Loss of appetite

[FreestylePup]

So, I have just not been hungry lately. (I count my calories). Here has been my calorie intake this past 3 days.
3 days ago:560 calories
2 days ago:600 calories
1 day ago: 575 calories
today:500 calories

I am not starving myself I just have not been hungry. I know I am not eating enough so should I make myself eat? Or just be okay with my intake. A month ago this happened to me too. I did not eat enough for like 2 weeks just because I was not hungry. Suggestions?

[dormouse]

What have you been eating? When do you eat during the day?

Do you feel sick otherwise?

[FreestylePup]

I have been eating fruit, chips, sandwhiches, stuff like that. I have been eating normal meals through the day, just small ones cause I am not that hungry. (Breakfast, lunch, and dinner). No I don't feel sick I feel fine.

[amaroque]

Give it a few more days. I've always felt that when the body wants food it will tell you through hunger. When it doesn't want it, for whatever reason, you won't have hunger. If after a few more days things don't change, get yourself checked out just to rule out any potential problems.

[AussieShane]

So, I have just not been hungry lately. (I count my calories). Here has been my calorie intake this past 3 days.
3 days ago:560 calories
2 days ago:600 calories
1 day ago: 575 calories
today:500 calories

I am not starving myself I just have not been hungry. I know I am not eating enough so should I make myself eat? Or just be okay with my intake. A month ago this happened to me too. I did not eat enough for like 2 weeks just because I was not hungry. Suggestions?

1. Are you sure they are that low? (the calories that is)

2. Are you on any medication or OTC substances? Even caffeine can suppress hunger

[daal]

Funny you mention this: I've been the exact same way for the past two weeks or so. I'm used to having a very strange appetite (sometimes never hungry until dinner, other times ravenous all day), but recently my appetite has been terribly sparse, and if I don't 'take advantage' of my hunger I lose all appetite completely. And when I do eat, I can only eat a little before I feel satiated (if it wasn't for coconut oil, I think my daily caloric intake would be pretty similar to yours). It was getting to the point where I was starting to feel like I would never experience true hunger again.

I attribute it somewhat to the changing of seasons: I never have an appetite when I'm cold. Not to mention, I think it might have something to do with the body shifting its program into 'survival mode'--it just needs some time to adjust. Also, according to the Ayurveda medical system, Autumn and early Winter is "Vata" season--which means irregularity, dryness, and weak and irregular digestion (and appetite).

Luckily, today has been the first day in about two weeks where my appetite and digestion have both been strong. Some things that I've found helpful:

- Staying warm all day
- Sipping hot water throughout the day
- Starting the day with a 5-8oz glass of warm water spiked with juice of about half a lemon
- Drinking ginger tea with some lemon and a pinch of sea salt or chewing a piece of ginger marinated in the same about 15-30 minutes before a meal.
- Making a point to eat breakfast--even if it's a tiny amount. What I've found most agreeable is stewed/baked apple or pear, or warm fresh applesauce. Most of the time, I can only eat half of an apple or pear, but what's I've found is that it starts up the digestive fire and makes one hungrier for lunch when the time comes. If you feel absolutely no appetite, better to take some ginger tea until lunch.
- Choosing warm, moist foods that are salty, sweet, or sour in taste (a little pungency [like chili pepper or garlic] is good too). Soups and other one-pot meals are very agreeable.
- After a meal, taking a tea of crushed cumin, coriander, and fennel (about 1/3 tsp each) aids in digestion.
- Another thing is staying regular: keeping the bowels empty is necessary to keep the entire digestive track in working order.
- Keeping a food/appetite log. Log everything you ate and how hungry you were before you ate it, and how you felt afterwards.

Other than that, hang in there: you're appetite should come back when you're body is ready. It might just need a little easing into it. Hopefully these suggestions prove helpful in the process!

[Coriander]

It's funny that I read this. Other than the obvious PMS cravings, I haven't had an appetite really for a couple of months now. I think as long as you're getting good solid healthy calories in, then a few days of lower calorie intake won't hurt.