Eating disorder?? =S

Censorsh!t

Right, i'm not sure if this is the place to be asking but i don't know where else to post it.

Basically since statring college at the end of September, i have noticed that my appetite seems to be reduced a fair amount and i rarely seem to be hungry. At the end of somewher i was about 9 stone (i'm around 5 foot 6'), but now my weight has gone to just under 8 stone. Some days I could go without breakfast and lunch, and often won't be able to finish my dinner in the evening, and if I force myself to, I just feel sick.I have always had a rather small appetite, but it never was as bad as this.
I will admit, that yeah sure, I want to be thin(but think everyone does to an extent?), and see myself as average weight, even though I'm told how skinny I am. I don't think I'm anorexic, it's not as if I purposefully starve myself or stay away from fatty foods, I don't care what I eat. I don't eat much junk food, and I'm a vegetarian(although I think I put on a bit of weight when I first became veg 3 years ago).

I'm just slightly worried about what if my appetite stays like this, and I keep losing weight.
Any thoughts?

Nevyn

Talk to you dr loss of appetite could be from a range of things.

JonathanAnon

Well the fact that you are addressing the issue is certainly positive. Why do you keep missing breakfast and lunch? Are you not starving in the morning. Could you not try eating three meals and day and see how it goes. Cereal for breakfast, sandwich for lunch and a proper dinner?

Posy

JonathanAnon is right. You should make time for meals, especially breakfast. Even half a slice of toast/a tiny handful of cereal/a banana with a glass of orange juice would be enough to get you off to a much healthier start to the day.
Certainly see a doctor too though, as advised above. A loss of appetite should always be investigated.

Overheal

Definitely arrange an appointment with a doctor through the College Nurse. In ITC a nurse visit/appointment was free, Doctors appointments had to be scheduled through her and were free with a medical card, or 10 euro. You no doubt also have access to a college counselor for free if you ever feel the need. Yes, college is the best time in the world to be screwed up I tells ya

Wibbs

Well I would have a very small appetite. Every so often I could go a day or two without eating. Never really bothered me. Me eating three square meals a day simply wouldn't work for me. TBH I think thats pushed too often. Some people just need less than others(or more) depending on energy output.

The other concern I would have is the vegetarian choice. Cool choice, but all too often the veggie types I know struggle to eat a balanced veggie diet. I've seen them put on weight like you did soon after starting it. They may go for for veggie pastas etc, more stodgy food. I may eat sod all, but I do eat high quality and pretty well balanced. Maybe go to the fitness forum here. They have very well informed posters and advice.

Now I did get myself checked out when I was younger to be on the safe side and everything was fine. I would only be concerned if that pattern changed and my energy lifestyle didn't. If I started getting ravenously hungry or started to eat even less. The change would be the issue and since you've seen this change that's why I would just have a check up.

I think if you eat something very small in the mornings you will see a big difference, this gets your metabolism moving and make you hungry earlier in the day, you'll ofter hear about people not eating breakfast because they find they're starving before lunch time - this just means their bodies are working in the way they should be.

On the other hand, someone else mentioned that this could be the cause of an underlying problem so get to the doctor.

Dord

Go to a doctor.

I had a similar issue a few years ago when I was in college.

jessbeth

Hi OP, I've gone through similar phases myself. I think it has just been the adjustments in your life that is causing a bit of havoc with your appetite. Starting college takes you out of the routine that you were used to for years and it's a time full of new situations and new things going on in your life. Anxiety can go up a little due to experiencing a lot of new things for the first time. Don't let it upset you. Just try and find a small routine for yourself, always make an effort to eat something small for breakfast, even it's it just one of those health bars and then get something small for lunch again. Try and stick to healthy foods and maybe get one of those cook books for students with lots of really simple and cheap recipes. It might be worth having a word with your doc just to out rule any underlying causes but I would guess it's just the changes in your life that have messed with your appetite and your eating habits. If nothing else it will ease your mind.

wolfpawnat

Ok it is not an eating disorder per say to say you can admit that you are not eating as much as you think you should, but before I go any further
Anorexia is the lack of an apetite, so we all suffer that.
Anorexia Nervosa is the condition for which a person refuses to eat - this is not you!

As a nursing student I would suggest you go to your doctor to find out why you are not eating as it is clear it is worrying you too, but remember in winter you need your immune system at its best so at least take vitamins and drink youghart dtinks to keep it up.

As someone who is never hungry in the mornings myself, it takes me alot of effort to force down a breakfast. And some days I am not hungry for dinner, but as my boyfriend (a med student) says to me, you dont eat because your hungry, you eat because you have to!

College throws us all off balance, especially with running here and there for lectures and tutorials, and of course nights out, with not getting enough sleep and not wanting to eat, in case we get to physically review what we were drinking the night before.

But a gp will easily sort out yor problem. Which is not an eating disorder from the way you talk so dont worry:) good luck

Wibbs

I think wolfpawnat and others are giving good advice here, get thee to a doc to eliminate anything that may be causing this beyond common or garden routine change.

I wouldn't agree with this bit though;

you dont eat because your hungry, you eat because you have to!

All too often people have a disconnect between what they require to be healthy and hunger. Knowing when you need food is mostly down to what your body tells you. IE hunger(athletes may have diff requirements). Its that disconnect between hunger and food that is partly to blame for obesity and indeed in many ways anorexia in the world today.

wolfpawnat

Yes I should have actually have worded that better and yes it is the main reason we have such an epidemic with obesity in the world, I should have stated that within reason, even if we do not feel hungry we should force ourselves to at least nibble on healthy food if we are not eating more than a meal a day! but not too excess!:)

~nop~

The less you eat the more your stomach shrinks to accomodate this and the less hungry you will get/food you will be able to eat in future.
Try and take one week where you eat a full 3 meals a day and your appetite should return from there.

buckieburd

I get like this when I'm stressed, I forget to eat and the longer you do it for the less hungry you get. Get your self checked out by the doc to be on the safe side, then work your way back up to three meals a day. Just have a bit of toast in the morning, soup for lunch and a decent dinner do this for 2 - 3 days and your appetite will come back, you may have to force it down for the first couple of days though.