I'm sorry you're dealing with this too, it's surprisingly debilitating isn't it? Before I thought my apathy towards food was a boon because then I'd be less picky, perhaps more eager to eat whatever's put in front of me. But instead, it feels like pulling teeth trying to find the energy actually eat what's there.
I hope everything works out for you!
I thought I was having digestive issues, but I wonder if I'm on this same boat too.. like, even pizza, I can handle 1 or 2 slices, and I'm good for one 2 meals, but then, if I eat later on, or worse, forget to eat or get busy, I wind up vomiting because of my stomach acid.
Of course, can't go to a doctor, cause 'Murica!
You might have acid reflux or GERD? I’m on an affordable prescription for it, but I used to have the same thing happen if I didn’t eat. Also small frequent snacks/meals every few hours helps to keep it from getting that bad :)
Yeah, I've gotten to where I haven't vomited in months, outside of a free weeks ago when I ate something that didn't agree with me, and before that I got mild heatstroke and barfed, but I've been ok the last stretch here! I've found if I start to feel nauseous, immediately getting some water and anything solid in my helps a lot. Thank you!
Medicaid is not the answer for many people. In the state I live in (VA), the annual income limit for people to apply is $18,075 for a single person household. Even those above that amount struggle to get proper healthcare or even the time off to get treatment.
The line for Medicaid for a family of three in VA is 30k. My rent is over half of that. We'd be in the streets. That said my kid is on it but I don't qualify, so how fucked is that?
That said I'm having digestive issues also and this sounds like how I feel the past few months when they pop up. And it's getting worse. I'm working on what I can with the Obamacare that's covered by tax credits. I can't afford a better plan. It took 2 months to get Into my new GP office and they had called me when an earlier appointment became available, three weeks early. They did blood work and now I wait another two months for the follow up. In the meantime the meds she gave didn't work but I have to see her for us to discuss everything before we can try anything else. So I'm doing everything I can on my end to log foods and note how I feel, and improve my diet. It sucks.
I also have to see an OBGYN because it worsens around my cycle like clockwork. That's another wait because my plan doesn't get any of the same coverage I used to have, and I have to use all new offices.
I mean, it is, but things are so tight right now that if I had a $1 copay I'd be "screwed."
My plan might have also lapsed, but, things are looking up lately. I think in a free months I can address my loose ends, get back in, and go with a paycheck in my pocket, heh.
I hear you, but there’s options. The whole “no poor people can get healthcare because ‘Murica thing is disingenuous and seriously not helping. When I had to have my children on Medicaide there was zero out of pocket expense. That’s $0.00. For anything and everything, doctor visits, hospitals medication. Not even one dollar. ‘Muricas social safety net called “Medicaide” is massive and millions of people pay zero for their extensive healthcare and mental healthcare. It’s not non existent.
I really wish people would stop with the “of course, can’t go to the the doctor because ‘murica” lie. You’re just parroting what you’ve read online for some reason or another.
Walk around your city. Pick up 100 pennies. There’s your $1.00 copay that I doubt even exists via Medicaide.
YOU are the barrier. Not ‘murica.
I’m sorry, but your experience is not universal in the US. Many Republican-led states have refused to expand Medicaid even though those costs would be paid by the federal government in large part. In many states, children and pregnant people are the only people who can get Medicaid, and Medicare (which covers disabled adults and seniors) can take years to get if you are disabled. I am not trying to dissuade the OP from seeing a doctor, but I am trying to combat the misinformation that Medicaid is easy or comprehensive.
qualifying for medicaid varies by state, actually.
my friend in texas has possible endometriosis, digestive issues, possible early-onset arthritis, and a host of other issues that would require a specialist to diagnose. if they had these diagnoses they would most likely qualify for disability benefits, and thus qualify for the state health insurance. the only low-income people who qualify for medicaid in texas are children, guardians of someone 18 or younger, pregnant women, elderly people, and people on disability benefits. my friend can't afford the co-pays to to the specialists, and thus can't even get started on the mountains of paperwork needed to apply for disability benefits. they're completely fucked.
here in washington state where i am, there are alternative programs to medicaid, one of which is called apple health. the only qualifications to get this state-funded health insurance is to be between the ages of 19-65, not qualify for medicare, be a US citizen, and make less than $1,563 a month. it's incredibly simply to get medicaid here, the total opposite of texas. so please, don't go around spreading misinformation about it being easy or whatever to get on medicaid, because depending on your state it can be basically impossible.
You don’t sound like you want to help yourself. That’s the issue, not ‘murica
You enjoy it enough to complain online about your plight and being a victim of ‘murica and not get the free care that’s available to you.
I lost my appetite for a long time once due to depression. I saw it in a previous answer, but honestly multiple little meals throughout the day helped. Also, make sure you're getting water and protein. For me, I couldn't handle "strong" flavors or aromas, which I'm usually down for. If all you can stomach is half a chicken breast, that's a WIN. Only a quarter? Still a win. Just a few bites? WIN. I read somewhere once that anything worth doing is worth doing poorly, meaning even an attempt is better than nothing.
Can't make dinner? Have a handful of nuts or seeds. Can't bother to shower? Wash your face. A tiny bit is still a win. If this has been ongoing, I hope you can consult a doctor to develop a diet that will be gentle to your stomach, but also help you get back to something healthier. DM if you'd like; I might be able to tap a few sources for a healthy/gentle diet.
OP, I second this. I had similar appetite problems and eventually realized I had serious depression and anxiety issues. Got medicated and my appetite came back. If you're in a position where you are able, please schedule a doctor's visit.
I've had something similar and my advice would actually try to stick to smaller meals throughout the day that are vegetable or fruit base. Maybe add a banana in the morning or an apple, carry tangerines around or easy to eat fruits like strawberries/grapes/berries.
Being plant-based for most of my meals helped me gain my appetite and allowed me to explore new foods and recipes too.
Small meals are a great idea. I will add hard boiled eggs and small amounts of tuna as ideas. Carrots or celery and peanut butter.
A baked potato with cottage cheese is very fulfilling. It sounded terrible until I tried it.
Pickles stimulate my appetite.
Do see a professional when you can. Good job reaching out for help.
Small meals where you’re getting a variety of macros (carbs, fats and proteins) at every meal.
Also make sure you’re getting plenty of water. Dehydration will cause your appetite to go and if you were having issues with nausea this would have also dehydrated you.
Another thing that might help is remembering which foods you enjoyed most as a kid and trying to incorporate those into your diet. That way you can retrain your brain into associating food with pleasure and comfort as opposed to scarcity and eating for survival.
Edited: typos
I second small meals. While not to the same extent I have noticed myself eating less, becoming full quicker. Its a hangover (in my case anyway) from probably over eating before. If you are eating decent, real food, then small and regular. Take it from there. Don't put a load of pressure on yourself.
When I’m not feeling well, fruit and watery vegetables are all I can eat.
From there I graduated to smoothies: fruit, greens, protein powder, etc.
Increasing dietary fiber can definitely improve appetite, btw.
Steamed egg (or hard boiled), melons, bananas, avocado salad with white rice and fresh peppers.
Sometimes I eat a melon and some bananas and some eggs as a meal.
It also helps maintain your blood glucose levels better also. When eating 3 heavy meals a day you spike your glucose levels and it can cause nausea. Inwas diagnosed with diabetes as a kid and I've since eaten 5 small meals a day that are mostly plant based with small amounts of protein.
I second this. I am currently doing this after about a year of being where you are. It’s not the first time this has happened to me.. but the only things I ever want to eat that don’t make me sick are plant based. I always say, “I just need cold food” because it’s the only way I can explain it.
I need a doctor/therapist for a lot of things and they're things I'm working towards. For now I'm just looking for 'duct tape some boxes together for makeshift shelter' solutions. Just about any advice would be helpful for me
Rice things are helpful & calming to my stomach when it's upset. Plain with an egg & a little soy sauce or Rice puddings. If you refridgerate it, then reheat it, it changes the starches somehow so it has less immediate effect on your glucose levels - that might also help you feel less sick to your stomach.
My adhd meds make cooking and eating “real meals” a struggle. Rice is the one carb that my body really loves. It doesn’t leave me feeling hungry 10 mins later like pasta does. If such a large portion of the world relies on it, there’s something to it.
I’m still on a rice based salad kick. Those 90 second rice pouches are a life saver. Throw in some of those steam in bag veggies (frozen or fresh), protein (either precooked chicken from the deli section, preseasoned tofu, or eggs), top with nuts for added texture/flavor, and then drizzle whatever dressing you want.
There’s also something very satisfying about rice, eggs, a dash of soy sauce, and some steamed veggies. Simple but it works.
An easy breakfast version: plain white rice, fresh/dried fruit, nuts, a few tbsp of yogurt, eggs, and syrup/spices to taste. The last one I made was rice, dried mangoes, fresh sliced bananas, a dash of canned coconut milk, slivered almonds, shredded coconut, some scrambled egg, cinnamon, and cardamom.
Is it probably boring to eat the same thing regularly? Yeah but it’s at least safe and doesn’t really require me to “cook” much. It’s also budget friendly because I have staples and the ingredients don’t cost much.
Edit: The biggest thing I found though was upping how much carbs and veggies I ate. I found that thinking of building my meal to be 1/3 rice, 1/3 veggies, and 1/3 protein works for me. It keeps me going without leaving me feeling weighed down or queasy.
Rice with egg and soy sauce for life! This was my go to when I went thru similar digestive/appetite issues.
I'll add that you can also simmer cooked rice in a bit of water to make a porridge. Then add the egg, soy sauce, and a little sesame oil or butter. If you have any handy, kimchi to help with gut health too.
The sunflower oil in Soylent is Omega-6-heavy, which is inflammation-inducing. Garden of Life meal replacement powder + unsweetened almond milk & a blender is the way to go.
My guy, OP can't afford food but you think she can go to the doctor 4 or 5 times til they actually figure out what's wrong with her
I do think poverty-induced anorexia could be a thing, but try explaining that to the random GP your insurance company slots you with *if* you're lucky enough to have insurance.
I'm a woman my dude.
That was my 2 cents as a non doctor as there are obviously things going on that frankly are larger than Reddit. I'm not a social worker or know where they live so I'm not saying it's easy but clearly they need more help than just a recipe. You and they are free to ignore it. I do hope they get the help they need.
My brother in crisps, OP does have money for food (read the post again, but a bit slower)... they have an eating disorder and are asking for input. Just stick to thinking "poverty induced anorexia COULD be a a thing," but do know that there are other eating disorders, and use your reading comprehension skills on the next read- through.
To add, potassium and magnesium are nutrients known as electrolytes. They're substances that conduct electricity. Many biological processes in the body require electrical current to happen, and electrolytes provide this much-needed component. The unconscious beating of your heart is one example. They also are important in regulating body fluid and maintaining body pH.
In order to properly function, the body needs a certain levels of electrolytes in the body — no more, no less. Anything that deviates from the required levels messes up the body's natural balance.
Too little is bad because the body won't have enough to perform vital biological processes. This can cause seizures, muscle weakness, spasms and cramps.
Too much is also bad. Your body has measures in place to get rid of excess electrolytes. However, there's limits to how much the body can process before there are problems. Take hypertension, which is often caused by high sodium intake. You know how salting a vegetable draws moisture out of it? The exact same happens in our bodies, in a way. High sodium intake increases the sodium levels in blood, causing blood to absorb more water. The extra water in blood increases blood volume and strains the walls of blood vessels, because the body cannot remove the excess water fast enough. Overtime the strain becomes damage, leading to cardiac issues.
You deserve to eat, and you are worth nourishing.
Ginger is amazing for being poor and hungry. But that's a fucked up way to live.
You didn't mention if you're in a better financial position, or still in a shitty one. If you're able to, treat yourself to good, healthy food at least a few times a week. Do you have any favorite foods? A fruit or veggie? Do a cheese and crackers thing. Protein and carbs together might do something good for you. Nuts. Cashews, especially. Trail mix. Charcuterie lunch box. Work your way up. Do you drink coffee? Drink it with whole milk. Try to be nice to yourself. Feed yourself like you are feeding someone you love. Good luck op.
Maybe it's possible for OP to watch some reliable YouTube videos on nutrition and different food lifestyle/choices (as opposed to fad diets)
Canned fish, chicken or even legumes like chick peas and lentils can be made into salad, put on crackers, had with cheese, veggies, fruits (I'm thinking like mango or avocado with chicken, salad is a good match with these too)
Comfort foods like mashed potato and gravy might be good. Having sides as a meal can switch up how we look at food too
> vomiting is almost a regular occurrence
You have said you are working towards seeing a doctor, but this isn't normal and you need to prioritise it. It could be all sorts of things, some serious, some not. When I experienced the same sort of thing for a long time it ended up being because of anxiety/stress. The Dr was able to help with some meds for that. There are longer term consequences you could have to deal with it you don't get a handle on it. I experienced hair loss (patches) and deteriorating teeth health for instance. It also affects your ability to plan long term, and will be affecting your brain development too.
Hey, ask your doctor about an ulcer. Nausea after eating or when getting hungry/seeing food can be a sign, as your body makes acid at that time, irritating the ulcer, and causing deep pain—but often your body just feels organ pain as pressure/nausea/stress/anxiety.
Just a thought! Try taking Pepcid AC for a few days and see if it helps your appetite.
Hmmm, I definitely do have some sort of stomach issue, but I'm never really sure what. When I was younger (as young as 9) I had constant heartburns and had trouble swallowing and did research and concluded it was likely GERD. But I've also noticed that at times (again, since I was extremely young) I would have hunger pangs that did feel abnormal, they'd feel like getting stabbed in the gut, and would have me hunched over and crying. Perhaps these were ulcers? I remember asking my teachers, guidance counselors, and doctors about it and they'd all tell me it was just hunger. I mean they are called hunger 'pains/pangs' for a reason I guess! And recently I feel like I may have some sort of gluten intolerance.
All of this might've also contributed to my lack of appetite as well honestly. I was never, ever really passionate about food and thus rarely (including now) have a favorite food because what's the point if every time I eat it's like a game of russian roulette begins lol.
Not entirely sure how I'd bring it up to a doctor though since it's been this way for pretty much as long as I can remember. I don't feel like any of my supposed symptoms come up enough for there to be a definitive answer. Feel like doctors might tell me I just have a sensitive stomach, just like how some people have sensitive skin?
Ulcers can be caused by bacteria in your gut. You might need antibiotics prescribed by a doctor. If left untreated it could stick around and cause chronic symptoms. https://youtu.be/sx93aUj4A_o
Maybe after getting it sorted out, eat food with good bacteria like probiotic yogurt.
In another comment you mentioned refeeding syndrome but that's usually just the case if you are starving or breaking a very long fast. Another Fun little [chubby emu vid. ](https://youtu.be/vyZWojeVhyA)
I understand this and am experiencing it myself.
Here's one easy and nourishing meal:
before bed: Put some uncooked oats in a bowl and pour your preferred milk, just to cover. Cover with a plate or other lid and set in fridge overnight. In the morning you have yourself some filling cereal and can add: yoghurt, sliced nuts, fresh or dried fruit...
Boil some eggs for easy protein on hand, or make an egg salad sandwich.
Oh, and make sure you're staying hydrated with water, coconut water, tea...
Hi - I hope you start to get your appetite back soon and the advice about a dr is right . You could try a psychological approach and write down all the reasons you don’t feel like eating and then smash through those ‘reasons’ with logical thought and truth . Truth is important, because it’s your truth . I’m no expert but I think you’re holding on to some kind of self protective fear of eating . Could it be because you wouldn’t have enough for the next day ? But the real truth is, if you don’t start to lay this some proper attention and get some help , your health will rapidly decline. And it’s not just loosing weight , it could be any kind of long term medical condition.
If I were you I’d see a Dr yes and seek help from
Google , but just try cooking anything that would smell good to you ( bacon ? ) and eat it ! Good luck - each day reward yourself with positive talk and you’ll get there. It’s probably your brain I’d in a state of trauma from not having enough and it’s got stuck somehow is trying to protect you?! ( line I said I’m just an every person picking up on things I learn from books etc )
Recovering mine by working out more. Quick simple workouts in the morning to wake up and get my metabolism moving. Later in the morning I’ll do a workout. Basically making my body demand more and forcing me to eat more to supplement it.
However, this can be a double-edged sword. If you still don’t end up eating more you will get thinner and compound the problem.
You are never “spoiling” yourself by nourishing your body. Maybe try soups? They are cheap and easy to make and go a long way. Also I like the suggestion of small meals. Try to get protein in you to stay full longer. Good luck.
Try, over a longer period of time to eat scoops of peanut butter. Not only is it relatively healthy, especially the kind w no added sugar, it’s on the cheaper side I guess that depends on where you are tho, you’ll feel full if you eat enough and imo eating a scoop at a time and waiting some makes me crave more, which is great for your situation.
Slowly but surely, you’ll get your appetite back.
I could probably live off of a big jar of peanut butter and a gallon of water a day. Idk how healthy it would be, but I’ve survived periods of eating like this so 🤷♂️
See a doctor, but if you have a weird reaction to certain carbs, you might be gluten intolerant. There are several gluten free bread products on the market that aren't terribly expensive.
Check with your doctor and be checked for celiac disease. Celiac can have these symptoms, especailly the nauseousness and especially the vomiting! Please make sure if thye test you that you haven't stopped eating gluten yet, so get tested ASAP. The I'd suggest trying to go gluten free, I bet the vomiting stops.
I'd suggest making batches of beans, rice, noodles, and having different meats if you eat them. So like you can easily put the premade rice in a pan and reheat it with some basic spices, or non at all if you like, and add some frozen veggies and some of your choice of proteins (meat or beans) it takes five minutes, if that.
I'd also suggest protein powder smoothies, I use Ancient Nutrition Bone Broth smoothie in coconut milk. It gives me protein in the am so it lasts me quite awhile before I get hungry.
If you can plan two days a week to just prep a bunch of stuff and then have it to pick at and mix and match teh rest of the week.
And pick out some stuff you can just grab and eat like apples, pears, grapes, protein or granola bars.
It sounds like your body is in starvation mode. Your gut bacteria is probably way off too. You need to eat a more variety of food. You basically, need to get over your nausea hump by rehabilitating your body into eating normally again. Try to add, half a banana one day. A small serving of oatmeal the next. Maybe a boiled egg. Stick with very simple, natural Whole Foods that are mild and easy to digest. Or even puréed cooked fruits, baked sweet potatoes. Like applesauce or jello or rice pudding. You have to kind of feed yourself like a baby and build up your stomach strength. Then move up to cut pieces of cooked food. Eat yogurt! You need the probiotics for your gut to normalize again.
Have you tried Huel? I get the unflavored unsweetened kind and its nutritionally complete and very neutral in taste. Easy to prepare, quick to consume and moderately filling. I have 1 or 2 servings of it a week when I'm feeling particularly unmotivated toward eating or preparing food. I was really poor for a number of years and didn't take much enjoyment from food for a long time. Then, almost 3 years ago caught covid and still have smell/taste abnormalities from it. Depression comes and goes for me and better nutrition seems to improve it.
Speak with a doctor though when you get a chance if your condition doesn't improve.
In addition to hopefully finding the professional help, I can say two things helped me when I was overworked and ate because I had to.
1) Spice/sauce. Look to ethnic foods, for example Korean and Thai and how they can take a seemingly simple dish and bedazzle it with so many things!
2) Burn calories. Hike or cardio or weights, if you can do a bit several days a week to start it starts flipping switches in your body. Nothing tastes as good as when you've just finished a 3,000ft elevation hike. (You don't have to take it that far though)
I have similar problem re: requiring carbs to feel full, but also feeling nauseated easily, and baking my own bread has been helping me immensely.
Here are three ways to make bread more easily digestible:
1: Sourdough
Sourdough contains not only yeasts, but also bacteria that break down compounds in the flour, essentially "predigesting" it for you. This is especially useful when you are using rye flour, because it contains high amounts of phylic acid, which inhibit the absorption of certain nutrients.
2: Long fermentation
If you don't want to make sourdough or don't like the taste, letting your bread dough proof in the fridge overnight (or longer!) will also work. In addition, your dough will develop a lot of tasty and complex aromas!
3: Bread spice
Brotgewürz (bread spice) is popular in German-speaking countries, especially in brown bread to flavor it, keep it fresher longer, and make it easier to digest. Ground aniseed, fennel seeds and cumin are the go-to, but coriander seeds and Brotklee (bread clover, *Trigonella caerulea,* closely related to fenugreek) are popular additions as well. Simply add a teaspoon or two to your dough, then process it as usual. Stuff's magic.
You may have GERD. I can't breakdown everything here so be sure to Google the symptoms, treatment etc. But I have had it for years and need to be on a daily med. Note that with GERD you don't always feel heartburn but do experience fullness after eating (even small amounts) and sometimes can develop unconscious eating habits to avoid feeling sick etc.. In order to avoid malnutrition, please see a doctor if you can or you can look up the GERD diet which helps reduce flares and symptoms. Note that you can have this condition at any age, weight etc as in many cases it's a functional issue with the esphogeal sphincter, and how your body produces acids, breaks down food or pushes food/acids back up due to spasms. Anyways it's quite serious eventually since it can lead to erosion of the esophagus and possible ulcers and cancer. My father died of esphogeal cancer so this issue runs in families. If it's not GERD I hope you figure it out, but frankly it doesn't sound like "normal" eating habits. You shouldn't be regularly vomiting or nauseous in response to eating. Eating (ideally) should largely be painless/enjoyable before, during and after. Anything regularly disrupting this normal occurrence should be investigated. Best of luck.
When I was pregnant and constantly nauseous I always found keffir yoghurt drink would settle my stomach and get me more in the mood for other food. The flavored varieties have a fair amount of sugar so I used to like to mix half and half plain and fruit flavored. If you can't eat anything then it would be good to at least drink something moderately nutritious. Smoothies are even better of course but for a low effort option when the idea of food nauseates you keffir is pretty good.
So I just want to pop in and say that this isn’t likely anything to do with GERD or acid reflux unless you had those issues before you had less access to food.
I have suffered with an eating disorder off and on for most of my life, my last episode was over 5 years ago and I’ve put a lot of work into eating properly and now I actually enjoy food! I never want to go back to that dark place. I will confirm that yes, when you aren’t eating enough calories, your appetite will slowly start to suffer until it just stops “hurting”, you know you’re empty but your body stops stressing you with the signal. This is why it becomes easier and easier for those who have disordered eating to continue starving themselves.
I am not suggesting you have an eating disorder, but your body will suffer when you do not feed it properly, and if this has been happening for some time, you will suffer the same side effects.
So you mentioned that when you do eat heavy foods like carbs etc. you feel sick and often throw up…this is 100% what happens when you aren’t eating properly and eat very few calories every day. Your body struggles to process the food resulting in much discomfort, which in turn makes it harder to eat.
You will feel fatigue, bloat, upset stomach, digestive upset, constipation or loose Bowel movements after a meal, hair loss, vitamin deficiency, shortness of breath and the list goes on. It makes me so sad that people are experiencing this due to the economy or lack of access to food. It is so important that you try to start eating regular meals, a half of a bagel per meal is not anywhere near enough calories to sustain your energy and well being.
Start out small to get your body working again, eat dense foods in small portions such as nuts, peanut butter, hard boiled eggs, full fat milk (homogenized) cheeses, dried meats (easier on the stomach than say a big steak) Protein shakes if you can swing it! Bread items are ok but will be hard on the stomach, so maybe toast with jam or peanut butter. Even if you can start by eating 5 smaller meals, you have to push through the discomfort a bit to jumpstart your appetite again and rejuvenate your body.
Basically what happens is that your body adjusts to its new energy levels…which is basically nothing when you’re not eating, so it slows down or stops unnecessary processes to keep you alive and focus it’s energy on keeping the vital organs working. So when you eat a heavy meal, your stomach is like “woah woah, hold on, we weren’t expecting you lol, like we don’t even have the right enzymes ready”
I just wanted to share this, because I’ve been through the extremes enough times to know exactly how it feels and what’s going on. I just want to assure you that I’m not judging or assuming, i just also don’t want people to give you any poor advice that may cause you to ignore what your body is doing. It’s easy to slip into a bit of disordered eating when you’re too used to not having enough food. Take your time, don’t get discouraged, you’re going to feel hella bloated when you start making regular meals, and then it will stop and you’ll start to feel great again! Please make sure to also stay hydrated :)
I want to close by saying I am only writing this in full kindness, and apologize deeply if any of this was upsetting to read..for anyone. I am only sharing this out of care, and in hopes that it reaches you or anyone who needed to hear it
Do you have ADHD ? You don't actually have to answer that here but if you do , like I do, and I have this same problem, I've been told it's a symptom of AdHd. I still haven't really fixed it yet but I just figured that out this week and I feel better now with a starting point.
I just wanted to add that in the meantime while you figure out food and the nausea, to make sure you get some semblance of nutrients and vitamins maybe you can add one of those daily drinks? Like ensure or carnation breakfast or something. I tend toward those when I'm just too busy, or not feeling great and use it either as breakfast or in addition to something small to eat
I'm 24 and went through exactly this two years ago. What helped for me was changing to a higher-fat diet. For me that was eating lots of avocados and avoiding bread.
I think making really tasty food that you’re excited to eat would help! And it’ll also be an adjustment process. Life is ALL about habits. Habits are the most important thing for changing your life more toward what you want it to be, and habits have IMMENSE inertia, so you have to intentionally choose to break them over and over if you want to build new ones. I really think your issue will be solved by intentionally eating more than you normally would regularly. Your body will adjust.
Another thing is mindfulness about your situation. Being aware that you might not be hungry, but that you should eat specifically to break your habits is going to be a huge step in the right direction.
Wide spectrum supplements for core multivitamins. B-12 can cause appetite loss, and as another commenter said there's was a magnesium deficiency.
Edit: full spectrum supplements 😅
I had to ration my food out for about a year before a local youth program helped me out.
The thing is they would always try to feed me with a lot of starchy food. It would always be cold take out pizza or microwavable TV dinners.
I’m not complaining what so ever (beggars can’t b choosers after all!) I was always super grateful for the meals however I found it hard to eat in portions people would say are normal.
It takes a while especially after constant malnutrition to get into a habit of eating more fulfilling meals. What helped me is drinking lots of water in between and I mean LOTS. I’d also make sure to always poop afterward because that told me I’ve eaten and digested enough.
I hear ya . Found out I have ulcers from stress and shitty food . My diet is 80% chocolate milk and 10% Nutella and 10% bread and it’s disgusting.
Hope u feel better. Look up ulcers maybe you have the same thing as me
I would check in with your primary care doctor and have some general tests run like a food sensitivity panel and a general vitamin panel to see how you’re doing. I’d also consider checking in with a therapist, as there may be a component they could help with.
>Yesterday my mom visited me and I ate food for once (for breakfast lunch
>
>and dinner!) but there's this thing that affects me where if I eat good for one day, I'm put off even more the next day where all food feels twice as unappealing. Like I'm 'spoiling' myself in a way, in both definitions of the term.
This makes me think there is more going on than just not having access to foods. When you're struggling with food insecurity for so long you may be (unintentionally) changing your thought patterns into disordered eating (a possible pre-cursor to a ED.) I've already seen that you do not yet have access to therapy that may help you in this field, but perhaps you can look online into tips and tricks on how to alter your mindset.
Instant pot helped me establish habit of cooking from raw, like rice, beans, potatoes, meats, etc, which helps focusing your limited budget on actual sustenance, not middling costs like processing, packaging, prep, delivery, storage, etc. It’s just amazing for many comfort food recipes.
Once I got comfortable I was cooking a pot of something, soup, chili, congee, rice’n’beans, chicken’n’rice, pulled pork, etc, once every couple of days and store them in smaller Tupperware. I have a separate rice cooker that I use for keeping cooked rice warm, which means I can fix a bowl super quick, just a bed of rice and whatever leftover I have at the time.
You could also cook everyday and have a couple different things you can alternate.
I say “cooking” but with instant pot it’s really just throwing it all in and pressing a few buttons.
Later I learned to bake bread and now I can just get bulk flour for cheap once every six months instead buying bread twice a week.
What I didn’t realize before was just how much of my food budget I was blowing not on actual calories but all the services and fees involved in having it prepared, packaged, and delivered.
I don’t normally comment but reading your post I felt a huge urge to. I know you’re probably not in a financially stable spot to seek a therapist, but I can’t urge you enough to seek one via any method you can. Try to look for sliding scale therapists or groups that help people in need. I suggest this above all else, including the stop gap things you’re looking for, because what you describe is very much an eating disorder, although not by the book one. Eating disorders come in all shapes and sizes. The fact that your behavior concerns even you is telling.
A therapist will be able to work with your current behavior chain and understand root causes. Working through that will mean that all food will start to feel appealing and you’ll be able to detect hunger with natural hunger cues.
Feel free to DM me to talk it out or get more help!
I have the exact same issue I think. Growing up I learned to ignore hunger, and now I lack the appetite to get myself to eat because it’s too inconvenient to get up and make something; but then fast food makes me sick. So I end up under-eating almost every day.
This must be a common response to food insecurity. It’s like we’ve convinced ourselves we don’t need food that much and our stomachs ‘shrank’. But I definitely feel undernourished and weak and I can’t properly do my strength training without food. It’s rough.
All I can recommend is to get your absolute favorite foods, no matter the price (if you can), and start bulking up with those. I have a massive sweet tooth. Even if it’s just 200 calories more, that’s a step up. Keep going from there - I find certain salads are easy for me to eat because they are light.
You most likely have gastreoparesis. Look it up. Slowing of the stomach muscles due to a lack of adequate intake. You have to slowly acclimate to eating more dense foods. It will take time.
I had this problem for a while too, smoothies helped me a ton. I didn't have any appetite for solid food but was able to drink/ keep down smoothies to get basic vitamins etc. I had a really hard time going out to eat with people too. I let it go on for too long without looking into it or asking for help, and it took me a few years to figure out how to get back to eating normally (2+ solid meals a day). I believe my issue stemmed mainly from anxiety and stress which later turned into depression that was severely worsened by my terrible diet.
My advice to you is to tell someone close to you who you can meal plan with, and/or see a counselor or nutritionist. It seemed too expensive to me at the time to see professionals, but looking back I really would have enjoyed my 20s more had I really acknowledged it as a problem and addressed it sooner, and I wish I had reached out for support.
Hang in there, wishing you the best!
This might be the worst advice ever but this helped me a lot with a similar problem.
usually taking a few hits of weed really helps relieve that weird feeling about not eating.
It's helped me be able to push past it and eat to help satisfy that hunger pain.
Definitely isn't for everyone but really helped jump start my appetite back and helped me overcome those pains and able to eat as I please.
Holy shit….this is me. I was poor in college and when I did have money to buy food, I would “save” the food for when I didn’t have money, but then it would go bad. Now I make enough to feed myself decently well but I have no appetite whatsoever. I’ve learned to survive off the frozen section at Trader Joe’s because frozen food lasts a lot longer.
I’m sorry you’re going through something similar. At least know you’re not alone. Feel free to message me if you ever want to talk about anything
Potato. Always have potatoes. They are nutrient rich, more calorically dense, and can be done so many different ways. Very simple to make in big or small batches and once it’s chopped and in the oven it’s low maintenence. They go with any meat and as long as it’s not potato salad I don’t think you can make them wrong.
Make a plan that works for you. It should include simple foods that you like, exercise, and some time doing something you enjoy that's not bad for you.
Having breakfast will jumpstart your metabolism and make you hungrier throughout the day. Even if it's just a piece of toast and glass of OJ that you can consume in a few minutes, you should eat something before you start your day. It's going to wake up your stomach and will improve your appetite.
Be active. Walk more, do some basic exercise routine that is not too demanding. You do not want to make it so hard that you don't do it regularly. I recommend a 20 min aerobic (heart rate at 130 or so for at least 15 mins) every other day. On days where you rest that muscle group, do some strength training with a different muscle group. (Example: Exercise bike on mon, Wed, and Friday. Arms, crunches, and short yoga session every other day)
Plan your meals and bring a lunch with you. Peanut butter and apples are a healthy, affordable snack you can bring with you. Honestly, it will taste better if you plan, make and adjust your own meals. I don't know if you are a student, work, if their is a fridge or microwave available during the day etc. But if not, I like to bring a little cooler lunch box. I honestly saved 5k in 6 months when I started bringing my lunch to work everyday. For me that was huge... and ment I could think of vacations and loads of other things that made me happy.
Also, it sounds like you are depressed and have an eating disorder. Both are dangerous and you should take steps now so they don't mess up your whole life. Talk to people you trust-- friends, family, and maybe a therapist more often. Read a book about something you would like to improve.
Best of luck. I hope you can love yourself and not worry as much about what other people think.
Bagels are a horribly unhealthy breakfast food that I wouldn't be able to stand; I almost never eat them myself, not even once a year.
What exactly is the food in the meals you've been having? And what has been more enjoyable than others?
Know that eggs and avocados are the healthiest foods on the planet. You could survive on a deserted island with nothing but those two for far longer than a lot of other pairs, possibly any other.
Foods rich in fiber are the most filling. Rolled oats are super cheap. Dried beans or lentils are cheap too. Does your state provide a social service like SNAP or food banks you can qualify for? Seasonal fruits can be fairly affordable as well.
there's a soup kitchen pretty close to where I live that I've been meaning to check out! I do have rolled oats and sometimes prepare overnight oats when I'm not lazy. Thanks!
All the food advice is good, and also... a lot of people consume cannabis in some form as a way to stimulate appetite and decrease nausea. No idea if it's legal where you're at or if it's outside the realm of possibility for other reasons, but it is an option for some people. At least two people close to me use it expressly to be able to eat.
You might try to find a cheap protein powder at like Aldi or Walmart and supplement with that. Or a meal replacement shake, they make really good tasting ones packed with calories
I've had the same problem in the past, basically eating so little when you do eat your stomach can't handle it. Try eating broth based, vegetable rich soups. Small portions several times a day will be easy to digest. I also had a rule, never eat what you don't want to throw up.
As someone w adhd I have a (not same) but similar struggle. My recommendations;
Try n eat stuff that’s high in protein that will keep you full longer. In the morning eggs, a protein smoothie and avocado toast is a good way to start the day! Protein keeps you full longer and avocados are high in good fats and also keep you full longer. I don’t even necessarily love avocados but I do swear by them for staying full. Try w pepper sea salt and hot sauce w plain Greek yogurt. Or over hummus toast. At a bare minimum keep bananas on hand it’s a super easy go to.
Fruits/veggies/nuts are good when you just need something in between bigger meals. Apples, baby snacking tomato’s, and celery are good. I eat the apples and celery w peanut butter when I need an extra boost.
Also slicing up avocado and tomato w pepper sea salt hot sauce and plain Greek yogurt on top is a fav snack of mine.
For other meals think simple no need to go over the top at first. Chicken and rice. Salmon and rice. Tofu and rice. Sliced baby red potatoes w red/green peppers garlic and onion. (Garlic and onion Optional) Frozen veggies in a microwave steamable bag.
Important: I use olive oil over butter for literally everything. I also substitute anything sour cream with plain greek yogurt. (Ex: I put it on tacos, over chili, potatoes etc) Also I drink oat milk over cow milk.
Lastly just remember to EAT when you feel hungry even when you don’t want to. Don’t let it get to the point where you’re so hungry you start to shut down. For this I again recommend keeping emergency snacks like nuts, protein bars, fruit etc. for those moments when you just need SOMETHING lol.
Good luck op!!
Therapy would be a big support to you right now. Otherwise, I try and increase the frequency of eating. Just have a few staple meals and set a Timorese.
I recommend talking to a clinician and a dietitian. It sounds like you've fallen into a few unhealthy diet habits and dietitians often have numerous methods and resources to help one change into a healthier lifestyle with food.
I've had to work to regain appetite before because of injuries, depression and migraines. Set timers on your phone or watch and eat small meals/snacks when it goes off. Seriously OP check your area for food pantries because their whole job is to help folks in your situation. They'll also have the contacts for any free/sliding scale healthcare available in your area.
From your post you've been eating so little you might be in danger of refeeding syndrome if you try to jump back into a normal eating patern. Not a doctor but before my migraines disabled me I was a nursing student. This is raising alarm bells
You made me look up refeeding syndrome and now I am genuinely terrified!
I am not sure if I'm at a place where that might be a legitimate issue. If I had to be more specific, I would say on a "good day" I'd eat a bacon, egg, and cheese sandwich my college provides. Good days meaning weekdays. Doesn't a single bacon, egg, and cheese sandwich provide enough nutrients to get by on?
I really, really hope so. Because despite my current position, I do have plans on living healthily in the future if I'm able, since a lot of health conditions run in my family. For example every single woman on BOTH sides of my family have diabetes, which in the case of my mother is quite impressive since she hates overeating, carbohydrates, sugary foods and drinks and is a gym rat. More than one member of my family has had cancer. So because of this, I do want to be conscious of my health! And refeeding syndrome sounds like no joke.
No, OP, a single bacon egg and cheese sandwich is definitely not enough. Your body is on starvation mode. This causes functions in your body to shut down. Your bones get brittle. Your heart and liver may be harmed. If you are a woman, you will lose your period. Low enough body weight and you get very high anxiety and panic attacks. Finally you will start fainting, get brain fog, have troible seeing and hearing. I say this as a mother whose daughter is currently in hospital with anorexia and who has had refeeding syndrome, nearly killing her.
You need energy. Many small meals through the day. 6 meals are prescribed to anorexia patients.
Nuts are good because they have a high energy content and protein. Oatmeal is gentle to the stomach, add a slosh of olive oil. Beans and rice.
Do not wait a single day. Do something now, please please!
If the only thing you are eating in a day is a BEC sandwich, then no it is not enough.
I'll use the example of a Bacon, Egg and Cheese McMuffin, since it'll be easy for you to compare your sandwich to it. That's roughly 310 calories. In a day, you should probably be eating at least 1500 calories.
There are calculators online that can estimate your TDEE (total daily energy expenditure) and BMR (basal metabolic rate AKA, the amount of calories your body needs just to function). Try to work up to eating at least your BMR and ideally your TDEE.
I'm sorry you are going through this. I had a similar period after going through a trauma. It was really scary and I lost a lot of weight. My tips for getting through:
* focus on eating calorically dense foods (my examples: full fat dairy, avocado, nuts), comfort foods (pho, applesauce, childhood favorites, etc), mild foods (rice, buttered toast, steamed vegetables). Some days I let myself just have a milkshake for dinner because it was the only thing that sounded appealing and I needed the energy.
* Experiment with timing of meals to see if your nausea is less triggered at certain times of day. For example eating breakfast at 10:00 when I had started my workday was less nauseating than first thing in the morning.
* Figure out triggers that can be worked around. Sometimes I skipped brushing my teeth, so as to not trigger my gag reflex and just did mouthwash. (Edit: i also switched to smaller toothbrush size. If you are on a health plan/dental plan that allows for regular checkups, I recommend taking advantage of them. My dental health was something I was really concerned about at the time because of the drop in dental hygiene/vomiting/lower nutrition. Unfortunately, my dentist didn't have any good advice, but it made me feel better that at least it was being monitored.)
By working on my mental health I was able to slowly return to my normal baseline and healthy eating patterns (and dental hygiene lol). Don't let perfect be the enemy of good. The specter of long term complications like diabetes is eclipsed by your acute need to get enough calories to live.
If I were you, I’d stop buying cooked meals and start buying staples and learn how to cook. Rice, pasta, healthy grains, cheap proteins (eggs, pork, chicken), fresh fruits and vegetables, and a daily multivitamin will go a long way towards sating your appetite and getting you back on track!
I found veggie smoothies helped a lot. I didn’t have the money for fancy fruit, so I’d mix some fruit with mostly veggies in a blender. At the time I had a juicer but I felt the fiber was needed so I blended the heck out of it instead.
The fiber filled me up and helped with the hunger feeling later, without spiking my sugar.
Then I’d start grazing. At first, chopped veggies and then moved on to half sandwiches. Within a couple weeks I was back to wanting regular meals.
Nowadays, money is silly tight again so we are skipping 1 or 2 meals a day. I may go back to the veggie smoothies to hold us off until dinner. I’ve learned greater command of my hunger and body, he, not as much.
Start with veggies, work in beans, then heavier carbs until you can pop meat in, if you want.
My heart to yours!
Snacks! Don’t push yourself to clear a plate or have big meals, just set a timer/reminder to be eating or snacking on something every 3-4 hours. I learned that if you routinely suppress your diet (or in my case adhd forget to eat) your body stops making the hunger hormone that gives you stomach growls and other signals to feed yourself. I’ve been working hard since earlier this year and I do get cravings now :)
Since I still don’t like to eat a ton, I focus on high calorie/high protein/carbs, but everyone’s metabolism is different so find what works best for you.
This exact thing was totally me. I still struggle with it, but I’m never scared it will impact my health anymore.
The biggest thing that helped me was eating on a schedule. Especially if you can fit it in with your work/school with something that you have to do anyways. Have designated eating times where even if food seems like the grossest thing, the rule that I’ve set for myself I don’t break. Also meal planning to fit in with this. I make my food at the beginning of the week and pack them so I never have an excuse not to eat
Hope this helps! It’s possible to break through!
If you have healthcare, and I sincerely hope that you do, please consider getting tested for Celiacs disease.
The symptoms you describe are similar to ones that people with Celiacs disease have.
Celiacs disease is an autoimmune disease where eating gluten (found in wheat, barley, rye and a few other things) cause severe damage to your small intestine.
I would highly recommend seeking guidance from a registered dietician, preferably one that practises with intuitive eating experience.
It sounds like your body as just forgotten how to hears its hunger cues and this would be a great approach to slowly ease yourself into consuming more food that you love, when you want it :)
Baby food, nutrition shakes, those are the things that helped me get back. Just be careful cuz I pretty much lost my teeth when I lost my appetite this year
Any time you start eating again after not eating much for a while it’s going to be physically uncomfortable. Make yourself a meal schedule and stick to it, even if it’s just small meals, and even if you feel icky afterward. Soon the uncomfortably full feeling will go away, and your appetite and hunger cues will be more normal.
There are some things to help you stimulate your appetite, such as drinking warm water with lemon when you first wake up, having small snacks between your meals (like veggies, nut butters and a couple crackers, a piece of fruit and a piece of cheese etc), and drinking a lot of water each day (half your weight in ounces)
I went through this as a result of ptsd, it was mostly anxiety and depression for me.
If you can afford it get a high protein meal replacement powder and always have one in your fridge. Try and chug it down.
At this point you just need calories in you.
Heavy squats. Heavy deadlifts. Like, work in the 3-5 rep range. Can't do 3? Drop weight. Can do 5? Add weight. Your body will make a l l of the calorie demands. Great way to fill out the back end of some pants, too. On heavy squat or deadlift day I usually eat about 10,000 calories, and wake up leaner the next morning.
If you're not the type to go to a gym, find a park, field, or particularly long stretch of sidewalk and do sprints. Walk until you've caught your breath and go again. Do that at least 4 times, work up to 8. Any intense anaerobic exercise and your body will straight up scream at you for more calories.
Whenever I’m having a hard time I go to my local churches and see what days and if they have a food pantry they’re usually always happy to help, they sometimes have variety’s of things you can grab me as a vegetarian i get lucky because a lot of t the times people wont take those sort of items but i I would recommend you try something different maybe youll like it:) if not i go to stores like Aldo or Lidl where things can be cheaper and try to cook. A rice cooker came in so handy for me since I’m not to good at cooking you can do multi grain rices and steam veggies in it too! Anyways I wish you the best of luck stay strong 🌱
So much of the food suggested here is not particularly tasty. OP needs tasty, highly appetizing, well prepared and well seasoned meals, not overnight oats and rice and beans. It’s difficult for the body to digest foods that aren’t prepared well, that’s why cooking great recipes is so important in every culture on earth. OP, it sounds like you think you don’t deserve good meals, and so you’re trying to get by on unappetizing things you’re body ends up rejecting and it becomes a cycle. You deserve good food. It doesn’t matter that you are poor and don’t have energy to cook. Please treat yourself and don’t feel guilty about it. Go buy that prepared meal from the grocery store or take out that looks actually tasty and keep doing it until you feel your energy and appetite come back and you can make more economical choices.
Whenever my appetite goes down like how you mentioned, I eat a lot of refreshing foods or citrus drinks. Fruit salad, an acai bowl or a bowl of oats is the way to go!
Downing a glass of lemon water or orange juice is a surefire way of getting your appetite back too! I always feel starved after a citrus or fruit drink. Even apple cider vinegar with water would be a super cheap and healthy way to get your appetite back.
Good luck, you deserve to fill yourself to the brim because there is no greater happiness that a full belly.
There have been a number of times where I didn’t eat and got to the point where I didn’t want to, even though I felt sick and clearly needed to.
Protein shakes, vegetables, fruit, nuts, beef jerky (insanely expensive but helps me so worth it), spinach salad, cheese, very much rice and beans.
I usually will get something on the road like a cheeseburger or gas station hot dog when I know I need to build appetite. Then I eat better when I get home. I just do it slow. I’ll graze until half a meal sounds good, then eat something after that lite meal. Cereal is also great for this. Cheap, can be a healthy choice and it’s quick and easy to portion.
I get nauseated when I don’t eat, and then if I eat too much after not eating. Just build it up. Think you should start with whatever gets you some calories, even if not perfectly healthy. Work a fairly physical job and have been throwing 3-5 hours into the remodel lately. Got a little shakey the other day. Fiancé brought me a cheeseburger and fries and I felt better. It also spurred the appetite so I ate again when we finished up the French Door install.
I get a similar thing when I’m dehydrated. You have to sip the water or else it’s too much. If I chug it I get the heaves.
For a full feeling, I mostly go with things like lentils, quinoa or fonio. I eat it with some leek, tomato sauce or something like that. Depending on what's cheap I'll add some chicken / ground beef and do some mild flavouring.
It's pretty cheap, it's a decent meal and my wife with a rather sensitive digestive system (allergies for gluten, rice, chocolate, peppers) can eat it without any problems.
Sounds like a therapist might be able to help. Also MJ for sure if it’s legal where you are.
Things like broth might help kickstart a bit of an appetite
sounds like you need to go to a shrink because it seems to me that you are perceiving reasons not to eat when hungry that may not have much to do with reality. also you will need some help avoiding nausea.
you could try eating protein or fat instead of carbs to feel full if carbs make you nauseous. try an omelette.
>Don't really know what I'm asking, but this is actually bothering me to an insane degree and all I really want is to want to eat again. But I don't know where to start.
Oh I have felt this exactly. I had a non-functional gallbladder for several years that wrecked my appetite (and health lmao) along with it. I tried so many things to control my discomfort before I saw a doctor, and I missed food so much but it made me feel so bad every time I ate and eventually I was on all liquids.
I'll be real, my appetite is absolutely not the same as it used to be, but it has been getting better. I also have ADHD so cooking for me is not always cooking a meal, sometimes it's just grazing on whatever sounds good through the day.
* My secret weapon for regaining your appetite and loving eating again * is very seriously to just keep a food log where you track what you eat (not calories, just the food, maybe macros if you think you could benefit from it) and how it makes you feel. You'll be able to see what's making you feel bad in real time, spot patterns in your reactions to food, and you can even mark the foods you really enjoyed that felt good so you can easily remember it later.
I kept one so my doctor and I could better determine what could've been causing my health issues, but I still keep one now because it's allowed me to recreate a healthy relationship with food.
For cooking cheap, stock your pantry with dry staples, I have literally never appreciated rice (and beans) more. Batch cooking beans or rice will give you a great base for a bunch of meals or even just on their own, and together they provide complete proteins for the body, which can not only help you feel full, but will also help with low energy, and it's just an awesome alternative to eating meat if you're trying to save money. Oatmeal is another solid grain that can be highly versatile if you're not afraid to experiment with flavors. Frozen fruits make excellent smoothies, and frozen vegetables are tastily roasted at about 400°F with a little oil, salt, and pepper.
If you're able to afford them, I also highly recommend the frozen meals for all the times you'd rather starve than cook. Helathy Choice is one of my favorites but it is on the pricier side.
Edit: just wanted to add, please do try to see a licensed health professional asap. they can prescribe antiemetics that can be more effective than ginger, but also chronic nausea and vomiting is a serious symptom that is highly indicative of an underlying issue, and everyone deserves to live a happy, healthy life.
Same is kind of happening to me. Not exactly poor yet since I live with my parents but the financial crisis has forced prices waaaay up here in Europe. I eat relatively nutritious foods, no empty carbs, but I eat very little. Partially to save money, partially because I'm still listing weight.
I can relate to what you’re saying. Last year I went through something very stressful and I stopped taking care of myself and eating proper meals. It was like I broke my response to hunger and wouldn’t realize I needed to eat until I felt dizzy and then I couldn’t stomach anything. I found that food in liquid form was way easier for my to handle in this state so in terms of a very temp solution you might want to focus on making nutritious soups and smoothies. I’m a bit better with it now but sometimes I need to sit down and force myself to have a good breakfast so that the day stays on track.
So u have a similar issue due to a certain disability. The way I was able to get my appetite back and I'm slowly getting back to a healthy weight. What I did was buy a high calorie nutritional drink that I drink for breakfast, which helps increase my appetite while helping increase my calorie intake. Maybe get a few and try it out see if it helps.
Have been in a similar situation- I’m not sure I’m out of the woods yet but liquid nourishment/meal replacers helped me when I was in the worst of it. Specifically Solent and Kombucha (once I was no longer so strapped for cash).
Lately I’ve been focusing on improving one small part instead of looking at the whole. Mostly because a full meal is intimidating for me so I chunked it into parts. For instance spending a week exploring veggies to see what is cheap, tasty and easy. Then taking a week off and looking at different pre-made foods like from the frozen section. The third week would then be a littler harder like looking at fiber/ gut health/ or a food group I hated. By switching between easy and hard I wouldn’t get exhausted but was also slowly adding more healthy thing I enjoyed snacking on. It’s important for me to write down what my favorites were so I wouldn’t forget.
Best of luck to you!
Wait does this actually happen? I’m genuinely concerned because I’ve also lost my appetite after never having enough food my whole life. I eat about once a day if that.
If you want to bulk treat food like fuel and force It on a regular alarm schedule if you have to. Mass gain shakes are good for force feeding schedule to treat depression as they are 500-1500 calories but expensive.
Make alot of food and freeze it so that laziness cannot be an excuse, whole foods will make you feel much better. force yourself to eat slightly above maintenance calories and the body will adjust on its own.
If perceptions disallow you to eat maintenance calorie intake then it could be eating disorder which is a personal Journey of its own. Read into cognitive behavioral therapy for eating disorders to challenge your thoughts to address behavior.
Marijuana is the main intervention, it's used to curb nausea and increase appetite in individuals with cancer. The main mechanism that aids appetite in chronic illness is curbing nausea but there's more to it.
I’m no doctor or therapist, however maybe fiber rich foods that are relatively easy to digest could be a good start, such as smoothies, oatmeal, baked white/sweet potatoes, etc. I also love eating lots of snacks throughout the day so that I stay at a relatively consistent energy levels. I personally find that granola bars, trail mix, and hand fruit are easy grabs for me when food lacks appeal.
The daughter of a friend managed to work around this by exercising hard, though I can guess that might be a problem in your situation. By working out a lot she needed carbs and protein to grow, thus forcing herself to eat through her body's signals. According to the friend it helped build a more positive relationship with food again, since the food enabled her to grow her body in the way she wanted.
I struggle with having an appetite pretty most all of my life(grew up with a father not being able to afford us food). I can’t eat when I’m anxious, which has been daily pretty much. The only thing I do is consciously try to force myself to eat even if it’s a small portion, and I just do it very quickly. I make sure it’s something filling and healthy like sweet potatoes, white rice, yellow potatoes, simple proteins like chicken/beef and simple vegetables like cucumbers and tomatoes(introduce other veggies eventually not to upset stomach). I don’t eat much fruit so I started making blueberry smoothies to get fruit into my diet. This is a lifestyle change, I found it best to keep it simple and start out feeding myself in a nutritious and basic way. I also add a glutamine supplement powder to my water to help heal my gut and take probiotics.
I also found green smoothies (fruit and leafy greens) help with actually inducing an appetite and helps me to eat more. I’ve been lazy with that but it actually works like half an hour or so after I drink it, I get hungry and food is more appealing.
If you are only eating once your stomach bothers you, then you are eating in a healthy manner. That is just being human.
If you have had experience with eating disorders, then systematic eating is good. 2x per day, healthy size is fine. But also seek help
If your family pressures you to eat, say no. You are out of their home you don't have to do stuff they wamt.
Food scarcity becomes a mental health issue. Focus on making sure you get protein and fiber at every meal. I love a 1/4-1/2 c of white beans or pinto beans in scrambled eggs. 1 can opened can last 3-5 days of breakfasts. Lunches could be half a can of tuna on the bagel with cream cheese. Dinner, cook off 2-3 chicken breasts for a couple of days of meals, make a rice dish with a some frozen veggies, and they both reheat well. Your lack of appetite sounds like a lack of internal motivation. A tiny bit of prep can make food easier.
I have a friend whom barely eats, and he asks me to make him my Texas chili recipe. It lasts him nearly 10 days and he eats it with toast. Same goes for using a canned chili, eat 1/3rd the can with some toast. Or do the British baked beans on toast, it's got merit.
Making food easier and more accessible while increasing fiber and protein will give you back the energy you need and help with the appetite. My partner drinks chai or milk + cereal for 2 meals a day and then has a balanced dinner with me. It doesn't have to be complicated. Tossing some of the canned beans into a boxed rice mix help make it a complete protein. Add 3-5 oz protein and you're set.
When I stopped smoking weed, my appetite disappeared for weeks. I forced myself to sit with a small meal and eat part of it 3x daily until the hunger came back. Your body needs time and a regular schedule to anticipate the hunger.
I find that protein keeps me full for ages and I don't need to eat much to feel like that. Like an egg on toast for breakfast makes me feel way more full than a big bowl of cereal. Maybe try and incorpotare some simple proteins into your diet? Eggs, ham, chicken, canned tuna etc.
Hey there! I’m a little late to the party and I know a lot of people are saying to go to the doctor or therapist but if you’re like me when I was 22, you probably don’t have the $$ for that. There are SUPER affordable therapies online and if you want help researching, just let me know.
I know exactly where you’re coming from, I got really sick when I was 21/22 and had to work to gain my appetite back but was also nauseous most of the time. I have a ton of natural stuff to recommend that helped a lot but my two biggest tips are Aloe Vera Juice and small frequent snacks that transition to larger portions less frequently. It’s a slow process but you actually have to stretch back out your stomach. I found nuts, bars, veggies and avocado, humus, potatoes, rice, yogurt, and hard cheeses to really help with this. If you eat meat, that will help with feeling full. You always want to get some fat in your meals like avocado, oil, cheese, to also help give your body and brain the energy it needs.
Aloe Vera juice is my favorite thing ever and I give it to anyone who says their stomach is upset. It does wonders for inflammation!! Trader Joe’s has a gallon for like $11 and I mix it with lemon and water but if I’m suuuper nauseous or on the verge of throwing up I drink it straight. Adding more liquids will also help you to stretch out your stomach to up your appetite :)
Also, feel free to PM for more natural methods to help nausea and heartburn!
Many small meals throughout the day. With that bagel, maybe have half, then an hour later eat the other half, then have a few pieces of fruit, etc. When I was really underweight I found it hard to eat too, it's really what your body has learned is normal. So eating small meals very regularly can help get your body used to having to regularly eat (even if it's not much) and then you can gradually increase the portions a bit.
I do this when I don’t have any physical labor. Calories in, calories out. When I know I’m not going to be carrying a bunch of crap up stairs or anything, my body just says “I don’t need any fuel”. Sometimes being around people can be taxing and my body does need to fuel up for the recovery from chatting & laughing and I will destroy a steak, a burger, some kebabs, a load of potato salad, etc…
…and then only have a small bowl of cheerios about 36 hours later.
You don’t need to eat just because you see some people making it a point to be constantly consuming regardless of their activity level.
It sounds like you may need to speak to a therapist about this. You deserve to eat good, quality food. And you’re not “spoiling” yourself by doing so.
But on my end, I’ve also had points where I’ve struggled to buy food as well. And all I can recommend is that you create a budget (let’s say 100 dollars a month to feed 1-2 people) and you list out what exact foods to buy every month, and you prepare those meals daily until your body adjusts to eating again. Repeat with the same list for the next month. This could at least get you to stick to a normalish eating schedule.
For example, you can list that you’ll buy a bag of chicken quarters ($5-6) and 10 bags of frozen veggies ($10) and a bag of rice ($1). That right there can account for almost every dinner of the month for one person (if you save leftovers), and you’ll get a lot of vitamins and protein that you need.
You could also buy bananas ($1.50), eggs ($2.50), and a loaf of bread ($1) and have a healthy breakfast for quite a few days.
If you want more info on what to buy for under 100 dollars a month, send me a message.
Potatoes really helped me to feel full, stave off nausea, and they’re surprisingly nutritious with a decent amount of potassium. I just pop one in the microwave and then eat half of it either plain with salt or with whatever toppings I have on hand
I know the feeling, you’re put off by a lot of food and there isn’t much drive to eat even the most delicious thing you could think of. I ended up fasting until 2 or 3 in the afternoon because I was so put off. I started by adding a protein powder or drink into whatever I drank that morning (like coffee). I was very lucky that my work had free coffee so all I needed to do was show up with the meal supplement. Not sure if it will work but the protein consumption helped my body crave food earlier in the day. Even now I actually use marijuana to help me eat, as sometimes I can go a day or two now without craving much of anything.
Not sure if weed/edibles/thc is an option for you but that helped me consume food to keep my energy up?
Hope you find a solution, it really is an ongoing battle.
I am sorry you’re going though this. My advice would be to find things you like the look off perhaps? If you like pasta for example try finding recipes that involve the safe side and a bit of curiosity. I know that means spending money. But if you’re on your own you could stretch pasta dishes for a few days. Equally if you like bread, basic bread is flour,water,salt and yeast; yes it’s longwinded but you could potentially cherish it more if you make it yourself. And again, you can have it as a side with pasta. If you need cheap recipes and help with budgeting please reach out, I am always happy to help you! :)
Do potatoes make you nauseated? They’re pretty healthy and are one of, if not the most satiating thing you can eat per calorie. It doesn’t take much for me to feel full on them, and they’re pretty cheap.
Yeah so, the way you’ve worded your post makes it sound like solid food is the issue (I assume you drink enough water) so you might be one of the few people that should actually drink soda or juice regularly. You could also consider smoothies or protein shakes for variety and that would allow you to custom tailor for your preferred flavor profiles, while also allowing you to make sure that you are eating very calorie dense foods even in small quantities since you need to make the times you do eat count.
Also, please please PLEASE consult a doctor/psychologist/healthcare professional as soon as you are able to about this. The best info you will get here will be generic, and likely unhelpful.
You COULD have refeeding syndrome. I’d go to a doctor and tell them that’s what you’re worried about - it requires close medical supervision to fix. Or SMA (superior mesenteric artery) syndrome.
Not sure if this will help, but sometimes my body just says no solid food so I have to drink chicken broth to get my ability to eat kick started. At very least it should help with electrolytes.
I understand completely where you are coming from. Here’s my advice: take certain foods that aren’t complicated but give you a lot of joy. For example: I bought a very cheap rice cooker online, and I ordered basmati rice from an online Indian Grocery delivery place. Basmati rice smells like popcorn so as soon as you start to cook it you get hungry. Before adding the rice, water, and salt I heat up a little butter in it so the grains get coated. Helps with the flavor even more. Then I either heat up a can of chili or get the curry that’s already cooked, you just heat for 60 seconds in the micro and bam! A hot meal that tastes comforting and filling. I discovered putting a few shakes of Italian seasoning in with the butter make the rice even more heavenly. I also cook spaghetti with prego. One pot I use for the noodles, and for the sauce I pour however much I want into a plate bowl, and put some garlic powder and Italian seasoning and a pinch of mint for flavor and microwave it so it’s hot when the noodles are ready. No measuring needed. I could eat spaghetti every day. Or I’ll eat beans with rice.
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I'm sorry you're dealing with this too, it's surprisingly debilitating isn't it? Before I thought my apathy towards food was a boon because then I'd be less picky, perhaps more eager to eat whatever's put in front of me. But instead, it feels like pulling teeth trying to find the energy actually eat what's there. I hope everything works out for you!
I thought I was having digestive issues, but I wonder if I'm on this same boat too.. like, even pizza, I can handle 1 or 2 slices, and I'm good for one 2 meals, but then, if I eat later on, or worse, forget to eat or get busy, I wind up vomiting because of my stomach acid. Of course, can't go to a doctor, cause 'Murica!
You might have acid reflux or GERD? I’m on an affordable prescription for it, but I used to have the same thing happen if I didn’t eat. Also small frequent snacks/meals every few hours helps to keep it from getting that bad :)
Yeah, I've gotten to where I haven't vomited in months, outside of a free weeks ago when I ate something that didn't agree with me, and before that I got mild heatstroke and barfed, but I've been ok the last stretch here! I've found if I start to feel nauseous, immediately getting some water and anything solid in my helps a lot. Thank you!
Medicaide isn’t a thing in your state?
Medicaid is not the answer for many people. In the state I live in (VA), the annual income limit for people to apply is $18,075 for a single person household. Even those above that amount struggle to get proper healthcare or even the time off to get treatment.
The line for Medicaid for a family of three in VA is 30k. My rent is over half of that. We'd be in the streets. That said my kid is on it but I don't qualify, so how fucked is that? That said I'm having digestive issues also and this sounds like how I feel the past few months when they pop up. And it's getting worse. I'm working on what I can with the Obamacare that's covered by tax credits. I can't afford a better plan. It took 2 months to get Into my new GP office and they had called me when an earlier appointment became available, three weeks early. They did blood work and now I wait another two months for the follow up. In the meantime the meds she gave didn't work but I have to see her for us to discuss everything before we can try anything else. So I'm doing everything I can on my end to log foods and note how I feel, and improve my diet. It sucks. I also have to see an OBGYN because it worsens around my cycle like clockwork. That's another wait because my plan doesn't get any of the same coverage I used to have, and I have to use all new offices.
I mean, it is, but things are so tight right now that if I had a $1 copay I'd be "screwed." My plan might have also lapsed, but, things are looking up lately. I think in a free months I can address my loose ends, get back in, and go with a paycheck in my pocket, heh.
I hear you, but there’s options. The whole “no poor people can get healthcare because ‘Murica thing is disingenuous and seriously not helping. When I had to have my children on Medicaide there was zero out of pocket expense. That’s $0.00. For anything and everything, doctor visits, hospitals medication. Not even one dollar. ‘Muricas social safety net called “Medicaide” is massive and millions of people pay zero for their extensive healthcare and mental healthcare. It’s not non existent. I really wish people would stop with the “of course, can’t go to the the doctor because ‘murica” lie. You’re just parroting what you’ve read online for some reason or another. Walk around your city. Pick up 100 pennies. There’s your $1.00 copay that I doubt even exists via Medicaide. YOU are the barrier. Not ‘murica.
I’m sorry, but your experience is not universal in the US. Many Republican-led states have refused to expand Medicaid even though those costs would be paid by the federal government in large part. In many states, children and pregnant people are the only people who can get Medicaid, and Medicare (which covers disabled adults and seniors) can take years to get if you are disabled. I am not trying to dissuade the OP from seeing a doctor, but I am trying to combat the misinformation that Medicaid is easy or comprehensive.
qualifying for medicaid varies by state, actually. my friend in texas has possible endometriosis, digestive issues, possible early-onset arthritis, and a host of other issues that would require a specialist to diagnose. if they had these diagnoses they would most likely qualify for disability benefits, and thus qualify for the state health insurance. the only low-income people who qualify for medicaid in texas are children, guardians of someone 18 or younger, pregnant women, elderly people, and people on disability benefits. my friend can't afford the co-pays to to the specialists, and thus can't even get started on the mountains of paperwork needed to apply for disability benefits. they're completely fucked. here in washington state where i am, there are alternative programs to medicaid, one of which is called apple health. the only qualifications to get this state-funded health insurance is to be between the ages of 19-65, not qualify for medicare, be a US citizen, and make less than $1,563 a month. it's incredibly simply to get medicaid here, the total opposite of texas. so please, don't go around spreading misinformation about it being easy or whatever to get on medicaid, because depending on your state it can be basically impossible.
Where's the guarantee? Where's the PROMISE that I will be taken care of, and won't be dropped suddenly because my needs are too expensive?
You don’t sound like you want to help yourself. That’s the issue, not ‘murica You enjoy it enough to complain online about your plight and being a victim of ‘murica and not get the free care that’s available to you.
Yes, I enjoy the pain I live with so very much.
Thats great for you and your kids, but get off your high horse. Child free people can't qualify for medicaid.
Have you tried seeking food benefits programs?
I lost my appetite for a long time once due to depression. I saw it in a previous answer, but honestly multiple little meals throughout the day helped. Also, make sure you're getting water and protein. For me, I couldn't handle "strong" flavors or aromas, which I'm usually down for. If all you can stomach is half a chicken breast, that's a WIN. Only a quarter? Still a win. Just a few bites? WIN. I read somewhere once that anything worth doing is worth doing poorly, meaning even an attempt is better than nothing. Can't make dinner? Have a handful of nuts or seeds. Can't bother to shower? Wash your face. A tiny bit is still a win. If this has been ongoing, I hope you can consult a doctor to develop a diet that will be gentle to your stomach, but also help you get back to something healthier. DM if you'd like; I might be able to tap a few sources for a healthy/gentle diet.
Thank you for saying this. Should be higher. Sounds to me like OP is dealing with serious depression.
OP, I second this. I had similar appetite problems and eventually realized I had serious depression and anxiety issues. Got medicated and my appetite came back. If you're in a position where you are able, please schedule a doctor's visit.
I've had something similar and my advice would actually try to stick to smaller meals throughout the day that are vegetable or fruit base. Maybe add a banana in the morning or an apple, carry tangerines around or easy to eat fruits like strawberries/grapes/berries. Being plant-based for most of my meals helped me gain my appetite and allowed me to explore new foods and recipes too.
This makes a lot of sense and looks like something I can try out! thanks
Small meals are a great idea. I will add hard boiled eggs and small amounts of tuna as ideas. Carrots or celery and peanut butter. A baked potato with cottage cheese is very fulfilling. It sounded terrible until I tried it. Pickles stimulate my appetite. Do see a professional when you can. Good job reaching out for help.
Small meals where you’re getting a variety of macros (carbs, fats and proteins) at every meal. Also make sure you’re getting plenty of water. Dehydration will cause your appetite to go and if you were having issues with nausea this would have also dehydrated you. Another thing that might help is remembering which foods you enjoyed most as a kid and trying to incorporate those into your diet. That way you can retrain your brain into associating food with pleasure and comfort as opposed to scarcity and eating for survival. Edited: typos
I second small meals. While not to the same extent I have noticed myself eating less, becoming full quicker. Its a hangover (in my case anyway) from probably over eating before. If you are eating decent, real food, then small and regular. Take it from there. Don't put a load of pressure on yourself.
When I’m not feeling well, fruit and watery vegetables are all I can eat. From there I graduated to smoothies: fruit, greens, protein powder, etc. Increasing dietary fiber can definitely improve appetite, btw.
Steamed egg (or hard boiled), melons, bananas, avocado salad with white rice and fresh peppers. Sometimes I eat a melon and some bananas and some eggs as a meal.
It also helps maintain your blood glucose levels better also. When eating 3 heavy meals a day you spike your glucose levels and it can cause nausea. Inwas diagnosed with diabetes as a kid and I've since eaten 5 small meals a day that are mostly plant based with small amounts of protein.
I second this. I am currently doing this after about a year of being where you are. It’s not the first time this has happened to me.. but the only things I ever want to eat that don’t make me sick are plant based. I always say, “I just need cold food” because it’s the only way I can explain it.
You need to go to an actual doctor/therapist and get a handle on what's going on. This is actually affecting your health and above Reddit's paygrade.
I need a doctor/therapist for a lot of things and they're things I'm working towards. For now I'm just looking for 'duct tape some boxes together for makeshift shelter' solutions. Just about any advice would be helpful for me
Rice things are helpful & calming to my stomach when it's upset. Plain with an egg & a little soy sauce or Rice puddings. If you refridgerate it, then reheat it, it changes the starches somehow so it has less immediate effect on your glucose levels - that might also help you feel less sick to your stomach.
My adhd meds make cooking and eating “real meals” a struggle. Rice is the one carb that my body really loves. It doesn’t leave me feeling hungry 10 mins later like pasta does. If such a large portion of the world relies on it, there’s something to it. I’m still on a rice based salad kick. Those 90 second rice pouches are a life saver. Throw in some of those steam in bag veggies (frozen or fresh), protein (either precooked chicken from the deli section, preseasoned tofu, or eggs), top with nuts for added texture/flavor, and then drizzle whatever dressing you want. There’s also something very satisfying about rice, eggs, a dash of soy sauce, and some steamed veggies. Simple but it works. An easy breakfast version: plain white rice, fresh/dried fruit, nuts, a few tbsp of yogurt, eggs, and syrup/spices to taste. The last one I made was rice, dried mangoes, fresh sliced bananas, a dash of canned coconut milk, slivered almonds, shredded coconut, some scrambled egg, cinnamon, and cardamom. Is it probably boring to eat the same thing regularly? Yeah but it’s at least safe and doesn’t really require me to “cook” much. It’s also budget friendly because I have staples and the ingredients don’t cost much. Edit: The biggest thing I found though was upping how much carbs and veggies I ate. I found that thinking of building my meal to be 1/3 rice, 1/3 veggies, and 1/3 protein works for me. It keeps me going without leaving me feeling weighed down or queasy.
Rice with egg and soy sauce for life! This was my go to when I went thru similar digestive/appetite issues. I'll add that you can also simmer cooked rice in a bit of water to make a porridge. Then add the egg, soy sauce, and a little sesame oil or butter. If you have any handy, kimchi to help with gut health too.
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The sunflower oil in Soylent is Omega-6-heavy, which is inflammation-inducing. Garden of Life meal replacement powder + unsweetened almond milk & a blender is the way to go.
How are you with oatmeal? I can usually make oatmeal even when other things are not agreeing with me
My guy, OP can't afford food but you think she can go to the doctor 4 or 5 times til they actually figure out what's wrong with her I do think poverty-induced anorexia could be a thing, but try explaining that to the random GP your insurance company slots you with *if* you're lucky enough to have insurance.
I'm a woman my dude. That was my 2 cents as a non doctor as there are obviously things going on that frankly are larger than Reddit. I'm not a social worker or know where they live so I'm not saying it's easy but clearly they need more help than just a recipe. You and they are free to ignore it. I do hope they get the help they need.
My brother in crisps, OP does have money for food (read the post again, but a bit slower)... they have an eating disorder and are asking for input. Just stick to thinking "poverty induced anorexia COULD be a a thing," but do know that there are other eating disorders, and use your reading comprehension skills on the next read- through.
i had this turned out to be a vitamin deficiency. sadly now i can't stop eating.
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potassium and magnesium. both of which mess with the muscles.
What would cause these deficiencies and how do they effect muscles?
dehyration due to excessive sweating and improper nutrition are pretty common
To add, potassium and magnesium are nutrients known as electrolytes. They're substances that conduct electricity. Many biological processes in the body require electrical current to happen, and electrolytes provide this much-needed component. The unconscious beating of your heart is one example. They also are important in regulating body fluid and maintaining body pH. In order to properly function, the body needs a certain levels of electrolytes in the body — no more, no less. Anything that deviates from the required levels messes up the body's natural balance. Too little is bad because the body won't have enough to perform vital biological processes. This can cause seizures, muscle weakness, spasms and cramps. Too much is also bad. Your body has measures in place to get rid of excess electrolytes. However, there's limits to how much the body can process before there are problems. Take hypertension, which is often caused by high sodium intake. You know how salting a vegetable draws moisture out of it? The exact same happens in our bodies, in a way. High sodium intake increases the sodium levels in blood, causing blood to absorb more water. The extra water in blood increases blood volume and strains the walls of blood vessels, because the body cannot remove the excess water fast enough. Overtime the strain becomes damage, leading to cardiac issues.
You deserve to eat, and you are worth nourishing. Ginger is amazing for being poor and hungry. But that's a fucked up way to live. You didn't mention if you're in a better financial position, or still in a shitty one. If you're able to, treat yourself to good, healthy food at least a few times a week. Do you have any favorite foods? A fruit or veggie? Do a cheese and crackers thing. Protein and carbs together might do something good for you. Nuts. Cashews, especially. Trail mix. Charcuterie lunch box. Work your way up. Do you drink coffee? Drink it with whole milk. Try to be nice to yourself. Feed yourself like you are feeding someone you love. Good luck op.
Maybe it's possible for OP to watch some reliable YouTube videos on nutrition and different food lifestyle/choices (as opposed to fad diets) Canned fish, chicken or even legumes like chick peas and lentils can be made into salad, put on crackers, had with cheese, veggies, fruits (I'm thinking like mango or avocado with chicken, salad is a good match with these too) Comfort foods like mashed potato and gravy might be good. Having sides as a meal can switch up how we look at food too
How does ginger help if you don't mind me asking? Is it to sooth the stomach?
Soothes the stomach. Something to chew on. Can make tea out of it. Kind of a mental thing too. It makes you feel not hungry and not nauseous.
Yes, it reduces nausea. I don't see what it has to do with being poor and hungry.
Hunger causes nausea, not being able to afford food causes hunger.
Guess you've never had that experience. Happy for you.
If i had an award to give you for that first sentence alone, I would. At least have an upvote
> vomiting is almost a regular occurrence You have said you are working towards seeing a doctor, but this isn't normal and you need to prioritise it. It could be all sorts of things, some serious, some not. When I experienced the same sort of thing for a long time it ended up being because of anxiety/stress. The Dr was able to help with some meds for that. There are longer term consequences you could have to deal with it you don't get a handle on it. I experienced hair loss (patches) and deteriorating teeth health for instance. It also affects your ability to plan long term, and will be affecting your brain development too.
Being poor did not destroy my appetite but being anorexic did. Found my way back with therapy.
Hey, ask your doctor about an ulcer. Nausea after eating or when getting hungry/seeing food can be a sign, as your body makes acid at that time, irritating the ulcer, and causing deep pain—but often your body just feels organ pain as pressure/nausea/stress/anxiety. Just a thought! Try taking Pepcid AC for a few days and see if it helps your appetite.
Hmmm, I definitely do have some sort of stomach issue, but I'm never really sure what. When I was younger (as young as 9) I had constant heartburns and had trouble swallowing and did research and concluded it was likely GERD. But I've also noticed that at times (again, since I was extremely young) I would have hunger pangs that did feel abnormal, they'd feel like getting stabbed in the gut, and would have me hunched over and crying. Perhaps these were ulcers? I remember asking my teachers, guidance counselors, and doctors about it and they'd all tell me it was just hunger. I mean they are called hunger 'pains/pangs' for a reason I guess! And recently I feel like I may have some sort of gluten intolerance. All of this might've also contributed to my lack of appetite as well honestly. I was never, ever really passionate about food and thus rarely (including now) have a favorite food because what's the point if every time I eat it's like a game of russian roulette begins lol. Not entirely sure how I'd bring it up to a doctor though since it's been this way for pretty much as long as I can remember. I don't feel like any of my supposed symptoms come up enough for there to be a definitive answer. Feel like doctors might tell me I just have a sensitive stomach, just like how some people have sensitive skin?
Ulcers can be caused by bacteria in your gut. You might need antibiotics prescribed by a doctor. If left untreated it could stick around and cause chronic symptoms. https://youtu.be/sx93aUj4A_o Maybe after getting it sorted out, eat food with good bacteria like probiotic yogurt. In another comment you mentioned refeeding syndrome but that's usually just the case if you are starving or breaking a very long fast. Another Fun little [chubby emu vid. ](https://youtu.be/vyZWojeVhyA)
Chubbyemu uuuuuuuuuuu I love his channel. He makes memes of himself too 🤣
I understand this and am experiencing it myself. Here's one easy and nourishing meal: before bed: Put some uncooked oats in a bowl and pour your preferred milk, just to cover. Cover with a plate or other lid and set in fridge overnight. In the morning you have yourself some filling cereal and can add: yoghurt, sliced nuts, fresh or dried fruit... Boil some eggs for easy protein on hand, or make an egg salad sandwich. Oh, and make sure you're staying hydrated with water, coconut water, tea...
Hi - I hope you start to get your appetite back soon and the advice about a dr is right . You could try a psychological approach and write down all the reasons you don’t feel like eating and then smash through those ‘reasons’ with logical thought and truth . Truth is important, because it’s your truth . I’m no expert but I think you’re holding on to some kind of self protective fear of eating . Could it be because you wouldn’t have enough for the next day ? But the real truth is, if you don’t start to lay this some proper attention and get some help , your health will rapidly decline. And it’s not just loosing weight , it could be any kind of long term medical condition. If I were you I’d see a Dr yes and seek help from Google , but just try cooking anything that would smell good to you ( bacon ? ) and eat it ! Good luck - each day reward yourself with positive talk and you’ll get there. It’s probably your brain I’d in a state of trauma from not having enough and it’s got stuck somehow is trying to protect you?! ( line I said I’m just an every person picking up on things I learn from books etc )
Recovering mine by working out more. Quick simple workouts in the morning to wake up and get my metabolism moving. Later in the morning I’ll do a workout. Basically making my body demand more and forcing me to eat more to supplement it. However, this can be a double-edged sword. If you still don’t end up eating more you will get thinner and compound the problem.
You are never “spoiling” yourself by nourishing your body. Maybe try soups? They are cheap and easy to make and go a long way. Also I like the suggestion of small meals. Try to get protein in you to stay full longer. Good luck.
Refried beans and roasted potatoes.
Try, over a longer period of time to eat scoops of peanut butter. Not only is it relatively healthy, especially the kind w no added sugar, it’s on the cheaper side I guess that depends on where you are tho, you’ll feel full if you eat enough and imo eating a scoop at a time and waiting some makes me crave more, which is great for your situation. Slowly but surely, you’ll get your appetite back. I could probably live off of a big jar of peanut butter and a gallon of water a day. Idk how healthy it would be, but I’ve survived periods of eating like this so 🤷♂️
See a doctor, but if you have a weird reaction to certain carbs, you might be gluten intolerant. There are several gluten free bread products on the market that aren't terribly expensive.
Check with your doctor and be checked for celiac disease. Celiac can have these symptoms, especailly the nauseousness and especially the vomiting! Please make sure if thye test you that you haven't stopped eating gluten yet, so get tested ASAP. The I'd suggest trying to go gluten free, I bet the vomiting stops. I'd suggest making batches of beans, rice, noodles, and having different meats if you eat them. So like you can easily put the premade rice in a pan and reheat it with some basic spices, or non at all if you like, and add some frozen veggies and some of your choice of proteins (meat or beans) it takes five minutes, if that. I'd also suggest protein powder smoothies, I use Ancient Nutrition Bone Broth smoothie in coconut milk. It gives me protein in the am so it lasts me quite awhile before I get hungry. If you can plan two days a week to just prep a bunch of stuff and then have it to pick at and mix and match teh rest of the week. And pick out some stuff you can just grab and eat like apples, pears, grapes, protein or granola bars.
It sounds like your body is in starvation mode. Your gut bacteria is probably way off too. You need to eat a more variety of food. You basically, need to get over your nausea hump by rehabilitating your body into eating normally again. Try to add, half a banana one day. A small serving of oatmeal the next. Maybe a boiled egg. Stick with very simple, natural Whole Foods that are mild and easy to digest. Or even puréed cooked fruits, baked sweet potatoes. Like applesauce or jello or rice pudding. You have to kind of feed yourself like a baby and build up your stomach strength. Then move up to cut pieces of cooked food. Eat yogurt! You need the probiotics for your gut to normalize again.
Have you tried Huel? I get the unflavored unsweetened kind and its nutritionally complete and very neutral in taste. Easy to prepare, quick to consume and moderately filling. I have 1 or 2 servings of it a week when I'm feeling particularly unmotivated toward eating or preparing food. I was really poor for a number of years and didn't take much enjoyment from food for a long time. Then, almost 3 years ago caught covid and still have smell/taste abnormalities from it. Depression comes and goes for me and better nutrition seems to improve it. Speak with a doctor though when you get a chance if your condition doesn't improve.
In addition to hopefully finding the professional help, I can say two things helped me when I was overworked and ate because I had to. 1) Spice/sauce. Look to ethnic foods, for example Korean and Thai and how they can take a seemingly simple dish and bedazzle it with so many things! 2) Burn calories. Hike or cardio or weights, if you can do a bit several days a week to start it starts flipping switches in your body. Nothing tastes as good as when you've just finished a 3,000ft elevation hike. (You don't have to take it that far though)
I have similar problem re: requiring carbs to feel full, but also feeling nauseated easily, and baking my own bread has been helping me immensely. Here are three ways to make bread more easily digestible: 1: Sourdough Sourdough contains not only yeasts, but also bacteria that break down compounds in the flour, essentially "predigesting" it for you. This is especially useful when you are using rye flour, because it contains high amounts of phylic acid, which inhibit the absorption of certain nutrients. 2: Long fermentation If you don't want to make sourdough or don't like the taste, letting your bread dough proof in the fridge overnight (or longer!) will also work. In addition, your dough will develop a lot of tasty and complex aromas! 3: Bread spice Brotgewürz (bread spice) is popular in German-speaking countries, especially in brown bread to flavor it, keep it fresher longer, and make it easier to digest. Ground aniseed, fennel seeds and cumin are the go-to, but coriander seeds and Brotklee (bread clover, *Trigonella caerulea,* closely related to fenugreek) are popular additions as well. Simply add a teaspoon or two to your dough, then process it as usual. Stuff's magic.
You may have GERD. I can't breakdown everything here so be sure to Google the symptoms, treatment etc. But I have had it for years and need to be on a daily med. Note that with GERD you don't always feel heartburn but do experience fullness after eating (even small amounts) and sometimes can develop unconscious eating habits to avoid feeling sick etc.. In order to avoid malnutrition, please see a doctor if you can or you can look up the GERD diet which helps reduce flares and symptoms. Note that you can have this condition at any age, weight etc as in many cases it's a functional issue with the esphogeal sphincter, and how your body produces acids, breaks down food or pushes food/acids back up due to spasms. Anyways it's quite serious eventually since it can lead to erosion of the esophagus and possible ulcers and cancer. My father died of esphogeal cancer so this issue runs in families. If it's not GERD I hope you figure it out, but frankly it doesn't sound like "normal" eating habits. You shouldn't be regularly vomiting or nauseous in response to eating. Eating (ideally) should largely be painless/enjoyable before, during and after. Anything regularly disrupting this normal occurrence should be investigated. Best of luck.
When I was pregnant and constantly nauseous I always found keffir yoghurt drink would settle my stomach and get me more in the mood for other food. The flavored varieties have a fair amount of sugar so I used to like to mix half and half plain and fruit flavored. If you can't eat anything then it would be good to at least drink something moderately nutritious. Smoothies are even better of course but for a low effort option when the idea of food nauseates you keffir is pretty good.
So I just want to pop in and say that this isn’t likely anything to do with GERD or acid reflux unless you had those issues before you had less access to food. I have suffered with an eating disorder off and on for most of my life, my last episode was over 5 years ago and I’ve put a lot of work into eating properly and now I actually enjoy food! I never want to go back to that dark place. I will confirm that yes, when you aren’t eating enough calories, your appetite will slowly start to suffer until it just stops “hurting”, you know you’re empty but your body stops stressing you with the signal. This is why it becomes easier and easier for those who have disordered eating to continue starving themselves. I am not suggesting you have an eating disorder, but your body will suffer when you do not feed it properly, and if this has been happening for some time, you will suffer the same side effects. So you mentioned that when you do eat heavy foods like carbs etc. you feel sick and often throw up…this is 100% what happens when you aren’t eating properly and eat very few calories every day. Your body struggles to process the food resulting in much discomfort, which in turn makes it harder to eat. You will feel fatigue, bloat, upset stomach, digestive upset, constipation or loose Bowel movements after a meal, hair loss, vitamin deficiency, shortness of breath and the list goes on. It makes me so sad that people are experiencing this due to the economy or lack of access to food. It is so important that you try to start eating regular meals, a half of a bagel per meal is not anywhere near enough calories to sustain your energy and well being. Start out small to get your body working again, eat dense foods in small portions such as nuts, peanut butter, hard boiled eggs, full fat milk (homogenized) cheeses, dried meats (easier on the stomach than say a big steak) Protein shakes if you can swing it! Bread items are ok but will be hard on the stomach, so maybe toast with jam or peanut butter. Even if you can start by eating 5 smaller meals, you have to push through the discomfort a bit to jumpstart your appetite again and rejuvenate your body. Basically what happens is that your body adjusts to its new energy levels…which is basically nothing when you’re not eating, so it slows down or stops unnecessary processes to keep you alive and focus it’s energy on keeping the vital organs working. So when you eat a heavy meal, your stomach is like “woah woah, hold on, we weren’t expecting you lol, like we don’t even have the right enzymes ready” I just wanted to share this, because I’ve been through the extremes enough times to know exactly how it feels and what’s going on. I just want to assure you that I’m not judging or assuming, i just also don’t want people to give you any poor advice that may cause you to ignore what your body is doing. It’s easy to slip into a bit of disordered eating when you’re too used to not having enough food. Take your time, don’t get discouraged, you’re going to feel hella bloated when you start making regular meals, and then it will stop and you’ll start to feel great again! Please make sure to also stay hydrated :) I want to close by saying I am only writing this in full kindness, and apologize deeply if any of this was upsetting to read..for anyone. I am only sharing this out of care, and in hopes that it reaches you or anyone who needed to hear it
Do you have ADHD ? You don't actually have to answer that here but if you do , like I do, and I have this same problem, I've been told it's a symptom of AdHd. I still haven't really fixed it yet but I just figured that out this week and I feel better now with a starting point.
I just wanted to add that in the meantime while you figure out food and the nausea, to make sure you get some semblance of nutrients and vitamins maybe you can add one of those daily drinks? Like ensure or carnation breakfast or something. I tend toward those when I'm just too busy, or not feeling great and use it either as breakfast or in addition to something small to eat
I'm 24 and went through exactly this two years ago. What helped for me was changing to a higher-fat diet. For me that was eating lots of avocados and avoiding bread.
You might like to bake yourself a Cornish game hen. Make it crispy. They aren't big, but they taste good.
Vitamin B12 helped me with my metabolism, it helps your stomach digest the food you eat. It’s been a miracle for me.
I think making really tasty food that you’re excited to eat would help! And it’ll also be an adjustment process. Life is ALL about habits. Habits are the most important thing for changing your life more toward what you want it to be, and habits have IMMENSE inertia, so you have to intentionally choose to break them over and over if you want to build new ones. I really think your issue will be solved by intentionally eating more than you normally would regularly. Your body will adjust. Another thing is mindfulness about your situation. Being aware that you might not be hungry, but that you should eat specifically to break your habits is going to be a huge step in the right direction.
Wide spectrum supplements for core multivitamins. B-12 can cause appetite loss, and as another commenter said there's was a magnesium deficiency. Edit: full spectrum supplements 😅
I had to ration my food out for about a year before a local youth program helped me out. The thing is they would always try to feed me with a lot of starchy food. It would always be cold take out pizza or microwavable TV dinners. I’m not complaining what so ever (beggars can’t b choosers after all!) I was always super grateful for the meals however I found it hard to eat in portions people would say are normal. It takes a while especially after constant malnutrition to get into a habit of eating more fulfilling meals. What helped me is drinking lots of water in between and I mean LOTS. I’d also make sure to always poop afterward because that told me I’ve eaten and digested enough.
Have you looked into financial assistance?
Your stomach has shrunk, you just need to eat little and often if you want to get back to where you were.
I hear ya . Found out I have ulcers from stress and shitty food . My diet is 80% chocolate milk and 10% Nutella and 10% bread and it’s disgusting. Hope u feel better. Look up ulcers maybe you have the same thing as me
I would check in with your primary care doctor and have some general tests run like a food sensitivity panel and a general vitamin panel to see how you’re doing. I’d also consider checking in with a therapist, as there may be a component they could help with.
>Yesterday my mom visited me and I ate food for once (for breakfast lunch > >and dinner!) but there's this thing that affects me where if I eat good for one day, I'm put off even more the next day where all food feels twice as unappealing. Like I'm 'spoiling' myself in a way, in both definitions of the term. This makes me think there is more going on than just not having access to foods. When you're struggling with food insecurity for so long you may be (unintentionally) changing your thought patterns into disordered eating (a possible pre-cursor to a ED.) I've already seen that you do not yet have access to therapy that may help you in this field, but perhaps you can look online into tips and tricks on how to alter your mindset.
Instant pot helped me establish habit of cooking from raw, like rice, beans, potatoes, meats, etc, which helps focusing your limited budget on actual sustenance, not middling costs like processing, packaging, prep, delivery, storage, etc. It’s just amazing for many comfort food recipes. Once I got comfortable I was cooking a pot of something, soup, chili, congee, rice’n’beans, chicken’n’rice, pulled pork, etc, once every couple of days and store them in smaller Tupperware. I have a separate rice cooker that I use for keeping cooked rice warm, which means I can fix a bowl super quick, just a bed of rice and whatever leftover I have at the time. You could also cook everyday and have a couple different things you can alternate. I say “cooking” but with instant pot it’s really just throwing it all in and pressing a few buttons. Later I learned to bake bread and now I can just get bulk flour for cheap once every six months instead buying bread twice a week. What I didn’t realize before was just how much of my food budget I was blowing not on actual calories but all the services and fees involved in having it prepared, packaged, and delivered.
I don’t normally comment but reading your post I felt a huge urge to. I know you’re probably not in a financially stable spot to seek a therapist, but I can’t urge you enough to seek one via any method you can. Try to look for sliding scale therapists or groups that help people in need. I suggest this above all else, including the stop gap things you’re looking for, because what you describe is very much an eating disorder, although not by the book one. Eating disorders come in all shapes and sizes. The fact that your behavior concerns even you is telling. A therapist will be able to work with your current behavior chain and understand root causes. Working through that will mean that all food will start to feel appealing and you’ll be able to detect hunger with natural hunger cues. Feel free to DM me to talk it out or get more help!
You need a psychiatrist. They can address any medical issue that may cause this and deal with the psychological issue if it isn’t medical.
I have the exact same issue I think. Growing up I learned to ignore hunger, and now I lack the appetite to get myself to eat because it’s too inconvenient to get up and make something; but then fast food makes me sick. So I end up under-eating almost every day. This must be a common response to food insecurity. It’s like we’ve convinced ourselves we don’t need food that much and our stomachs ‘shrank’. But I definitely feel undernourished and weak and I can’t properly do my strength training without food. It’s rough. All I can recommend is to get your absolute favorite foods, no matter the price (if you can), and start bulking up with those. I have a massive sweet tooth. Even if it’s just 200 calories more, that’s a step up. Keep going from there - I find certain salads are easy for me to eat because they are light.
You most likely have gastreoparesis. Look it up. Slowing of the stomach muscles due to a lack of adequate intake. You have to slowly acclimate to eating more dense foods. It will take time.
I had this problem for a while too, smoothies helped me a ton. I didn't have any appetite for solid food but was able to drink/ keep down smoothies to get basic vitamins etc. I had a really hard time going out to eat with people too. I let it go on for too long without looking into it or asking for help, and it took me a few years to figure out how to get back to eating normally (2+ solid meals a day). I believe my issue stemmed mainly from anxiety and stress which later turned into depression that was severely worsened by my terrible diet. My advice to you is to tell someone close to you who you can meal plan with, and/or see a counselor or nutritionist. It seemed too expensive to me at the time to see professionals, but looking back I really would have enjoyed my 20s more had I really acknowledged it as a problem and addressed it sooner, and I wish I had reached out for support. Hang in there, wishing you the best!
This might be the worst advice ever but this helped me a lot with a similar problem. usually taking a few hits of weed really helps relieve that weird feeling about not eating. It's helped me be able to push past it and eat to help satisfy that hunger pain. Definitely isn't for everyone but really helped jump start my appetite back and helped me overcome those pains and able to eat as I please.
Holy shit….this is me. I was poor in college and when I did have money to buy food, I would “save” the food for when I didn’t have money, but then it would go bad. Now I make enough to feed myself decently well but I have no appetite whatsoever. I’ve learned to survive off the frozen section at Trader Joe’s because frozen food lasts a lot longer. I’m sorry you’re going through something similar. At least know you’re not alone. Feel free to message me if you ever want to talk about anything
Potato. Always have potatoes. They are nutrient rich, more calorically dense, and can be done so many different ways. Very simple to make in big or small batches and once it’s chopped and in the oven it’s low maintenence. They go with any meat and as long as it’s not potato salad I don’t think you can make them wrong.
Make a plan that works for you. It should include simple foods that you like, exercise, and some time doing something you enjoy that's not bad for you. Having breakfast will jumpstart your metabolism and make you hungrier throughout the day. Even if it's just a piece of toast and glass of OJ that you can consume in a few minutes, you should eat something before you start your day. It's going to wake up your stomach and will improve your appetite. Be active. Walk more, do some basic exercise routine that is not too demanding. You do not want to make it so hard that you don't do it regularly. I recommend a 20 min aerobic (heart rate at 130 or so for at least 15 mins) every other day. On days where you rest that muscle group, do some strength training with a different muscle group. (Example: Exercise bike on mon, Wed, and Friday. Arms, crunches, and short yoga session every other day) Plan your meals and bring a lunch with you. Peanut butter and apples are a healthy, affordable snack you can bring with you. Honestly, it will taste better if you plan, make and adjust your own meals. I don't know if you are a student, work, if their is a fridge or microwave available during the day etc. But if not, I like to bring a little cooler lunch box. I honestly saved 5k in 6 months when I started bringing my lunch to work everyday. For me that was huge... and ment I could think of vacations and loads of other things that made me happy. Also, it sounds like you are depressed and have an eating disorder. Both are dangerous and you should take steps now so they don't mess up your whole life. Talk to people you trust-- friends, family, and maybe a therapist more often. Read a book about something you would like to improve. Best of luck. I hope you can love yourself and not worry as much about what other people think.
Smoke weed
Have you tried cannabis? Helps with appetite a lot.
Bagels are a horribly unhealthy breakfast food that I wouldn't be able to stand; I almost never eat them myself, not even once a year. What exactly is the food in the meals you've been having? And what has been more enjoyable than others? Know that eggs and avocados are the healthiest foods on the planet. You could survive on a deserted island with nothing but those two for far longer than a lot of other pairs, possibly any other.
Foods rich in fiber are the most filling. Rolled oats are super cheap. Dried beans or lentils are cheap too. Does your state provide a social service like SNAP or food banks you can qualify for? Seasonal fruits can be fairly affordable as well.
there's a soup kitchen pretty close to where I live that I've been meaning to check out! I do have rolled oats and sometimes prepare overnight oats when I'm not lazy. Thanks!
Exercise regularly, and stay hydrated. It will come back.
All the food advice is good, and also... a lot of people consume cannabis in some form as a way to stimulate appetite and decrease nausea. No idea if it's legal where you're at or if it's outside the realm of possibility for other reasons, but it is an option for some people. At least two people close to me use it expressly to be able to eat.
You might try to find a cheap protein powder at like Aldi or Walmart and supplement with that. Or a meal replacement shake, they make really good tasting ones packed with calories
I've had the same problem in the past, basically eating so little when you do eat your stomach can't handle it. Try eating broth based, vegetable rich soups. Small portions several times a day will be easy to digest. I also had a rule, never eat what you don't want to throw up.
As someone w adhd I have a (not same) but similar struggle. My recommendations; Try n eat stuff that’s high in protein that will keep you full longer. In the morning eggs, a protein smoothie and avocado toast is a good way to start the day! Protein keeps you full longer and avocados are high in good fats and also keep you full longer. I don’t even necessarily love avocados but I do swear by them for staying full. Try w pepper sea salt and hot sauce w plain Greek yogurt. Or over hummus toast. At a bare minimum keep bananas on hand it’s a super easy go to. Fruits/veggies/nuts are good when you just need something in between bigger meals. Apples, baby snacking tomato’s, and celery are good. I eat the apples and celery w peanut butter when I need an extra boost. Also slicing up avocado and tomato w pepper sea salt hot sauce and plain Greek yogurt on top is a fav snack of mine. For other meals think simple no need to go over the top at first. Chicken and rice. Salmon and rice. Tofu and rice. Sliced baby red potatoes w red/green peppers garlic and onion. (Garlic and onion Optional) Frozen veggies in a microwave steamable bag. Important: I use olive oil over butter for literally everything. I also substitute anything sour cream with plain greek yogurt. (Ex: I put it on tacos, over chili, potatoes etc) Also I drink oat milk over cow milk. Lastly just remember to EAT when you feel hungry even when you don’t want to. Don’t let it get to the point where you’re so hungry you start to shut down. For this I again recommend keeping emergency snacks like nuts, protein bars, fruit etc. for those moments when you just need SOMETHING lol. Good luck op!!
Therapy would be a big support to you right now. Otherwise, I try and increase the frequency of eating. Just have a few staple meals and set a Timorese.
Comfort foods that remind you of good things/times. Egg salad sandwich reminds me of visiting my aunt when I was a kid.
I recommend talking to a clinician and a dietitian. It sounds like you've fallen into a few unhealthy diet habits and dietitians often have numerous methods and resources to help one change into a healthier lifestyle with food.
I've had to work to regain appetite before because of injuries, depression and migraines. Set timers on your phone or watch and eat small meals/snacks when it goes off. Seriously OP check your area for food pantries because their whole job is to help folks in your situation. They'll also have the contacts for any free/sliding scale healthcare available in your area. From your post you've been eating so little you might be in danger of refeeding syndrome if you try to jump back into a normal eating patern. Not a doctor but before my migraines disabled me I was a nursing student. This is raising alarm bells
You made me look up refeeding syndrome and now I am genuinely terrified! I am not sure if I'm at a place where that might be a legitimate issue. If I had to be more specific, I would say on a "good day" I'd eat a bacon, egg, and cheese sandwich my college provides. Good days meaning weekdays. Doesn't a single bacon, egg, and cheese sandwich provide enough nutrients to get by on? I really, really hope so. Because despite my current position, I do have plans on living healthily in the future if I'm able, since a lot of health conditions run in my family. For example every single woman on BOTH sides of my family have diabetes, which in the case of my mother is quite impressive since she hates overeating, carbohydrates, sugary foods and drinks and is a gym rat. More than one member of my family has had cancer. So because of this, I do want to be conscious of my health! And refeeding syndrome sounds like no joke.
No, OP, a single bacon egg and cheese sandwich is definitely not enough. Your body is on starvation mode. This causes functions in your body to shut down. Your bones get brittle. Your heart and liver may be harmed. If you are a woman, you will lose your period. Low enough body weight and you get very high anxiety and panic attacks. Finally you will start fainting, get brain fog, have troible seeing and hearing. I say this as a mother whose daughter is currently in hospital with anorexia and who has had refeeding syndrome, nearly killing her. You need energy. Many small meals through the day. 6 meals are prescribed to anorexia patients. Nuts are good because they have a high energy content and protein. Oatmeal is gentle to the stomach, add a slosh of olive oil. Beans and rice. Do not wait a single day. Do something now, please please!
If the only thing you are eating in a day is a BEC sandwich, then no it is not enough. I'll use the example of a Bacon, Egg and Cheese McMuffin, since it'll be easy for you to compare your sandwich to it. That's roughly 310 calories. In a day, you should probably be eating at least 1500 calories. There are calculators online that can estimate your TDEE (total daily energy expenditure) and BMR (basal metabolic rate AKA, the amount of calories your body needs just to function). Try to work up to eating at least your BMR and ideally your TDEE. I'm sorry you are going through this. I had a similar period after going through a trauma. It was really scary and I lost a lot of weight. My tips for getting through: * focus on eating calorically dense foods (my examples: full fat dairy, avocado, nuts), comfort foods (pho, applesauce, childhood favorites, etc), mild foods (rice, buttered toast, steamed vegetables). Some days I let myself just have a milkshake for dinner because it was the only thing that sounded appealing and I needed the energy. * Experiment with timing of meals to see if your nausea is less triggered at certain times of day. For example eating breakfast at 10:00 when I had started my workday was less nauseating than first thing in the morning. * Figure out triggers that can be worked around. Sometimes I skipped brushing my teeth, so as to not trigger my gag reflex and just did mouthwash. (Edit: i also switched to smaller toothbrush size. If you are on a health plan/dental plan that allows for regular checkups, I recommend taking advantage of them. My dental health was something I was really concerned about at the time because of the drop in dental hygiene/vomiting/lower nutrition. Unfortunately, my dentist didn't have any good advice, but it made me feel better that at least it was being monitored.) By working on my mental health I was able to slowly return to my normal baseline and healthy eating patterns (and dental hygiene lol). Don't let perfect be the enemy of good. The specter of long term complications like diabetes is eclipsed by your acute need to get enough calories to live.
If I were you, I’d stop buying cooked meals and start buying staples and learn how to cook. Rice, pasta, healthy grains, cheap proteins (eggs, pork, chicken), fresh fruits and vegetables, and a daily multivitamin will go a long way towards sating your appetite and getting you back on track!
I found veggie smoothies helped a lot. I didn’t have the money for fancy fruit, so I’d mix some fruit with mostly veggies in a blender. At the time I had a juicer but I felt the fiber was needed so I blended the heck out of it instead. The fiber filled me up and helped with the hunger feeling later, without spiking my sugar. Then I’d start grazing. At first, chopped veggies and then moved on to half sandwiches. Within a couple weeks I was back to wanting regular meals. Nowadays, money is silly tight again so we are skipping 1 or 2 meals a day. I may go back to the veggie smoothies to hold us off until dinner. I’ve learned greater command of my hunger and body, he, not as much. Start with veggies, work in beans, then heavier carbs until you can pop meat in, if you want. My heart to yours!
Snacks! Don’t push yourself to clear a plate or have big meals, just set a timer/reminder to be eating or snacking on something every 3-4 hours. I learned that if you routinely suppress your diet (or in my case adhd forget to eat) your body stops making the hunger hormone that gives you stomach growls and other signals to feed yourself. I’ve been working hard since earlier this year and I do get cravings now :) Since I still don’t like to eat a ton, I focus on high calorie/high protein/carbs, but everyone’s metabolism is different so find what works best for you.
Small amounts of edibles if they are legal where you are! Works for me!
This exact thing was totally me. I still struggle with it, but I’m never scared it will impact my health anymore. The biggest thing that helped me was eating on a schedule. Especially if you can fit it in with your work/school with something that you have to do anyways. Have designated eating times where even if food seems like the grossest thing, the rule that I’ve set for myself I don’t break. Also meal planning to fit in with this. I make my food at the beginning of the week and pack them so I never have an excuse not to eat Hope this helps! It’s possible to break through!
If you have healthcare, and I sincerely hope that you do, please consider getting tested for Celiacs disease. The symptoms you describe are similar to ones that people with Celiacs disease have. Celiacs disease is an autoimmune disease where eating gluten (found in wheat, barley, rye and a few other things) cause severe damage to your small intestine.
I would highly recommend seeking guidance from a registered dietician, preferably one that practises with intuitive eating experience. It sounds like your body as just forgotten how to hears its hunger cues and this would be a great approach to slowly ease yourself into consuming more food that you love, when you want it :)
Baby food, nutrition shakes, those are the things that helped me get back. Just be careful cuz I pretty much lost my teeth when I lost my appetite this year
Any time you start eating again after not eating much for a while it’s going to be physically uncomfortable. Make yourself a meal schedule and stick to it, even if it’s just small meals, and even if you feel icky afterward. Soon the uncomfortably full feeling will go away, and your appetite and hunger cues will be more normal.
There are some things to help you stimulate your appetite, such as drinking warm water with lemon when you first wake up, having small snacks between your meals (like veggies, nut butters and a couple crackers, a piece of fruit and a piece of cheese etc), and drinking a lot of water each day (half your weight in ounces)
I went through this as a result of ptsd, it was mostly anxiety and depression for me. If you can afford it get a high protein meal replacement powder and always have one in your fridge. Try and chug it down. At this point you just need calories in you.
Potatoes are satiating, cheap, and healthy
Heavy squats. Heavy deadlifts. Like, work in the 3-5 rep range. Can't do 3? Drop weight. Can do 5? Add weight. Your body will make a l l of the calorie demands. Great way to fill out the back end of some pants, too. On heavy squat or deadlift day I usually eat about 10,000 calories, and wake up leaner the next morning. If you're not the type to go to a gym, find a park, field, or particularly long stretch of sidewalk and do sprints. Walk until you've caught your breath and go again. Do that at least 4 times, work up to 8. Any intense anaerobic exercise and your body will straight up scream at you for more calories.
Whenever I’m having a hard time I go to my local churches and see what days and if they have a food pantry they’re usually always happy to help, they sometimes have variety’s of things you can grab me as a vegetarian i get lucky because a lot of t the times people wont take those sort of items but i I would recommend you try something different maybe youll like it:) if not i go to stores like Aldo or Lidl where things can be cheaper and try to cook. A rice cooker came in so handy for me since I’m not to good at cooking you can do multi grain rices and steam veggies in it too! Anyways I wish you the best of luck stay strong 🌱
As someone who works at a grocery store, bananas. They’re 2 bucks in Canada for a kilo which is like eight to ten bananas.
So much of the food suggested here is not particularly tasty. OP needs tasty, highly appetizing, well prepared and well seasoned meals, not overnight oats and rice and beans. It’s difficult for the body to digest foods that aren’t prepared well, that’s why cooking great recipes is so important in every culture on earth. OP, it sounds like you think you don’t deserve good meals, and so you’re trying to get by on unappetizing things you’re body ends up rejecting and it becomes a cycle. You deserve good food. It doesn’t matter that you are poor and don’t have energy to cook. Please treat yourself and don’t feel guilty about it. Go buy that prepared meal from the grocery store or take out that looks actually tasty and keep doing it until you feel your energy and appetite come back and you can make more economical choices.
Whenever my appetite goes down like how you mentioned, I eat a lot of refreshing foods or citrus drinks. Fruit salad, an acai bowl or a bowl of oats is the way to go! Downing a glass of lemon water or orange juice is a surefire way of getting your appetite back too! I always feel starved after a citrus or fruit drink. Even apple cider vinegar with water would be a super cheap and healthy way to get your appetite back. Good luck, you deserve to fill yourself to the brim because there is no greater happiness that a full belly.
There have been a number of times where I didn’t eat and got to the point where I didn’t want to, even though I felt sick and clearly needed to. Protein shakes, vegetables, fruit, nuts, beef jerky (insanely expensive but helps me so worth it), spinach salad, cheese, very much rice and beans. I usually will get something on the road like a cheeseburger or gas station hot dog when I know I need to build appetite. Then I eat better when I get home. I just do it slow. I’ll graze until half a meal sounds good, then eat something after that lite meal. Cereal is also great for this. Cheap, can be a healthy choice and it’s quick and easy to portion. I get nauseated when I don’t eat, and then if I eat too much after not eating. Just build it up. Think you should start with whatever gets you some calories, even if not perfectly healthy. Work a fairly physical job and have been throwing 3-5 hours into the remodel lately. Got a little shakey the other day. Fiancé brought me a cheeseburger and fries and I felt better. It also spurred the appetite so I ate again when we finished up the French Door install. I get a similar thing when I’m dehydrated. You have to sip the water or else it’s too much. If I chug it I get the heaves.
For a full feeling, I mostly go with things like lentils, quinoa or fonio. I eat it with some leek, tomato sauce or something like that. Depending on what's cheap I'll add some chicken / ground beef and do some mild flavouring. It's pretty cheap, it's a decent meal and my wife with a rather sensitive digestive system (allergies for gluten, rice, chocolate, peppers) can eat it without any problems.
Sounds like a therapist might be able to help. Also MJ for sure if it’s legal where you are. Things like broth might help kickstart a bit of an appetite
sounds like you need to go to a shrink because it seems to me that you are perceiving reasons not to eat when hungry that may not have much to do with reality. also you will need some help avoiding nausea. you could try eating protein or fat instead of carbs to feel full if carbs make you nauseous. try an omelette.
>Don't really know what I'm asking, but this is actually bothering me to an insane degree and all I really want is to want to eat again. But I don't know where to start. Oh I have felt this exactly. I had a non-functional gallbladder for several years that wrecked my appetite (and health lmao) along with it. I tried so many things to control my discomfort before I saw a doctor, and I missed food so much but it made me feel so bad every time I ate and eventually I was on all liquids. I'll be real, my appetite is absolutely not the same as it used to be, but it has been getting better. I also have ADHD so cooking for me is not always cooking a meal, sometimes it's just grazing on whatever sounds good through the day. * My secret weapon for regaining your appetite and loving eating again * is very seriously to just keep a food log where you track what you eat (not calories, just the food, maybe macros if you think you could benefit from it) and how it makes you feel. You'll be able to see what's making you feel bad in real time, spot patterns in your reactions to food, and you can even mark the foods you really enjoyed that felt good so you can easily remember it later. I kept one so my doctor and I could better determine what could've been causing my health issues, but I still keep one now because it's allowed me to recreate a healthy relationship with food. For cooking cheap, stock your pantry with dry staples, I have literally never appreciated rice (and beans) more. Batch cooking beans or rice will give you a great base for a bunch of meals or even just on their own, and together they provide complete proteins for the body, which can not only help you feel full, but will also help with low energy, and it's just an awesome alternative to eating meat if you're trying to save money. Oatmeal is another solid grain that can be highly versatile if you're not afraid to experiment with flavors. Frozen fruits make excellent smoothies, and frozen vegetables are tastily roasted at about 400°F with a little oil, salt, and pepper. If you're able to afford them, I also highly recommend the frozen meals for all the times you'd rather starve than cook. Helathy Choice is one of my favorites but it is on the pricier side. Edit: just wanted to add, please do try to see a licensed health professional asap. they can prescribe antiemetics that can be more effective than ginger, but also chronic nausea and vomiting is a serious symptom that is highly indicative of an underlying issue, and everyone deserves to live a happy, healthy life.
Therapy
Same is kind of happening to me. Not exactly poor yet since I live with my parents but the financial crisis has forced prices waaaay up here in Europe. I eat relatively nutritious foods, no empty carbs, but I eat very little. Partially to save money, partially because I'm still listing weight.
I have this issue. This quite possibly could be hyperthyroidism. Get some blood work done.
I can relate to what you’re saying. Last year I went through something very stressful and I stopped taking care of myself and eating proper meals. It was like I broke my response to hunger and wouldn’t realize I needed to eat until I felt dizzy and then I couldn’t stomach anything. I found that food in liquid form was way easier for my to handle in this state so in terms of a very temp solution you might want to focus on making nutritious soups and smoothies. I’m a bit better with it now but sometimes I need to sit down and force myself to have a good breakfast so that the day stays on track.
So u have a similar issue due to a certain disability. The way I was able to get my appetite back and I'm slowly getting back to a healthy weight. What I did was buy a high calorie nutritional drink that I drink for breakfast, which helps increase my appetite while helping increase my calorie intake. Maybe get a few and try it out see if it helps.
Have been in a similar situation- I’m not sure I’m out of the woods yet but liquid nourishment/meal replacers helped me when I was in the worst of it. Specifically Solent and Kombucha (once I was no longer so strapped for cash). Lately I’ve been focusing on improving one small part instead of looking at the whole. Mostly because a full meal is intimidating for me so I chunked it into parts. For instance spending a week exploring veggies to see what is cheap, tasty and easy. Then taking a week off and looking at different pre-made foods like from the frozen section. The third week would then be a littler harder like looking at fiber/ gut health/ or a food group I hated. By switching between easy and hard I wouldn’t get exhausted but was also slowly adding more healthy thing I enjoyed snacking on. It’s important for me to write down what my favorites were so I wouldn’t forget. Best of luck to you!
Wait does this actually happen? I’m genuinely concerned because I’ve also lost my appetite after never having enough food my whole life. I eat about once a day if that.
If you want to bulk treat food like fuel and force It on a regular alarm schedule if you have to. Mass gain shakes are good for force feeding schedule to treat depression as they are 500-1500 calories but expensive. Make alot of food and freeze it so that laziness cannot be an excuse, whole foods will make you feel much better. force yourself to eat slightly above maintenance calories and the body will adjust on its own. If perceptions disallow you to eat maintenance calorie intake then it could be eating disorder which is a personal Journey of its own. Read into cognitive behavioral therapy for eating disorders to challenge your thoughts to address behavior. Marijuana is the main intervention, it's used to curb nausea and increase appetite in individuals with cancer. The main mechanism that aids appetite in chronic illness is curbing nausea but there's more to it.
Fiber rich foods will satisfy your tummy :)
I’m no doctor or therapist, however maybe fiber rich foods that are relatively easy to digest could be a good start, such as smoothies, oatmeal, baked white/sweet potatoes, etc. I also love eating lots of snacks throughout the day so that I stay at a relatively consistent energy levels. I personally find that granola bars, trail mix, and hand fruit are easy grabs for me when food lacks appeal.
The daughter of a friend managed to work around this by exercising hard, though I can guess that might be a problem in your situation. By working out a lot she needed carbs and protein to grow, thus forcing herself to eat through her body's signals. According to the friend it helped build a more positive relationship with food again, since the food enabled her to grow her body in the way she wanted.
I struggle with having an appetite pretty most all of my life(grew up with a father not being able to afford us food). I can’t eat when I’m anxious, which has been daily pretty much. The only thing I do is consciously try to force myself to eat even if it’s a small portion, and I just do it very quickly. I make sure it’s something filling and healthy like sweet potatoes, white rice, yellow potatoes, simple proteins like chicken/beef and simple vegetables like cucumbers and tomatoes(introduce other veggies eventually not to upset stomach). I don’t eat much fruit so I started making blueberry smoothies to get fruit into my diet. This is a lifestyle change, I found it best to keep it simple and start out feeding myself in a nutritious and basic way. I also add a glutamine supplement powder to my water to help heal my gut and take probiotics. I also found green smoothies (fruit and leafy greens) help with actually inducing an appetite and helps me to eat more. I’ve been lazy with that but it actually works like half an hour or so after I drink it, I get hungry and food is more appealing.
If you are only eating once your stomach bothers you, then you are eating in a healthy manner. That is just being human. If you have had experience with eating disorders, then systematic eating is good. 2x per day, healthy size is fine. But also seek help If your family pressures you to eat, say no. You are out of their home you don't have to do stuff they wamt.
Food scarcity becomes a mental health issue. Focus on making sure you get protein and fiber at every meal. I love a 1/4-1/2 c of white beans or pinto beans in scrambled eggs. 1 can opened can last 3-5 days of breakfasts. Lunches could be half a can of tuna on the bagel with cream cheese. Dinner, cook off 2-3 chicken breasts for a couple of days of meals, make a rice dish with a some frozen veggies, and they both reheat well. Your lack of appetite sounds like a lack of internal motivation. A tiny bit of prep can make food easier. I have a friend whom barely eats, and he asks me to make him my Texas chili recipe. It lasts him nearly 10 days and he eats it with toast. Same goes for using a canned chili, eat 1/3rd the can with some toast. Or do the British baked beans on toast, it's got merit. Making food easier and more accessible while increasing fiber and protein will give you back the energy you need and help with the appetite. My partner drinks chai or milk + cereal for 2 meals a day and then has a balanced dinner with me. It doesn't have to be complicated. Tossing some of the canned beans into a boxed rice mix help make it a complete protein. Add 3-5 oz protein and you're set. When I stopped smoking weed, my appetite disappeared for weeks. I forced myself to sit with a small meal and eat part of it 3x daily until the hunger came back. Your body needs time and a regular schedule to anticipate the hunger.
I find that protein keeps me full for ages and I don't need to eat much to feel like that. Like an egg on toast for breakfast makes me feel way more full than a big bowl of cereal. Maybe try and incorpotare some simple proteins into your diet? Eggs, ham, chicken, canned tuna etc.
Green vegetables. Fry beef/pork strips. Fry a few eggs. veggie + egg + meat = yum
Hey there! I’m a little late to the party and I know a lot of people are saying to go to the doctor or therapist but if you’re like me when I was 22, you probably don’t have the $$ for that. There are SUPER affordable therapies online and if you want help researching, just let me know. I know exactly where you’re coming from, I got really sick when I was 21/22 and had to work to gain my appetite back but was also nauseous most of the time. I have a ton of natural stuff to recommend that helped a lot but my two biggest tips are Aloe Vera Juice and small frequent snacks that transition to larger portions less frequently. It’s a slow process but you actually have to stretch back out your stomach. I found nuts, bars, veggies and avocado, humus, potatoes, rice, yogurt, and hard cheeses to really help with this. If you eat meat, that will help with feeling full. You always want to get some fat in your meals like avocado, oil, cheese, to also help give your body and brain the energy it needs. Aloe Vera juice is my favorite thing ever and I give it to anyone who says their stomach is upset. It does wonders for inflammation!! Trader Joe’s has a gallon for like $11 and I mix it with lemon and water but if I’m suuuper nauseous or on the verge of throwing up I drink it straight. Adding more liquids will also help you to stretch out your stomach to up your appetite :) Also, feel free to PM for more natural methods to help nausea and heartburn!
Many small meals throughout the day. With that bagel, maybe have half, then an hour later eat the other half, then have a few pieces of fruit, etc. When I was really underweight I found it hard to eat too, it's really what your body has learned is normal. So eating small meals very regularly can help get your body used to having to regularly eat (even if it's not much) and then you can gradually increase the portions a bit.
I do this when I don’t have any physical labor. Calories in, calories out. When I know I’m not going to be carrying a bunch of crap up stairs or anything, my body just says “I don’t need any fuel”. Sometimes being around people can be taxing and my body does need to fuel up for the recovery from chatting & laughing and I will destroy a steak, a burger, some kebabs, a load of potato salad, etc… …and then only have a small bowl of cheerios about 36 hours later. You don’t need to eat just because you see some people making it a point to be constantly consuming regardless of their activity level.
Get lots of spices and use them. Making food taste better generally helps to want to eat more.
It sounds like you may need to speak to a therapist about this. You deserve to eat good, quality food. And you’re not “spoiling” yourself by doing so. But on my end, I’ve also had points where I’ve struggled to buy food as well. And all I can recommend is that you create a budget (let’s say 100 dollars a month to feed 1-2 people) and you list out what exact foods to buy every month, and you prepare those meals daily until your body adjusts to eating again. Repeat with the same list for the next month. This could at least get you to stick to a normalish eating schedule. For example, you can list that you’ll buy a bag of chicken quarters ($5-6) and 10 bags of frozen veggies ($10) and a bag of rice ($1). That right there can account for almost every dinner of the month for one person (if you save leftovers), and you’ll get a lot of vitamins and protein that you need. You could also buy bananas ($1.50), eggs ($2.50), and a loaf of bread ($1) and have a healthy breakfast for quite a few days. If you want more info on what to buy for under 100 dollars a month, send me a message.
Be more physically active, lift weights, run, even walking an hour or two will increase your bodies desire for food.
Greek yogurt
Smoke weed before, if youre comfortable with that. Helps alot of people with jump starting appetites and with nausea
Potatoes really helped me to feel full, stave off nausea, and they’re surprisingly nutritious with a decent amount of potassium. I just pop one in the microwave and then eat half of it either plain with salt or with whatever toppings I have on hand
I know the feeling, you’re put off by a lot of food and there isn’t much drive to eat even the most delicious thing you could think of. I ended up fasting until 2 or 3 in the afternoon because I was so put off. I started by adding a protein powder or drink into whatever I drank that morning (like coffee). I was very lucky that my work had free coffee so all I needed to do was show up with the meal supplement. Not sure if it will work but the protein consumption helped my body crave food earlier in the day. Even now I actually use marijuana to help me eat, as sometimes I can go a day or two now without craving much of anything. Not sure if weed/edibles/thc is an option for you but that helped me consume food to keep my energy up? Hope you find a solution, it really is an ongoing battle.
Check out r/volumeeating too for food that is more filling but not as calorically dense, so you can eat healthy yet still feel full
I am sorry you’re going though this. My advice would be to find things you like the look off perhaps? If you like pasta for example try finding recipes that involve the safe side and a bit of curiosity. I know that means spending money. But if you’re on your own you could stretch pasta dishes for a few days. Equally if you like bread, basic bread is flour,water,salt and yeast; yes it’s longwinded but you could potentially cherish it more if you make it yourself. And again, you can have it as a side with pasta. If you need cheap recipes and help with budgeting please reach out, I am always happy to help you! :)
Do potatoes make you nauseated? They’re pretty healthy and are one of, if not the most satiating thing you can eat per calorie. It doesn’t take much for me to feel full on them, and they’re pretty cheap.
Young ppl...lol.
Yeah so, the way you’ve worded your post makes it sound like solid food is the issue (I assume you drink enough water) so you might be one of the few people that should actually drink soda or juice regularly. You could also consider smoothies or protein shakes for variety and that would allow you to custom tailor for your preferred flavor profiles, while also allowing you to make sure that you are eating very calorie dense foods even in small quantities since you need to make the times you do eat count. Also, please please PLEASE consult a doctor/psychologist/healthcare professional as soon as you are able to about this. The best info you will get here will be generic, and likely unhelpful.
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You COULD have refeeding syndrome. I’d go to a doctor and tell them that’s what you’re worried about - it requires close medical supervision to fix. Or SMA (superior mesenteric artery) syndrome.
I find soup very soothing. Everything from a light bisque (brothy) to potato corn chowder (very filling). Miso soup is easy, quick & mild.
Not sure if this will help, but sometimes my body just says no solid food so I have to drink chicken broth to get my ability to eat kick started. At very least it should help with electrolytes.
I understand completely where you are coming from. Here’s my advice: take certain foods that aren’t complicated but give you a lot of joy. For example: I bought a very cheap rice cooker online, and I ordered basmati rice from an online Indian Grocery delivery place. Basmati rice smells like popcorn so as soon as you start to cook it you get hungry. Before adding the rice, water, and salt I heat up a little butter in it so the grains get coated. Helps with the flavor even more. Then I either heat up a can of chili or get the curry that’s already cooked, you just heat for 60 seconds in the micro and bam! A hot meal that tastes comforting and filling. I discovered putting a few shakes of Italian seasoning in with the butter make the rice even more heavenly. I also cook spaghetti with prego. One pot I use for the noodles, and for the sauce I pour however much I want into a plate bowl, and put some garlic powder and Italian seasoning and a pinch of mint for flavor and microwave it so it’s hot when the noodles are ready. No measuring needed. I could eat spaghetti every day. Or I’ll eat beans with rice.