Do I need to eat if I'm not hungry?

AshStout83
AshStout83 Posts: 190 Member
I've been following a HFLC diet for about 3.5 weeks. I've been in ketosis since the second day. When I've dieted in the past, not eating below my BMR was strongly advised by people who were more knowledgable than I was. Is that still important on HFLC? My BMR is 1,420 cals and I've barely eaten 1,000 cals and it's almost 10:00 pm. I've been making myself eat to prevent eating below my BMR. Should I be?

Replies

  • auntstephie321
    auntstephie321 Posts: 3,586 Member
    No, I used to get days like that in the beginning, now not so much. But if you aren't hungry there's no need to force something. Your body will pull what it needs from what you have stored. You will also have days where you could eat adv entire cow, it all balances out.
  • AshStout83
    AshStout83 Posts: 190 Member
    Thank you! I've been slowly shoving food I'm not enjoying in my mouth, hoping someone would answer. Really, really hoping. Lol.
  • RowdysLady
    RowdysLady Posts: 1,370 Member
    oh my gosh! don't eat if you are not hungry; don't work to meet fat macros if you don't want to eat. Your body will some times make you feel like you are starving - I've been like that today, but tomorrow I may eat only a 1000 cals...every day is different and it takes listening to our bodies to keep sane.
  • AshStout83
    AshStout83 Posts: 190 Member
    Thank you!
  • RalfLott
    RalfLott Posts: 5,036 Member
    @ashtaylor83 - Enjoy not being hungry! (Unless your goal is to gain weight....)
  • Working2BLean
    Working2BLean Posts: 386 Member
    I have heard skipping meals can lead to binge eating when serious hunger hits later on

    Not so sure I believe that now. I may snack a small thing down if it has been a while but definitely don't pack. Full meal down just because the clock says it is a typical time to eat!
  • ProCoffeenator
    ProCoffeenator Posts: 523 Member
    I've been listening to 2 Keto Dudes the last few days since I fell behind on the podcasts. I was in the same boat as you thinking I had to eat even though my body was saying nope!

    Anyways they were discussing the effects of carbs and insulin and true hunger. Nutshell is that it's not until you are in ketosis that you really start to learn what your true hunger signals are. Pre Keto what was mistaken as hunger were false signals of your body crashing off sugars and begging for more. Think of the whole Chinese food buffet joke. You pig out and then an hour later you are starving again.

    Now I know for sure to listen to my new body system and its cues!
  • AshStout83
    AshStout83 Posts: 190 Member
    Thank you, everyone! I've been concerned about damaging my metabolism. I'm so glad you all took the time to give me advice.
  • AshStout83
    AshStout83 Posts: 190 Member
    RalfLott wrote: »
    @ashtaylor83 - Enjoy not being hungry! (Unless your goal is to gain weight....)

    Thanks! I'm definitely trying to lose. I started out at 172. I'm 5'3", so my BMI was obese. I've lost about 10 lbs, so my BMI is overweight, but I want to lose a lot more. I have a small frame, so 120 is my goal.
  • sammyliftsandeats
    sammyliftsandeats Posts: 2,421 Member
    RalfLott wrote: »
    @ashtaylor83 - Enjoy not being hungry! (Unless your goal is to gain weight....)

    Thanks! I'm definitely trying to lose. I started out at 172. I'm 5'3", so my BMI was obese. I've lost about 10 lbs, so my BMI is overweight, but I want to lose a lot more. I have a small frame, so 120 is my goal.

    We are the same height!

    I actually started out with the same scale goal but threw it away once I realized that I can get much smaller but by weighing more.

    Glad you're listening to your body!
  • AshStout83
    AshStout83 Posts: 190 Member
    RalfLott wrote: »
    @ashtaylor83 - Enjoy not being hungry! (Unless your goal is to gain weight....)

    Thanks! I'm definitely trying to lose. I started out at 172. I'm 5'3", so my BMI was obese. I've lost about 10 lbs, so my BMI is overweight, but I want to lose a lot more. I have a small frame, so 120 is my goal.

    We are the same height!

    I actually started out with the same scale goal but threw it away once I realized that I can get much smaller but by weighing more.

    Glad you're listening to your body!

    5'3" is a pretty great height if you ask me! My goal might change, but I was in awesome shape around 115. Very low BF(11ish%) and could do pushups with my feet on chair(way harder than a normal pushup). I want to get back there.
  • McShorty7
    McShorty7 Posts: 69 Member
    RalfLott wrote: »
    @ashtaylor83 - Enjoy not being hungry! (Unless your goal is to gain weight....)

    Thanks! I'm definitely trying to lose. I started out at 172. I'm 5'3", so my BMI was obese. I've lost about 10 lbs, so my BMI is overweight, but I want to lose a lot more. I have a small frame, so 120 is my goal.

    We are the same height!

    I actually started out with the same scale goal but threw it away once I realized that I can get much smaller but by weighing more.

    Glad you're listening to your body!

    5'3" is a pretty great height if you ask me! My goal might change, but I was in awesome shape around 115. Very low BF(11ish%) and could do pushups with my feet on chair(way harder than a normal pushup). I want to get back there.

    You guys are tall next to me :wink:
    I cannot wait until my Wii fit tells me I'm just overweight rather than obese
  • Granchick
    Granchick Posts: 16 Member
    There are great benefits in Fasting so read up on those too.
  • KarlaYP
    KarlaYP Posts: 4,436 Member
    I don't believe anyone should eat when they aren't hungry. This type of eating is what brought most of us here to begin with. Enjoy this feeling and let it help you learn those true hunger cues. It won't last, and will even out with hungrier days.

  • cstehansen
    cstehansen Posts: 1,984 Member
    learning not to eat when I am not hungry has been the hardest part. I have always eaten throughout the day in addition to very large meals. Now when I am thinking about grabbing a snack, I ask myself if I am actually hungry or if I am just about to eat out of habit. The answer is generally habit. In fact, after a few of my snacks where I didn't ask that question, I regretted it because of feeling overstuffed.

    Some habits are harder to break than others. I am just hoping that this old dog can learn a new trick.
  • AshStout83
    AshStout83 Posts: 190 Member
    Thanks, you three!
  • AshStout83
    AshStout83 Posts: 190 Member
    McShorty7 wrote: »
    RalfLott wrote: »
    @ashtaylor83 - Enjoy not being hungry! (Unless your goal is to gain weight....)

    Thanks! I'm definitely trying to lose. I started out at 172. I'm 5'3", so my BMI was obese. I've lost about 10 lbs, so my BMI is overweight, but I want to lose a lot more. I have a small frame, so 120 is my goal.

    We are the same height!

    I actually started out with the same scale goal but threw it away once I realized that I can get much smaller but by weighing more.

    Glad you're listening to your body!

    5'3" is a pretty great height if you ask me! My goal might change, but I was in awesome shape around 115. Very low BF(11ish%) and could do pushups with my feet on chair(way harder than a normal pushup). I want to get back there.

    You guys are tall next to me :wink:
    I cannot wait until my Wii fit tells me I'm just overweight rather than obese

    My mom's 4'11", so I get to feel tall next to someone. Lol.
  • RalfLott
    RalfLott Posts: 5,036 Member
    I've been listening to 2 Keto Dudes the last few days since I fell behind on the podcasts. I was in the same boat as you thinking I had to eat even though my body was saying nope!

    Anyways they were discussing the effects of carbs and insulin and true hunger. Nutshell is that it's not until you are in ketosis that you really start to learn what your true hunger signals are. Pre Keto what was mistaken as hunger were false signals of your body crashing off sugars and begging for more. Think of the whole Chinese food buffet joke. You pig out and then an hour later you are starving again.

    Now I know for sure to listen to my new body system and its cues!

    FYI, here's an earlier thread.....
    http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/10440103/lifestyle-change-goal-recognize-hunger-and-full

  • genmon00
    genmon00 Posts: 604 Member
    McShorty7 wrote: »
    RalfLott wrote: »
    @ashtaylor83 - Enjoy not being hungry! (Unless your goal is to gain weight....)

    Thanks! I'm definitely trying to lose. I started out at 172. I'm 5'3", so my BMI was obese. I've lost about 10 lbs, so my BMI is overweight, but I want to lose a lot more. I have a small frame, so 120 is my goal.

    We are the same height!

    I actually started out with the same scale goal but threw it away once I realized that I can get much smaller but by weighing more.

    Glad you're listening to your body!

    5'3" is a pretty great height if you ask me! My goal might change, but I was in awesome shape around 115. Very low BF(11ish%) and could do pushups with my feet on chair(way harder than a normal pushup). I want to get back there.

    You guys are tall next to me :wink:
    I cannot wait until my Wii fit tells me I'm just overweight rather than obese

    me too! I'm 4'10.5 (yes I count that half inch lol)
  • Anicamarais
    Anicamarais Posts: 46 Member
    I think that when you are in keto diet you generally get hungry not because you need fuel, (because you have enough of it) but nutrition... so Yeh I might be wrong but I'm just thinking logically here.... body fat provides the fuel and if you have enough of it, the body will run on that, however, when you need some nutrition, your brain will let you know by giving you the hunger signal......
  • KenSmith108
    KenSmith108 Posts: 1,967 Member
    2ilrwu6uo6bf.jpg

    That's how I got my start. :'(

    >:) or o:)