Now that I’m living alone and cooking for myself, I often ask myself “Am I eating enough?”. I believe we have all heard that under-eating and restricting can lead to several mental, physical and emotional health issues. I have gone through multiple of those, and now I’m at a point where I’m prioritising my health and body! So, I created this list of warning signs that mean I am not eating enough. This list is mine and issues I have noticed whenever I’m restricting and under-eating. That being said, I created this mainly for myself and it’s most likely going to be different for you.
No energy
This is the first sign, and it’s rather simple. No fuel = no energy. I recognize this when I’m more tired than usual from a workout. Also, I might sleep in or go to bed weirdly early. Normally it’s rare that I take naps but when I’m under-eating, I’m also napping more.
Cold and chilly
The temperature outside might be ok, but this sign is mainly about not being able to maintain a regular body temperature. Always wearing a jacket and layers even when it’s not cold outside/indoors.
Thinking about food
When my Instagram explore page starts to get filled with food pictures, it clearly means I need to eat more. However, I do search for meal inspirations but constantly thinking about next meals, snacks or even portions that I’m “allowed” or “not allowed” to eat is a huge red flag.
Irritability
This usually comes after a few days of under-eating. This is harder to notice when I’m living alone but it was clear when I lived with my boyfriend. I might get irritated about the smallest things (and usually food related) and it’s hard to calm down. It’s a clear sign of hunger.
Weight loss
This is not the first sign but if it gets this far, I have been under-eating for awhile already. I do not check a scale on regular bases but I usually notice when my clothes are fitting differently.
Extreme scenarios
- Missed periods
- Hair loss
- Social withdrawal
Get help
As I mentioned before, this list consists of signs that I have noticed personally. However, in case you can relate to any of these points, please take a look at your daily meals. There’re various meal ideas online but I know it can be extremely overwhelming to maintain a healthy balanced diet. Contacting someone and asking for help can do a lot! Please do so, because learning to cook proper meals (and meal portions) has helped me to answer the question “Am I eating enough?”.