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No appetite after working out!

bathedinlight
bathedinlight Posts: 4
edited January 26 in Fitness and Exercise
Hey guys!
I am a beginner (started yesterday) and am doing 30 minutes of cardio and around 20-30 mins of strength training (several machines, 2 sets of 8-10 reps on machines that target my abs, arms, shoulders, legs, etc). I am having difficultly getting my appetite back after I exercise. Does it get better? My ab muscles are really sore, too. I am going to rest tomorrow and just do some light yoga. Is this a normal thing?
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Replies

  • Tiznonay
    Tiznonay Posts: 124 Member
    I have that problem too. Even if I'm kinda hungry going into a workout, afterwards I won't really feel like eating.

    From what I gather, you're supposed to take in protein after a workout, so if I really cant eat, I try to drink a glass of milk, at least
  • BeachIron
    BeachIron Posts: 6,490 Member
    I usually don't eat for a while after my workouts. It doesn't make much of a difference. Is there a reason that you're concerned?
  • AbsoluteNG
    AbsoluteNG Posts: 1,079 Member
    Cardio reduces your appetite and weight lifting increases it. It's good not to eat right after you workout anyway if your goal is to burn fat.
  • 1brokegal44
    1brokegal44 Posts: 562 Member
    It's always hard to find a balance in the beginning. I'm rarely hungry right after a workout--usually takes about an hour for the hunger to hit. I think it's because all the blood is pumping to the muscles just worked, and your stomach takes a back seat. And all the endorphins are pumping through your system and that feeling of needing to eat is pushed off. Lastly, I've been at this a long time...I'm still sore a lot.
  • AbsoluteNG
    AbsoluteNG Posts: 1,079 Member
    You can read the article below on the hormones affected by cardio and weight lifting.

    http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/12/081211081446.htm
  • grimendale
    grimendale Posts: 2,153 Member
    It's pretty common. I'm never hungry right after a workout, so I drink protein powder in soy milk to get some recovery protein in me before I shower. Usually, by the time I am done with showering and changing, I start to get ravenous and eat a more substantial meal. As for the soreness, that should go away in time. You've shocked your system and it is scrambling to respond. The weight lifting has caused microtears in the muscles fibers, and your body is responding by causing inflamation, lactic acid buildup and water retention at the tear sites to protect the muscle while it heals (and grows a little since new muscle fibers have to be added to patch the tears). This is what causes muscle growth. Over time, your body will get more efficient at this response and will generate less lactic acid (a result of anaerobic activity in the muscle cells due to higher than normal demand) and a les aggressive response to the muscle tears. Ibuprofen can help with the soreness, since it reduces inflammation. Massaging the muscles to keep the lactic acid from pooling (massage away from the spine and away from major joints for best results) can also help bring the soreness down, as will light activity, which keeps the acid from pooling as well.
  • BeachIron
    BeachIron Posts: 6,490 Member
    Cardio reduces your appetite and weight lifting increases it. It's good not to eat right after you workout anyway if your goal is to burn fat.

    lolwut?

    you burn fat from a calorie deficit
  • DopeItUp
    DopeItUp Posts: 18,771 Member
    If you're not hungry after working out, then eat more prior to working out. What is the problem that you have, specifically?

    Personally, I'm usually ravenous on days I lift. And especially the day after when I'm recovering. So basically...every day.
  • SarahSmilesCA
    SarahSmilesCA Posts: 261 Member
    Working out definitely decreases my appetite. But be careful with that, your not hungry often because your body is feasting on muscle tissue for nutrition.

    If you functioning on a low calories diet, after your workout your liver is depleted of glycogen so you better make sure you have something to eat about an hour after your work out or your body will turn to your muscle for nutrition. If you can't eat a full meal in time then at least take a protein shake and mix a tbsp of MCT or flax oil in it. It will be easy on the stomach and hold you off from needing to eat for a while without causing you to get into an anabolic state.

    Taking a BCAA supplement along with potassium and magnesium will help with muscle soreness.
  • Chieflrg
    Chieflrg Posts: 9,097 Member
    Just the opposite.

    I usually have some carbs right before hitting heavy weights or long runs. Afterwards I put in 1100-1500 calories. My body is very receptive to the food afterwards. I've worked out pretty much 30 years and I come to understand what works for me.

    Everybody's body is different, although I find it strange if you are hitting it hard that you have no appetite. It really doesn't matter when you eat though as long as you get it in.
  • AbsoluteNG
    AbsoluteNG Posts: 1,079 Member
    Cardio reduces your appetite and weight lifting increases it. It's good not to eat right after you workout anyway if your goal is to burn fat.

    lolwut?

    you burn fat from a calorie deficit

    Yes, I agree that a deficit is the ultimate goal but eating after you workout can hamper your hgh proteins.
  • Chieflrg
    Chieflrg Posts: 9,097 Member
    Cardio reduces your appetite and weight lifting increases it.

    Going to have to disagree, at least for me. I run at least a 10k a day and one half marathon a week and I'm popping food in during the half marathon and shoveling it in after any run.
  • SarahSmilesCA
    SarahSmilesCA Posts: 261 Member
    Cardio reduces your appetite and weight lifting increases it. It's good not to eat right after you workout anyway if your goal is to burn fat.

    lolwut?

    you burn fat from a calorie deficit

    No you do not always burn fat from a calorie deficit, often, very often, especially when in a calorie deficit and your protein levels are low you burn muscle tissue. It is much easier to consume than fat.

    http://www.aworkoutroutine.com/how-to-lose-fat-without-losing-muscle/
  • AbsoluteNG
    AbsoluteNG Posts: 1,079 Member
    Cardio reduces your appetite and weight lifting increases it. It's good not to eat right after you workout anyway if your goal is to burn fat.

    lolwut?

    you burn fat from a calorie deficit

    No you do not always burn fat from a calorie deficit, often, very often, especially when in a calorie deficit and your protein levels are low you burn muscle tissue. It is much easier to consume than fat.

    http://www.aworkoutroutine.com/how-to-lose-fat-without-losing-muscle/

    I believe you are under the assumption that you must eat right after you workout to prevent muscle loss? That's what whey protein would have you believe. The longer you wait to eat, the more time you give your HGH proteins to do their job. HGH proteins burn fat and build muscles. Link below to guys who wait at least 2 hours before they consume anything after their workout routine. Sometimes they go 5 hours without any food. They've been doing this for over a year now and still look lean and strong.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zmXLqmqBzeU
  • I am concerned because I have yet to be able to eat more than half of a large banana since working out. However, I attribute that to my upper stomach being overly sore. I am going to take it easy tomorrow. I led a very sedentary lifestyle prior to starting this routine. I went to the gym two days in a row, same routine - except today I was extremely sore and just pushed through it.

    Perhaps I am a big baby, but I even found it difficult to shower - my upper abdomen is extremely sore. I am way under my recommended calorie intake. I am hungry but as soon as I start eating my appetite drops and I get nauseated. I am not sick in any way (or else I wouldn't feel hungry to begin with) I just thought it may be a common thing after starting a new routine.

    Thanks for the replies.

    -Amanda
  • Pearlyladybug
    Pearlyladybug Posts: 882 Member
    Cardio reduces your appetite and weight lifting increases it. It's good not to eat right after you workout anyway if your goal is to burn fat.

    what? :noway:
  • WhaddoWino
    WhaddoWino Posts: 146 Member
    I am concerned because I have yet to be able to eat more than half of a large banana since working out. However, I attribute that to my upper stomach being overly sore. I am going to take it easy tomorrow. I led a very sedentary lifestyle prior to starting this routine. I went to the gym two days in a row, same routine - except today I was extremely sore and just pushed through it.

    Perhaps I am a big baby, but I even found it difficult to shower - my upper abdomen is extremely sore. I am way under my recommended calorie intake. I am hungry but as soon as I start eating my appetite drops and I get nauseated. I am not sick in any way (or else I wouldn't feel hungry to begin with) I just thought it may be a common thing after starting a new routine.

    Thanks for the replies.

    -Amanda

    If your abs are that sore it is smart to give them a rest. Don't risk injury from overdoing it. Change up the body zones you work each day giving muscles a break in between. This will be more effective and sustainable in the long run.
  • sunman00
    sunman00 Posts: 872 Member
    lift heavier

    don't work same muscles on consecutive days, mix it up

    do cardio after lifting rather than before

    drink protein shake after workout

    hunger will come when it comes :smile:
  • Thanks everyone! I will just do some light stretching and yoga tomorrow and give my muscles a little rest. I really appreciate the help and will heed your advice.
  • kellehbeans
    kellehbeans Posts: 838 Member
    I'm not always hungry either. I just wait a while, like go and have a shower and do a few bits.. and then I find that I always get extremely hungry after that! Just eat if you're hungry.
  • acpgee
    acpgee Posts: 8,134 Member
    Can anyone explain this? On my way home from work I will often have a carby starchy craving. I go to the gym straight aftwards and do an hour of cardio and 20-30 minutes of lifting. Immediately post workout my appetitie is surpressed for about an hour. When it returns, my cravings have switched to meaty protein ones. Why the change in cravings?
  • BeachIron
    BeachIron Posts: 6,490 Member
    Cardio reduces your appetite and weight lifting increases it. It's good not to eat right after you workout anyway if your goal is to burn fat.

    lolwut?

    you burn fat from a calorie deficit

    No you do not always burn fat from a calorie deficit, often, very often, especially when in a calorie deficit and your protein levels are low you burn muscle tissue. It is much easier to consume than fat.

    http://www.aworkoutroutine.com/how-to-lose-fat-without-losing-muscle/

    Very entertaining. Now back to reality
  • danimalkeys
    danimalkeys Posts: 982 Member
    I have no problem eating after cardio, but after a lifting day, especially squats or deadlifts, it takes a while for me to want a meal.
  • rummyqueen
    rummyqueen Posts: 150 Member
    Before I workout I will eat my breakfast wait for an hour then do my workout so I dont get tired in the middle of working out and then after all the work outs after 20 minutes I will drink my protein that will fill me till maybe lunch or I will have a small snack like fruit.Some will workout out on an empty stomack I tried it one time and omg I couldnr finish my workouts and got really tired.May be you can eat first wait.then workout then drink your protein or water and I bet you will feel great and you wont over eat for lunch or dinner.
  • nicoleashley_24
    nicoleashley_24 Posts: 144 Member
    I usually don't feel hungry for some time after a workout... but I'll usually have a protein shake afterwards despite it. If I workout in the morning, my appetite will return full force by dinner time!

    ETA: I find that eating regularly is beneficial to me, so even though I typically wouldn't force myself to eat if I wasn't hungry, my body starts holding onto weight if I skip meals.
  • worldsbestauntie
    worldsbestauntie Posts: 280 Member
    I workout typically between 8-9pm, about 2 hours after I've had supper. I have realized that I HAVE to eat before doing the workout. There has been times where I wasn't really hungry so I didn't eat supper and then attempted my workout. I had to stop because I was getting lightheaded. I've learned to make sure I eat first before doing my workout. I might not be hungry when I'm done, but I'm quick to get a tall glass of cold water!
  • footiechick82
    footiechick82 Posts: 1,203 Member
    If not hungry, have a protein shake. It's protein and it helps with recovery.
  • JeninBelgium
    JeninBelgium Posts: 804 Member
    OOH now here is a situation I would gladly trade places with you on- I am RAVENOUS after I work out, especially after the pool and especially if I do a double class in the pool
  • alyssa92982
    alyssa92982 Posts: 1,093 Member
    I'm the same way. I just load up before workout
  • breeshabebe
    breeshabebe Posts: 580
    I don't know if I'm not hungry after working out or I'm just too lazy afterwards to make something good. There are times when during my workout, I think "I can't wait to go home and eat." Then, I go home and I'm like..." bleh... I'll just eat a little bit of this chicken and call it a night."
This discussion has been closed.