Eating, just for calories?
jordalyssa94
Posts: 45
I've focused on only eating when I'm hungry, and stopping when I'm no longer hungry. Needless to say I've been eating 500-800 cals a day but burning basically everything I'm eating .. so I've been eating to catch up on calories but I absolutely hate it, what do I do now .. anyone with similar issues?
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Replies
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You're only eating 500-800 cals a day??0
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And your still alive?
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You're not eating enough calories. You will put your body into a starvation mode and then when you actually do eat your metabolism will be so screwed up that you will gain weight. Make sure to eat at least 1200 calories a day. If you exercise eat more. You will lose weight slowly and keep it off for the long term.0
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Right now today, my deficit is 1300...... I'm having pasta for dinner, lots of veggies, I'm a vegetarian, but since i stopped eating just because of boredom, I stopped eating most of my food, I'm never hungry !0
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Try going for some more calorie dense foods, like nuts, peanut butter, bananas, pasta etc. That should make up the difference without you having to pack in more and more food.
Edit - avocados are another good one. You said you're vegetarian, but didn't say if you're vegan so you could add some cheese.0 -
500-800 calories a day then burning those off? :sick:
Yes you need to be eating MUCH more. Or else you will look "skinny fat" from muscle loss and not the bombshell body in your head!0 -
Your body adjusts to your actions. If you don't eat, you will eventually not feel hungry anymore. You should focus on eating, even just a small snack, every few hours, even if you aren't feeling "hungry". Your body tells you in other ways too. If your stomach isn't grumbling, you may feel tired or jittery or light-headed or cranky. These are all symptoms of hunger.0
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As someone who has had trouble eating in the past, I would say you are flirting with an eating disorder. Please work your way back up to a healthy amount of food each day. I have used support from something-fishy.org in the past. If you want to talk about anything that might be bothering you, feel free to message me. I'm a very good listener. =D0
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I was anorexic for 5 years, and in my recovery I went into depression and gained an unhealthy amount of weight.. I've been healthy for a year or so but realized I was doing most of my eating just because it was there.. so it's quite hard to eat when I;m not hungry once my mind is set to it0
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Sounds like a risky path to follow. You could end up with malnutrition. Planning your meals to include more calories will keep you healthier.0
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I was anorexic for 5 years, and in my recovery I went into depression and gained an unhealthy amount of weight.. I've been healthy for a year or so but realized I was doing most of my eating just because it was there.. so it's quite hard to eat when I;m not hungry once my mind is set to it
Eating 500 calories a day is anorexia. It sounds like you may be relapsing. You should see your physician or talk to a professional.0 -
I was anorexic for 5 years, and in my recovery I went into depression and gained an unhealthy amount of weight.. I've been healthy for a year or so but realized I was doing most of my eating just because it was there.. so it's quite hard to eat when I;m not hungry once my mind is set to it
if thats the case i would think of finding a reputable nutritionist and councilor to work with you.
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Continue to eat more. Your body NEEDS and DESERVES that fuel. I know it may be hard to consume that much, but really try to fit in all you allowed calories plus exercise calories for the day. Some people's struggle is that it is extremely difficult to eat less, and are called lazy if they can't. Some, like you, have the struggle of eating more. Don't be lazy, it take work to get to a place where you are eating right. Just because you don't 'feel' hungry doesn't mean that your body is getting all the nutrients you need.
Its not all about eating less, its about eating enough (not too much or too little). Add high calorie foods to your diet if you need to. Add protein shakes, or just protein mix to oatmeal and things like that. Switch to full fat items if you eat reduced fat now. You can make those changes.0 -
I was anorexic for 5 years, and in my recovery I went into depression and gained an unhealthy amount of weight.. I've been healthy for a year or so but realized I was doing most of my eating just because it was there.. so it's quite hard to eat when I;m not hungry once my mind is set to it
Eating 500 calories a day is anorexia. It sounds like you may be relapsing. You should see your physician or talk to a professional.
what she said..0 -
This is actually a big reason I stopped calorie counting and logging daily. I was having the opposite problem though- I would have leftover calories and then use it to eat junk. Now I focus on honoring my hunger cues and eating foods I know are good for me.
That being said, you really should be eating more than that. Try including some healthy and calorie dense foods in your diet, like nuts and nut butters, sweet potatoes, etc. Also, make sure you're getting all the nutrients you need. I eat vegetarian a lot, so sometimes that means eating a little extra to get my protein in for the day.
Also, have a post workout snack, even if you're not hungry. Your body needs that food pretty quickly after a workout to help replenish carbs and build muscle. Try some protein shakes, peanut butter and toast, or homemade granola bars (or a carefully selected premade one, like Lara of Clif Bars.) I'm never hungry after a workout, but it's still a good idea to eat then.0 -
I know that everyone might think I'm relapsing back into old habits, but really I can control it, I eat extra just to get the calories in because I know I need the calories, the 500-800 cals I eat are the ones I'm actually hungry for, I just thought people may have some advice0
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My daily intake is 2250 calories. Even if I'm full and no longer hungry at 1800 calories or whatever, I STILL eat and force myself to eat to get 2250.0
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doctors recommend 6 small meals a day;
bowl of cereal with lowfat milk or soy milk
orange
veggie burger on flat bread
frozen fruit & lite yogurt
1/4 cup pistashio
Home made burrito;
Mission Tortilla 1.5 gram fat
Chicken breast meat
Olives
Pico de Gallo; onion, cilantro, tomato
Red onion
Favorite taco sauce
1 cheddar cheese stick
Roll up heat in oven 15 minutes, add guacamoe0 -
You can always also have ice cream for dessert. YUM!! Good ice cream (like Ben and Jerry's) is hugely caloric and delicious. I can promise you that if I had that many bonus calories waiting for me at the end of the day, that is how I would spend them.
And for the record, people here are ABSOLUTELY right. You are good to not eat just out of boredom, but you must eat more calories or else you will relapse. Your body cannot function on such a low amount and it will affect your health. Please either eat more or seek counseling.
Good luck!0 -
I just thought people may have some advice
If you open your food diary or give us an idea of what you eat, we're more able to help you. Right now you tell us you have too few calories, so we tell you to eat more -- but if we know exactly *what* your meals are like, we can be more specific and help your reach your caloric goals without just stuffing yourself with food.0 -
I hear a lot of recommendations for counseling when this girl is asking for ways to get a higher caloric intake. It is fun to point the finger and shame, isn't it? That's why things like reality TV and TMZ exist. I tend to prefer shaming in the forums, also, but everyone beat me to it on this one. How about some actual advice?
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Try to keep you fridge stocked with high calorie foods that are easy for you to consume. Pre-made shakes are a good bet. Something with actual nutrition in it - look for "meal replacement" as opposed to just "protein". Met-RX makes some packets that you just throw into a blender, those are pretty easy.
I also have to force myself to hit my daily goals. Having items prepared already or things you can just open up and eat makes this much easier. Some cereals are healthy and high calorie, take a look at that aisle in the store. I keep a few jars on my counter with different nuts in them - great way to pack in extra calories and you can snack on them while you watch TV or something.
Also, it helps to drink water with meals. That way I don't feel like I am just choking things down.0 -
I've focused on only eating when I'm hungry, and stopping when I'm no longer hungry. Needless to say I've been eating 500-800 cals a day but burning basically everything I'm eating .. so I've been eating to catch up on calories but I absolutely hate it, what do I do now .. anyone with similar issues?
Plan your day better - log it in the day before, so you can make sure you use up your allowance and not have so many left at the end of the day.
I try to get to +/-100 of my calorie allowance every day and if it gets to the end of the day and I still have some left, I eat some nuts, or drink some milk, have a banana, anything to get as close to my calories as possible.0 -
I hear a lot of recommendations for counseling when this girl is asking for ways to get a higher caloric intake. It is fun to point the finger and shame, isn't it? That's why things like reality TV and TMZ exist. I tend to prefer shaming in the forums, also, but everyone beat me to it on this one. How about some actual advice?
...
Try to keep you fridge stocked with high calorie foods that are easy for you to consume. Pre-made shakes are a good bet. Something with actual nutrition in it - look for "meal replacement" as opposed to just "protein". Met-RX makes some packets that you just throw into a blender, those are pretty easy.
I also have to force myself to hit my daily goals. Having items prepared already or things you can just open up and eat makes this much easier. Some cereals are healthy and high calorie, take a look at that aisle in the store. I keep a few jars on my counter with different nuts in them - great way to pack in extra calories and you can snack on them while you watch TV or something.
Also, it helps to drink water with meals. That way I don't feel like I am just choking things down.
thank you, I really am not trying not to eat anymore, I've been there and I CAN tell the difference, I am trying to hit my goals but eating veggies and cereals and nuts still doesn't hit my goal for me, I know everyone else cares enough to be concerned, and thanks, but I am not going back through counselling. Nutritionist, maybe, but I do not need anyone to ask me why I am or not eating.. I;m trying to do what my body needs, and yes I've screwed it up most of my growing years but, I did recover0 -
If you *really* don't think you can eat, get thee some Ensure. If you're in the process of refeeding (from an eating disorder or other health problem), I wouldn't recommend doing it alone or with the advice of a message board. You need to be monitored by a physician.0
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Oh, and if I find that I'm just not hungry or able to eat, I can almost always eat some cereal. Most aren't hugely calorie-dense (at least not the ones I like/am able to eat), but it adds up.0
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Right now today, my deficit is 1300...... I'm having pasta for dinner, lots of veggies, I'm a vegetarian, but since i stopped eating just because of boredom, I stopped eating most of my food, I'm never hungry !
I hear ya.. I'm veggie too and it wasn't until I joined this site that I realized I was only eating about 900 cals at most a day. I'm trying hard to hit over 1300 a day, but I'm lucky if I even get close to 1200. Just don't get hungry and when I do eat, veggies don't have a lot of calories. :-/
I added more guacamole, hummus, and peanut butter to my diet!0 -
You're going to need to build your 'eating hormones' back up before you'll be hungry physically for the food so at first it might feel like you're 'eating just to eat'. What I'd recommend is to stick to your meals since you want to not eat simply out of boredom- a good call. So increase your meal size/calorie density instead.
Try to add 100 calories extra a day for a week. Next week up to 200 extra a day. Your body will start getting used to eating healthier amounts and you'll get hunger signals again.
Easiest way to increase cals is to have a meal replacement shake with one of your meals. It's what I did to up my cals and worked great- plus it's not just 'junk' it's good for you. Try Myoplex (what I used) original. It's 300 cals but sat easy on my stomach. (except for the strawberry one for some reason).0 -
I FINISHED my recovery over a year ago, I do go to the doctor's very often, and I am very honest about it.. I understand the concern of everyone but my mindset it NOT the same as when i was anorexic, thank you everyone..........If you *really* don't think you can eat, get thee some Ensure. If you're in the process of refeeding (from an eating disorder or other health problem), I wouldn't recommend doing it alone or with the advice of a message board. You need to be monitored by a physician.0 -
I'd say just focus on eating higher calorie foods, while still being healthy. Since you're a vegetarian it's a tough thing to do. So I suggest protein shakes, have a slice of wheat bread or toast with meals, and have some yogurt or other dairy. Another good thing is larabars or luna bars. They're pretty small but do have a little over 200 calories, are good for you, and only 3-4 ingredients in most of them. I do have to force myself to eat just for the calories sometimes because I'm often full after around 1,000 and I burn about 600 at the gym. So I got into the habit of eating something, even just a piece of fruit or granola bar, around every 3 hours. This also keeps your metabolism going. Good luck
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I am also a vegetarian, and sometimes struggle with getting enough calories (although at my weight, it wouldn't have quite the negative effect it could have on you). Peanut butter, avocados, refried beans, eggs, cheese...these are all things I have fully stocked in my kitchen. Breakfast for me is often a refried bean and cheese burrito with a huge bowl of fruit salad. Also, you can pick up some of the higher calorie protein bars and eat them between meals.
Good luck, it sounds like you've gotten some good ideas for getting in those extra calories!0
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