I want to eat like a horse after my workouts anymore!! Help!!!

MSH2930

I don't know if it is a coincidence, but it seems since I've started using MFP, I want to eat like a horse when I come home from the gym. I go to the gym kind of late at night, around 10:00pm, and by the time I get home, it is midnight or later. Definitely not the time to be eating, let alone like a horse!!

I have been having a bit of a hard time eating enough protein and meeting my minimum calorie allotment for the day. If I eat remotely close to my protein for the day, I get the 'red flag' (as I call it), saying my calories for the day are too low.

An example of a day's 'menu':

Breakfast
Multigrain Cheerios with skim milk
Plain Greek yogurt with peanut butter mixed in
Orange juice
Water

Lunch:
Chicken salad made with carrots, celery, onion, and a dab of light mayo
on 1/2 of a whole wheat tortilla shell
Light string cheese (1)
Amy's Lentil Soup
Lots of water!!

Dinner:
Salad using leftover rotisserie chicken and topped with one hard-boiled egg sliced up, no dressing
Mixed frozen vegetables (plain, heated in microwave, no butter or anything)
Water

Snack:
Unsalted almonds
Glass of skim milk
Water

(I also drink plenty of water before, during, and after my exercise, at least 32 oz, which all totals usually at least 10 8 ounce glasses a day)

This is actually a ton of food compared to what I used to eat before I began my weight loss journey. I started in mid September and I've only been using MFP for almost 3 weeks. The huge maddening late night hunger began about a week or so ago (I have lost 25 lbs since starting in mid-September, and still have a good bit to lose).

If I can make it through the night, I wake up in the morning, wanting to eat everything in sight!!

I don't understand why this has only started in the last week or two. I've been watching what I eat since mid-September, just no defined monitoring until I started using MFP. My exercise has only been the treadmill (there has been no 'increase' in exercise, other than adding a few minutes/more incline to the treadmill), I feel like I still need to lose weight before adding other exercises. I know they say to add in strength training from day 1, but I just feel I am not ready for that yet. Won't that make me even hungrier..?

I have never had this huge hunger madness..:/

mylittlerainbow

I'm lucky - I get almost nauseous after I've worked out and have to wait for a while before I even feel much like eating. Perhaps you shouldn't work out so late at night? Doing it earlier might be better for boosting your metabolism for the day and then you can avoid the late night munchies - maybe at 6 AM before you go to work?

MSH2930

That sounds like a good idea. I used to work out years ago first thing in the morning. Bonus is it is out of the way!! Thanks!!

mylittlerainbow

Yes, it's over and done with, and also might even give you greater energy for whatever you do for a living!

MSH2930

Very, very true, thank you!!

jemhh

If you're having trouble eating your minimum calories, eat regular cheese and drink 1%/2%/whole milk. More calories for the same amount of food. Do not worry about the fat grams (not sure if you are but some folks get hung up on them.)

arditarose

You're not eating enough. Just because you felt fine a month ago doesn't mean it doesn't catch up with you.

Sued0nim

Protein is a minimum ...

Your undereating is catching up with you ..increase your calories with higher density foods ie full fat rather than lite

vespiquenn

rabbitjb wrote: »

Protein is a minimum ...

Your undereating is catching up with you ..increase your calories with higher density foods ie full fat rather than lite

This. If there's any macro to watch during weightloss, it is protein. Too little protein can result in skinny fat, in the simplest terms, because you're losing lean muscle. Protein helps preserve as much as possible during weightloss. In upping the protein, you typically will see the calories go up naturally.

rankinsect

MSH2930 wrote: »

I don't know if it is a coincidence, but it seems since I've started using MFP, I want to eat like a horse when I come home from the gym. I go to the gym kind of late at night, around 10:00pm, and by the time I get home, it is midnight or later. Definitely not the time to be eating, let alone like a horse!!

I have been having a bit of a hard time eating enough protein and meeting my minimum calorie allotment for the day. If I eat remotely close to my protein for the day, I get the 'red flag' (as I call it), saying my calories for the day are too low.

An example of a day's 'menu':

Breakfast
Multigrain Cheerios with skim milk
Plain Greek yogurt with peanut butter mixed in
Orange juice
Water

Lunch:
Chicken salad made with carrots, celery, onion, and a dab of light mayo
on 1/2 of a whole wheat tortilla shell
Light string cheese (1)
Amy's Lentil Soup
Lots of water!!

Dinner:
Salad using leftover rotisserie chicken and topped with one hard-boiled egg sliced up, no dressing
Mixed frozen vegetables (plain, heated in microwave, no butter or anything)
Water

Snack:
Unsalted almonds
Glass of skim milk
Water

(I also drink plenty of water before, during, and after my exercise, at least 32 oz, which all totals usually at least 10 8 ounce glasses a day)

This is actually a ton of food compared to what I used to eat before I began my weight loss journey. I started in mid September and I've only been using MFP for almost 3 weeks. The huge maddening late night hunger began about a week or so ago (I have lost 25 lbs since starting in mid-September, and still have a good bit to lose).

If I can make it through the night, I wake up in the morning, wanting to eat everything in sight!!

I don't understand why this has only started in the last week or two. I've been watching what I eat since mid-September, just no defined monitoring until I started using MFP. My exercise has only been the treadmill (there has been no 'increase' in exercise, other than adding a few minutes/more incline to the treadmill), I feel like I still need to lose weight before adding other exercises. I know they say to add in strength training from day 1, but I just feel I am not ready for that yet. Won't that make me even hungrier..?

I have never had this huge hunger madness..:/

If you're eating so low that it yells at you, your hunger is a perfectly natural response to being seriously underfed.

I have probably realistically about 100 lb to go (my goal was set when I thought my height was taller...). I am a man and I am fairly active, but I'm eating 1800/2200 calories on days I don't work out / days I do, and I am actually concerned it's a bit too low, and am thinking of trying 1900/2300 next month.

As to claiming you're eating more than before - that's suspect. Were you weighing and logging every bite that passed your lips before? Studies show that even people who are trying to honestly report their calorie intake tend to underreport, often drastically (i.e. 50% under what their actual food intake is). It can often seem like you eat more when on a diet because you actually structure and pay attention to your eating. Just in terms of my main entrees, I actually do eat about as much as I did before; I didn't drastically cut portion sizes. What I don't do anymore is eat 1000-2000 calories in random snacking in between meals, nor do I have six or seven glasses of milk with a meal, etc.

kshama2001

rankinsect wrote: »

MSH2930 wrote: »

I don't know if it is a coincidence, but it seems since I've started using MFP, I want to eat like a horse when I come home from the gym. I go to the gym kind of late at night, around 10:00pm, and by the time I get home, it is midnight or later. Definitely not the time to be eating, let alone like a horse!!

I have been having a bit of a hard time eating enough protein and meeting my minimum calorie allotment for the day. If I eat remotely close to my protein for the day, I get the 'red flag' (as I call it), saying my calories for the day are too low.

An example of a day's 'menu':

Breakfast
Multigrain Cheerios with skim milk
Plain Greek yogurt with peanut butter mixed in
Orange juice
Water

Lunch:
Chicken salad made with carrots, celery, onion, and a dab of light mayo
on 1/2 of a whole wheat tortilla shell
Light string cheese (1)
Amy's Lentil Soup
Lots of water!!

Dinner:
Salad using leftover rotisserie chicken and topped with one hard-boiled egg sliced up, no dressing
Mixed frozen vegetables (plain, heated in microwave, no butter or anything)
Water

Snack:
Unsalted almonds
Glass of skim milk
Water

(I also drink plenty of water before, during, and after my exercise, at least 32 oz, which all totals usually at least 10 8 ounce glasses a day)

This is actually a ton of food compared to what I used to eat before I began my weight loss journey. I started in mid September and I've only been using MFP for almost 3 weeks. The huge maddening late night hunger began about a week or so ago (I have lost 25 lbs since starting in mid-September, and still have a good bit to lose).

If I can make it through the night, I wake up in the morning, wanting to eat everything in sight!!

I don't understand why this has only started in the last week or two. I've been watching what I eat since mid-September, just no defined monitoring until I started using MFP. My exercise has only been the treadmill (there has been no 'increase' in exercise, other than adding a few minutes/more incline to the treadmill), I feel like I still need to lose weight before adding other exercises. I know they say to add in strength training from day 1, but I just feel I am not ready for that yet. Won't that make me even hungrier..?

I have never had this huge hunger madness..:/

If you're eating so low that it yells at you, your hunger is a perfectly natural response to being seriously underfed.

I have probably realistically about 100 lb to go (my goal was set when I thought my height was taller...). I am a man and I am fairly active, but I'm eating 1800/2200 calories on days I don't work out / days I do, and I am actually concerned it's a bit too low, and am thinking of trying 1900/2300 next month.

As to claiming you're eating more than before - that's suspect. Were you weighing and logging every bite that passed your lips before? Studies show that even people who are trying to honestly report their calorie intake tend to underreport, often drastically (i.e. 50% under what their actual food intake is). It can often seem like you eat more when on a diet because you actually structure and pay attention to your eating. Just in terms of my main entrees, I actually do eat about as much as I did before; I didn't drastically cut portion sizes. What I don't do anymore is eat 1000-2000 calories in random snacking in between meals, nor do I have six or seven glasses of milk with a meal, etc.

Yes, @MSH2930 you were probably eating more than you think before you starting logging, and are not eating enough now to fuel your workout.

How tall are you, what do you weigh, what's your goal weight, and how many pounds per week is your goal set to?

SLLRunner

rabbitjb wrote: »

Protein is a minimum ...

Your undereating is catching up with you ..increase your calories with higher density foods ie full fat rather than lite

This.

I weight lift before breakfast and also get hungry afterward, so my breakfasts are calorie and protein dense. When I run, I am not too hungry afterward so I run in the afternoons and have a light snack after. I suggest also planning to have some calories after the workout, provided you don't have a medical issue to where you can't eat closer to bedtime.

BuddhaB0y

An after work protien shake would probably help with the hunger even if it's late. You can get plenty of low cal powders, the fruit ones you mix with water are great.

MSH2930

Thanks for the replies. Guess it is time to find more ways to up the protein intake and not be so obsessed with low-fat stuff. When I *have* tried to up the protein intake, the calories somehow seem low for the day. Just have to find a good balancing act, I guess. I still can't bring myself to use protein shakes. Tried them years ago and I just think they are not for me. I realize they may be better now and God Bless those who do use them successfully, I just kind of prefer to steer clear of them..same for protein bars..I kind of want to find a diet that I can live with in the long run, if you know what I mean..;) But again, it is great that they work well for some

rankinsect

MSH2930 wrote: »

Thanks for the replies. Guess it is time to find more ways to up the protein intake and not be so obsessed with low-fat stuff. When I *have* tried to up the protein intake, the calories somehow seem low for the day. Just have to find a good balancing act, I guess. I still can't bring myself to use protein shakes. Tried them years ago and I just think they are not for me. I realize they may be better now and God Bless those who do use them successfully, I just kind of prefer to steer clear of them..same for protein bars..I kind of want to find a diet that I can live with in the long run, if you know what I mean..;) But again, it is great that they work well for some

Up your protein and calories at the same time by eating foods that have both protein and higher calories - whole milk, peanut butter, etc. have good amounts of protein but have carbs or fats too.

MSH2930

TY, TY!!

Packerjohn

You can use protein bars and shakes to supplement a healthy diet. Been doing so for years.

azulvioleta6

I wonder if working out so late is messing with your sleep patterns. There is definitely a connection between sleep and hunger.

I generally work out between 8-10 PM and then have a light dinner afterwards. It works for me, but I think that many people do better with a workout earlier in the day. In your position, I would play around with workout and meal timing to see if that makes a difference.

How much protein are you getting in grams? I wonder if you might be slightly low. You could try a protein shake immediately after a workout.

Adding a couple of additional cups of water is another thing to try. Certainly you are already meeting the minimum, but larger and more active people sometimes need a lot more than 8 cups a day.

MSH2930

azulvioleta6 wrote: »

I wonder if working out so late is messing with your sleep patterns. There is definitely a connection between sleep and hunger.

I generally work out between 8-10 PM and then have a light dinner afterwards. It works for me, but I think that many people do better with a workout earlier in the day. In your position, I would play around with workout and meal timing to see if that makes a difference.

How much protein are you getting in grams? I wonder if you might be slightly low. You could try a protein shake immediately after a workout.

Adding a couple of additional cups of water is another thing to try. Certainly you are already meeting the minimum, but larger and more active people sometimes need a lot more than 8 cups a day.

Thanks. I shoot for at least 10 (8 oz) glasses of water. Often it is more like 12, but I suppose I could even up that amount. Looks like, as you and a few others have suggested, that I am going to have to cave and try some protein bars (low salt) and maybe some protein shakes. I detest protein shakes for a million reasons (that I like to keep to myself), but if they keep these horrible post-workout extreme food cravings at bay, I am all for it!!

Definitely going to try and workout earlier in the day. I had been and in the last 3 weeks or so is when I started this late night workout routine. It's bad, I know, but I guess I was thinking at least I got the workout in. But as you and a couple others have suggested, I am going to try really hard to work out earlier in the day. I am just not an early bird, but I guess I need to start to be!

Thanks again, all, for the replies!!!

azulvioleta6

Now I am curious about your secret reasons for hating protein shakes.

If taste is the issue, try different brands. The flavor varies a lot from brand to brand. Something that you can do to make the taste/texture better is to use protein powder to make a smoothie. The easiest way to do this is 1 scoop of protein powder + the water that goes with it + 1/2 cup frozen fruit. Blend and enjoy...I recommend strawberries.

I would not go crazy with the water, but add and extra cup or two to see if that makes a difference.

MSH2930

Well maybe it's time I try protein shakes again. Maybe they've come a long way. If I learned to down the (nasty, imho) plain nonfat greek yogurt, how bad can a protein shake be..?

I guess it just all boils down to personal preference as far as what we are willing to put into our bodies.

CoffeeNCardio

MSH2930 wrote: »

Well maybe it's time I try protein shakes again. Maybe they've come a long way. If I learned to down the (nasty, imho) plain nonfat greek yogurt, how bad can a protein shake be..?

I guess it just all boils down to personal preference as far as what we are willing to put into our bodies.

If you hate the shakes that much, you could supplement with protein bars. They're less bang for your buck (cost more and are usually limited to 10/12 or less grams of protein for a couple hundred calories, versus the 20 you can get for 180 in my fav shake) but they might in some cases taste better. I certainly find them more satisfying when I just HAVE to bite into something solid and chew it. (Zone Perfect are my fav. 180 cal, 10g protein, absurdly delicious)

MSH2930

Yes, I have def considered protein bars. I may even try the protein powder yet. The nice thing nowadays is info is so much more readily available about a product than some 20 years ago, when I first tried protein shakes. And I may even just sprinkle the protein powder on some foods and consume it that way as opposed to making shakes with the powder. That will work, right..?

Thanks so much for all the wonderful suggestions!! (Oddly enough, I've been sleeping like a baby!! Yay!! )

mylittlerainbow

Protein bars are great and so handy. And the protein powder I usually blend into my smoothies or it can be sprinkled onto and mixed into anything that you might eat like cottage cheese, cereal, etc. It doesn't contribute much if any flavor when mixed into something else as a supplement.

MSH2930

mylittlerainbow wrote: »

Protein bars are great and so handy. And the protein powder I usually blend into my smoothies or it can be sprinkled onto and mixed into anything that you might eat like cottage cheese, cereal, etc. It doesn't contribute much if any flavor when mixed into something else as a supplement.

Bingo. That is exactly what I plan on doing. How often do you use protein powder and have a protein bar..? (question for mylittlerainbow, and/or anyone else wishing to answer! )

kshama2001

I had a Quest bar the other day and thought is was nasty artificially tasting. I have protein powder almost every day. Here's my current favorite whey pp: Biochem Ultimate 100 % Whey protein, Natural, 24.6-Ounce Can. Contains whey protein isolate, natural French vanilla flavor, sun flower lecithin, and xanthan gum.

No stevia or artificial flavors, which are tastes to which some people object.

MSH2930

kshama2001 wrote: »

I had a Quest bar the other day and thought is was nasty artificially tasting. I have protein powder almost every day. Here's my current favorite whey pp: Biochem Ultimate 100 % Whey protein, Natural, 24.6-Ounce Can. Contains whey protein isolate, natural French vanilla flavor, sun flower lecithin, and xanthan gum.

No stevia or artificial flavors, which are tastes to which some people object.

Thanks!!

jennifer_417

If you're worried about eating late at night, it won't affect your weight loss. If you're getting a 'red flag' saying you're not eating enough calorie, then you're not eating enough calories. That's why you're so hungry. You really need to eat more.

MSH2930

jennifer_417 wrote: »

If you're worried about eating late at night, it won't affect your weight loss. If you're getting a 'red flag' saying you're not eating enough calorie, then you're not eating enough calories. That's why you're so hungry. You really need to eat more.

Yep. My problem seems to be finding things that are high enough in protein yet also help me reach the alloted calories for the day. Hence the ensuing protein powder/protein bar suggestions.

SuzieQzie123

I like the Larabar..it isn't as high I protein as others but it tastes great and fills me up. For the protein powder...I NEVER drink it straight. .. instead I mix it in a smoothy...the best I find after a workout is 1 scoop protein powder (I use Vega), 1 banana, 1tbs any nut butter, spinach and almond milk. The nut butter covers any of that icky "protein" flavor.

BuddhaB0y

I use the website named after a jungle in Brazil to check reviews from customers on how protein powder and bars taste. Find one that's got high protien and low sugar/fat and good reviews and try it. I have some great and inexpensive protein bars from there. Obviously the taste isn't as yummy as a real chocolate bar, but you are eating to intake protein and reduce cravings, for that purpose they are good!