Does exercise curb appetite or just make you hungrier?

saschka7
saschka7 Posts: 577 Member
in Food and Nutrition
So, does exercise curb your appetite or just make you hungrier? Is there any physiological occurance that happens when a person starts working out regularly (i.e. cardio and beginning strength training 4-5x a week) after being inactive for years?

At first, the extra exercise I was getting when I started a few weeks ago made me hungrier the first few days, but lately, my appetite has decreased. I'm not really complaining or anything--just wondering if that is typical and if I should just go with it.

The last few days I've been struggling with meeting my minimum calories--sure, I could just consume loads of empty calories but that isn't the point. I do exercise loads more on the weekends, so maybe I just shouldn't try to eat back all my exercise calories as long as I meet my BMR? I eat something small at least every 2-3 hours, btw.

If there is a naturally-occurring appetite suppressant in exercise, then I assume the body would start feeling hunger again if it really needed food?
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Replies

  • lalalyn12
    lalalyn12 Posts: 80 Member
    Ive noticed that when I exercise, I am either not that hungry or if I eat dinner, I do not want to snack. I think working out suppresses the appetite, with me anyway.
  • ang3h
    ang3h Posts: 185 Member
    I am always ravenous after I work out.. even if I ate something prior.
  • belladonna786
    belladonna786 Posts: 1,165 Member
    definitely hungrier!
  • pooleekylie
    pooleekylie Posts: 103
    It makes me lose my appetite. But a few hours later is a different story...
  • LorinaLynn
    LorinaLynn Posts: 13,247 Member
    I have no appetite after long runs. I forgot lunch until about 4pm yesterday after running 8 miles around noon.
  • hello_miffy
    hello_miffy Posts: 29 Member
    Depends on how hard I work. If it's not too much then I will be hungry after, if I push myself too hard then it completely puts me off eating for a while.
  • bunchesonothing
    bunchesonothing Posts: 1,015 Member
    Curb. I lose my appetite after runs.
  • debjae
    debjae Posts: 242
    It makes me lose my appetite.
  • mamagooskie
    mamagooskie Posts: 2,964 Member
    Depends on the exercise I've done, and the time I work out, and how intense it was.
  • seximami79
    seximami79 Posts: 156 Member
    I think it depends on what time I do it, and what kind of exercise it is...when I exercise at night, I am less hungry.
  • Bakkasan
    Bakkasan Posts: 1,027 Member
    It makes me lose my appetite. But a few hours later is a different story...

    Here we go! I can't eat for like 4 hours but then it happens.
  • zyxst
    zyxst Posts: 9,149 Member
    I'm usually thirsty.
  • californiagirl2012
    californiagirl2012 Posts: 2,625 Member
    I think it is mental. I've heard a lot of people say cardio makes them hungrier.

    When I was losing weight I ate at a fairly large calorie deficit and could do so because I had a lot of stored energy on my body (fat), while I ate at that deficit I lifted weights for 1 to 1.5 hours a day 5-6 days a week, and also did cardio .5 to 1.0 hours a day 5-6 days a week, including HIIT. I managed to stay at a calorie deficit. Sure I felt hungry sometimes. Part of the game for paying off your calorie debt is letting yourself feel hungry. It is not fun but it will not hurt you contrary to what many will say. The fact is you will not go into starvation mode unless you are a female less than 12% BF or a male less than 6% BF.
  • suzieqcookie
    suzieqcookie Posts: 314 Member
    WAY, WAY hungrier!! and if i don't eat back at least some of my exercise calories, i am starving the next day.
  • SheilaN1976
    SheilaN1976 Posts: 266 Member
    i have noticed that it does make me hungrier after i do cardio...which is why i don't eat until after i workout.
  • TXGirl821
    TXGirl821 Posts: 115
    After strength training, I'm STARVING for the rest of the day. After cardio, I'm really no more or less hungry than I would be on any other day.
  • linhmaimac
    linhmaimac Posts: 148 Member
    I mentally feel "full" after I work out and don't want to waste the calories I just burned by consuming more. But then an hour or so later, I am starving. Its so bad, don't listen to me.
  • toaster6
    toaster6 Posts: 703 Member
    With the exception of swimming, if I work out, my appetite drastically decreases. I won't be hungry enough to eat for at least 3 hours after a workout. Same thing happens with my boyfriend. I think it's because I end up drinking tons of water while working out. Now, if I have been swimming for awhile, I'll feel very hungry afterwards.
  • kimothy38
    kimothy38 Posts: 840 Member
    Something I found online says exercise intensity can also affect whether you'll be stimulating or decreasing your appetite after doing the activity. Higher-intensity activities have better appetite-suppressing effects than lower-intensity ones. When I first started exercising I couldn't eat for 2-3 hours afterwards but now I'm used to it I can eat within 30 mins afterwards.
  • Wezlfuss
    Wezlfuss Posts: 122 Member
    Honestly? I don't feel a huge change in appetite, although that could just be because I usually eat right before working out. I DO kind of feel like I'm more inclined to make better portion choices without having to mentally fight with myself. Maybe It's just because I don't want to sabotage my work out, but I do kind feel like there is some kind of physiological aspect to it.
  • AlotOfSweatAndPain
    AlotOfSweatAndPain Posts: 234 Member
    Exercise makes me horny and hungry
  • acpgee
    acpgee Posts: 7,949 Member
    Even if I go to the gym hungry, I lose my appetite immediately after a good cardio session (1 hr). What I don't understand is that I often go to the gym after work with a terrible starchy carbohydrate craving. But after cardio I first lose the hunger, and then find it has turned into a meaty protein craving.
  • verptwerp
    verptwerp Posts: 3,659 Member
    Lots of exercise makes me hungry ...... and then I eat a nice big meal without the least bit of guilt :drinker:
  • gracieabem
    gracieabem Posts: 211
    It depends. On my short/easy runs or dog walks - no. I think my appetite stays pretty much the same.

    After a particular intense run or a long run. I don't feel particularly hungry on that day. But the next day I do, so I allow myself to eat back the calories I burned the day before if I so desire.
  • PikaKnight
    PikaKnight Posts: 34,971 Member
    I never really thought about it until now. But I'd say it curbs my appetite usually. that's when I have had something to eat prior. But since changing my workout time to the AM rather than the PM - I have to correct a bad habit of skipping breakfast. I've noticed that the more I get into a routine of working out in the morning, the more lightheaded and weak I feel because I didn't eat anything before.

    I know working out helped quitting smoking be so much easier! And it has helped prevent me from gaining weight from quitting. Woo! :)
  • campi_mama
    campi_mama Posts: 350 Member
    It makes me lose my appetite. But a few hours later is a different story...

    ME too ^^^
  • bulbadoof
    bulbadoof Posts: 1,058 Member
    As a boredom eater, it keeps me out of the fridge for a bit.
  • tubaman58
    tubaman58 Posts: 151
    I would say the long slow workouts curb it and the intense shorter ones boost it. I may be wrong, but that is my impression
  • thelovelyLIZ
    thelovelyLIZ Posts: 1,227 Member
    It depends. Running about 4-7 miles usually curbs my appetite a lot, to the extent where I'm ravenous the next day because my body is like OH YEAH, CALORIES. Anything over eight or nine though, and I have to eat ALL THE THINGS.
  • shinjite
    shinjite Posts: 51
    If I exercise in the evening it makes me hungrier but in the morning it curbs my appetite.
    Also, what you have to eat post workout makes a difference.

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