Slowing down my metabolism?

carissar7

I noticed that for the past week or so, I haven't been as hungry as I normally am (with the exception of the other night after I left the gym). I feel as if I am getting enough calories (I am eating until satisfied), but I have been extremely slacking on my diary! It's like I just have no appetite all of a sudden. My stomach never really growls, I just see food as fuel now and get full on smaller meals. Is this normal? I'm worried that maybe I'm not eating enough calories and my metabolism has slowed down as a result. I do work out about 4x a week- session with trainer once a week, I just started doing the stronglifts 5x5 program but before that I was doing heavy lifting on the machines. I also do aerial acrobatics training for the past 2 years and do that about 3x a week so I count that in for strength training. I average out to around 1500 cals a day.

TS65

Yep. totally normal. My life no longer revolves around food. I eat when I'm hungry - but my hunger is more of a reminder and not a demand. I can wait a couple of hours if I'm busy (whereas before, that would be all I could think about!)

carissar7

Yep. totally normal. My life no longer revolves around food. I eat when I'm hungry - but my hunger is more of a reminder and not a demand. I can wait a couple of hours if I'm busy (whereas before, that would be all I could think about!)

That's great! thanks for the advice and reassurance. I'm still a little unsure though if this is stalling any potential weight loss. I pretty much follow all the "rules" and make sure I get in enough healthy fats etc but I know that having too big of a calorie deficit and working out too much is not good if you're trying to lose fat. I seem to be hearing different things from different groups. The 'paleo-ers' say that it's completely normal (which I am leaning towards) and the lifters say eat moar carbs!!! (Then I have a feeling I will go back to being hungry all the time!)

Whitezombiegirl

Its normal to feel that way when eating paleo.

Lupercalia

I'm a lifter. If you're not interested in actually building muscle, and think you're recovering ok on your 1500 calories/ low carb diet, then keep doing it. If, as you get further along in Stronglifts, you find you're not able to increase your strength as often as you need to be (every workout, I believe) or you're not able to recover from your workouts, then yes...you need more food and perhaps a bit more carbs. I'm not sure why you need to limit carbs strictly unless you've got some sort of blood sugar issue. You're young, not obese...so not sure what is going on with that.

However, if you find you do need to eat more carbs, you don't need to eat them from sugary junk foods. You can easily add more carbs by eating whole foods--potatoes, sweet potatoes, squash, fruit, etc. If you find you need to have some rice, then eat it! It's hardly a bad food. Lots of Paleo people add back the rice because they find they need more carbs than what they're eating to get through their workouts. Low carb Paleo isn't really ideal for a lot of intensive exercise--Paleo experts admit that quite readily and will suggest the same sorts of things I've suggested.

I think there are at least a couple members of this group who don't eat a low carb Paleo diet. Perhaps they'll chime in.

carissar7

I'm a lifter. If you're not interested in actually building muscle, and think you're recovering ok on your 1500 calories/ low carb diet, then keep doing it. If, as you get further along in Stronglifts, you find you're not able to increase your strength as often as you need to be (every workout, I believe) or you're not able to recover from your workouts, then yes...you need more food and perhaps a bit more carbs. I'm not sure why you need to limit carbs strictly unless you've got some sort of blood sugar issue. You're young, not obese...so not sure what is going on with that.

However, if you find you do need to eat more carbs, you don't need to eat them from sugary junk foods. You can easily add more carbs by eating whole foods--potatoes, sweet potatoes, squash, fruit, etc. If you find you need to have some rice, then eat it! It's hardly a bad food. Lots of Paleo people add back the rice because they find they need more carbs than what they're eating to get through their workouts. Low carb Paleo isn't really ideal for a lot of intensive exercise--Paleo experts admit that quite readily and will suggest the same sorts of things I've suggested.

I think there are at least a couple members of this group who don't eat a low carb Paleo diet. Perhaps they'll chime in.

I think what I meant to say was that I do unintentionally follow a 'low-carb' approach simply by attempting to eat a more paleo diet. I do eat sweet potatoes and fruits on days that I exercise but I have completely cut out the brown rice that I used to eat (unless I go for sushi then I will eat the rice that comes with it). I'd say that right now, my carb intake is around 15-20%. I will take your advice and eat more rice (hehe that rhymed) if I feel that I need more cals. Thanks!!

Akimajuktuq

I have to agree that people who automatically equate Paleo/primal with low carb irritate me. Personally, I choose a ketogenic form of Primal (high fat, very low carb) because that's the only way that worked to resolve my many, many serious health issues. I do think that most people would benefit from a much higher fat diet than they usually have, but not everyone must restrict carbs as much as I do. However, I will continue to advise ketogenic lifestyle for Paleo/Primal people who struggle with hunger, weight loss, and disease based on my own experience and knowledge of Paleolithic human diets (specifically the Inuit).

As for building muscle; I'm not crazy serious into that yet (soon) but I do some basic body weight training exercises and seem to have plenty of energy to spare. For me, just exercising in a room, same thing day in and day out, is unsustainable. I have to figure out a weight training routine that engages my mind, body and spirit.