Working out makes me insanely hungry.

Robotscallmecoty

I have been trying a little here and a little there to diet and exercise. I have never truly dieted. Just watched what I ate and exercised. Now I'm trying to count calories and keep a food journal and push through this dieting/exercising regiment. One thing I have noticed though is that as a muscular guy, for example today. Today was the third day in a row I have worked out and I have been eating lighter to create the needed deficit to lose weight. But tonight around dinner I was insanely hungry. I notice that when I work out my body responds and wants food and protein to rebuild. This isn't an excuse or cry for help though. I was just wondering if there are others out there who have this problem. On a regular laid back day there isn't a time during the day at all that i feel starved, but on my heavy workout days watch out.

Jesse_Hunter

When I first started working out hard, and when i started endurance cycling I would burn 1600 calories and go eat it back in literally 1-2 hours worth of time.

I notice my body started to adapt more and more to my training over time. Intaking more carbs (fruits if soon before workout, oatmeal/brown rice if 1-2 hours before) before your workout will help a lot to fuel your body during and after helping with the extreme hunger.

Overall though, This is just your body's way of telling you that you've depleted a lot of your nutrient stores and you need to refuel!

EAlexandraB

When I started back to working out in March (had about 2 years off due to major shoulder reconstruction), I was obviously working with fairly light weights. I started doing dead lifts, for example, with a 35lb kettlebell. Once that weight increased to about 100lbs (and weights for other exercises also increased), I was STARVING after workouts. (Now that I'm up to 140lbs+ for my dead lift, I'm even hungrier after workouts.)

I just plan for it. I will eat a few hundred extra calories that day (I don't usually track/eat back exercise cals, but if I'm TRULY hungry and not just wanting to eat, I listen to that signal), or I will "save" some of my calories for after my workouts. A protein shake, several glasses of water, and something to snack on (usually an apple or some raw veggies) will generally take the edge off for me.

triciab79

I swim and the cravings are insane afterwards. I find that drinking about 16 oz of water after the swim helps a good deal.

bathsheba_c

I've had this happen. Are you eating back your exercise calories?

RedHeadDevotchka

I def can relate! I just said I could eat around 3000 with all of the strength training I do. Make sure you are giving your body the fuel it needs though, so don't go too low.

MB_Positif

It's not a problem, you need to eat to fuel your body! Your body is telling you what it needs!

Phoenix59

I also get really hungry after a hard workout. A protein smoothie usually does the trick for me.

chocolateandvodka

That's kind of the point.



Try this: High protein/high fiber snacks in between meals. Eat all the eggs, nuts, protein shakes, fish, apples, etc in between meals and hopefully eat about 5-6 times per day.

NNAhuja

After a real good workout, I'll usually eat some fresh spring rolls. Protein PACKED with eggs and tofu!

MissMaggie3

I didn't understand the true meaning of the word 'hunger' until I started lifting heavy. I'm trying to work to a weekly rather than daily calorie goal, but I often go over when 'The Hunger' strikes. I'm taking it as an unmistakable message from my body that it needs the calories (protein?) to build the muscle, so I go with it.

Robotscallmecoty

Yeah, I eat back the calories I lost on the treadmill but the site didn't compensate from the calories burned during heavy lifting. Protein shakes usually help a little but just to dampen my appetite. My appetite truly fluctuates and I often have to make myself eat a meal. I own a lawn service so I am in the sun a lot.