800 cals/day.... and... not hungry?? WHATS GOING ON?
i started my "lifestyle change" august 1st. i'm no longer eating meat, processed foods, and straight dairy products. i do still consume some foods with dairy in them (some breads, energy bars) but only in moderation. now i've been doing this for a little over a week now... eating STRICTLY only when im hungry, and stopping before i full disgustingly full.
so for this past week... i've found that im only consuming on average 800 calories a day. what the heckkkk? this is not like me... i freaking love food. but my body just does NOT want it.
has anyone else experienced this? why am i not hungry?? im really focusing on listening to my body... so i dont want to over-eat, but the thought of under eating freaks me out.
Reason: released from lock
A lot of things can cause lack of appetite, including a change of diet/lifestyle - it can shock the body. Your body may need another week or so to adjust and get hungry again.
It's also possible that you are underestimating your caloric intake and are really consuming 1000, which is still too low of course, but not as detrimental as 800.
Well you're definitely going to screw up your body if you only eat 800 calories a day. You might want to rethink the low intake and figure out a way to up your calories because not only are you not hurting your body, but you're slowing down your metabolism. Not feeling hungry is a sign that you're metabolism is slowing down, and you don't want that. It's only going to bite you back in the butt when you try and eat normal again. So start eating more even if you don't feel like it. 800 calories is not enough.
thanks for the replies guys...
but, i really doubt im going to screw up my body by listening to it... maybe i'll screw it up by stuffing my face?? im a college student... so my diet went from boxed macaroni and cheese, chinese take out, and pizza at 3 am... to fresh fruit and produce, and whole grains.
you're right ilisa, my body probably just needs time to adjust... and i could be underestimating my calories... because i NEVER count calories with produce. i eat it endlessly.
the only calories i actually "count" are heavy foods like rice, cereals, nuts, potatoes, bread... you get the idea. and even with 800 calories.. im still getting about 34-40 grams of protein a day.
and clearly i was rethinking the low intake because i posted this? like i said.. eating limited calories is NOT like me, my body usually demands food... all day everyday. and i always FEEL like eating, im just NOT HUNGRY =]
ilisia is right. If you're not going to count EVERY calorie, what's the point in counting at all? Fruit and veggie calories add up more quickly than you might realize, which will bump your count up. Try counting every calorie you eat for a few days and report back. I'm curious to know if you're still undereating.
If it turns out you are actually eating too few calories, you might try including some nuts, avocadoes, and other healthy high cal items to your diet. Nuts are especially good because they provide a heatlhy high cal punch in a small volume which will help you get past the "too few cals but not hungry" problem.
Original Post by vandijb:
thanks for the replies guys...
but, i really doubt im going to screw up my body by listening to it... maybe i'll screw it up by stuffing my face?? im a college student... so my diet went from boxed macaroni and cheese, chinese take out, and pizza at 3 am... to fresh fruit and produce, and whole grains.
you're right ilisa, my body probably just needs time to adjust... and i could be underestimating my calories... because i NEVER count calories with produce. i eat it endlessly.
the only calories i actually "count" are heavy foods like rice, cereals, nuts, potatoes, bread... you get the idea. and even with 800 calories.. im still getting about 34-40 grams of protein a day.
and clearly i was rethinking the low intake because i posted this? like i said.. eating limited calories is NOT like me, my body usually demands food... all day everyday. and i always FEEL like eating, im just NOT HUNGRY =]
I think based on your answer "count" heavy foods...that may be why its just "800" when in reality everything counts...I use a rule of thumb when I put it in my mouth I count it...thats the only way to even get in a ball park...and that is not perfect but if its done the same way all the time then at least we are consistent.
Original Post by vandijb:
i started my "lifestyle change" august 1st. i'm no longer eating meat, processed foods, and straight dairy products. i do still consume some foods with dairy in them (some breads, energy bars) but only in moderation. now i've been doing this for a little over a week now... eating STRICTLY only when im hungry, and stopping before i full disgustingly full.
so for this past week... i've found that im only consuming on average 800 calories a day. what the heckkkk? this is not like me... i freaking love food. but my body just does NOT want it.
has anyone else experienced this? why am i not hungry?? im really focusing on listening to my body... so i dont want to over-eat, but the thought of under eating freaks me out.
Calorie Count Plus's mission is to promote healthy and sustainable weight management. Please help our moderators follow this vision.
1200 calories is the MINIMUM number of daily calories that should be consumed for adult females. Add 300 calories to that if you are under 18, and add 300 calories to that if you are male.
You are undereating and harming your body.
MOLLY
I normally eat 1800-2000 cals/day, but it's been so hot here for the past week, that it just killed my appetite, until it finally cooled down yesterday. I wouldn't worry about a few days, or even a week of strange eating patterns, but try to get your body into a healthy routine, and then you'll just naturally follow it.
Normally, yes, listen to your body. However, my brother, who was anorexic for a period of time, told me that it got to a point where intellectually, he knew he was literally starving, but he couldn't force himself to eat. So he'd go for a run or lift or something. Bad idea.
In your case, it sounds like you're doing the right things: eating when you're hungry, not stuffing yourself, eating nutritious foods, and worrying about undereating. Keep doing all that, especially the last one.
Do take a day or three and log EVERYTHING you eat. An apple or orange can have 100 calories; three mints that you skeeze off your coworker's desk and forget about can be 120 cal; etc. If you really are only eating 800 cal/day, and it's been a week, then you're right to be concerned. But if your weight is stable and your health is good, then keep going.
I don't understand how anyone can survive on 800 calories a day. The mental anguish must surely be immense! I see you're not counting all your calories anyway so the title's a bit misleading. How many calories are you actually eating?
I know how you feel, I started the same exact diet August 1st also.
I'm pretty much force feeding myself. I love tofu, vegetables, fruit, etc., but it's almost like eating just for the sake of nutrition is depressing me, and making me not want to eat. I do reach at least 1200 cals, I think (probably because of alcohol.)
I'm having a lot of trouble wording this, and I have no idea if this makes any sense.
Original Post by vandijb:
thanks for the replies guys...
but, i really doubt im going to screw up my body by listening to it... maybe i'll screw it up by stuffing my face?? im a college student... so my diet went from boxed macaroni and cheese, chinese take out, and pizza at 3 am... to fresh fruit and produce, and whole grains.
and clearly i was rethinking the low intake because i posted this? like i said.. eating limited calories is NOT like me, my body usually demands food... all day everyday. and i always FEEL like eating, im just NOT HUNGRY =]
Okay, let me try and explain why you're screwing up your body. Your vital organs (heart, lungs, brain, etc...) need at least 1200 calories a day in order to get enough nutrition. Most people need more, but that's the bare minimum. Any less, and the organs get nutrition by basically eating themselves. Also, you're metabolism starts slowing down because with such a low intake, your body thinks it's starving. So you might lose weight, but you're hurting yourself in the process. To make things worse, once you start eating a normal diet with your recommended calories, you will gain weight because your body has adapted to a lower intake. There are many people on this website who have gone through this, and it isn't something that you want to do. You can NOT live on that kind of a diet, even if your body is telling you that you are full.
Oh, and always make sure to count everything that you eat. Regardless if it's fruit or vegetables. But make sure that you reach at least 1200 calories a day.
Take a few days to log EVERYTHING you eat - a healthy calorie is still a calorie. Eating a lot less than usual consistently WILL fool your tummy into thinking that it doesn't 'need' more calories, but it's just a trick - too low an intake will stuff you up in the long run. If you are really undercutting 1200 calories even including your fruit/veg, then you need to up your intake, and from the sounds of it you could use more protein.
I'm usually really hungry and have at least 1500 calories a day, but I've been sick for a few weeks and in the first week I had to make a real effort to eat enough each day because my body was saying 'okay, I don't need anything more' and I'd only had about 1000 calories. So I made sure I had my 1200 calories and left it at that.
INCREASE YOUR CALORIE INTAKE NOW......
I did exactly what you diod when I started my lifestyle change and wanting to get in shape...
I lost 7lbs in the first week and I am sure you are thinking that is great... BUT IT IS NOT... I mainly just lost water weight.... By the end of my second week, I lost a few more pounds.... Then, at the end of the third week I gained a pound... HUH.. WAIT... WHY...... Because my body went into starvation mode and started storing my fat....
I posted a HELP ME blog and the readers on here told me I needed to increase my calories at least to 1200.00 My friend is a trainer and nutrionalist told me the same thing when I consulted her....
I increased to 1100-1200 and again at the end of my 4th week, not much change in my weight.. Upset so again I posted a Blog and readers said it may take a week or 2 for my body to adjust and I should increase my calories more to 1300-1400 since I was burning 200-300 calories from exercising..
Well... At the end of the 5th week, BAM the scale dropped 3 pounds... Then another 2 pounds the following.... YOU NEED TO HAVE AT LEAST 1200 calories a day.....I know it seems weird that you need to eat more to lose more., but it is a proven fact.....
That is a TERRIBLY unhealthy diet and philosophy on eating. You should be eating at least 1200 calories a day, regardless of body size, gender, etc. Second, you shoudln't wait until you are hungry to eat. You should eat evenly spaced meals that don't get you time to ever get hungry in the first place. This will keep your metabolism going and give your body the ability to burn the most fat and calories. Seriously, you need to change that diet because it is horrible as is.
Original Post by jblarghp:
I'm pretty much force feeding myself. I love tofu, vegetables, fruit, etc., but it's almost like eating just for the sake of nutrition is depressing me, and making me not want to eat. I do reach at least 1200 cals, I think (probably because of alcohol.)
:/ Well that's not the best way to reach 1200 calories
Guys, reaching 1200-1500 calories while eating healthy/non-processed/clean sounds tough at first, but it's not. A few very simple, very healthy ways:
1. Olive oil with everything: salads, veggies
2. avocados
3. nuts/nut butters
TA DAAAAA
PS.... You need to be having a 500-600 calorie breakfast... First, it starts you metabolism... 2nd... It helps control those unwanted snacks....
This is an example of one of days..
Breakfast.. Pedridge Farms WHOLE GRAIN cinnamon raise bread with peanut butter and a glass of 2% milk...
Snack: Banana
Lunch: canned light tuna in water, fresh steamed squash, onions, mushrooms, sprikled with parm cheese and Ms Dash for flavor.. I steam all the veggies in the microwave at work and toss the tuna in...
Snack: Soy Choc Slender Protein drink.
Dinner: 5oz steak on the grill, half a sweet potatoe and more steamed veggies..
I must be doing something right because I am 36 5'2 and I started at 148 pounds on 7-7-08... I now weigh 135 as of today.....
wow... didnt realize this post would blow up like this. im having a really hard time taking everybodys criticism when CLEARLY i wasnt elaborate enough in my posts. I write EVERYTHING i eat down, but only count the calories of the heavy foods... because im not trying for rapid weight loss. and i dont like obsessing about every calorie that goes into my body... i think thats unhealthy. in fact... thats something i am avoiding. my number one priority... and the reason im using this webbsite, is to obtain a healthy diet, that isnt influenced by my roommates/boyfriend/friends/vacations... ;they way im trying to see it, losing weight is a mere benefit. so this is what my journal looks like, for a typical day
10 am - * small granny smith apple, *handful of cherries
10:45 - sandwhich made with *tofurky, half an *avacodo, red onions, lettuce, cucumbers, and 2 pieces of *whole wheat bread
2:30 - large salad with balsamic vineager, small handful of raw *almonds
7:00 - sauteed (in *olive oil- didnt measure exactly) half a red onion, a whole small zucchini, whole red pepper, minced garlic, and "beef-less" *beef strips, eaten on two *rice tortillas with a bunch of salsa
10:00 - smoothie made with a whole medium *banana, ice, about 12 ounces of *almond milk, and 1 scoop of *kashi chocolate shake mix.
... my title may have been misleading, but my main goal in posting this thread... is why am i not hungry, when my calorie intake has been literally chopped in half! i put the stars in front of the foods i do "count"
typical day... pre "lifestyle change"
breakfast:wake up... hungover - snack on the first box of food i see laying around (usually chips or cheeze its, about 45 minutes later - we go to sharis.. i eat an ENTIRE farmers skillet (1500 calories). im usually so full from this.. i'll go back to sleep.
dinner: go to boomers... a local fast food place. get an old fashion mocha milkshake, waffle fries (with tarter sauce AND ketchup), garden burger.. extra sauce WITH BACON ON IT!! (yes i know... weird to get a garden burger and put bacon on it, but i just dont like beef patties)
later: alcohol, usually about 5 beers... and then we order delivery pizza... and i eat anywhere from 3-5 slices with ranch, or make and eat a whole box of macoroni and cheese.
typical life of a college student.
