Injured and extremely hungry? Thoughts, please?

fivefootfitness

I hurt my leg in a car accident last week, no fractures found in the x-rays, but it seems to be a moderate sprain around my knee. I was told I should be able to walk a normal amount but not to exercise, but it seems to be taking a longer time to heal than expected. I still have to limp everywhere.

I've been SO HUNGRY the past two days. I had eaten most of my standard calories/macros for the day, and found myself starving after dinner. I waited, and ate a serving of rice-a-roni, waited...ate another..waited, and finished the box before feeling full (2 hours and 1000 extra calories later).

It's not boredom or stress eating. I mean, I have had extra anxiety and sleep issues since the accident, but I've been tracking my calories, macros and fiber really closely to not eat emotionally. I guess I could be underestimating my burn by a few hundred, as my "standard" intake has been more of a weight-loss focused intake the less few months, but I'm not even running as I usually am. Overall, it's only about a 200-400 calorie surplus from my estimated BMR. Is this a "healing" thing??

fivefootfitness

Also, I'm not on any new meds since the accident, in case it comes up.

girlviernes

I don't know, your body probably IS working hard on the healing. In addition, less sleep can drive hunger, less physical activity can increase hunger, and the negative emotions could contribute to a sense of hunger even if it doesn't seem that way to you.

Rice-a-roni isn't the most balanced thing. If you are very hungry try a good balance of protein, veggies, whole grains, and healthy fats. Lack of sleep can increase drive for carbs.

punchgut

Your body needs extra protein when injured. Up the protein. It will drive the hunger down without adding a ridiculous amount of calories.

fallingtrees

Sleep more, yes. Rice-a-roni would set me on a carb binge, for sure.

SnuggleSmacks

Is it possible that your macros are out of balance? Neglecting to eat enough fats or protein can make you feel hungry, as they seem to have a greater effect on satiety.

I've started making coconut oil candies to keep in the freezer. Just mix coconut oil with whatever flavor of extract or seasoning you want, add a little sweetener of choice, and pipe through a sandwich bag with the corner cut off onto wax or parchment paper. Stick them in the freezer to harden and then pop them all in a baggie to parcel out as needed. I made buttermints this way with immitation butter flavoring, peppermint oil, and stevia. I made them small, so I got 32 of them out of 4 tbsp of coconut oil, at 18 cals each. They're quite tasty and eating one or two after a meal makes me feel fuller longer. You can add unsweetened cocoa, cinnamon, any sort of liquid flavoring like almond, lemon, lime, etc., maple syrup, honey, whatever you like. You can pipe them like icing, scoop them with a round scoop, or put them into candy molds.

fivefootfitness

Ooh those coconut oil candies sound nice. Great idea!

See, I had thought the same about protein, so I ate significantly above my usual protein amount the past week. I just went for the rice-a-roni because I had only hit 47% carbs today (versus my usual 50+%, I think I surpassed that now haha) and figured it was worth a desperate shot to see if it helped. I also figured it would literally fill my stomach more.

I promise, the rest of my diet has been nicely balanced, though! I've been trying to eat well/less processed, so rice-a-roni would not usually be on the menu unless as a cheat meal.

I noticed that my fat was a smidgeon low today, but pretty high yesterday, so I'm not sure if that's the only factor. I'm glad you mentioned it, though, I'll keep a closer eye on fat specifically.

RodaRose

Eat at maintenance or above and get some sleep while you are healing.