Eating when you're not hungry

Some of you may recall my posts from a few weeks ago where I whine about how stressful my life is.  Unfortunately, it's still insanely stressful, and will continue to be for at least another month (but most likely longer).  The stress is causing me to not sleep well, often feel sick to my stomach, and my insanely long work days are causing me to miss the gym (I used to go 6 days a week, now I'm lucky if I get there twice a month).

The good thing?  Well, I'm managing to maintain my weight... I've been staying in the 124-128 weight range with relative ease.

The bad thing?  Many days, like today, I am not hungry.  I am sick to my stomach.  Eating is a chore that I would like to skip.

I am one of those folks who still have my hunger after surgery.  So, it's very weird for me to not be hungry and not wanting to eat.  For those of you who lost your hunger, how do you motivate yourself to eat, when you're not hungry?  I find myself want to eat just a bite, or wanting to skip the meal and just have a skim latte...

Thanks!

Oh, how I wish I responded to stress like this!  Instead, a gnawing hole opens up somewhere near my solar plexus and demands to be fed until I can't feel it anymore.

On those few occasions where I have lost my appetite (a breakup - so that tells you how long ago we're talking), my OA sponsor told me it was as important to my recovery to eat when I was supposed to as to not eat when it wasn't appropriate.  I don't know if that's necessarily true, but I pushed through my 3 meals to say I'd done it.  Definitely a chore.

I am sorry you're having so much stress!  I have a love-hate relationship with work - it is the only source of stress in my life right now, but just when I think I'm going to implode, something good happens and I get all energized.  I'll send you good thoughts!!

Can you sip on a protein shake? It has more value than the latte and there are few decent ready to drink varieties out there if mixing one up is too stressful.

I never lost my hunger but there are days that I'm too busy or my stomach is just meh and those are the days that I have shakes on hand. and now that it is summer, I live on iced protein coffees ****d coffee with protein shake added). :)

Hang in there!

I also wish I responded to stress like this, lol. Like Happy, I also have a love/hate relationship with my work. Some days (I'm still a total newb) I do feel it would be easier if I just didn't have to eat. Some things I do: make sure I plan my meals, make sure my meals actually taste good, and make sure I'm getting the most protein for my calorie buck. When I find something savory and yummy with low calories and carbs and high protein, I tend to make that for a lot of meals.

It is a drag to have to work to get calories in.   I have found little strategies that work pretty well.  For example, I start the day with a Full scoop of Isopure protein powder in my coffee and eat an atkins bar at the same time i drink my coffee.  I know,  I know, it's breaking the rules by 'eating and drinking' at the same time, but it starts my day with 250 calories and 30g of protein by 7:00am.   I eat on a schedule and I finish the day with protein coffee as well. 

Thanks for the advice! I hate to complain about my situation, because I know that I am very lucky that I'm not all bingy and hungry like I used to be when stressed.  However, I feel cruddy in general, and don't want to get malnurished or anything...

I think I'll make an effort to eat something at mealtimes, and start making protein shakes for the meals that I'm having the hardest time with (breakfast, lunch).

I totally lost my hunger and it never came back.  It is a chore but I always start out with a protein shake every morning and eat on a 3 hour schedule..period...no ifs ands or buts. 

Laura

When things get really busy and stressful at work, I have a difficult time remembering to eat because I don't get hungry anymore. After many times of going 10-12 hours without eating (and usually not drinking enough as well), I went and bought myself a tiny digital clock with a timer. I set it to go off every four hours or so and I force myself to stop and eat a little bit before returning to work. Do I always eat as much as I should? No. But at least I'm ingesting enough not to go into starvation mode. I also keep beef jerky and almonds in my desk drawer in case I walk out of the house without my lunch box (this happens more than I'd like to admit ).