Low calorie and emotional equilibrium

[Globetrotter 1,340]

I'm currently doing some low calorie experimenting and have found my emotions are right at the surface. This could just be a coincidence, but I think I've noticed it before in previous low cal stints, I'm crying, laughing, and angry at the slightest provocation. Anyone else notice a change in their emotions when they drastically change their diet?

[karenb4729 309]

Yes, I have experienced the same thing. I was just talking to my therapist yesterday as I'm currently dealing with Anorexia.... go figure obese to anorexic. Anyway, there was a study done in the 1940's call the Minnesota Starvation Study and they found that when you are starving the body of food one of the main side effects is depression. For most of my weight loss and even after hitting my goal I stayed at 600 to 800 calories a day... it was not enough and the depression hit big time to the point where I can't function day to day. Losing weight is not an easy journey.

[gamergirl 4,610]

There's a word for that. Hangry. As in, so hungry you're angry. I'm not fun to be around until my body adjusts to the lower calories. I used to get tired, emotional, weepy, angry all of it. We used to joke that the only days we ever lost weight was when we felt like crap. Thankfully the sleeve has helped with that. Last week I tried to not eat when I was hungry, and it all came back. I'm letting myself of the hook a bit now and allowing myself to eat small quarries when hungry, and there's a huge difference in my emotional state.

It may just take a few days for your body to adjust.

[TanyaB 25]

Carbohydrates increase the release of serotonin, your feel good hormone. Being on this high Protein, low carb diet can make you cranky and depressed. If I'm feeling especially emotional I will eat something small with some sugar like one hersheys kiss. It helps, but so does my Prozac LOL. I always stick to one of whatever it is which isn't too hard since my taste for sweets is way down. Good luck to all.

[aroundhky 1,174]

I can relate on the angry part. When I was making my late push to get to goal weight back over the summer....I was quite a foul person. Well.........more foul and irritable than normal anyway.

Edited October 18, 2013 by aroundhky

[Globetrotter 1,340]

Thanks all for the great non-flaming responses, hopefully things will even out.

[ElyQuint 446]

I was definitely skinless for the first two months. I sedated a lot with food and I had no protection against my emotions without it. My journalling kept a lot of folks from getting murdered.

[Globetrotter 1,340]

I'm painting a LOT, churning out at least one every two days, it keeps me from food tunnel vision and nibbling.