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Why can't I eat as much as I used to?

73 Answers
Last Updated: 11/27/2021 at 10:16am
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Top Rated Answers
benevolentRainbows6517
August 3rd, 2019 4:30pm
The cause varies: probably you were younger, healthier and your system demanded more food; or you are now wiser and decides to control your eating habit or you are ill and do not have regular taste for food like before - stomach discomfort, serious tooth ache et cetera. Other things that may cause you lack of appetite are; depressive tendencies, worries, relationships, employment or business interests - investment (business) failure and financial set back. Environment Changes, reduction in income, poor salary, lack of good food, loneliness, insufficient fund. Some people are unable eat as much as they used to when traveling and while the travel lasts. Lastly, one may eat less than usual due to faith, spiritual or religios obligation. I believe an item in this list may be the cause!
Anonymous
August 16th, 2019 5:41pm
it can depend on lots of things. if you're used to underrating, like due to certain kinds of eating disorders, then your stomach isn't used to processing a higher volume of foods. if you're anxious, that can sometimes cause a decreased appetite and make you not want to eat. if you're depressed, sad, or grieving, that can also cause a decreased appetite. if you're losing a lot of weight because you can't eat as much as you're used to, some things that can help are drinking your calories, like through smoothies or juices, as well as gently encouraging yourself to eat more (pushing yourself a bit, but not to the point where you're super uncomfortable). good luck!
Anonymous
June 28th, 2018 3:06am
Eating habits change over time for a variety of reasons. Someone that used to eat barely anything could suddenly be hungry all the time.
Anonymous
June 10th, 2018 2:31am
There are many reasons for this. It would require knowing your personal situation; however, I will give some possible answers and hopefully one will help. If you are suffering from depression or another mental illness, one symptoms is loss of appetite. If you are not hungry, you may not eat as much. Being anxious can also make it difficult to eat. If you stopped eating/were restricting, your body may not be able to handle large amounts of food right away. Start slowly but still eat healthily.
Anonymous
June 1st, 2019 7:45pm
I completely understand how you feel and I understand this can be really frustrating. Maybe you can't eat as much as you used to because there is something bothering you at the moment. Some people when they feel sad, they try to avoid people and stay to their bedroom doing nothing, which means that they do not eat properly. Then, they get used to it and they don't want to eat as much as they used to in the past. A good idea is every day to increase the amount of food you are eating. Moreover, make sure to eat breakfast, lunch, dinner, and lunch.
enchantingTree95
September 21st, 2018 5:15am
Well, as you get older, your metabolism slows down, therefore you don't require as much calories as you did as a teenager! This happens due to the fact the you stop growing and around the age of 35 you start losing muscle. .
Blynng
- Expert in Eating Disorder
November 27th, 2021 10:16am
Our ability and desire to eat food can be influenced by a ton of different factors, so the first and most important thing to consider is what is "making" you stop eating? Meaning, have you lost the desire and enjoyment of eating? Are you forgetting to eat unless you set reminders? Or do you feel a physical limitation, such as getting full much faster than before, feeling sick if you eat certain foods or amounts, been unable to pass bowel movements or other waste, stuff like that. Have you started any medications or new habits that might correlate with the time you have recognized this reduction of intake? I ask these questions because your answer would determine how to figure it out... If you started a new medication or habit for example, I'd say look at the medication side effects; is anorexia (medical term for lack of appetite, not to be confused with anorexia nervosa, the loss of appetite from psychological condition) listed? Nausea? If appetite changes, nausea and/or bowel changes are listed, it's likely at least part of the issue and you should discuss with your doctor. If you are, instead, feeling like it's a literal physical restriction, like you stomach feels "smaller" than it did before, try monitoring how much food you eat and how you feel very specifically, eating slowly over the course of a couple days, paying close attempting to restriction and pain feelings, and discuss with the doctor to rule out medical conditions that might cause this. If all physical/medical things have been ruled out and it's more of a "head game" for you, loss of appetite is common in high stress, depression and anxiety, grief, etc. so what you're experiencing could be the direct physical result of what's going on and what's on your mind. If you think it's an issue within your headspace, sounds like it's time to do some journaling or some talking with a trusted friend or even a listener here on 7cups to start working out what the core issue might be right now. If you can pinpoint an issue, then you work to address that issue and try to alleviate stress so you can eat more comfortably. All in all, humans have fluctuating needs and having an appetite that varies is pretty common. It's probably not something to worry too much about if it's only been a short time since the reduction has occurred. If you count up the content you do eat and it's relatively close to your calories for the day (average adult counts: 1800 female average, 2200 male average) then I'd just keep an eye on it and be sure you're getting a balanced diet in that range. if you think physical limitations are occurring, measuring the volume can help you determine if you're actually experiencing a new restriction, or if you just think you are. Truth be told, we can *think* something is happening when it's not actually the case, especially if stressed or if we tend to overthink, so I encourage you to focus on some self care and reflection, figure out what you're experiencing, and answer to the needs your body is communicating to you. Of course... if you've lost weight or hit a life change like menopause (just as example) your literal body is smaller and needs less food, or your metabolism is slower and needs less food, so you may simply not need what you used to eat. Depending on your goals, this might be okay! Anyway... Long answer but I have had to teach myself a lot about nutritional balance, so I figured I'd share some nuggets of knowledge :)
KGibbs99
March 7th, 2018 8:17pm
Sometimes as we start developing our bodies change and you won't eat. Just remember to try eat even if not hungry get 3 meals a day.
Anonymous
October 17th, 2019 2:50pm
As we get older, our bodies need fewer calories to be able to do their jobs, and so we often don't need to eat as much of the same kinds of foods as we did when we were younger. Sometimes this can feel frustrating, because food is delicious! No need to worry that something is wrong with you, because it sounds like you are going through something that every person goes through. Your doctor or a dietician/nutritionist can help you figure out what kinds of food and how much food your body needs to be able to go about your daily activities well!
Anonymous
September 22nd, 2019 5:51pm
This doesn't has to be a Eating Disorder, it can be the change of the weather or something else. At summers most people experience less hunger when it warm outside. The other thing is, that your body doesn't always need the same amount of food, sometimes it's more, sometimes it is less. Third, you might feel a little bit unwell, sometimes the body decides that it doesn't need food when it's starting to feel unwell. Atleast it can, but doesnt has to be!!!, an ED. But out of nothing eating less, isn't logical with and ED.
Anonymous
December 16th, 2017 3:27pm
Stress and depression as well as other hardships in life can cause you to lose your appetite. Other factors such as environmental or health conditions as well as other factors such as dieting, again, and sicknesses can also contribute to a change in eating habits
Squidkid1
June 1st, 2018 10:08pm
You may be stressed or worrying about a specific thing. You could also have anxiety about something.
Anonymous
November 10th, 2021 2:59am
our bodies release hormones which signal to our brain when we are hungry, and when we are full. sometimes, when our hormones are under stress, or things are changing, our brains dont realize when we are hungry, so we tend to eat less food. if we are under stress, we are likely to eat less as well. there are so many reasons why we may eat less then we used too, it also depends on how much energy we are using through out the day. our nutrition habits change, and sometimes, as we get older, we may not be as hungry as we once were when we were younger.
Heretosupportxo
January 17th, 2021 1:07am
This could be answered in many ways, depending on your context. If you're feeling down, you may lose your appetite. If you're being told to eat less by a health professional, you may need less energy each day than you're currently consuming. If you're approaching a ripe old age, your digestive organs may be less functional and you can't digest as much food anymore. I think it depends your appetite on how much you can eat...it is possible that when you eat less your appetite is reduced too. It may simply be that your appetite has changed for whatever reason. Our appetites can change when we're feeling stressed, depressed, or anxious. Trying to eat small amounts throughout the day instead of big meals is one way of overcoming this problem.
Anonymous
October 7th, 2020 9:09pm
It's common for people under stress to lose their appetite. It may also be a sign that you're suffering from a mental health disorder like depression. If you have noticed these irregularities for a while now and it concerns you and/or affects your day-to-day life, you should consider contacting a professional or talking to your doctor about this. It could be helpful to write down if you have any other symptoms or how much you eat every day to have some data in case you're actually going to somebody. Just know that there doesn't have to be something worrisome about it and you may just have some stress right now. You got this!
Charleycelestial
September 19th, 2020 10:00am
Eating is something many people struggle with in there daily lives and there can be many underlying reasons as to why a person can’t eat as much as they used to . A shrinking stomach is a theory that once you stop eating the capacity you can hold in your stomach is minimised , to fight back at this it is important to slowly build back up eating food again . When people feel anxious it can be extreemly hard to eat as you may get physical symptoms of anxiety such as feeling sick . If this is the case it is important to try and trace back to the cause of your anxiety and the first step is to recognise what you are feeling , this can help people as they have a reason to be feeling this way . If you are struggling mentally with food and suspect you are showing signs of some disorderd eating habits it may be useful to speak to a trusted friend or family member or go to a doctor about this :)
Anonymous
July 19th, 2020 9:06pm
Maybe, you have lost weight recently, and your stomach cannot store as much as it could before. This is a definite possibility, but I don't know if this is the answer. There are also eating disorders, which you might want to look into to see if any of them feel like what's happening to you. There's a website called Healthline and you can look up different questions about what is happening to you. If you feel confused or concerned, talk to me, I'd be happy to be your listener. Hopefully, we can figure this out and make you more comfortable with it.
CarthageSea
July 7th, 2020 10:56pm
physically: sometimes if our portions decrease, our stomachs can shrink, and then we can't eat as much as we used to. the opposite also applies, if we eat a lot, we can stretch out stomachs, and eat more. emotionally: sometimes when dealing with stress, our bodies cope in unique ways. some people stress eat, and some people can't eat when they're dealing with others things. we are all unique in this way. ultimately, medical attention is sometimes needed if you notice a drastic weight loss without trying. hope whoever is reading this is having an awesome day, and can hopefully address this situation. much love
Misskhan01
June 11th, 2020 10:20am
When you get stressed, your body reacts as if it’s in danger. Your brain releases chemicals, including adrenaline, that make your heart beat faster and slow your digestion. That can curb your appetite. This is called the fight-or-flight response, and it lasts only a short time. If you're stressed over a long period, your body releases a hormone called cortisol, and it makes you hungrier, especially for high-calorie foods. When you’re sick, your immune system kicks into high gear. It releases chemicals called cytokines that can make you tired and not eager to eat. It’s your body’s way of telling you to rest so it can get the energy it needs to fight what’s making you ill. But eating a little something can give your immune system a boost. Try a bowl of chicken soup: Research shows that it helps with inflammation, and that can make you feel better
tova5
October 30th, 2019 3:18am
Your stomach shrinks the less you eat so that may be why. It also could be just a naturally shrinking appetite, sometimes that does happen. You also could be sick, the worst possible outcome being that you have some sort of tapeworm or parasite that is eating away at your stomach lining which is not good. I am not a trained doctor or medical professional but I can tell you that you may want to see a dietarian about that as they usually can tell you about it or maybe consult your normal doctor. You may have just a genetic disease.
Hanaa00
March 24th, 2019 12:50pm
Ohh. I’ve been there. In my personal experience, I think it was stress. But it’s a very tricky situation. Stress can last for a bit longer than we’d expect. It can even turn into something close to anxiety. And being constantly stressed and/or sometimes anxious can affect our eating habits in a long run. It can even cause an eating disorder. In my personal experience, the issue lasted for a couple of years. Good thing was that I acknowledged the risk of anorexia and decided to seek for help before my health was seriously damaged. I’d advise anyone to do the same thing if you find yourself in a similar situation. Reach out for help, contact a licensed professional, find a community that can offer a support system, even here on 7 Cups.
GregorGeous
January 2nd, 2019 6:34pm
There certainly are different reasons for this specific issue. First of all, the metabolism, which is responsible for how much calories our body requires on a given day, slows down as we grow older. As a result, we can't eat as much as we used to. But there are also mental and emotional aspects that should be considered. Our daily encounters, thoughts, emotions, sensations and moods influence our appetite in different ways. Stressful times at work, having to finish a personal project, or going through a rough time with your family or friends might also suppress your appetite.
Imperfect84
February 15th, 2018 2:57am
There are a lot of factors that can go into apatite changes. Some possibilities include stress, changes in weight, medications etc,
anotherbrightplace
May 23rd, 2018 11:44am
There could be quite a few reasons for this: has your diet changed in any way? Eating food heavier than usual could mean you're eating lesser. Stress or anxiety might also be decreasing your appetite.
caringWaves61
December 18th, 2018 5:31pm
There are lots of reasons for that. I personally deal with an eating disorder and have learned to study my hunger cues like Sherlock Holmes. It could be a physical thing. Maybe you aren't using up as much energy as you used to and don't need as much food for fuel. You could be sick and your body is busy fighting the sickness inside. It could be mental. Stress can trigger a loss of appetite. Distraction or overworking yourself can also cause someone to eat less just because they don't think about it. I encourage you to take a step back and think about what is going on in your life right now that might have triggered this or if it just came naturally with a change in your body. The human body is amazing, truly. It tells you what you really need, so listen to it. You might find the answer there.
Anonymous
July 24th, 2018 12:39am
It might be stress just making it hard/undesirable to eat food. It has happened to lots of people I talk to, but hopefully decreasing the source of the stress will help you.
BlazeMcAdams
May 31st, 2018 8:35pm
it could do with various factors, such as puberty, an illness or a dislike of particular foods. puberty related lack of appetite is normal, but if not dealt with mindfulness can lead to something more complex. a cold or upset stomach might be a reason too. if you see other changes with lack of appetite, a doctor should be consulted. the most normal of all reasons is dislike of certain food that you encounter lately. if an open mindedness to new foods doesnt work, talk to a parent or guardian about food options. if you suspect yourself as developing an eating disorder, it should not be taken lightly
Anonymous
October 28th, 2021 6:08pm
The body's metabolism slows to match our current activity levels.. this is why actors in hollywood, like the marvel men have such strict diets and such rigorous fitness routines. Losing the last 10 or 15 pounds takes hard work and searing hunger if done quickly, or slowly, one pound at a time just like it was put on. I had the same question, why can't I eat as much now, and I find the answer lies somewhere between How much we move versus how much we eat, day in, and day out, week after week, month after month, and year after disciplined year.
Anonymous
August 4th, 2021 6:31pm
It can be hard to know why you might not be able to eat as much as you used to. It is understandable why you might be curious or even concerned about that. Wondering about that might cause certain feelings, like anxiety, nervousness, or uncertainty. 7 Cups is a great place to discuss those feelings, but listeners are not doctors (and those who are, cannot act in that capacity while listening here). That's why this question is best asked of a doctor or other licensed/certified medical professional. As in-tune with your feelings as we may sometimes seem, listeners cannot know what is going on inside your body. We care so much, and want you to get every form of care you need, by the people who are best able to give it, and that's why the best answer would be one given by someone who can know the cause of that new physical development. Be well, and best of luck!
Anonymous
May 23rd, 2021 7:09pm
Hunger is your body's signal that it needs fuel. Your brain and gut work together to give you that feeling. So if you don't feel like eating, a number of things could cause that dip in appetite, including certain medications, emotions, and health issues. A lower metabolic rate and less physical activity mean seniors need fewer calories. Changes to sense of smell and taste can make food less tasty. We lose taste buds as we get older. Dental problems or gastrointestinal changes, such as lactose intolerance, can accompany aging and make eating uncomfortable. Early satiety may be the result of a benign or serious condition. A person should see their doctor if they are frequently unable to eat a full meal, or if they feel full after only a few bites. Prolonged cases of early satiety can cause problems such as malnutrition and starvation.