Lost my appetite for healthy foods

There are no bad foods, no one is bad for eating or not eating any specific thing.

If you're not feeling chicken and broccoli, don't eat it. There's an abundance of other food that exists. You can eat anything you want and lose weight, as long as you eat fewer calories than your body burns in the course of a day. If you're craving spaghetti, make some and serve yourself an amount that will fit in your calorie budget. Carbs, in all their delightful forms, will still be there when you reach GW - figure out how to live with them now, or you'll find yourself back where you started again.

ashleymcn01 wrote: »

So here is my dilemma, I love to exercise, but here recently I have completely lost my appetite for healthy foods. For example, I made chicken & broccoli last night and had to give it to my husband to finish, just wasn't good to me as it has been in the past. This has happened so many times over the past couple of months, and now I'm seeing the weight creep back up because I seem to only be craving carbs.

When this journey first started back in 2014 I was devouring vegetables and all kinds of good for you foods, but other than my oatmeal in the mornings, all of it has just gone out the window. I have this binder with tons of great recipes, but don't want to make any of it!!! How do I get this motivation back to eat healthy again? Anyone else experienced this?

the good thing is, you don't need to eat 'healthy' to lose weight, you just need to eat in a calorie deficit. Short term, start with that? Also, have you cut carbs significantly? you don't need to cut carbs to lose weight.

Then maybe look at some new recipes that are a bit more exciting than chicken and broccoli to get more fruit and veg in your diet?

Maybe you just need to shake up your food selections. Maybe it's time to get a new cookbook and try some of the things in there.

Chicken and broccoli are fine, but it can get boring. I burnt out on sandwiches long ago...too many during high school and college. But an interesting sandwich? I'm there.

Not sure...I mean for me, health is also delicious, not boring...lots of herbs and spices and different cooking methods. As an observation, people seem to think if it tastes good it must not be "healthy"...which couldn't be further from the truth.

Also, there are numerous sources of very healthy carbohydrates. My guess is that you are just craving junk food...which aren't "carbs"...most junk foods as as much if not more fat than carbohydrates...all those treat foods like chips, baked goods, etc aren't "carbs"...they're namely fat and sugar...I actually find it interesting that people refer to these things as carbs...people say "craving carbs"...you never hear "craving fat"...even though most of those things have at least, if not more calories coming from fat than they do carbohydrates.

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snowflake954 wrote: »

It might be helpful if you tell us exactly what you are craving and eating. There might be other ways to cook what you like and cut the calorie content. I've seen many clever recipes on here. Someone might have other foods for you to try. Cravings are not bad per se--it's too much that gets you in trouble. I started here in 2013 and now eat totally differently. I want other things. I now want salads with half an orange cut up in it and just a little EVOO. I crave that. Shrug.

also this.

When I want chocolate (but am not having a "I want nothing but day), I throw a 40 calorie pack of reduced calorie swiss miss into my oatmeal. Savory/salty/chips? Ranch seasoning (5-10 calories, almost nothing) on my 100 calorie microwave popcorn.

Those two products get most of my sweet/salty cravings out of the way.

If I'm actually craving fat, though I'm probably just going with it. And I mean fat instead of 'highly palatable junk'. Which I clearly sometimes still go with.

Shot in the dark: Are you sleeping okay? My appetite for sugar goes through the roof when I'm not getting enough sleep or poor quality sleep. All I want is candy and pastries.

Please ignore if not relevant.

How are you preparing the healthy foods? We had chicken and broccoli last night too and it was amazing!

I rubbed the chicken earlier in the day with a mixture of spices (cumin, garlic, cayenne, salt, pepper olive oil) and left it to sit in the fridge then grilled it. The broccoli I broke into small florets, tossed in a little olive oil and salt and pepper and baked on a cookie sheet until getting crisp.

There are so many ways to make healthy food tasty and amazing. Check Pinterest for recipe ideas.

I love burger patties! I usually top salad with it(hamburger salad!) But you can do potato or any other veg with it...

I agree--make a homemade lean burger, with oven baked potato wedges. Menopause can give you cravings, so change up what you ate in the past to lose. It's hard enough without eating things you don't want. Might be time to branch out, your tastes have changed. As for sweets, portion them out. I found myself eating too much dark chocolate, so I mix up 10g of protein powder with a fourth of a glass of water, a little cinnamon, 5g of chia seeds, a few dried cranberries, and 20g of oatmeal. I put this in the frig in the morning and eat it for dessert after lunch and then make another for dinner. It satisfies a sweet craving and gives me some protein. I still eat chocolate, but have cut down.

ashleymcn01 wrote: »

snowflake954 wrote: »

I agree--make a homemade lean burger, with oven baked potato wedges. Menopause can give you cravings, so change up what you ate in the past to lose. It's hard enough without eating things you don't want. Might be time to branch out, your tastes have changed. As for sweets, portion them out. I found myself eating too much dark chocolate, so I mix up 10g of protein powder with a fourth of a glass of water, a little cinnamon, 5g of chia seeds, a few dried cranberries, and 20g of oatmeal. I put this in the frig in the morning and eat it for dessert after lunch and then make another for dinner. It satisfies a sweet craving and gives me some protein. I still eat chocolate, but have cut down.

As we have all exchanged thoughts this morning, I do believe this is related to menopause. I just started my hormone therapy this week, so fingers crossed the lack of wanting to fix my normal recipes will diminish over time. Boy do I hope so! It's not that I just want sugary foods only, I just don't want to cook my normal stuff. My brain is full of menopause fogginess right now.

I'm pretty much out of it--after 10 yrs. I still get hot flashes in the mornings, or evenings. They aren't as strong as before, so I've learned to live with it. I understand exactly. You just get through day to day. I would keep a wet washcloth near the bed to cool down when I got them at night. Some women have no symptoms, I had menopause from hell.

What do you have on your oatmeal?
I like to peel and chop an apple, the cook it with a little bit of cinnamon. Delicious on top of porridge with some nut butter. I put cocoa in it fairly regularly as well, some wintery mornings it is the only thing to have!

My first thought when I read your post was possible symptom of depression, as that is one of the things I experience. I cannot make myself do it, and when really bad in the past have ended up eating mostly toast and biscuits for days because I couldn't summon the wherewithal for anything else.

I try not to do that these days, but do simplify things. So if I'm feeling that way I might make a big pot of soup, or an omelette with a baked potato. Something quick with at least a bit of nutrition. Whilst not ideal it is is still significantly better than a packet of biscuits and I'm going to be kind to myself.

ashleymcn01 wrote: »

wunderkindking wrote: »

snowflake954 wrote: »

It might be helpful if you tell us exactly what you are craving and eating. There might be other ways to cook what you like and cut the calorie content. I've seen many clever recipes on here. Someone might have other foods for you to try. Cravings are not bad per se--it's too much that gets you in trouble. I started here in 2013 and now eat totally differently. I want other things. I now want salads with half an orange cut up in it and just a little EVOO. I crave that. Shrug.

also this.

When I want chocolate (but am not having a "I want nothing but day), I throw a 40 calorie pack of reduced calorie swiss miss into my oatmeal. Savory/salty/chips? Ranch seasoning (5-10 calories, almost nothing) on my 100 calorie microwave popcorn.

Those two products get most of my sweet/salty cravings out of the way.

If I'm actually craving fat, though I'm probably just going with it. And I mean fat instead of 'highly palatable junk'. Which I clearly sometimes still go with.

So the things I'm craving are definitely dessert type foods (cake, pies, cookies, brownies, etc.). I'm reaching my hand in the bag of lay's almost daily or grabbing a fun size Hershey bar. For my main meals I would prefer a homemade hamburger with potato wedges over a piece of chicken (but who wouldn't!). For dinners, I would make recipes like Latin chicken, meatloaf, lasagna, pork chops, salads, tuna, fajitas, enchiladas, chili, pastas, different types of vegetables for side dishes(broccoli, lima beans, green beans, green peas, etc.), you know, just normal foods but made lighter. And none of it sounds good any more. I am in a serious rut!

I might just have to embrace the change in food temporarily, with the mindset that this to shall pass. I think not only the change in appetite but my hormonal imbalances are to blame for the minor weight gain. Just need to get my head wrapped around it mentally.

How is your fruit intake? A few years back (before I even pursued weight loss), I reduced my cravings for baked goods and whatnot by making it a point to get 3 servings of fruit every day, a strategy suggested by a registered dietitian. This doesn't help everyone, but I've seen others here say a similar approach helped them. It took a little willpower at first, but after a while the cravings for cookies, candy, etc., slowly withered. Later, some of the simpler grocery-store baked goods started being not even good, just too sweet and not flavorful enough. Eventually, I could reduce fruit intake, and keep that effect. I enjoy a good, rich dessert now and then, but I don't crave all of that poor-quality stuff at all, or enjoy it.

I still have salty cravings, but since I no longer have high blood pressure, I just eat salty, calorie-appropriate things (sauerkraut, pickles, bean chips or crispy chickpeas/broad-beans that are tasty but have some nutrition, etc.) or just put some salt on my food. Again, that may not work for you, but it works for me.

As far as menopause, it hit me quickly: Chemotherapy for breast cancer put me in menopause within a month, then I had to take ANTI-estrogen drugs for 7.5 years starting at that same time, which creates a sort of mega-menopause state.

ashleymcn01 wrote: »

janejellyroll wrote: »

Shot in the dark: Are you sleeping okay? My appetite for sugar goes through the roof when I'm not getting enough sleep or poor quality sleep. All I want is candy and pastries.

Please ignore if not relevant.

Interesting question. I do take a quarter of a Trazadone along with Melatonin, but have been having hot flashes at night that wake me up. I feel like I'm baking at 500 degrees! So even though I sleep hard, I have been waking up numerous times to kick my leg from underneath the covers until I cool back down.

Poor sleep quality from that can increase fatigue, which increases cravings.

I found it helpful to get some of those gel packs (designed for icing injuries) that one can freeze, but they stay soft. I used to wrap a frozen one in a towel, and put it under my neck when I went to sleep. (One can also be put in a mini-cooler by the bed in case of needing a refresher.) Avoiding hot drinks or spicy foods before bedtime also helps some people. If you can turn on a fan at bedtime, that may help. Avoiding the wake-ups, or at least getting a longer block of sleep before they happen, can be helpful. (Better that if achievable, vs. waiting for a waking hot flash then fixing it and going back to sleep. Sleep duration is important.).

Beyond the fatigue/sleep issue, you may also find that experimenting with your eating schedule may be helpful. My saying this is not about satiation or enjoying healthy foods per se, it's about seeing whether rearranging your fuel schedule can help level out your energy level in a way that reduces cravings.

Even some changes in *what* you eat (macronutrient mix, specific foods) might make a difference. For example, it sounds like you're falling into the pattern of going for a quick energy boost (sweet treats) that usually is followed by a slump later. What if you tried spacing out some slower carbs (or a carb + protein slow combo) in small amounts multiple times a day? Would that help? (I'm not saying it would; I'm saying that those kinds of experiments might be helpful.)

ashleymcn01 wrote: »

"the good thing is, you don't need to eat 'healthy' to lose weight, you just need to eat in a calorie deficit. Short term, start with that? Also, have you cut carbs significantly? you don't need to cut carbs to lose weight."

I wish I had cut carbs, but that is my sweet spot at the moment. I could eat oatmeal for breakfast and dinner and be content. Snack on crust-less blueberry pie and sea salt lays and I'm a happy camper. I know I'm not getting near the protein I should be.

So eat oatmeal for breakfast and dinner, but put a good dollop of Greek yogurt or some protein powder or peanut butter powder in it, or make savory oatmeal with eggs and meat in it. Feed the carb craving some slow carbs, and sneak in some protein. I don't eat meat at all, get around 50% of calories from carbs, and still get 100g+ of protein daily in maintenance. If you like pancakes, make pancakes, but use one of the protein mixes like Kodiak. Top with lightly sweetened berries and Greek yogurt. Make some macaroni & cheese, but with red lentil pasta, some Greek yogurt, a reasonable amount of calorie efficient cheese (I find plain chevre or real parmesan quite calorie/protein/flavor efficient in reasonable portions). Eat some carbs, sneak in some protein. 😉

As an aside: Part of the reason for fat and weight gain with aging is reduced muscle mass, which happens more quickly if (1) we don't get enough protein, and (2) we don't challenge our muscles to remind them we need them. (That last doesn't mean lifting gigantic weights, it just means routinely giving them a little useful challenge.) For us as women, improving those two things also contributes to bone health (hip fractures predict earlier mortality), and help us stay strong and independent longer, i.e., have a longer *high quality* life.

You can make some progress on these things. Enter problem-solving mode. Try some experiments. See what helps you.

Wishing you great success!