Going from very active to sedentary - adjusting to reduced food intake

powered85

I've had to take a few days off due to injury and having a really tough time eating maintenance calories based on sedentary compared to what I normally eat daily due to a high activity level. Seem to want to eat as much as I would during a day with lots of activity and a long run. Is it normal for it to take a few days to adjust physically or is it more a mindset to cut the food out on days where completely inactive?

Sued0nim

Yes it's normal

Appetite is not directly related to calorie burn

SCoil123

Totally normal. I went through it too when I tore my meniscus.

snickerscharlie

Yes, totally normal. And a few days above maintenance isn't going to harm anything anyway.

Hope you heal quickly and well.

powered85

This is promising news thank you!

I noticed this on a rest days as well but was only a day so didn't pay much attention.

Generally burn 800+ or so on exercise most days so it's a big drop when off the routine. Amazing how you get used to the same caloric intake.

nosebag1212

If it's just for a few days you could just eat at maintenance (BMR x 1.2) then resume the deficit when you heal up, you will also heal faster that way, tying to eat at a deficit when you're sedentary is VERY difficult imo because you get so little food.

Rocknut53

powered85 wrote: »

This is promising news thank you!

I noticed this on a rest days as well but was only a day so didn't pay much attention.

Generally burn 800+ or so on exercise most days so it's a big drop when off the routine. Amazing how you get used to the same caloric intake.

Me too. I hate rest days. My exercise is always outdoors so I hate when we have particularly nasty weather days and I can't get out and have to adjust my eating accordingly. I feel like I'm starving even though I don't typically eat more than half my exercise calories back anyway.

powered85

Rocknut53 wrote: »

powered85 wrote: »

This is promising news thank you!

I noticed this on a rest days as well but was only a day so didn't pay much attention.

Generally burn 800+ or so on exercise most days so it's a big drop when off the routine. Amazing how you get used to the same caloric intake.

Me too. I hate rest days.

Same here. I love getting out and being active. Will be well above maintenance for a few days until I get back at it. Will be interesting if the cravings go down tomorrow and next while sedentary.

neldabg

powered85 wrote: »

Rocknut53 wrote: »

powered85 wrote: »

This is promising news thank you!

I noticed this on a rest days as well but was only a day so didn't pay much attention.

Generally burn 800+ or so on exercise most days so it's a big drop when off the routine. Amazing how you get used to the same caloric intake.

Me too. I hate rest days.

Same here. I love getting out and being active. Will be well above maintenance for a few days until I get back at it. Will be interesting if the cravings go down tomorrow and next while sedentary.

I know the feeling. I took a few days off of intense exercise recently because I both felt and *knew* my body needed the break, and I went from 2000-2500 in the weeks before to 1400-1550, and that's only after squeezing in a short walk. I almost forgot how little the body needs when a person is not in motion.
The cravings do go away eventually, and the first day is really only the toughest. Have a safe recovery!