How do I increase my appetite?

[MaleOrderBride]

There are hundreds of products on the market to "Suppress your appetitie"...but are there any such products to INCREASE your appetite/hunger?

I am someone who finds eating a chore. I have never been a big "foodie" so trying to bulk-up is a challenge for my 6'4" frame! I just can't eat 3000+ calories a day. I get full so quickly that I struggle to eat four meals a day...

I tried doing loads of cardio...but that doesn't increase my appetite. Even lifting loads of weights doesn't make me hungry. Is there something wrong with me? I have other male friends who constantly feel hungry and just eat and eat and eat whenever they can...but I would be happy eating one meal a day!

[XCRunner9]

Sorry for asking, but how much do you weigh?

[Boostronics]

I wish I could make eating like a chore on a cut

Starving all day even after meals sucks

Going to sleep starving suck even more

I dream about food (srs)

[silvrmoos]

I use Bulletproof as a sleep aid (don't get more than 5-6 hours without an outside aid) and I have noticed that my appetite is ridiculous about 20-40 min after taking it. I like to cash in on this by devouring a meal and then sleeping for 8-10 hours. I am pretty sure that it is the l-dopa found in this supplement that increases my appetite so that would be an area to start researching...

[MikeDavidL]

Your appetite is almost solely controlled by your Leptin hormone levels. When your leptin levels decrease, your brain responds with "hunger" signals. Leptin is released and regulated by your adipose tissue (fat). So having a low body fat percentage will mean lower levels of leptin.

The most effective way to suppress your leptin levels, and therefore increase hunger, is to engage in regular strenuous muscular activity. Lifting weights has been proven to significantly reduce your leptin levels, along with intense cardiovascular exercise.

If after doing regular strenuous weight training and cardio activity, you're still struggling with a reduced appetite, you may have some underlying problem that is interfering with your hormones and you may want to seek advice from a medical practitioner.

[MaleOrderBride]

Sorry for asking, but how much do you weigh?

I am 6'4" and only weight 154lb.

I have always been a tall, gangly stringbean! Hard to get that stocky, bulky look at this height...

[XCRunner9]

Yeah, that's extremely thin. Keep eating those 3000+ calories a day and I'll guarantee that your body will actually get hungry for those calories. I was 5'9 102 lb, but suddenly my body snapped and finally got hungry all the time.

[womanoid]

Eating more will actually stimulate your appetite. Chronic undereaters have issues regulating a chemical called CCK, that plays a role in signalling fullness (yours kicks in too soon). Start eating & you'll start getting an appetite. Your alternative is giving up & claiming you're powerless, so give the eating a try.

[ManuchiaMuscle]

Eat frequent meals and drink A LOT of water. Trust me, water helps a lot. I drink about 15-20 eight ounce glasses of water per day and I'm usually hungry every 1 - 1.5 hours.

[XCRunner9]

Yep, that too especially if you're getting a lot of protein and fiber.

[EjnarKolinkar]

There are hundreds of products on the market to "Suppress your appetitie"...but are there any such products to INCREASE your appetite/hunger?

I am someone who finds eating a chore. I have never been a big "foodie" so trying to bulk-up is a challenge for my 6'4" frame! I just can't eat 3000+ calories a day. I get full so quickly that I struggle to eat four meals a day...

I tried doing loads of cardio...but that doesn't increase my appetite. Even lifting loads of weights doesn't make me hungry. Is there something wrong with me? I have other male friends who constantly feel hungry and just eat and eat and eat whenever they can...but I would be happy eating one meal a day!

How long have you been trying to eat 3k? My advice is to give it time, and increase calories consistently in smaller increments. I was struggling after a long period losing weight to get my appetite up. After a few months 3000, was no problem, 3500 became reasonable after a while.

[mainsqueeze530]

DON'T do cardio, especially at that weight, you can kill yourself. I'd recommend seeing a doctor -- no appetite at that height and weight could indicate something wrong hormonally.

Also, slam down a few spoonfuls of peanut butter every couple hours with a glass of milk. Easy calories.

[AlwaysTryin]

Get a jar of nutella and a spoon

[Skiboy225]

You have been given some very good advice in most of these comments, and hopefully one or some will work. Please do remember that factors such as depression and internal physical problems could be an issue. I'm not trying to startle you, but do keep this in mind. Seeing a good internist, and even therapist can be beneficial for anyone. Most likely your lack of appetite has nothing to do with this, but worth noting. Good luck.

[foodandfitness]

Increasing your hunger can be an effective way to help you eat more, but keep in mind that many times that we eat, it is not just because we are hungry. People tend to eat more when:
1. Eating is more convenient
2. More variety and abundance is available
3. Expectations for the meal are high
4. Eating off larger plates and bowls

Try eating more calorie dense foods but also make it really easy to get extra calories. Keep a bowl of trail mix on your desk where you work. Garnish your meals and eat off bigger plates. Drink lots of calories from juices and chocolate milk. Cook with oil anytime you make something. But I bet that many times when you don't think you're hungry, you could probably eat something if it looked good and was right in front of you.

[tailwhip]

drinking less fluids helps me

[Mattyb0i]

Your zinc levels play a huge role in hcl levels and stuff.. I read that 80% of people have a zinc disorder !! So check with your doctor if this interest you enough!

[JayFlay13]

I have the same problem!! I am 6ft, 150lbs and find eating often is a huge chore, but that being said I have noticed that a constant meal intake roughly every two/three hours of roughly 20g protien, really keeps my body hungry and I get severe hunger pains if I miss a meal when I eat more often.. If I eat a big breakfast with a protien shake I will generally be hungry the whole day compared to if I eat nothing in the morning I won't have a appetite all day, I could very easily survive on one meal a day.. Which is far from healthy for someone who's BMR is 2200 calories

[Jcart159]

peanut butter

/thread

[Espi1971]

I personally don't understand how a person who does cardio isn't hungry.

How old are you?

Do you currently count your calories or at least have a good indication of how many calories you're taking in per day? Or are you just guesstimating?

What kind of foods do you eat?

[meschc4]

peanut butter

/thread

I totally agree a couple spoons of this will get you plenty of calories and tastes awesome.

[Jesse_l_g]

I just wanted to mention something often overlooked. Besides all the obvious stuff like lifting heavy, eating more calorie dense foods, drinking more of your calories, adding coconut oil to your shakes, etc. People often overlook the emotional barriers they have. Of course I am speculating here but i am guessing you are more introverted than extroverted? Generally extroverted people overeat and introverted people under eat for whatever psychological reasons, and they could be many. That's just how these personality types respond to situations. Subconsciously it can be hard for people to change because it makes things uncomfortable. You have come to identify with being skinny and that's the dynamic you bring to all your relationships with other people. Anyway i just wanted to share this perspective that again is often overlooked and under appreciated but is a very real thing. One example that is well understood is a lot of fat people have a hard time losing weight and keeping it off without addressing the psychological reasons they over eat in the first place. Like hiding their sexuality because of sexual abuse or simply being insecure with themselves and gaining the weight to feel more intimidating to others. Honestly working on your insecurities and finding ways to express yourself, deal with stress, etc....whatever it might be, might really help with your appetite. As crazy as that might sound.

[JoshBlaze]

I'm 6ft and 133 pounds is that approaching underweight or is that underweight? Eating for me too is a chore.

[srain]

Try salt? and you dont need to eat fish and broccoli for all your meals...3000 "clean" calories would be hard for me too. luckily I enjoy poptarts and burgers

[ChestBeast]

I find that drinking less water and eating sweet things like fruit increase my appetite...

[AlwaysTryin]

I'm 6ft and 133 pounds is that approaching underweight or is that underweight? Eating for me too is a chore.

Thread hijack

It's very underweight

[Mncdk]

I find that drinking less water and eating sweet things like fruit increase my appetite...

There was a lot of talk back in January, that a study had found (based on brain activity I believe) that fructose supposedly stimulates appetite.
I just caught the headlines in mainstream media, but I dug up the study if anyone cares to read it:

Effects of Fructose vs Glucose on Regional Cerebral Blood Flow in Brain Regions Involved With Appetite and Reward Pathways

[JoshBlaze]

Thread hijack

It's very underweight

I actually have no idea how to use a forum but thanks Ill move to another one.

[DasPhilosopher]

Smoke weed. NOT SRS

chew gum. Drink more water

[Ml5280]

I just wanted to mention something often overlooked. Besides all the obvious stuff like lifting heavy, eating more calorie dense foods, drinking more of your calories, adding coconut oil to your shakes, etc. People often overlook the emotional barriers they have. Of course I am speculating here but i am guessing you are more introverted than extroverted? Generally extroverted people overeat and introverted people under eat for whatever psychological reasons, and they could be many. That's just how these personality types respond to situations. Subconsciously it can be hard for people to change because it makes things uncomfortable. You have come to identify with being skinny and that's the dynamic you bring to all your relationships with other people. Anyway i just wanted to share this perspective that again is often overlooked and under appreciated but is a very real thing. One example that is well understood is a lot of fat people have a hard time losing weight and keeping it off without addressing the psychological reasons they over eat in the first place. Like hiding their sexuality because of sexual abuse or simply being insecure with themselves and gaining the weight to feel more intimidating to others. Honestly working on your insecurities and finding ways to express yourself, deal with stress, etc....whatever it might be, might really help with your appetite. As crazy as that might sound.

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