Just not hungry

Ok a bit of a background. First of all I have 32 kilos to lose. I am 92 kilos and want to get down to 60-65 kls (I'm 5' 3'). Second I am an emotional eater, I eat if I'm bored or angry and usually just eat meals cuz it's time to eat even though I might have stuffed myself with junk 30 mins before.

Anyways, all of a sudden I'm just not hungry and have decided to follow my what my body's telling me. I'm eating something small every 3 hrs, small breakfast (usually cereal w/ skimmed or soy milk plus coffee w/ milk), 1 piece of fruit approx 3 hrs later, pick off my kids plates (if any) for lunch if none a sandwich or some salad again a fruit and maybe a tbsp of sunflower seeds. Then a regular dinner, low fat but not calorie counted as I don't think I'm eating enough during the day. Dinner includes veg.

I've been feeling a bit lightheaded, which I know is a result from not eating enough, but I just don't have the appetite. The only good thing I can think of getting out of this is hopefully shrinking my stomache. Reason being cuz I'm also the type who never feels full, though the last couple of days this hasn't been a problem I've been getting full easily.  That's why I've been trying to follow what my body is saying.

Ok I know I'm rambling so I hope you can understand what I'm talking about.

Now the question is should I stick it out and hope that my body has finally decided to help me get slim or should I go back to an eating regime?  I really need to shrink my stomache as I've been know to eat all of a regular sized 3 course meal and still have desert plus have a snack when I get home. Or usually I'd eat 2 plates at dinner and still snack on something an hr later.  To me this is horrible and unnescessary (forgot how to spell)

Has my body gone into starvation mode on it's own? Is that possible? I don't get much exercise other than regular housework and taking care of my 2 small kids.

Sorry this got so long but I don't want to do any damage to myself.

Thanks in advance.

**edited to add kilos after 92 oops didn't realise

It sounds like you already have shrunk your stomach as much as you need to... now you have to make sure that you're eating ENOUGH. Your aim is to get your body used to eating your correct amount of food so that that becomes 'normal', not to keep shrinking your portions forever.

I had this problem a few weeks ago. I wouldn't feel hungry but I knew I had to eat, and eating meals for the sake of it made me feel really bloated, so what I did was I had really small portions or a snack instead of a meal.

e.g. if you are coming up to lunch and you are not hungry have a few grapes and then 2 hours later you are hungry. have another snack then a few hours later its time for dinner and you'll be hungry.

basically what im saying is stick it out. but its up to you if you want to go back to an eating regime

 

good luck

im_a_cc

Basically I'm doing like you suggested, except I was eating every 3 hrs, so I'll probably up to 2. Hopefully this will help the dizziness subside. It's my main concern as before having my kids I used to have naturally low blood pressure and used to get dizzy and see black everytime I used to stand up.  I really don't want to go back to that, it was a real pain.

Anyways still not hungry. Hopefully my stomache will get used to the small portions and I train myself to keep it that way.

Funny thing is that my weight hasn't shifted at all this past week even though I'm eating so little. Do you think my body is still adjusting to the amount of cals I'm eating and will eventually start losing again???

I calculate that, assuming you're reasonably active, you need about 2400 cals a day to maintain your weight.  So you should aim for your weight-loss intake to be about 1700 - 1800 a day.  Make sure you get plenty of 'bang for your buck' in terms of nutrition and satisfaction and go for 'slow-release', low-GI carbohydrates as these will help prevent your blood-sugars from dipping... a major reason for lightheadedness.  If you undereat (which I think you're doing) then your appetite will die off as your metabolism crashes, you'll feel washed out and you'll find it very tough to lose weight.  Counterproductive, basically.

So start the day with a good size bowl of high-fibre cereal like muesli or bran flakes.  Or choose something with a little more protein ... eggs on some wholegrain toast, for example.  The combination of protein and wholegrain fibre gives your digestion plenty to work on and will keep your blood-sugars stable for quite a long time.

Fruit as a snack is fine but if you tend to suffer from low blood-sugars, you may want to try things like nuts, seeds, oatcakes with hummus or yoghurts as well.  Natural sugar goes into the bloodstream a little too quickly. 

A wholegrain sandwich with some lean meat in the middle and a good-size green salad would be excellent for lunch.  At suppertime again go for plenty of wholegrains and other 'slow-release' foods... brown rice, wholewheat pasta, new potatoes.... along with the vegetables and meat/fish etc.

But do tot up what you're eating and make sure it's 1700 cals minimum.  More food will get your weight shifting again.  Best of luck.

hi anidom,

if i were you i would nt fore myself to eat. i stringly believe that one day of eating less than your target is perfectly okay- people have been doing this for centuries:) you might want to average your calorie intake (under Analysis you can choose how long period of time  should be displayed) for about a week - and if the average meets your target i guess you will be perfectly fine.

 

if you live in a part of the world where it is getting hot now, i guess you might find it useful, as on some days when it is very hot one just can not eat huge amounts of food. do not undereat of course, but do not stress too much

 

also the stomach does shrink. it took me months (i am in my 30s and it went slower than in my 20s) but i am now full on much more reasonable quantity of food. 

lol at first I thought you said 92lbs and wanting to get down to 60lbs

I was really puzzled that no one was flaming you for such a ridiculus post and thriving for a disgustingly thin weight.

then I re-read it... I laughed at my dumbness, and I thought i'd share :P

...

But I agree you need to eat a healthy amount of calories so that you lose weight safely and it doesn't stall/plateau... 1700-1800 sounds perfect and add 100-200cal more when you excersize.

make smart choices, be active.. you'll do great.

best wishes <3

Thanks to everyone for your replies.

ka2007 - I too am 30 something and am finding it harder to lose wieght this time round. When in my 20's it was a snap. Then again I used to find time to train between school and homework.

Today the cravings are starting to settle in, but only because I bought a packet of biscuits for my kids.  I normally buy them a sweetish treat when they're sick to help the bad tasting meds go down.

But I plan to follow what my body is telling me and will try to make sure I at least reach the 1400 cc has given me.

gi-jane - I'm not as active as I wish I could be.  I don't get much exercise other than housework and minding the kids so my cal value isn't too high.  Though I've noticed that when I do more housework than the usual I do lose some weight. Not the funnest of deductions but if it works .....

Housework and looking after children isn't 'sedentary' so do make sure you calculate your intake on 'light' exercise.  1400 really is too low and you'll continue to struggle if you carry on at that level.  Undereating from time to time isn't a problem but if you do it continuously you're just going to find it harder and harder to lose weight and you'll feel more and more washed out in the process.

If you struggle to up your calories than add simple high-cal, low-bulk nutritious foods like nuts and oils into your diet.  Best of luck