree with the killing
@lilawolf, thanks for the suggestion because I'm vegan and dairy free that leaves me with avocado nuts, oils, wine and chocolate if there is no dairy in it. I will admit that I don't like the texture of avocado
Sorry, I hadn't read through the whole post before I started suggesting non-vegan things. Out of curiosity, would you be willing to eat meat that you know was raised and killed humanely? I purchased a side of beef from a friend's family for just that reason. Pasture raised, fat and happy, instead of a feed lot. The jewish community has a lot of rules about how animals are handled, so maybe kosher meats? If it's just the fact that the animal was alive and now its dead, then never mind. That part is hard to avoid :-p.
Don't forget the dried fruits. Raisins, craisins, prunes, dried apricots, and dried dates(especially) are very nutrient and calorie dense. Dried fruit, nuts, and a vegan (pea or hemp perhaps) protein shake may get you most of where you need to go.0 -
@themisfit123,
As a teenager as a kid I discovered my intolerance to dairy years ago, but I still ate cheese because I liked it. Then after I stopped eating cheese, I realized I felt better.0
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