Decreased appetite after increased workouts?

LoseYouself
LoseYouself Posts: 249 Member
in Food and Nutrition
I'm not sure if this topic belongs here, but I'll try anyways..

I've experienced a change in appetite lately as I've increased my workouts to 4-6x per week again (like I used to do) which includes lifting followed by cardio. I rest when I need to. I increased my workouts after I started eating at TDEE -20% about 5-6 weeks ago and it's going well. I'm losing about a pound per week or a little less. I workout more because I have much more energy and enthusiasm to workout. I eat about 2000 calories per day, and also burn more now. However I've noticed lately that my appetite is significantly lower than it was before I increased my workouts. I know I'm still at deficit and my body needs it.

If it helps, I intermittent fast 16:8 (Lean Gains style) meaning I eat my daily caloric needs within an 8 hour window each day followed by 16 hours fasted after dinner from 6pm to 10am, and this has done wonders for my body composition and fat loss while preserving my lean mass.

Here's an example- It was time to break the fast at noon today, so I had a large protein smoothie (berries, flax, protein powder, etc), spinach, tomato and hummus on brown rice tortilla, and a side of steamed broccoli. After that I felt like I ate a buffet, and still do hours later. It was only 1/3 of my calories for the day.

Thoughts on what may cause such a change? I'm continuing to eat my calorie needs regardless.

Replies

  • LoseYouself
    LoseYouself Posts: 249 Member
    Anyone?
  • meshashesha2012
    meshashesha2012 Posts: 8,329 Member
    hiit style workouts have an effect on the hormones ghrelin and leptin which control hunger.

    what i usually do is set a timer to remind myself to eat
  • heidi555
    heidi555 Posts: 69 Member
    I've noticed my appetite decreases after a workout but I usually do a protein smoothie and my appetite kicks in in a little. I've been kinda making sure I eat even if I'm not hungry... Idk if that's good or not though
  • UsernameStillLoading
    UsernameStillLoading Posts: 299 Member
    I'm actually the opposite. When I started working out, I wouldn't feel hungry after a workout but I ate anyway to get that protein. Now that I increased the intensity of the workout, I am hungry by the time I leave the gym.

    Have you tried eating earlier than noon? Do you wake up hungry?
  • LoseYouself
    LoseYouself Posts: 249 Member
    I'm actually the opposite. When I started working out, I wouldn't feel hungry after a workout but I ate anyway to get that protein. Now that I increased the intensity of the workout, I am hungry by the time I leave the gym.

    Have you tried eating earlier than noon? Do you wake up hungry?

    No, I usually am not hungry till late morning or noon.. sometimes later. I always workout before my first meal of the day too.. so I should be starving post-workout. I'm not overly concerned with it, but just curious mostly.. since I'll eat what I need to anyways. It seemed strange to me.

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