We are pleased to announce that as of March 4, 2025, an updated Rich Text Editor has been introduced in the MyFitnessPal Community. To learn more about the changes, please click here. We look forward to sharing this new feature with you!

Do you force yourself to eat?

whatalazyidiot
whatalazyidiot Posts: 343 Member
edited December 2024 in Health and Weight Loss
When you're not hungry?

I do NOT condone trying to eat too few calories. This is super rare for me, but I was shopping all day today and I ate a light dinner, and have no appetite.

If it's just one day, do you just let it go, or do you try to find something appetizing. I could probably drink a protein shake or something if I have to, but I also have a history of disordered eating (both eating too much and too little on purpose), so I don't know if it's better to just force the calories?

I'm at 1,185 calories for the day, so it's not crazy low, but it's a few hundred less than what I usually eat.

Replies

  • kami3006
    kami3006 Posts: 4,979 Member
    edited December 2018
    whatalazyidiot wrote: »
    When you're not hungry?

    I do NOT condone trying to eat too few calories. This is super rare for me, but I was shopping all day today and I ate a light dinner, and have no appetite.

    If it's just one day, do you just let it go, or do you try to find something appetizing. I could probably drink a protein shake or something if I have to, but I also have a history of disordered eating (both eating too much and too little on purpose), so I don't know if it's better to just force the calories?

    I'm at 1,185 calories for the day, so it's not crazy low, but it's a few hundred less than what I usually eat.

    I follow a weekly calorie goal so I can be over some days and under others. It balance out over the week. Some days, I am just full (cardio curbs my appetite) so I have those calories another day (lifting makes me super hungry).

    ETA: With consideration of your history, if it's just the occasional thing, I don't see any reason to force yourself. I would think forcing calories would be just as bad. But, I'm no expert on ED or your specific issues.
  • whatalazyidiot
    whatalazyidiot Posts: 343 Member
    kami3006 wrote: »
    whatalazyidiot wrote: »
    When you're not hungry?

    I do NOT condone trying to eat too few calories. This is super rare for me, but I was shopping all day today and I ate a light dinner, and have no appetite.

    If it's just one day, do you just let it go, or do you try to find something appetizing. I could probably drink a protein shake or something if I have to, but I also have a history of disordered eating (both eating too much and too little on purpose), so I don't know if it's better to just force the calories?

    I'm at 1,185 calories for the day, so it's not crazy low, but it's a few hundred less than what I usually eat.

    I follow a weekly calorie goal so I can be over some days and under others. It balance out over the week. Some days, I am just full (cardio curbs my appetite) so I have those calories another day (lifting makes me super hungry).

    ETA: With consideration of your history, if it's just the occasional thing, I don't see any reason to force yourself. I would think forcing calories would be just as bad. But, I'm no expert on ED or your specific issues.

    Oh yeah I forgot people do the weekly thing. That might be good to give me a day this weekend where I can eat a little more (usually when I want to).

    I have a tendency to gradually eat less and less and less and push myself. Then I'm starving, eat too much, then I go off the rails and binge eat for a few months, then back to dieting, rinse and repeat. I have been trying really hard this time to not only eat my calories, but most of my exercise calories (Which I never would have done before).

  • psychod787
    psychod787 Posts: 4,099 Member
    edited December 2018
    Your appetite will come roaring back when you come back to maintenance. P.s. eat more maybe....
  • deannalfisher
    deannalfisher Posts: 5,600 Member
    I try to hit my goals because of overly restrictive eating in the past and it’s really easy for me to skip back into those habits - because after I eat I realize that I was hungry but that my brain was screwing with the signals
  • whatalazyidiot
    whatalazyidiot Posts: 343 Member
    deannalfisher wrote: »
    I try to hit my goals because of overly restrictive eating in the past and it’s really easy for me to skip back into those habits - because after I eat I realize that I was hungry but that my brain was screwing with the signals

    Yeah that's kind of what I have been trying to pay attention to. It happens so easily, almost subconsciously.
  • jaciejaciexoxo
    jaciejaciexoxo Posts: 49 Member
    whatalazyidiot wrote: »
    When you're not hungry?

    I do NOT condone trying to eat too few calories. This is super rare for me, but I was shopping all day today and I ate a light dinner, and have no appetite.

    If it's just one day, do you just let it go, or do you try to find something appetizing. I could probably drink a protein shake or something if I have to, but I also have a history of disordered eating (both eating too much and too little on purpose), so I don't know if it's better to just force the calories?

    I'm at 1,185 calories for the day, so it's not crazy low, but it's a few hundred less than what I usually eat.

    Sometimes I do. I’ve eaten like a bird my whole life. Don’t get me wrong I LOVE FOOD AND I LOVE COOKING...but I have no appetite half the time and eat well under what the average person does....but because my goal is to gain weight I sometimes do force myself to eat which turns out to make things worse bc I just hurl or am so full that I can’t eat the rest of the day....I’ve now learned to put most of the calories I need in a fruity smoothie which helps when you have to eat nearly 3000 calories to make up for what you burn
  • janejellyroll
    janejellyroll Posts: 25,763 Member
    Within a single day, no. I know from experience that if I'm not as hungry one day then I'll want more the next day and I just eat those calories then.

    The only exception would be in times of very high stress or anxiety and I do force myself to eat then because I know that is what is best for me personally. I try to stay honest with myself about how I'm feeling and what is going on -- is this a physical lack of hunger or is it driven by emotion?
  • mmapags
    mmapags Posts: 8,934 Member
    The occasional day here or there? No issue. A habit of this would not be good but that doesn't sound like an issue for you.
  • elisa123gal
    elisa123gal Posts: 4,368 Member
    "force" is a strong word. I don't force myself to eat.. but I remind myself to eat and fuel my body throughout the day to become as healthy as possible. I don't buy into the school of thought to only eat when you're hungry. That's true if you're stuffing your face for no reason..but ..,.not eating or under-eating is another matter.

    In the morning.. if I'm not hungry .. I still eat a vegetable egg white omelet with turmeric and eat a grapefruit... why? to get nutrients into my body and to give myself protein to start my day and fuel my body. I don't wait to be hungry to do what I need to do.
This discussion has been closed.

Categories