My appetite is screwed up?

[Anonymous]

I'm so frustrated with my appetite. I'm really never that hungry, especially for "real" food. I'll eat a few bites and then feel full. I have to force myself to continue eating every day and it's horrible. I need to eat more food that's good and I'm trying, but it's horrible. I feel nauseous and full after a few bites. There are days where I can eat like a normal person and I eat all my dinner and it's great.
I'm 5'8, 127lbs, and I run track and ride horses, so I work out at least once, if not twice a day. I also do at home ab workouts as well. So I should be hungry, right? At restaurants, I still order the kids meal and rarely finish it.
I have intense cravings for sugar. I mean, I'll eat a few bites of dinner and feel full, and then 5 or 10 minutes later I'll eat some ice cream and not feel full at all. And then I'll eat pretzels and goldfish and not feel full. It makes no sense. I'm not eating a ton of those food items, but about as much as how much dinner I've eaten, if not more. I constantly want sugar. I'll feel sick thinking about real food, but fine thinking about sugar. So instead of just not eating the sugar or empty carbs, I'll just eat it because I figure it's better than not eating anything, since I'm trying to increase my calorie intake. I used to eat around 500-700 calories a day, while working out, although not nearly as hard as I work out now. I still don't eat nearly enough. I am trying so hard to eat more real food, but I just crave sugar and empty carbs. That's all I want to eat. It's not all I eat, but it's all I want to.
I'm thinking of trying to decrease my sugar intake and instead, subsitiuting for a healthier snack like apples or carrots. But when I do that, I cut them up and only eat a few before I feel full. What the hell do I do? It's exhausting, worrying about eating constantly and forcing myself to eat.

[thelowanthem]

The reason you feel sick thinking about real food is because real food actually fills your stomach and sets of the satiety sensors that sends signals to your brain that you are full which makes you feel that sense of fullness. Empty carbs, bad fats, bad sugars, and processed foods don't fill you in that way, so they leave you feeling like you should have more and could have more than you need. Also, the more sugary things you eat the more you crave them. So you are right that need to try to get yourself off of those foods and on to real foods.

If you're getting really worried or starting to lose a lot of weight I'd see a dietician for more help.

[thelowanthem]

An idea for you to try is banana 'ice cream' - basically you peel and freeze bananas. Then once completely frozen you can throw them in a blender with whatever other fruit you want, a splash of milk if you need it to help blend, and anything else like nut butters or cocoa powder. It takes on the consistency of soft serve ice cream. Then you can even add other toppings like cinnamon, granola, more nut butter or dark chocolate chips if you feel decadent. It feels like you're eating something sugary and bad but it's actually full of real, wholesome, good foods! :)

[Asker]

I actually have never eaten a banana before, but I think I'm going to try them because they're quick and easy to eat. If I like them I'll definitely try that!! That sounds pretty delicious.
Very true. I'm going to try to eat less sugar. I just have to eat healthy things when I feel like snacking. (: Thanks for your help!!

[nert73]

Tell your parents and talk to a doctor about it. I have the same problems but I know most of what's causing it.

Would you mind answering these questions? Hopefully your answers can help me help you.
Are you on BC pills or any other hormone? How old are you? Have you started your period (if yes then I have a couple more questions)? Have you taken any medicine to try to help with these symptoms?

Also, try this: www.mayoclinic.org/.../itt-20009075

[Asker]

I'm taking acne medication and I have been for a while. I'm 16. I have started my period. No, I haven't started any medicine, I've always had a small appetite and I just thought as I grew older maybe I'd eat more.

[Asker]

I've talked to my mom about it. She thinks it might be a yeast infection, because I eat a lot of bread products and I'm on antibiotics.

[nert73]

That may be... are you having any pain or is it is it your appetite?

[Asker]

After eating my stomach will hurt a little, but that's the only pain I feel. And I get a lot of random pains throughout my body but I thought that was just normal

[nert73]

So no pain concentrating in the pelvic or lower abdomen areas? That's at least one good sign.

[Asker]

It feels uncomfortable in my stomach and below my stomach most of the time, but it's not necessarily painful.

[nert73]

Okay... did you try the link? I don't want to interrogate you too much because a doctor would just ask the same quetsions but I've had similar problems so I'd like to see if I can help.

[Veeeronicac]

I feel the exact same way! I’ve been dealing with this issue since the summer. I rarely ever feel hungry, maybe if I go for a very long time without eating I’ll feel it slightly but for the most part food disinterests me but before the summer after an array of digestive issues I always felt hungry. I have nothing medically wrong it’s just like my body got all screwed up. I can still eat, but it’s hard... how do you handle this “condition” because it’s driving me NUTS

[vickiezalez]

Instead of diet pills try to figure the cause of what is making your weight stall. Hypothyroidism, stress, PCOS, insulin resistance among other hormonal imbalances are possibilities for retention in weight or difficulty losing.

[vickiezalez]

whoops, wrong question. Regarding your problem... do you have any other symptoms? insomnia, headaches etc?

[Asker]

Haha thats ok.
I do feel dizzy a lot after I stand up. I've been having more frequent headaches, and I've been getting sick (colds, allergies etc.) a lot more often this year.

[vickiezalez]

im not a doctor but Sounds like you may have an iron deficiency which can lead to anemia. You're immune system is weak and its possibly because its not getting all the nutrients it needs. While @thelowanthem has stated some true facts, it sounds like you're not eating as much healthy food as you should be. So not only is your body easily processing the sweets but its a cry for energy. Calories= energy, right? Since you are easily satisfied I would concentrate on eating healthy fulfilling things such as peanut butter, nuts, sauteed vegetables, fatty cuts of protein. Why am I telling you to eat fat? Because your body needs the energy AND it needs to feed your brain so to speak. Our brain IS fat and it needs fat to function properly. Now don't go overboard: small quantities of fat paired w/vegetables and complex carbs like potatoes and rice which will help you with energy. I don't usually tell people to eat high glycemic fruits but since you need energy and address deficiencies, go for em!

[Asker]

I was tested for anemia a few months ago, and I don't have a significant iron deficiency. And thank you for the food suggestions! I'll try to start eating those instead of snack foods (:

[vickiezalez]

You're welcome :)