[Hope-Full]

First, I want to say that I do eat at least three times daily. Sometimes it's just a power bar, though.

There is something off in my system so that the signal that tells me I'm hungry doesn't work. I rarely get hungry, and my doctor is concerned that I'm not eating enough (I know I'm not.) But I don't want to eat if I'm not hungry, and knowing I eat a power bar three times a day...

I don't know. I am confused, I know I need to eat more but I can't seem to make myself eat if I'm not hungry. When I do get hungry, which is rarer these days, I eat a good, full meal.

Maybe this belongs on the ED board, but since I technically don't have an ED, I'm starting here, and hoping for some tricks to get over this "I'm not hungry" issue.

[SoupDragon]

When I get anxious I lose my appetite and it is really hard to eat anything - in some ways I enjoy these times though as it is an excuse to lose some weight (I am heavier than I should be).

However I also am aware that the longer I go without eating, the more I lose my appetite and the less likely I am to want to eat.

I guess if I was concerned about nutrition at these times (I am assuming that your doctor is?) I would make sure I was getting enought fluids and all my vitamins, nutrients etc, via tablets if necessary.. Then to maybe eat several small meals a day, rather than feeling pressured to sit and eat 3 big ones. I am no nutition expert though - I wonder if your doctor has considered referring you to a nutirion expert / dietician to hlep you?

Let us know how you get on.

[Hope-Full]

Thanks SoupDragon, for your reply.

Yes, my doctor has me seeing a nutritionist who is also a registered dietician, which is good, or so I've been told. I see the nutritionist again in two weeks, and while she gave me good meal plans, I just have had no appetite the last few days to eat them...

They (my T, the RD, and my dr) are concerned that I'm not getting enough nutrients or calories, which is why I'm at least making myself eat the power bars - 4 of them gives me all of my daily vitamins, just not enough protein or calories

I am mixed right now, because like you mentioned, no appetite is a great chance to lose some weight, which I am always thrilled to do, but at the same time I have got to stay healthy, especially in the summer because I'm more active then. I know that I'm in the danger zone right now as my caloric intake is so low, but I can't seem to make myself eat more! It makes me nauseous to think about eating more than a bar or an apple or something

[SoupDragon]

Originally Posted by Hope-Full

Thanks SoupDragon, for your reply.

Yes, my doctor has me seeing a nutritionist who is also a registered dietician, which is good, or so I've been told. I see the nutritionist again in two weeks, and while she gave me good meal plans, I just have had no appetite the last few days to eat them...

They (my T, the RD, and my dr) are concerned that I'm not getting enough nutrients or calories, which is why I'm at least making myself eat the power bars - 4 of them gives me all of my daily vitamins, just not enough protein or calories

I am mixed right now, because like you mentioned, no appetite is a great chance to lose some weight, which I am always thrilled to do, but at the same time I have got to stay healthy, especially in the summer because I'm more active then. I know that I'm in the danger zone right now as my caloric intake is so low, but I can't seem to make myself eat more! It makes me nauseous to think about eating more than a bar or an apple or something

Do you feel nauseous all the time or only when you think about eating?

[Hope-Full]

Originally Posted by SoupDragon

Do you feel nauseous all the time or only when you think about eating?

Interesting question SoupDragon... the more I think about it, I am really only nauseous thinking about eating, and again after I've eaten. I'll have to talk to my T and RD about this...

[googley]

I'm not a medical professional in any way. So take my advice worth a grain of salt. Have you tried eating very small amounts of food throughout the day, instead of meals. Are you eating easy to digest foods (banana, rice, toast, apple sauce)? Make sure you keep hydrated.

[Perna]

How long has it been since you have had this don't-feel-hungry-so-don't-eat thing going on? Did anything happen to start it? I was watching The Learning Channel's (TLC) "Freaky Eaters" where there was a woman addicted to only eating liquids for a year because she had accidentally choked on a piece of meat so always felt like she was choking when she ate solids. It was an interesting show, how they helped her.

The longer you only eat the power bars, the harder it will be for you to eat regular food I think; it's a bad habit to get into. I would see if I could come up with a few food things that had the size or consistency or feel of the power bars in my mouth and see if I could eat one of "those" (a chicken breast quarter comes to mind), potatoes, eggs, cheese; drink milk and fruit juice, etc. I love my low sodium V8 for its nutrients.

When you ate normally before, what did you use to like to eat?

[Hope-Full]

Hi googly- thanks for the ideas. I do generally eat 3-5 mini-meals daily. My RD's goal is that I eat 3 "regular" meals and 3 snacks a day. Right now I am eating pretty easy on the belly foods - toast with PB and bananas, apple sauce, almond milk and blueberries (I'm supposed to increase my fruit/veggie intake) honestly, nothing really tastes good, and the only thing I crave right now is milk (I don't do much dairy, so for me, this means a big glass of almond milk - yum!)

Perna - I've never heard of that show, but will most definitely be looking for it now! Nothing has really brought this on, I know that I go through food phases where I eat more, but generally, I have no "normal" amount, as my eating habits have been crappy for years. It's always worse in the summer - when it's warm out, I am never hungry and can easily go all day only drinking water and milk.

I never thought about the power bars as a bad habit, but I can completely see your point... It is going to be a very tough habit to break, as I've been living on them on and off for about 3 years now. No wonder my Dr. and my T wanted me to go to a RD...

I just wish I could "get hungry" at some point, because it seems that the more I force myself to eat when I'm not hungry, the worse the nausea gets

[music junkie]

Originally Posted by Hope-Full

First, I want to say that I do eat at least three times daily. Sometimes it's just a power bar, though.

There is something off in my system so that the signal that tells me I'm hungry doesn't work. I rarely get hungry, and my doctor is concerned that I'm not eating enough (I know I'm not.) But I don't want to eat if I'm not hungry, and knowing I eat a power bar three times a day...

I don't know. I am confused, I know I need to eat more but I can't seem to make myself eat if I'm not hungry. When I do get hungry, which is rarer these days, I eat a good, full meal.

your post is EXACTLY what i am experiencing! i'm kind of glad to hear it isn't just me, all in my head. normally i'm hungry all the time, but for a while now, i never want to eat. it's driving me nuts! especially since i keep putting on weight.

[Hope-Full]

Not getting any easier... I find myself thinking about food CONSTANTLY. But then I won't eat unless I'm hungry. Which is very rare. Except today, I have felt hungry all day. I'm trying to be careful, though, and only eat small portions of healthy food. I also did a few sets of simple ab-exercises. I hate this right now, and I wish my brain would go back to the way it was before food became an issue...