Not eating properly, how do I get back to normal habits?

[mzisraeli]

Lately for the past 4 months I've been skipping meals. I have no breakfast, no lunch and no dinner. I don't even feel hungry at all, I can go for a day without food if I want, If I'm lucky I only eat up to 500 calories a day. I just don't feel like eating, when I see food or even smell it just makes me feel sick and I just don't want to eat. My weight, it drops and then it goes back up again constantly. As for excercise I used to do around 600 step ups and just run up and down long stairs 80 times. Now I can barely do neither, and if I do its so much less than what I used to do. What's happening and how exactly do I get back to my normal eating habits and normal routine? This is starting to affect me :S

[nermalinda]

You kind of have to force yourself to eat to a certain extent. Go for really nutrient dense foods like beef and shrimp, that way, at least whatever you DO eat will give you nutrients.

Remember your favorite foods from past times in your life and make sure to get them and have them around.

Make things TASTE good. Put butter and jam on a piece of toast for example, salt foods, add seasonings and see if that helps. Sometimes bland foods might be easier to eat like oatmeal with milk.

It will take a while to get back to normal, and you may feel sleepy after meals, but it's OK, just keep eating and you'll feel better.

When in doubt, just eat. Not sure if you should eat? eat. Not sure what to eat? eat anything. bored? eat. tired? eat.

A good thing is to have a schedule where you present a good meal at regular times. Presenting is when you make the meal and put it out and kind of sit in front of it. You don't HAVE to eat all of it, just make it available and have a few bites to let your body know it's there. Over time, your appetite will come back.

Try presenting several times a day with 3 meals and 2 snacks. Use foods you enjoy.

you kind of have to pretend it's like a little kid who won't eat. You kind of have to try to make them eat because they need to, but it takes some routine, then they get used to it.

Random examples of meals:

Breakfast: cereal with milk

egg with toast

fruit with yogurt

snack: one of the above

lunch: turkey sandwich

soup with meat and veggies

snack: a smoothie

peanut butter and crackers

cheese and crackers

dinner:

Chinese food

pizza

meat with starch and veggie

[Darkfairie17]

Your body is basically going into starvation mode. You have no energy because your body is shutting down everything to keep your main functions alive. You need to start eating more, but don't just start gorging on food. Slowly start eating more. Let your stomach stretch out.

Eat simple foods like oatmeal, bananas and applesauce. These will digest well and shouldn't upset your stomach as much. Gradually work more food into your diet, make sure it's healthy.

Get into a routine where you have time to eat food. Plan ahead by packing small snacks for when you are on the go.

Have a game plan if you need to go out. Know what places sell convenient healthy food. I like to hit up the grocery stores for parfaits, salads and sandwiches. These are usually much healthier than a fast food place because the grocery store makes them and they are usually made that day with produce they bring in.

Go to bed at a good time, set a schedule for yourself. If you are bored do something to keep your mind of being bored. Read a book, make a craft, call a friend.

[jmr2191]

You need to start by regulating your sleep cycle. Then, you need to eat small meals- even if it's just an apple. Gradually build up your intake until you are back to normal levels and get between seven and nine hours of sleep each night.

[candlewax]

Are you depressed? Have you had something happen recently that could be affecting you? Been stressing about something recently?