Am I eating enough?

[Hamly]

Well, ever since school started two weeks ago, I haven't really been eating much, for breakfast I usually force myself to eat at least a little bit, at lunch I barely can finish what I take, which is only the main dish, and a salad, sometimes the small side dish. After school I'll maybe eat a little bit, and for dinner won't eat a lot either.

For the first week I felt nearly sick in the mornings at the thought of eating, I thought it was just stress or something, with having just started school for the first time, but I'm not worried or stressed or anything anymore, so I don't know.

I'm about 190lbs(maybe less now that I've been walking a lot more in the last three months) and 5'10'' tall. I used to eat a lot more usually, but since school started I'm pretty much barely eating more than a meal or meal and a halfs worth in a day, is that too little for someone my size? I'd think I would be eating at least around the same amount as I used to, with all the more physical activity I've been doing as of late. Just wondering if I'm under eating or not.

[denacioust]

It's kinda hard to know. Eating 'a little bit' or 'not eating a lot' are relative. I can say I don't eat a lot, but I eat like a horse. A little bit more info would be appreciated.

[Hamly]

Okay, I used to usually eat say, three eggs and toast for breakfast, and for lunch around that much, like a large sandwich or something, and dinner around the same size of food as I would for breakfast and lunch.

For the last two weeks, in the morning I can barely stand to eat say a piece of fruit like an apple or banana, for lunch the portions aren't huge or anything, but I take around the bare minimum lunch, and will often not even finish it, and for dinner I've been eating around the same amount as I do for lunch. And in between meals I rarely eat much in terms of snacks or anything.

[ba,ba,black,sheep]

Thats not good you need to eat more.

[W@TZ D@T?]

Guys, try to give better advice than just one-liners. Ok first off I am one of those health nuts. Not so much as eating super healthy foods, but I know how to minipulate my body to the weight and musclemass I want. I have been able to gain weight (20 pounds in muscle mass this last summer) as well as cut fat (30 pounds worth two summers ago). I am currently at 180 with minimal body fat for that weight and at 5'10". That being said, trust me in me saying that if you are trying to maintain your weight you will probably need to eat a little more since you havn't been eating as much and have been exercising more than usual. Counting calories is a huge annoyance but can be very helpful to know how much you should eat compared to what you are eating now.

But if you find yourself wanting to lose fat, take advantage of this great opportunity to do so. Losing weight is catabolic meaning that your body will break apart carbs and fat (also some proteins) to get the energy it needs. Thus eating less will cause your body to go into its reserves to get more. You are currently doing this so it would be a good time to start.

If however you need to gain weight for a sport or something you will want to eat more than usual, and train (doing this correctly is a completely seperate topic) specifically with weights in order to gain muscle mass. Whatever your desires I wish you the best of luck. If you need any help feel free to ask or pm me.

[Hamly]

Alright, thanks W@TZ that was helpful.

I was just wondering if it seemed unhealthy. I do need to lose some weight, as I am, or at least was when I got a check up a few months ago, overweight a bit, and probably gain some muscle(at least would want to) don't need to for a sport, as I don't play any right now.

I'm not really upset with eating so much less, and I figure it will help with losing weight, just don't want to be eating so little that it's bad for me. I guess I'll just go with eating however much I feel I need to, and it will probably get better with time, as I get more used to my schedule and what not.

[cadaver999]

Sounds like your nervous about something, Try to eat a little more, if you find yourself that you cant try to find out what your nervous about, girls, tests, (ETC)

[W@TZ D@T?]

Yeah just eat as much as you feel you need to. Don't worry about accidentally starving yourself or anything because your body will tell you when it needs food. At the moment I am cutting weight so I am not eating as much either. If you are intent on losing weight then you will feel hungry sometimes. That is good because it means you are burning reserve energy. So don't panic. Also eat something every meal and dont skip meals as this causes imbalances in your blood sugar and can lower your metabolism. Stress can cause your body to feel less/more hungry so try to relax and take some time to yourself if you need it.

Oh and on another note, if you want to gain muscle mass, and have never really used a gym or extensive weight lifting program, you may want to start lifting weights while maintaining your intake of food. If you already have done that in the not too distant past, then cardio is all you need to lose fat. I suggest long distance running (just start out slow and build up), jumprope, or anything that causes your heart to beat steadily and faster than usual.

Gaining muscle mass and losing fat are done in cycles, even by the best bodybuilders. This is due to the fact that they are opposite processes. Muscle building requires increased caloric intake and weightlifting and also results in some fat gain, while cutting fat requires increasing your metabolism and a decrease in caloric intake. So choose one and stick to it for a couple of months then switch to the other.

P.S. A helpful tip for either gaining or losing weight is to eat a gram of protein for each pound of your desired weight. So if you want to weigh 180 pounds, eat 180 grams of protein a day as part of your lowered caloric intake to burn fat.

Hope this helps

[Hamly]

Sounds like your nervous about something, Try to eat a little more, if you find yourself that you cant try to find out what your nervous about, girls, tests, (ETC)

Well, I thought that at first, but I haven't at least knowingly been nervous about anything since the first couple of days, I mean, I still kind of worry about doing good on tests, but not very much, I've just figured if I do good, I do good, if I don't I don't.

As for girls or friends..etc I already have girls whom I talk to, and random girls I don't even know greeting me, and have friends I talk to at school now, so don't think it's that.


Yeah, W@TZ, that's kind of what I thought it might be, but not an expert on it or anything, just wanted some advice on if I may be eating too little.

As for building muscle, I can't do much in terms of weightlifting or anything of that manner at the moment. Right now I'm just focusing on not gaining more weight, as chances are I'm still growing taller, so if I continue to walk a fair amount like I'm doing, and not over eating, I should be at a good weight in not too long.

Once I've gotten everything sorted out I may look into getting some weights, and maybe find out how I can use the weight room at school as well and work on some muscle building, but probably not for a few months at least.

Thanks for the help guys.

[Catalysm]

I don't think this is a problem, unless you puke at the sight of food, you're fine.

[Frigz]

Yeah the regular straight male rarely gets anorexia. So you got nothing to worry about unless you feel hungry and you're just not eating.

[Hamly]

I like how you say straight male, as if a homosexual is more likely to be anorexic. And that isn't what I'm worried about, I was just wondering if the low intake of food that I've been having is not healthy for me, as there are many other things that can cause loss of hunger, such as stress or other things.

[poguemahon]

Personal experience, do with it what you will:

I've gone through periods of time where I ate to excess, and didn't eat much at all. I can say this with confidence because for a time, I was 250lbs, around 6'3" (height given for scale), and a few months after, I was 220, and sickly looking due to a lack of muscle (I was fat with little muscle). When I got down to 220, I was eating maybe a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, and then dinner, and was shaking all day because I didn't have enough food in my body to be able to function properly. When I was 250, I ate breakfast at home, and at school (they had a free breakfast program), so I wasn't hungry an hour before lunch. I cut back on breakfast a bit, and lost weight to 230, without any ill effects.

So, I ask you: Do you have a slightly fat belly? Do you look like a holocaust victim because you don't eat enough? Are you shaky? If you answer yes to the first question, cut back a bit. If you answered yes to either the second or third questions, you might need to eat a bit more. As far as that whole nausea thing goes, eat in spite of it. If you don't puke, you're fine. If you do, go to the doctor.

[RaptorofDoom]

Well it's possible that you may have a health condition. Or you like to fast? Not sure. Keep in mind that your growing older and your metabolism is getting better. A growing body needs to be well nourished. Make sure to eat enough even when a little seems too much. Always have a large breakfast, good lunch, and a good amount for dinner. Stay healthy! and have fun!

[Doug05257]

I like how you say straight male, as if a homosexual is more likely to be anorexic. And that isn't what I'm worried about, I was just wondering if the low intake of food that I've been having is not healthy for me, as there are many other things that can cause loss of hunger, such as stress or other things.

Yeah, there are plenty of things, ranging all the way from head injuries to disease to stress and even the presence of liberals can cause loss of appetite. (You did hear also that liberals created baby-eating vampire jukeboxes too, right?) Anyway, try deviating from the standard eating-three-times-a-day thing. Snack throughout the day instead. Also, don't rush it; take some time and relax when you eat.

Also do remember that while a low-calorie diet is great for burning fat, you do need to consume enough calories that your body isn't going to go into starvation mode, or else you're just going to be shooting yourself in the foot.