A question about hunger

Dauphin · October 20, 2003, 02:00

I sit here with 15 minutes to kill before I clock off of "work". So here is a question that strikes me now, simply because I haven't eaten since yesterday lunchtime.

When I don't eat for an extended period of time I get a feeling that is very similar to being nervous or anxious. My hands get slightly shaky and my head feels slightly light headed. As soon as I eat something (or about 5-10 minutes thereafter) I feel fine again. I have noticed this sensation for as long as I can remember, usually experiencing it after I've been exercising on an empty stomach, but I've never before discussed it with anyone.

1) Have other people experienced this?
2) What causes it?

Skanky Burns · October 20, 2003, 02:02

Possibly due to low bloodsugar levels?

Urban Ranger · October 20, 2003, 02:02

1. Yes
2. Something to do with hormones

Jon Miller · October 20, 2003, 02:16

I have two different types of hungery, the forst I expereince much more often than the last

1. a headache and inability to concentrate
2. hurting stomache

and often for 2 if I ignore it it goes away after a bit, 1 doesn't go away

I actually have a problem with eating to much, it is because I am a social eater and enjoy food (so I always go out with my different freinds when they want to go out and eat and when I do, I get more than I need)

JOn Miller

st_swithin · October 20, 2003, 03:32

If I wait too long to eat, I get very quiet and then I pass out. It's only disturbing if I wake up in a puddle of my own blood - definitely waited too long. Otherwise it helps keep my girlish figure.

Skanky Burns · October 20, 2003, 03:38

Actually it puts your body into starvation mode - when your body does actually get food it will attempt to store as much of it as it can - in the form of fat.

Bugs ****ing Bunny · October 20, 2003, 04:06

I can go days without eating without any adverse symptoms. I think I was designed for harsher times.

st_swithin · October 20, 2003, 04:36

I only eat foods that don't cast a shadow! (Meaning that the little light in my fridge burned out.)

Bugs ****ing Bunny · October 20, 2003, 04:43

That's useful if you're squeamish about "best by" dates. Personally I think dairy products taste best when they become sentient.

Drake Tungsten · October 20, 2003, 04:45

Quote:

I only eat foods that don't cast a shadow!

What vegan level was that again? I'm thinking seven, but I have the sinking feeling that I'm wrong.

Urban Ranger · October 20, 2003, 04:48

Quote:

Originally posted by Skanky Burns
Actually it puts your body into starvation mode - when your body does actually get food it will attempt to store as much of it as it can - in the form of fat.

That's when your body fat percentage is abnormally low, though.

FrustratedPoet · October 20, 2003, 05:51

Quote:

Originally posted by Skanky Burns
Possibly due to low bloodsugar levels?

That's what it sounds like to me too.

Paul Hanson · October 20, 2003, 06:05

If I don't eat for a prolonged period of time (and when I say this, I mean missing a meal or something - the horror!), I start breaking out in a cold sweat. Weird.

alva · October 20, 2003, 06:26

If you wait a little longer, the shaking etc will stop, as you body will start to consume itself (fat), doesn't work for me though as I havn't got any.

Urban Ranger · October 20, 2003, 07:07

I read that a low cal diet will prolong your life.

alva · October 20, 2003, 07:26

True, living an ascetic (sp?) is healthy, so is a day not eating, just don't do too many in a row

Solly · October 20, 2003, 07:45

Do you drink enough water throughout the day? I know a lot of people who only drink liquid with a meal, so perhaps you are one of these and the feelings you detail are a result of dehydration rather than hunger.

Personally I rarely experience difficulty in concentrating due to hunger; possibly due to that I always carry a 1l of water around with me.

alva · October 20, 2003, 07:46

Related to the camel, are we?!

Cruddy · October 20, 2003, 10:05

Could be hypoglaecemia (wish I could spell).

Could indicate a tendency towards diabetes, so I'd ask the doctor for a blood sugar test.

Dis · October 20, 2003, 13:16

I have had problems with shaking hands before. But no longer.

I found I only had the problem when I was gaining weight. This made the problem worse because I used to eat more food to avoid getting hungry to the point of getting shaking hands and headaches. I was eating too much and was 50 pounds overweight.

But once I set my mind to it, and started eating less, I never really had a problem with shaking hands. Maybe it was all in my head.

I still get hunger headaches occasionally. I just deal with the pain.

Lifestyle change was just too important for me to be bothered by a little pain.

Dauphin · October 20, 2003, 23:17

The more I think about it the closest sensation I can associate it too is a small adrenalin rush. Could it be adrenalin? Does that play a part in sugar balance?

/me thinks back to GSCE biology. He seems to recall something about the pancreas, insulin and adrenaline.

st_swithin · October 21, 2003, 01:28

Quote:

Originally posted by Drake Tungsten

Quote:

I only eat foods that don't cast a shadow!

What vegan level was that again? I'm thinking seven, but I have the sinking feeling that I'm wrong.

I thought it was 12.

Drake Tungsten · October 21, 2003, 02:54

That's probably right. I really don't remember, which upsets me.

Timexwatch · October 21, 2003, 03:15

I usually try one and a half meals a day and I don't have any problems. If I'm working out regularly, then I can go a day or two and not even be bothered by hunger. It's a strange thing.

MikeH · October 21, 2003, 05:42

http://www.drz.org/asp/newsletter/de...w.asp?xt2id=50

Quote:

The adrenal glands respond to stress and/or low blood sugar by producing adrenaline and releasing it into the bloodstream. Adrenaline produces symptoms of anxiety, trembling and or panic attacks. Adrenaline triggers the liver to release Glycogen (the stored form of sugar). This in turn raises the blood sugar levels. The raised blood sugar levels stimulate the pancreas to produce insulin. A high output of insulin by the pancreas induces new low blood sugar episodes (hypoglycemia). This state of hypoglycemia again induces the Adrenals to release adrenaline into the bloodstream. The cycle starts again.

Lefty Scaevola · October 21, 2003, 10:39

Low blood sugar.
note: blood sugar swings could be an indicator a serious condition. If you also are heading toward middle age, and are overwieght, I would recomend medical checkup with an eye toward investigating type II diabetes (also called metabolic syndrome),
Assuming you are a younger slimmer guy, I would simply suggest that you eat more often but do smaller meals.

C0ckney · October 21, 2003, 11:50

yeah like these people say it sounds like low bloody sugar. to me (as a diabetic) it doesn't sound like diabetes but it wouldn't hurt to ask your doctor for a test if you're worried.

i've been about 5 days without food before (didn't take insulin either), no real ill effects beyond what you'd expect.

alva · October 21, 2003, 12:11

Quote:

Could it be adrenalin? Does that play a part in sugar balance?

Although possible, I'm no medical expert, but I doubt since adrenaline pretty much overides any other feeling/subtance/feeling one can possibly have.
Some drugs 'forgot the name, but very popular in Vietnam) tries to (and does it succesfully) let your body (brain) produce high amounts of it.
Adrenaline is pretty much the most potent drug known to man.

Quote:

* Big Crunch thinks back to GSCE biology. He seems to recall something about the pancreas, insulin and adrenaline.

I once needed a drug (in hospital) which was devised to dorment all your organs.
One side effect was that I needed 3 bloodtests a day to see if my pancreas was still all right and if I needed sugar.
Once I came very close to going into a coma due to hypoglaecymea. (spelled it differently to Cruddy in the hope at least one of us is right

)

SlowwHand · October 21, 2003, 12:34

Quote:

Originally posted by Big Crunch
I sit here with 15 minutes to kill before I clock off of "work". So here is a question that strikes me now, simply because I haven't eaten since yesterday lunchtime.

When I don't eat for an extended period of time I get a feeling that is very similar to being nervous or anxious. My hands get slightly shaky and my head feels slightly light headed. As soon as I eat something (or about 5-10 minutes thereafter) I feel fine again. I have noticed this sensation for as long as I can remember, usually experiencing it after I've been exercising on an empty stomach, but I've never before discussed it with anyone.

1) Have other people experienced this?
2) What causes it?

No one at these forums can say anything first-hand about hunger.

The Andy-Man · October 21, 2003, 12:36

normally i am fine if i am going out, i can go days not eating then, i onlt get hungry at home.

For me, the problems come with lack of sleep combined with little food (at the mo, i have had 2 sandwiches since i got up yesturday, did some drinking last night and got only 3hrs sleep plus uni today - i feel like crap

)