Food noise but not the type I was expecting

[itsmenotyou]

Hi all.

I’ve been on reta and have had 3 weekly doses of 1mg. Since starting, I’ve noticed a big reduction in my usual “food noise” (snacking, cravings, thinking about junk food), which has been really helpful.

However, I now seem to have the opposite issue. I’m not really interested in food at all, but I find myself thinking about it constantly because I know I still need to eat. Most of my day is spent trying to figure out what I can eat that I can actually tolerate or feel like eating.

It’s becoming a bit of a challenge to consistently reach around 1500 calories and enough protein, because I’m just not naturally hungry (most the time..)

Sometimes I also end up just eating something like cake or chocolate because I’ve barely eaten and I’m trying to make sure I get enough calories in for the day. It’s not ideal nutritionally, but it feels like the only thing I can manage at times.

Has anyone else experienced this shift where appetite suppression turns into more of an “I don’t want food but I have to eat” mindset? Any tips for making it easier?

 

[deleted.user.16]

Maybe try incorporating a lot of very nutritionally dense foods into your diet?

Preventing Chronic Disease | Defining Powerhouse Fruits and Vegetables: A Nutrient Density Approach - CDC

www.cdc.gov

As long as you are getting enough vitamins and minerals on a weekly basis, I don't see a reason to force yourself to eat cake just to meet an arbitrary number of calories? Like 1500 calories a day of junk food isn't better for you than 1000 calories of food with a lot of nutrients in them if you have weight to lose.

People are gonna have different opinions about that and I understand take isn't popular or well-received by everyone. So if you're dead set on eating 1500 calories a day, you could try adding more healthy high-calorie foods to your diet. Some examples would be nuts, fruits, e.g.g.s, avocados, salmon, meats, potatoes, dairy, and protein bars and shakes. And probably a lot more options you can find online.

Nuts especially. It takes tragically few of them to add 500 calories to your diet.



Edit: I'm just realizing there's a very obvious solution upon re-reading your post. Why not just take less Reta? Is there a reason you have to take 1mg three times a week rather than 1mg once a week, or 0.5mg twice a week?

 

[5byfive]

As long as you are getting enough vitamins and minerals on a weekly basis, I don't see a reason to force yourself to eat cake just to meet an arbitrary number of calories? Like 1500 calories a day of junk food isn't better for you than 1000 calories of food with a lot of nutrients in them if you have weight to lose.

I would argue pretty strongly that it is, both for health and weigh loss. The faster you lose the more muscle you lose. Also, if you cut too much, your body is going to go into starvation mode and your metabolism is going to go into the garbage. 1000 calories is just not enough for most people. You are right that the number shouldn't be arbitrary, it should be enough calories that you are losing 1-1.5 lbs a week for most or about 1-1.5% of body weight a week max for someone who is much heavier.

You are also right, nuts or another calorie dense whole food would be much better and as much protien as possible to protect from muscle loss. It is definitely ok to add some junk in your diet to hit your calories if you need to, but relying on that isnt ideal. It is ok to have some junk just becuse you can if you are getting enough protien.

I'm just realizing there's a very obvious solution upon re-reading your post. Why not just take less Reta? Is there a reason you have to take 1mg three times a week rather than 1mg once a week, or 0.5mg twice a week?

I think she means she has been on 1mg a week for 3 weeks but I agree cutting this would be the obvious solution. Try dropping down to .5mg. The lowest effective does is always ideal and it seems like you may be over that.

 

[deleted.user.16]

The faster you lose the more muscle you lose. Also, if you cut too much, your body is going to go into starvation mode and your metabolism is going to go into the garbage.

I've argued this topic before on this forum and there is just no scientific evidence of this lol. (Specifically that 1) losing weight faster causes more muscle loss than slower weight loss and 2) that your metabolism slows more at a higher calorie deficit versus a lower calorie deficit given the same total weight loss). But that's ok, I'm not gonna debate it here again.

If he wants to eat 1500 calories a day he could still do that and lose weight provided he is still in some caloric deficit, so it doesn't super matter. But I'd still argue that it's still better to set goals for 1.macros and 2. actual nutrients in the food than to set a goal for daily calorie amount.

 

[Bioexplorer]

I interpreted your '3 weekly doses' to mean that you're on week three of 1mg per week. I'm in my second week at that dosage and experienced a similar loss of appetite. I could fairly easily go all day with minimal calorie intake but I find the taste of food still pleasant and have no problem eating when I think about it.

I just make healthy snacking easy by having a bowl of berries, nuts, cherry tomatoes, jerky, etc easily available. And protein drinks are great. Good luck.

 

[BNLFL]

This will slightly go away. We just finished week 6 of 6mg. Not starved, can eat semi normal meal, just way smaller. Get full easy though. If and when we tirate up to 7mg, and I'm sure we will. That feeling will come back for a few days or week along with heartburn.

 

[itsmenotyou]

Maybe try incorporating a lot of very nutritionally dense foods into your diet?

Preventing Chronic Disease | Defining Powerhouse Fruits and Vegetables: A Nutrient Density Approach - CDC

www.cdc.gov

As long as you are getting enough vitamins and minerals on a weekly basis, I don't see a reason to force yourself to eat cake just to meet an arbitrary number of calories? Like 1500 calories a day of junk food isn't better for you than 1000 calories of food with a lot of nutrients in them if you have weight to lose.

People are gonna have different opinions about that and I understand take isn't popular or well-received by everyone. So if you're dead set on eating 1500 calories a day, you could try adding more healthy high-calorie foods to your diet. Some examples would be nuts, fruits, e.g.g.s, avocados, salmon, meats, potatoes, dairy, and protein bars and shakes. And probably a lot more options you can find online.

Nuts especially. It takes tragically few of them to add 500 calories to your diet. View attachment 20718

Edit: I'm just realizing there's a very obvious solution upon re-reading your post. Why not just take less Reta? Is there a reason you have to take 1mg three times a week rather than 1mg once a week, or 0.5mg twice a week?

Thank you apprecaite you taking the time to reply.

Sorry i wasn't super clear i take 1 mg once a week and have taken it for 3 weeks so have had a total of 3 doses.

also 1500 is my aim but some days i was struggling to get over 600 calories so i was having cake to try and get closer to 1000... so not so much going from 1200 to 1500. more 600 to 900...

I love the idea of nuts!! great idea to get some extra calories in.

Funnily enough today I have been soo busy i havent thought about food good or bad today really...

Thanks again

 

[itsmenotyou]

I would argue pretty strongly that it is, both for health and weigh loss. The faster you lose the more muscle you lose. Also, if you cut too much, your body is going to go into starvation mode and your metabolism is going to go into the garbage. 1000 calories is just not enough for most people. You are right that the number shouldn't be arbitrary, it should be enough calories that you are losing 1-1.5 lbs a week for most or about 1-1.5% of body weight a week max for someone who is much heavier.

You are also right, nuts or another calorie dense whole food would be much better and as much protien as possible to protect from muscle loss. It is definitely ok to add some junk in your diet to hit your calories if you need to, but relying on that isnt ideal. It is ok to have some junk just becuse you can if you are getting enough protien.

I think she means she has been on 1mg a week for 3 weeks but I agree cutting this would be the obvious solution. Try dropping down to .5mg. The lowest effective does is always ideal and it seems like you may be over that.

Thanks so much!! great insight. Yes i love the nuts idea!!!

 

[itsmenotyou]

This will slightly go away. We just finished week 6 of 6mg. Not starved, can eat semi normal meal, just way smaller. Get full easy though. If and when we tirate up to 7mg, and I'm sure we will. That feeling will come back for a few days or week along with heartburn.

Thanks!! interesting to hear it will go away. Its just weird thinking oh no i have to eat something where for years i have been oh yay i want to eat something...