Understanding a Slow Metabolism: Causes, Symptoms & Solutions

Question
Hi Marci,

I am 21 years old and a student in college; I'm 5'0 and about 113 to 115 pounds. I run 5 or 6 times a week for 3.5 to 4 miles and I occasionally do lift light weights, but not often. Though I eat a lot of veggies and fruits, my diet is far from perfect. I usually eat a pretty healthy breakfast, but due to my class schedule, I'm unable to have a lunch at the normal lunch time and I usually end up having a not-as-healthy lunch/dinner combo around 4 or 5 pm. Then around late night ranging from 10 pm to 12 am, I'll have a snack, which is usually cereal or half of a peanut butter sandwich. I get anywhere from 5 to 7 hours of sleep a night.

Before I had thought that I had a pretty good to normal metabolism. But lately I'm just not getting hungry as often as I used to, even if I had barely eaten anything before. For example the other day I just had a bowl of cereal, a banana, and a pastry at around 11 in the morning(I had run out of food and was unable to have my normal breakfast of eggs and some veggies). It wasn't until 8 pm that I had started to feel at least a little bit hungry. I had to force myself to eat something.

It's been like this for almost two weeks...I'm simply not getting hungry as often as I used to, and it's bothering me. Because of my loss of appetite, I've been eating a lot less these days. What do you think has caused this sudden lack of appetite, and what can I do to get my metabolism going again?

Thank you,
Kim

Answer
Hi Kim,

Thanks for your question.

First off, what you need to do is get rid of your "normal lunch" thinking.

Your schedule is unique and you must coordinate your eating times with your specific schedule.  Are you allowed to eat in class?

In regards to your appetite it's a little difficult to say b.c it could be  a number of factors.

Are you stressed?  Anxiety? Worried about exams?  

Sometimes people don't think about eating cause there too busy and don't realize that they're so hungry until it's too late.

Sounds like you workout a lot which would make you feel hungry b.c your burning all those calories.  So it's a bit hard to say.

If your appetite is still suppressed I would highly suggest you see your doctor.

Thanks,

Marci