[Linsy]

Hi there! I haven't really posted in this section before even though I have had depression for years. I'm not going to go into specifics, but I'm not currently on any medication (I quit taking my Zoloft a long time ago and never got back onto anything) but my depression is definitely hindering to my weight loss.

When I get depressed, I don't want to eat ANYTHING at all. The thought of food makes me feel sick, and the thought of getting up and preparing my food sounds even worse. I want to be successful on my WOE (Atkins) but it requires so much food prep that I don't know if I am up to it right now.

Does anyone else ever feel like this? I don't know how to deal with it and I thought maybe some of you might relate to how I feel.

[xDxxTx]

I NEVER feel like not eating - that's definitely not my problem... lol.. but I definitely understand the feeling of NOT feeling like preparing anything... Feeling too depressed to get out of bed, not to mention dirtying up dishes that I'll have to wash and spending energy I don't have cooking up a meal for myself... Luckily, my desire to keep my wife happy and well-fed usually overrides that and I can get myself to cook. For times when it doesn't, I like to cook a whole bunch of meals that I can freeze to reheat during those times. Most meals can be frozen and reheated up to a month later. The best thing about Atkins is the fact that low-carb items freeze best! Maybe when you have the energy, you could try cooking up a few different things and freezing them for later. I definitely don't have any tips for the lack of appetite, though, since like I said I NEVER have that problem.

[amym]

I also never have that problem. I am taking zoloft and so far it makes me want to eat everything in sight. I think preparation is the key to weightloss. When you do feel like cooking do as xDxxTx said and make large quantities to freeze and eat on for a few days. I hope you feel better soon.

[Nola Celeste]

I agree with the above posters. Use those days that you're feeling a bit more "up" to prepare meals and freeze them for the future. Nor is that kind of preparation a hedge against no-energy "down" days, but also for busy working days or for when you're just plain tired. Making sure you have a lot of low-prep foods on hand also helps--think bags of prepared mixed greens and hard-boiled eggs.

I hope your "down" days are fewer soon. I admire your commitment to making a change even when it may feel like a greater struggle; that deserves major praise.

[Linsy]

I forced myself to eat some olives, cheese, and salami and it made me feel better but I still don't have much of an appetite. In the morning I'm going to make a crustless Atkins-friendly quiche that I can eat over the next week or so. The freezing tip is a good idea...I could freeze individual servings of food and then heat them up when I don't feel like cooking or dirtying dishes. Thanks for the idea!

[hirakukibou]

I have this problem when I am really depressed. I also have a lack of appetite during the day because of medication I take -- although I get hungry at night and then binge.

In the past, I have tried to prepare simple foods the night before to eat (for me that was a half of a PBJ sandwich and a banana or some such.) And then eat according to the clock not my appetite. It helped, and come to think of it I should so that again.

I notice if I eat more balanced during the day, even if I don't feel like it, I am less likely to binge and eat junk later.

I think lack of appetite is hard, so I wish you luck finding strategies to eat in a balanced way. I am on the journey too.

[pattynelson]

For me personally, it has never been even close to an issue. The bigger problem is having to control my appetite so I do not eat an enormous amount. Here's wishing that you get a little bit of my appetite while I lose some.

[wesley587]

I totally understand the "not wanting to eat" bit. If I go by what I'm feeling, I'm just not hungry, don't feel like eating, don't think of it, too busy doing something else, etc. I mindlessly "don't eat". Sometimes a day goes by and I've eaten maybe 300 calories.....NOT GOOD!! It has reeked havoc on my system, I know, but sometimes.....ugh.

The absolute worst is when you know you haven't eaten, you really need to, but just don't WANT to go through with it! Some days I'm able to cram something down my throat (blek) and just move on. Other days I the idea of that is so gross I just can't bear it, so I don't eat until I'm shaky. It's like I totally skip over the hunger feeling.

I try to keep hard boiled eggs ready at all times! I know I need to take back control over this or I'll never get healthy. I can do it and you can too.

Congrats on the 31 pounds lost! We can do this!!

[JMsTyra]

Lack of appetite... that's definately an issue I'm familiar with. But how to cope with it..? Well... that's the $1,000,000 question, now isn't it?

Most of the days I don't feel like eating anything are also the kind of days I don't even want to get out of bed. Therefore I spend a lot of time in a "sleep-like" state and don't use much energy. It's actually amazing how the feeling of hunger goes away after you haven't eaten for 15 hrs... But, unfortunately, sometimes it comes back with a vengance... and I end up eating waaaay too much.

My brain works in a "funny" way... If I'm having a bad day, I feel like I've got to make my day even worse. And starvation is a wonderful way to torture oneself... (okay, I admit... I do, in addition to clinical depression, also have an eating disorder) but I haven't yet been able to stay on this "diet" for more than a week... which, I believe, is only a good thing.
The way to break the cycle normally starts with the morning coffee... I've got a sensitive stomach and going days without eating and not putting any milk in my coffee really upsets it... so, I'll take some yoghurt or something with my coffee... And then discover that I'm actually hungry.
And let me tell you... I've had some interesting breakfasts that way... for instance a can of tuna accompanied by some very high fibre bread, low fat cheese and canned pineapples... you'll get the point...

I don't know much about Atkins, but if there are any canned goods that are "allowed" in your diet, then maybe you should always have a couple of 'em in your cupboard... or maybe some low-carb protein bars or something?
That way, if you suddenly find your appetite for a brief period of time, you can always eat something "easy"; opening a can or unwrapping a bar can't really be called "preparing a meal", now can they? And then, after eating something like that, maybe you'll feel up to making some "real" food too...

--
PS Remember that don't do as I do, do as I SAY