Took a a break from lifting and am MORE HUNGRY!?
3foldchord
Posts: 2,918 Member
(This seems Odd)
I lifted weights, heavy for me, 3 times a week for 4 months. (May-Aug) Then started a job and dropped lifting to twice a week (my Chronic Fatigue issues couldn't handle it)
Didn't lose any weight, that whole May-October (135#) but felt strong and my body shape changed for the better (and according to my calipers I lost 4% body fat-though I know those are totally accurate, reliable, my skin fold thickness got LESS).
* my job is 20 hours a week cashier at a small health food store. I also stock merchandise, move boxes, help costumes find things, clean, etc.
In the last 4-6 weeks I have not lifted weights, my health issues have been getting the best of me, BUT in that time I dropped 3.5 pounds and .5% body fat.
And for the last 5 days. I am NON STOP famished! Not just 'feel hungry', but my stomach is twisted and churning and growling and I am so famished I am dizzy and weak. (And eating makes me feel better)
*i have mild hypoglycemia.
Of course on my wall here people are saying it is I gained muscle and more muscle burns more fat! makes me hungry.
I have been eating at a deficit, and did not start out overweight or totally out of shape, so. I can't imagine I'd have much 'newbie gain'.
Any explanation? Did my body decide that since I finally got to my goal weight and goal body fat (23%) it's OK to eat all the food all the time again??
When lifting weights 3 times a week I ate approx 1600 calories and 130g protein, kept my carbs between 120-160 and my fas around 50.
Since stopping the lifting I dropped my calories to around 1400, protein 110-130, carbs 100-130, fat 40-50.
I can't stand being famished to the point of dizzy, weak, fatigue all the time! Do you think this is a phase and it will go away?
I don't mind the slight increase in calories, I feel I dropped kinda quickly the last 4-6 weeks. I don't want to lose more, just don't want to regain any poundage.
I have not been logging well either over this famished time. I did plan today and will try my best to stick to it, see how I feel tomorrow. (I always leave 150 calories so when preplan ing, for snacks or changes)
I lifted weights, heavy for me, 3 times a week for 4 months. (May-Aug) Then started a job and dropped lifting to twice a week (my Chronic Fatigue issues couldn't handle it)
Didn't lose any weight, that whole May-October (135#) but felt strong and my body shape changed for the better (and according to my calipers I lost 4% body fat-though I know those are totally accurate, reliable, my skin fold thickness got LESS).
* my job is 20 hours a week cashier at a small health food store. I also stock merchandise, move boxes, help costumes find things, clean, etc.
In the last 4-6 weeks I have not lifted weights, my health issues have been getting the best of me, BUT in that time I dropped 3.5 pounds and .5% body fat.
And for the last 5 days. I am NON STOP famished! Not just 'feel hungry', but my stomach is twisted and churning and growling and I am so famished I am dizzy and weak. (And eating makes me feel better)
*i have mild hypoglycemia.
Of course on my wall here people are saying it is I gained muscle and more muscle burns more fat! makes me hungry.
I have been eating at a deficit, and did not start out overweight or totally out of shape, so. I can't imagine I'd have much 'newbie gain'.
Any explanation? Did my body decide that since I finally got to my goal weight and goal body fat (23%) it's OK to eat all the food all the time again??
When lifting weights 3 times a week I ate approx 1600 calories and 130g protein, kept my carbs between 120-160 and my fas around 50.
Since stopping the lifting I dropped my calories to around 1400, protein 110-130, carbs 100-130, fat 40-50.
I can't stand being famished to the point of dizzy, weak, fatigue all the time! Do you think this is a phase and it will go away?
I don't mind the slight increase in calories, I feel I dropped kinda quickly the last 4-6 weeks. I don't want to lose more, just don't want to regain any poundage.
I have not been logging well either over this famished time. I did plan today and will try my best to stick to it, see how I feel tomorrow. (I always leave 150 calories so when preplan ing, for snacks or changes)
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Tagging because I'm interested in the response.
You mentioned that you didn't want to lose more, did you recalculate your calories for maintenance, or did you just drop the calories from your cut level because you stopped lifting?0 -
Tagging because I'm interested in the response.
You mentioned that you didn't want to lose more, did you recalculate your calories for maintenance, or did you just drop the calories from your cut level because you stopped lifting?
I jus cut back on calories when. I stopped lifting, and lost weight. I still am eating at a deficit, because I either ,g incorrectly or my TDEE stuff isn't accurate. I gain weight if I eat more than TDEE -10%. So my actually TDEE might be lower than those online calculators.
My body fat goal is a window 21-23%. I just made it to 23%, so I am fine going down a little or staying, but NOT increasing! My weight goal is 130-133, but part of me keeps say "OH, but 128# isn't much farther and will still be doable..... " but I don't think I could with my health the way it is right now. So I want to increase any calories very very slowly. My stomach wants all of them TODAY!0 -
So, was thinking Basically, maybe just need more calories.,I was actually a bit low for a week not long ago,and maybe walking around the health food store burns more calories than I thought.
Just gotta find a balance between eating enough and not gaining anything back.0 -
Tagging0
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You are probably expending more than you realise in your job as well, it's not just sitting in a chair taking money all day, so that might be part of it?0
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When people begin a lifting program they typically see an increase in fluid weight due to glycogen storage. It seems reasonable to me that taking a 6 week break from weight training could simply create the opposite effect to a degree. I'm not suggesting that the losses are all fluid, just throwing that out there as a possibility.0
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When people begin a lifting program they typically see an increase in fluid weight due to glycogen storage. It seems reasonable to me that taking a 6 week break from weight training could simply create the opposite effect to a degree. I'm not suggesting that the losses are all fluid, just throwing that out there as a possibility.
I wondered that about the weight loss, that it was my body finally letting go of the glycogen water weight.
But wasn't sure about the not losing weight being due to water. I never gained weighed (like is often reported with the beginning of weight lifting) and my weight did not change for 6 months. I didn,t think glycogen water weight lasted that long.
But I was OK with it, as I was getting stronger and better body comp. I was more focused on strength and body fat.
But, ya, I figured that was part of the drop in weight maybe.
** though I stopped the weighs 4-6 weeks ago,,the ravenous, seemingly insatiable hunger started a week ago. Maybe it all finally caught up and body decided it can,t take,it anymore and needs more food. My Chronic Fatigue has been bad for about 4 weeks, maybe partly due to needing more calories and I never realized it.0 -
When people begin a lifting program they typically see an increase in fluid weight due to glycogen storage. It seems reasonable to me that taking a 6 week break from weight training could simply create the opposite effect to a degree. I'm not suggesting that the losses are all fluid, just throwing that out there as a possibility.
I recently started lifting. I've been at it for about a month now. Do you know (approximately) how long before my muscles dump the fluid? I noticed a weight gain also the week after I started.0 -
When people begin a lifting program they typically see an increase in fluid weight due to glycogen storage. It seems reasonable to me that taking a 6 week break from weight training could simply create the opposite effect to a degree. I'm not suggesting that the losses are all fluid, just throwing that out there as a possibility.
I recently started lifting. I've been at it for about a month now. Do you know (approximately) how long before my muscles dump the fluid? I noticed a weight gain also the week after I started.
If you continue lifting, it will not. You will stabilize however, in that 'real' weight loss will continue (assuming you are at a deficit) and the water weight will not increase, so you will start to see the scale move. It usually takes a couple of weeks to see it but I have also seen it take a month or so to stabilize.0 -
As I lost body fat, I had to increase calories in order to not feel overly hungry and not get faint or have low HR. Basically, I brought my calories up from 1350NET to about 1800-1900NET. It takes a little trial and error. Eat what you feel you need right now, your body is trying to tell you something. Keep track of all of it, though, so you can tweak it as needed as time goes on.0
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As I lost body fat, I had to increase calories in order to not feel overly hungry and not get faint or have low HR. Basically, I brought my calories up from 1350NET to about 1800-1900NET. It takes a little trial and error. Eat what you feel you need right now, your body is trying to tell you something. Keep track of all of it, though, so you can tweak it as needed as time goes on.
That is interesting! Having less body fat requires more calories? I guess it kinda makes sense, the body has less in reserve to go to.
I,ll try increasing a bit. I guess I figured! the less I weighed, the less my body needed.
Anyway, I was feeling better for about 2 days with the slight increase (of over a week), but then BAM! Today my health took a dive and it really makes me sad.
Gonna tweak a few things for this whole month and hope to have my energy and health back by January.0 -
As I lost body fat, I had to increase calories in order to not feel overly hungry and not get faint or have low HR. Basically, I brought my calories up from 1350NET to about 1800-1900NET. It takes a little trial and error. Eat what you feel you need right now, your body is trying to tell you something. Keep track of all of it, though, so you can tweak it as needed as time goes on.
That is interesting! Having less body fat requires more calories? I guess it kinda makes sense, the body has less in reserve to go to.
I,ll try increasing a bit. I guess I figured! the less I weighed, the less my body needed.
Anyway, I was feeling better for about 2 days with the slight increase (of over a week), but then BAM! Today my health took a dive and it really makes me sad.
Gonna tweak a few things for this whole month and hope to have my energy and health back by January.
Yes, your thinking is inline with mine. As your body fat lowers, there is less for your body to use as energy, so you have to fuel it with more food/calories. I'm assuming we also have more muscle, as we have been strength training, and muscle burns more energy than fat. So once again, your body is needing more fuel. Its not always a huge increase, because our overall weight is lower, but you get the idea. Anyway, you still have to work with it because mfp is just one tool, its not fool proof. Even at the same age, height, weight, etc, people have different caloric needs.
Good luck. I hope you are feeling better soon:)0 -
As I lost body fat, I had to increase calories in order to not feel overly hungry and not get faint or have low HR. Basically, I brought my calories up from 1350NET to about 1800-1900NET. It takes a little trial and error. Eat what you feel you need right now, your body is trying to tell you something. Keep track of all of it, though, so you can tweak it as needed as time goes on.
That is interesting! Having less body fat requires more calories? I guess it kinda makes sense, the body has less in reserve to go to.
I,ll try increasing a bit. I guess I figured! the less I weighed, the less my body needed.
Anyway, I was feeling better for about 2 days with the slight increase (of over a week), but then BAM! Today my health took a dive and it really makes me sad.
Gonna tweak a few things for this whole month and hope to have my energy and health back by January.
Having less body fat does not require less calories for weight loss - it requires less. You should have a smaller deficit however for LBM preservation.0 -
Having less body fat does not require less calories for weight loss - it requires less. You should have a smaller deficit however for LBM preservation.
Is that what you meant, there in the bold? Did I miss something? Or was it a brain typo and you meant something different?
And I know carbs are not evil and super low carbs isn't the way, esp for me. But how high is it Ok to go eating carbs? I was set to about 35%, but am thinking of upping them to 40% (of my 1500 calorie menu)0