I've had this problem for a long time, but now that I'm focusing on weight loss, it's a bigger deal than ever.
I feel like my body doesn't let me know that it needs food until too late. For instance, I wake up in the morning, workout, come back shower, etc, etc and my stomach doesn't growl and I don't feel hungry. Then as soon as I leave the house for school or work, I'm light-headed and angry, because I haven't eaten. Even then there is no feeling of hunger, just the effects of low-blood sugar. Usually I can only tell that I'm hungry when I feel faint/irritable or if I drink cold water and discover that my stomach is empty. On occasion my stomach will growl or my brain will say "Yo, eat some food, foolio!"
It's really annoying because I have to force myself to eat sometimes. Like now I'm forcing myself to eat some peanut butter and toast before my workout. Those of you who have struggled with food know that forcing yourself to eat is a terrible feeling. I'm also worried because eating greatly affects weightloss. Right now I'm eating way below (1400ish) my calorie recommendation (1700), which is already very low for my weight and activity. I know I should eat more, but what can I do if my brain doesn't let me know that my body needs food?
Anyone else have this problem? Any suggestions? I just got insurance this year (Thank you, Mr. President!), so if it doesn't get better in a few weeks, I'm going to see my doctor.
I was like that too, and I fully understood that if I didn't eat, I would pay for it in some way. Plus I was never a breakfast eater because "it made me feel sick".
What I ended up doing was starting small. I'd wake up and eat 3 crackers. Then two hours later I'd have a fruit. So not a whole meal, but something to put in my belly. After a while, my body starting cuing me that it indeed WANTED breakfast. I found this peculiar, but funny thing is, I now hate missing breakfast!!
For me, it was all about putting my body on a regimented schedule. Almost like my kids. When on break from school, you can tell who has the 10:30am lunch and who has the 1pm lunch by who's complaining that they're hungry already! Now I can sense the hunger cues, and know when and what my body needs to eat.
The doctor isn't a bad idea either, maybe he can put you in contact with a nutrionist to discuss your options! Best of luck!
I have to eat on regular schedule too - it took some getting used to, but there is heck to pay when I don't. I don't wait for hunger signals...if I do it's too late. I am literally retraining my body.
I think it's "retraining" your body to feel the hunger pangs.
My body didn't feel hunger either, I felt the blood sugar crashing.
But after a while of eating less, you will retrain your body to start sending the right signals to your brain. Are you treating your blood sugar crashes?
I've had to do a similar thing with breakfast. I'm usually not "hungry" when I come to eat breakfast, but I just eat it anyway. I probably don't eat as much as others would for breakfast - just a bowl of sultana bran with 100ml of milk - but I'll eat a snack a couple of hours later, and then lunch and then another snack. I notice that on days I don't stick to this routine it sometimes gets to 1pm before I realise I'm actually hungry/dizzy/not feeling that great and then I'm playing catch up all day with my calories - not a great way to be!
I think what you're doing now, forcing yourself to eat something before your workout, is good. Just keep it light, don't force big meals..make it a routine, add in some snacks. I'm sure you'll be where you want to be
Another scheduled eater here! Although I initially started eating on a schedule because I felt hungry so often I couldn't tell what was real hunger and what wasn't. So I started eating a satisfying meal/snack at regular intervals and my hunger cues are almost normal (boredom is one thing that will still set off false cues for me, however).
I'm a big believer in scheduled eating for those with hunger cue issues. It couldn't hurt to try it for a week or two. Good luck!
I totally know how you feel! I'm another person who never really felt full until I was faint/dizzy from low blood sugar or absolutely ravenous. Never ate breakfast because I "didn't have time". Rarely ate lunch when at school because again, "didn't have time" to pack one. Felt absolutely awful most days and then by the time I was home from school I'd shove anything I could find into my mouth because I hadn't eaten all day. Because I hadn't felt hungry up until that point.
It does feel weird to make yourself eat when you don't think you're hungry, but it really will help in the long run. If you're sticking to your calories and eating healthy foods, you're not in danger of eating too much or anything, so just stick to a schedule. Eventually your body will get used to eating on that schedule and if you deviate from it, it will let you know.
Last edited by KenzideRhae; 01-30-2011 at 01:57 AM.
Thanks for the suggestions! I'll definitely try sticking to a stricter eating schedule. I try to eat throughout the day, but maybe it's not enough calories? Or not enough fats/protiens? In addition to meals, I make sure I snack on some applesauce or string cheese, etc. every few hours.
Breakfast happens to be my favorite meal of the day, so I don't have any trouble there! I'm what my friend calls a "front loader." I'd rather eat all my 1700 cals during breakfast and not eat for the rest of the day. Usually I eat over half my daily cals before mid-afternoon, tapering in the evening.
Rana, usually when my blood sugar is super low, I'll eat some fruit (I always have an apple in my backpack!) and follow it up with some fats/proteins like nuts or cheese.
I also think I may be confusing dehydration with hunger. The symptoms are actually pretty similar and I worry more about not having enough water than not having enough food.
What sorts of snacks do you all eat? I usually go for pepitas, cheese, hummus, and apples because they're portable. (I shuffle between classes and an internship for most of the day.)
Can't Tell if I'm Hungry
Now I can sense the hunger cues, and know when and what my body needs to eat.
Then there are days that I've eaten a plate full of food, and my stomach still doesn't feel full.
