Vegetarian: lack of appetite. How can I feel more energized?!


Question: Vegetarian: lack of appetite. How can I feel more energized?
I'm 20, I'm in university, and the last 4 days I've just felt sort of unenergized. Not TIRED, just unenergized. I can't afford to feel like this, as I must maintain my A average (aka 4.0 GPA) for grad school next year.

I imagine it's what I've been eating that's been causing this, atleast partially. I just get these days were I don't feel hungry at all, and need to force myself to eat.

Here's what I ate

Friday

Breakfast - quarter sandwhich with tomato, lettuce, cucumber, cheese and mushroom. Half a glass of soymilk.
Lunch - A slice of watermelon, 2 pieces of celery with peanut butter. Half a glass of soymilk.
Supper - 1 cup veggie stew with tofu, a few forkfuls of mixed greens garden salad. Half a glass of orange juice.

Saturday

Breakfast - Half of a piece of bread with tomato and pepper. Glass of soymilk.
Lunch - nothing
Supper - Half a slice of thin-crust veggie pizza ( it had tomato, mushroom, hot peppers, green peppers, onion, corn). Half a glass of soymilk.

Sunday

- Breakfast: Half a cup of oatmeal (also known as porridge )
- Lunch: Half of a banana, half a grapefruit
- Supper - a couple forkfulls of spinach salad toped with nuts & berries & 1/2 cup vegetarian vegetable chili. Glass of soymilk.

And today I still feel the same, and had to force myself to eat what I've already eaten.

I'm a vegetarian. No, these lack of appetite days are not caused by my vegetarianism. They occurred before I went vegetarian. I did take a multivitamin all these days just to ensure I'm getting enough of what I need, or close enough to it. Once again, I know I may be eating less than my body needs, but I just don't feel hungry, and it's hard enough just to eat SOMETHING.

No, I didn't limit myself to x amount (e.g., half a cup) of anything. It was just all I could manage to eat without feeling it was going to "come back for a return trip."

How can I feel more energized?

Usually I go to the gym 5-7 nights per week (depending on how busy I am, as I also have 2 jobs and participate in 4 university societies (aka "clubs" in highschool-speak) and must study and do school work) . So no matter HOW time-managing I am, sometimes I just don't seem to have time to go 7 nights a week.

So how can I feel more energized?

Answers:

Best Answer - Chosen by Voters

High-energy foods do not need to come from animal products. High-energy vegetarian foods like beans, granola, nuts and seeds, in addition to being versatile, are packed with protein, essential fats, vitamins and minerals.
Granola
1. Granola is a mixture of rolled oats and nuts, usually including honey and dried fruit. Oats are rich in protein, iron, calcium, magnesium, zinc and B vitamins. Nuts provide high protein content and healthy fats. Dried fruits and honey add more vitamins and minerals plus healthy sugars. Try granola on its own, or add it to soy milk or soy yogurt.
Nuts and seeds
2. Nuts contain an abundance of protein, vitamins, minerals and healthy fats. Peanut, cashew and almond butters are a great way to bulk up on protein and energy. Sunflower, pumpkin and flax seeds are a source of protein and omega-3 fatty acids. Nuts and seeds can be eaten on their own or mixed into salads, snacks and main dishes.
Rice and beans
3. Beans are a low-fat, high-protein food. Rice, especially brown rice, is high in vitamins and minerals. It is ideal to cook beans and rice with a healthy fat such as olive or flax oil. Add in your favorite vegetables for more nutriton.

You may follow a vegetarian diet for cultural, religious or ethical reasons. Or you may eat a vegetarian diet to stay healthy and prevent health problems, such as cardiovascular disease. Whatever your reasons for choosing a vegetarian diet, this guide will help you make smart choices to ensure that you meet your daily nutritional needs.

Indeed, a well-planned vegetarian diet can meet the needs of people of all ages, including children, teenagers, and pregnant or breast-feeding women. The key is to be aware of your nutritional needs so that you plan a diet that meets them. If you aren't sure how to create a vegetarian diet that's right for you, talk with your doctor and a registered dietitian.
Types of vegetarian diets

When people think about a vegetarian diet, they typically think about a diet that doesn't include meat, poultry or fish. But vegetarian diets can be further categorized into three types:

* Vegan diets exclude meat, poultry, fish, eggs and dairy products — and foods that contain these products.
* Lacto-vegetarian diets exclude meat, fish, poultry and eggs, as well as foods that contain them. Dairy products, such as milk, cheese, yogurt and butter, are allowed in a lacto-vegetarian diet.
* Lacto-ovo vegetarian diets exclude meat, fish and poultry, but allow eggs and dairy products.

Some people follow a semivegetarian diet — also called a flexitarian diet — which is primarily a plant-based diet but includes meat, dairy, eggs, poultry and fish on occasion or in small quantities.
Vegetarian diet pyramid

A healthy diet takes planning, and a food pyramid can be a helpful tool. The vegetarian pyramid outlines food groups and food choices that, if eaten in the right quantities, form the foundation of a healthy vegetarian diet.
http://www.mayoclinic.com/images/inline/mcdc6_pyramid_vegetarian.jpg



Take vitamin supplements! Good Luck!

Experience!



Try some organic chlorophyll (i.e wheatgrass). Don't take any pills, or anything unnatural of that sort.



it's simple : just eat fatty foods!!!



Get B12 injections that you can administer yourself - you need the iron! This will also help with the absorption of nutrients.

You are eating way too little, you need to increase your meals to 6 meals a day with a bit more calories, specially seeing as you are training 5-7 times a week.

PS - you nearly sound Vegan.



OMG!
O!
M!
G!
You're kidding?
You are NOW WAY EATING ENOUGH slow release carbs- like wholewheat bread, pasta, even potatoes and brown rice.

Not the white stuff, but the 100% wholewheat stuff. You are only eating water mostly, so no wonder you feel letheargic and sluggy.

Seriously, you need some MORE whole grains. Get wholebread, Spread with peanut butter, a sliced banana, and eat that for breakfast.
Eat wholegrain pasta, or brown rice, OR spelt or wild black rice (etc ) a BOWLFULL. not just half a spoonful in the morning.

Half a cup of porridge in the morning?
You need a BOWLful of porridge, with honey and cream, or soymilk .

Half a banana and grapefruit for lunch?
Seriously, this is bad. You need wholegrains-
or natural potatos- bake a potato and add cottage cheese and peas, whatever.
Gym on top of that.

Every meal - put some grains, pasta, bread, rice or potatoes in there. If you eat the wholegrain stuff it's healthy.

Seriously, eat REAL sandwiches and a REAL bowl of pasta.



Up your carbs and calories! I used to have this issue, I wasn't eating enough. Also, I got VERY aggravated and annoyed and just could listen I'm school when I didn't eat enough leafy greens, which provide iron.
Eat more fruit! The most natural and pure carbs!



Deny it all you want, but it is your vegetarian diet that's making you feel bad. You're not getting enough calories. Not enough protein. Not enough iron, or calcium. I'd bet your B12 levels are down, too.

My suggestion is to actually track the numbers of calories you really eat every day. Most of us need about 12-1500 just to maintain. If you're young and growing or especially active, you probably need 2500 and there's no way you're getting close to that.

Multivitamins are no substitute for food. Some people just don't absorb vitamins from pills very well.

You're 20 years old, an A student. You know what the problem is. You just don't want to admit it. Your choice. But the truth is your diet is making you sick. Start eating a well balanced diet and get on with your life....or don't. Your choice.

http://voraciouseats.com/2010/11/19/a-ve…



You need to eat more. You're not eating enough every day to keep your body going especially since you're going to the gynm almost every day.



If you don't feel you can keep much down, try making smoothies with bananas and other fresh fruits, include 1-2 Tabelspoons of peanut butter for protein. You can also drink some V8.
You can increase your energy with a really good multivitamin such as Natures Plus Source of Life (I seriously notice a difference) or at least increase your vitamin B's.




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