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

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 :)

There are a lot of factors that can go into apatite changes. Some possibilities include stress, changes in weight, medications etc,

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.

You may be stressed or worrying about a specific thing. You could also have anxiety about something.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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