Do you ever get hungry but don't feel like eating anything?

Francl27
Francl27 Posts: 26,371 Member
in Food and Nutrition
Not sure if it's the depression or what, but absolutely nothing appeals to me right now. Unfortunately, when that happens, I typically end up just eating junk, even though I don't even really want it, but when nothing appeals to you at all, you don't typically want to have low calorie stuff....

Probably doesn't help that there isn't much food in the fridge right now and I'm sick of eating the same stuff all the time too... and I have no desire whatsoever to cook (or even bake those cookies I've been wanting to try).

Is it just me? How do you deal with it? It happens to me a few times a month...

Replies

  • sparklyglitterbomb
    sparklyglitterbomb Posts: 458 Member
    The last week or so. I've been eating Clif Bars for lunch because I was hungry and have not felt like making anything. Dinner was a freezer meal I prepped - I just ate it because my tummy was growling at me.

    I'm mostly riding it through, keeping fed enough to counter my running, and know that one day something will sound good. Not terribly helpful a solution, but wanted you to know you weren't alone. :)

    I do sometimes break this by going out to eat, just to have someone else prep something different for me since my usual love of cooking has fled the scene lately. :/
  • quiksylver296
    quiksylver296 Posts: 28,439 Member
    Yes. And I usually make poor choices, hoping the junk will appeal once I start eating it.

    It doesn't happen as often to me as it does you, and I haven't actually tried to address the issue.
  • scarlett_k
    scarlett_k Posts: 812 Member
    Yeah quite often. This is usually when I make up a "diet" shake. Don't use them as directed or every day but I like the taste and they are nutritious, so they make a good meal for when I don't feel like proper food.
  • mrjarichard
    mrjarichard Posts: 1 Member
    edited August 2017
    It happens to me sometimes, where I know I'm hungry (physical symptoms), but just have no appetite. I recently started on an SSRI and it has caused me to loose my appetite pretty much all together. I drink Soylent as a part of my diet, essentially it's a nutritionally balanced "meal replacement" - not meant for losing / gaining weight, but more just a quick way to get your nutritional needs in. It helps during the times when I have no appetite and when I don't want to eat junk food but have nothing / don't want anything "healthy."
  • StarvingAuthor
    StarvingAuthor Posts: 67 Member
    Yes, a lot. I usually chew gum.
  • wilsonunc
    wilsonunc Posts: 45 Member
    Yeah, I have this right now. I'm eating a lot of protein bars and "things I like" that are within my calorie limit but may not be exactly healthy. I have no motivation to eat though I know I should and my stomach growls at me. I get this weird gagging feeling in my throat (very hard to explain) that makes it very hard to make myself eat anything.
  • Ruatine
    Ruatine Posts: 3,424 Member
    Yes, I have had that happen on many occasions throughout my life. I'm hungry, and I know I should be hungry based on what I've eaten that day, but I stand in front of the fridge/pantry and just can't bring myself to eat anything that's in there (even things I know that I love). I find it most often happens to me when I'm overly tired.

    Sometimes I just don't eat. Sometimes I stand there until I think of something I'd care to eat. The last time it happened (a couple weeks ago), I went through a mental list of all the foods/meals I love to eat (regardless of whether I had the ingredients for them in-house) and asked myself if I wanted to eat it until I came to one that appealed to me. In that instance, I ended up eating a PB&J. Not a huge calorie-bomb and fit within my calories.
  • everher
    everher Posts: 909 Member
    I've never thought about this being possible in relation to depression. It's an interesting thought. I suffer from depression myself and this is something I deal with kind of regularly.

    Honestly, I've just found sticking to a plan is best. If I plan to cook and eat xyz I'm going to cook and eat xyz whether I feel like it or not. I realized early on that I would tend to eat junk food when I felt like this and I can't say I got anything out of it. It's not like I enjoyed the junk food more than I would've enjoyed eating something more nutritious. So now I just stick to plan.
  • Penthesilea514
    Penthesilea514 Posts: 1,189 Member
    Yes, this has happened to me a few times in the past few months, and I also vary in my response. Sometimes I give in, sometimes I don't eat, and sometimes I force myself to stay on track. I don't have a diagnosis of depression though, so my response my differ for that reason. I can only say to make sure you are eating something and log it- even if the food isn't ideal. You can pick things pack up when you are ready.
  • AlabasterVerve
    AlabasterVerve Posts: 3,171 Member
    If I don't feel like eating I don't eat even if I'm hungry. I assume I'm not truly hungry but just have a sensation of hunger because it's when I'm accustomed to eating. By the next meal or the next day my interest in food returns and I eat - and enjoy - my food all the more because I'm really hungry. I also "overeat" when I'm more hungry than usual. I just consider it part of a healthy appetite.

    I don't have any sort of eating disorder and I'm not depressed though which is probably an important caveat.
  • Graelwyn75
    Graelwyn75 Posts: 4,404 Member
    It is more indecisiveness with me... I get hungry and then cannot decide what to eat as I have so many options available.
  • Madwife2009
    Madwife2009 Posts: 1,369 Member
    Happens when I get ill - right now I've got a grotty cold and I just cannot be bothered to eat as there's nothing I want. My kids had pizza tonight and I usually have a steak instead but I just could not do with getting the pan out, let alone cooking it.

    So DH made me boiled eggs which I forced down but didn't particularly enjoy. DH also cooked sausage rolls tonight which smelled so good but I couldn't be bothered with chewing/swallowing them.

    I certainly can't be bothered to raid the cupboards for junk food either so I don't think that I'll be wrecking my calorie deficit today :)

    And tomorrow I'm going to feel a whole lot worse . . . . never had man-flu before but that's the joy of immunosuppression :(
  • WanderingRivers
    WanderingRivers Posts: 612 Member
    Yep. Usually it's when I'm so depressed that I hit suicidal ideation.
  • Confuzzled4ever
    Confuzzled4ever Posts: 2,860 Member
    That's me right now. I branched out a little today... As I bought lunch and my roommate cooked.dinner But I eat the same things over and over and over. I don't mind though. I do have depression.
  • cmtigger
    cmtigger Posts: 1,450 Member
    Yes, it's not from depression- but I can see how it could be- it's usually from being tired. I keep cheese sticks I'll grab and eat in those situations.
  • Susieq_1994
    Susieq_1994 Posts: 5,361 Member
    everher wrote: »
    I've never thought about this being possible in relation to depression. It's an interesting thought. I suffer from depression myself and this is something I deal with kind of regularly.

    Honestly, I've just found sticking to a plan is best. If I plan to cook and eat xyz I'm going to cook and eat xyz whether I feel like it or not. I realized early on that I would tend to eat junk food when I felt like this and I can't say I got anything out of it. It's not like I enjoyed the junk food more than I would've enjoyed eating something more nutritious. So now I just stick to plan.

    ^ This. I have a bunch of meals saved on MFP and I just log whatever fits in my goals from those and follow the plan when nothing appeals. I also suffer from depression, and this food apathy usually hits when the depression is bad.
  • czmiles926
    czmiles926 Posts: 130 Member
    Same here, I was 300 calories under my target yesterday and I knew I should eat something but I just didn't feel up to it even though I was starting to feel hungry.
  • Machka9
    Machka9 Posts: 25,592 Member
    Do you ever get hungry but don't feel like eating anything?

    Yep ... so I tell myself that until I decide what I'm hungry for, I don't eat. :)

    Usually within an hour or two, I've decided what I'm hungry for.
  • Cbean08
    Cbean08 Posts: 1,092 Member
    This usually happens at work, but it's from stress, not from depression. I have a job that frequently conflicts with eating times. By the time I'm able to eat, few things sound appetizing. But, I don't want to miss my small window to eat, so I'll try to grab something just to keep me going. I keep Quests bars, beef jerky and celery/baby carrots around.
  • skymningen
    skymningen Posts: 532 Member
    For me it is more likely to crave something I don't have around (not chocolate, but salad or a specific fruit).
    If I really think I am hungry but nothing appeals to me then I usually figure it is just me being bored and instead of eating I try drinking a large glass of water.
  • Chef_Barbell
    Chef_Barbell Posts: 6,644 Member
    Nope. I find something to eat when I'm hungry. That does sound like depression.
  • Wtn_Gurl
    Wtn_Gurl Posts: 396 Member
    Sounds like you're tired from eating the same stuff. happened to me this week. I had a slice of bread with peanut butter that I just got, had not eaten that in 5 months, and so when I ate it, it was the best thing ever. so find something new you can eat. it will spark you. it doesn't have to be fattening. go to the store and try some new fruit or vegetables or some new kind of meat or maybe a new yogurt, of which there are a jillion kinds in the store.
  • laurenebargar
    laurenebargar Posts: 3,081 Member
    Happened to me last night, only had a small amount of food in the afternoon, Went for a walk so I had a few almond and then some pretzels and then I made a package of instant pudding. I had the calories I needed to eat and just watched some TV and ate about 300 calories in pudding. Not the healthiest thing in the world, but I was feeling off yesterday.
  • Need2Exerc1se
    Need2Exerc1se Posts: 13,575 Member
    That happens to me occasionally. Usually when I'm in a bad mood or very tired. I typically go for comfort foods that are quick and easy in those situations. Grilled cheese, pbj sandwich, canned refried beans and cheese and salsa w chips, if we have leftover meat I like to dice it up and mix into a can of black beans, canned venison with bbq sauce sandwich, scrambled eggs with cheese and salsa, goat cheese and sweet pickles on crackers or something like that.
  • ericads75
    ericads75 Posts: 3 Member
    YES. My lack of interest in food is medication related and daily. While the associated weight loss has been welcome, it's very frustrating. (13 pounds in one month) When you stand in front of your fridge and the normal things you love are so unappealing or even nauseating......GRRRRRR. Even my 8 year old has asked why I don't get iced coffee each afternoon anymore!

    I have a handful of things that do appeal to me pretty regularly and they've become my go-to items. Thankfully they are not sweets and junk, but I'm pretty much living on protein shakes, cheese and crackers, some egg dishes, and a few fruits/veggies. If there is something moderately appealing to you, maybe look for a new recipe that uses it. If you think this is depression-related to your depression, I would encourage you to see your doctor. Best of luck to you.

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