Appetite has disappeared

jdleanna · July 2015

HI all! Anyone experience a disappearing appetite? Mine is just gone and I'm having trouble getting to 1200 calories every day. I do find ways to get there when it's 7 or 8 and I realize I've eaten only 800-900 or so but I worry I'm doing something wrong because I just don't feel like eating.

I've just started back in on dieting after a long break from paying attention to my health. I don't have tons to lose - about 15 pounds to get to a comfortable weight - but until last week I really did eat lots of junk. Since Sunday I've been exercising and have cut out processed foods. Lots of veggies, fruits, some lean meats, beans, etc. I was starving Sunday, Monday and Tuesday, and then all at once my appetite just up and left. Been like this since Wednesday.

Should I worry? Is 1200 ok to shoot for, or did I mess myself up by choosing that low a count (it was suggested by MFP, as I'm short and until last week was sedentary). Anyone go through something like this?

Annie_01 · July 2015

It happens often when you replace calorie dense food with food that is often more nutrient dense. You will eventually figure out what to add in to reach your calorie goal.

Try peanut butter...cheese...advocado...etc etc. There are many higher calorie foods that you can eat in moderation.

Cortneyrenee04 · July 2015

Happens to me too. Exercise suppresses my appetite so on those days, I get to eat almond butter or extra cheese! I never force myself to eat, because I definitely make up for it here and there!

kittywrangler · July 2015

I find exercise suppresses my appetite as well. I still eat though because the next day if I don't, I'm ravenous in the morning.

Kalikel · July 2015

If your appetite has been gone for days, check with a doctor. That's not normal. Make sure nothing is wrong with you.

It's very easy to stay full on fruits and veggies, though. Are you eating breakfast? Cereals can add a lot of calories without filling you up. Some honey in oatmeal is perfectly healthy and will add calories. Eggs and whole wheat toast. I only mention it because I've noticed a lot of people who have trouble meeting the goal are skipping breakfast (and I only noticed that because it happened to me, too.)

ForeverSunshine09 · July 2015

I had that happen at the beginning of June after starting at the beginning of February. I could barely get myself to eat 800 cals a day for whatever reason. I decided to take a break from eating super healthy and just eat what I knew I would eat even I wasn't hungry. Such chips and dip and brownies. I do not recommend this method for most ppl because some ppl have problem stopping once they start but, it took 2 weeks for me to start eating a decent amount of food again and so I kept on that for 2 more weeks and started back at the beginning of July. My appetite is definitely back. This was what worked for me.

Chaidell · July 2015

I've had the same problem! For the past two weeks or so, I've had trouble eating more than 500 calories a day. Even when I'm starving and I have my favorite foods in front of me, I just CANNOT bring myself to eat them. It even gets to the point where it makes me nauseous! I hope we both find a solution soon! I'm hating how I feel on such a low calorie intake.

SergeantSausage · July 2015

Riiiiiight ...

Jmgkamp · July 2015

I had that problem in the beginning, but it was the honeymoon period

. Still I have days where I'm just not hungry, and days where my hunger kicks in. I've learned to trust my feelings. Today I'm not hungry, I've eaten only 600 calories. However, I was out last night and ate more than normal (and more than my allowance). Weekly I tend to eat what I'm supposed to - but it varies by the day. I guess I'm zig-zagging along with intermittent fasting. It's what my body wants.

TheVirgoddess · July 2015

You just started back and you have no appetite. My best guess is that it's a mental block. I had one, too. Just keep eating, and make sure you set up a reasonable goal.

You only have 15 pounds to lose. Your goal should be .5lbs/week loss rate.

tomatoey · July 2015

jdleanna wrote: »

HI all! Anyone experience a disappearing appetite? Mine is just gone and I'm having trouble getting to 1200 calories every day. I do find ways to get there when it's 7 or 8 and I realize I've eaten only 800-900 or so but I worry I'm doing something wrong because I just don't feel like eating.

Even on a high-fiber diet, you should still want to eat more than 900.

I've lost my appetite like that when I've partially fasted for a few days (not to lose weight, for other reasons). It took a few days of making myself eat a bit more than I felt like eating to get my appetite back up.

How hot is it where you are? I know I want to eat less when it's a humid 30 degrees (C).

initialsdeebee · July 2015

nocull wrote: »

I've had the same problem! For the past two weeks or so, I've had trouble eating more than 500 calories a day. Even when I'm starving and I have my favorite foods in front of me, I just CANNOT bring myself to eat them. It even gets to the point where it makes me nauseous! I hope we both find a solution soon! I'm hating how I feel on such a low calorie intake.

This does not sound good. Sounds like maybe some kinda mental block maybe stemming from the desire to lose weight? I'm no psychologist so who knows, but I only say that because I've dealt with having a complicated relationship with food. This could go for the OP too, thinking about it so much and building it up to such a thing that you worry about or associate with weight gain or whatever is somehow creating a aversion? I don't know. Just a thought that crossed my mind.

Liftng4Lis · July 2015

How long ago is "just started back"?

jdleanna · July 2015

Thanks for the replies! I am making sure to eat breakfast. And I'm not repulsed by food- it's that I literally do not feel hungry. I'm sure my body must need more than it's telling me to eat (& as I said, in the evening when I see how low my calories are, I'll grab something to get me close to 1200. I'm not trying to starve! ).

This whole thing is new for me - I started eating healthfully and exercising one week ago after a year of sliding down a convenience food/junk food rabbit hole. One of my children had medical problems this past year and I got really no exercise in and no effort to take care of myself. Now I'm trying to turn that around and be healthy.

Dariasen · July 2015

When I first started and switched from junk food to calorie dense food it took my appetite a week or so to balance out. The protein filled me up more than the carbs did so I just wasn't hungry after eating a plate of chicken and veggies like I was after eating a plate of pasta.

macgurlnet · July 2015

jdleanna wrote: »

HI all! Anyone experience a disappearing appetite? Mine is just gone and I'm having trouble getting to 1200 calories every day. I do find ways to get there when it's 7 or 8 and I realize I've eaten only 800-900 or so but I worry I'm doing something wrong because I just don't feel like eating.

I've just started back in on dieting after a long break from paying attention to my health. I don't have tons to lose - about 15 pounds to get to a comfortable weight - but until last week I really did eat lots of junk. Since Sunday I've been exercising and have cut out processed foods. Lots of veggies, fruits, some lean meats, beans, etc. I was starving Sunday, Monday and Tuesday, and then all at once my appetite just up and left. Been like this since Wednesday.

Should I worry? Is 1200 ok to shoot for, or did I mess myself up by choosing that low a count (it was suggested by MFP, as I'm short and until last week was sedentary). Anyone go through something like this?

Are you weighing everything on a food scale? If not, start doing so. This will give you a more accurate count for what you're eating.

If you are weighing everything and still just reaching 1200, I would encourage you to add in some calorie-dense things, like nut butters, a little more dressing or oil on a salad, etc. If you've eliminated desserts, consider adding a treat in, too, if you'd like.

With just 15lbs to lose, you may be able to eat more and still lose weight - you should be aiming for a 0.5lb/week loss on average. More than that can mean you'll lose more muscle than you would with a slower rate of loss.

~Lyssa

Liftng4Lis · July 2015

OH, it's been a week. Your appetite will be back soon, no worries.

slideaway1 · July 2015

I loose my appetite all the time. I need to consume about 3200 cals a day and have to work pretty hard to eat/drink that amount. I certainly doesn't always feel natural to me. Most of the time it manageable and I do enjoy my food, but I have days where I could easily go 24 hours without eating at all and struggle with even drinking a protein shake. As others have said though, I have to trust my body and listen to what it's saying. Sometimes just watching food channels on TV/Youtube is enough to get my appetite racing again. I looked at a thread on MFP of people posting their food pics the other day and that jump started my appetite.

Whitezombiegirl · July 2015

Could it be hormonal? I have almost no appetite for two weeks s month and it comes back for two weeks. I've been this way since teens_ it is affected by my cycle. Its normal for me though. Try tracking your cycle to see if there is a pattern.

Appetite has disappeared

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