Sweets one day, hunger the next

usmcmp wrote: »

Jthanmyfitnesspal wrote: »

usmcmp wrote: »

If you open your food diary it might help. A "big carb day" means different things to different people.

Didn't even log the day! I was on travel for a special occasion and had extra carbs at every turn, including a dessert for dinner. You'd think I'd be less hungry today, but no!

Sounds like you didn't get enough protein, fat and fiber. It's not the sweets causing hunger, it's the lack of balance and nutrients. If you had a fairly balanced day and all you did was add a few hundred calories of dessert that would be different. Your body is trying to tell you that you didn't give it what it really needed yesterday.

Yeah I agree with that.

"Junk" food. LOL

Try adding in more protein and fat on your cheat days. Also, log that stuff anyway so you can get better at cheating and learn what does and doesn't work for you.

nicole_j wrote: »

When you eat processed foods that are high in sugar and carbs your body isn't getting the nutrients it needs which in turn causes cravings and hunger. The more junk you eat the more you will crave junk. You should always log your meals, even on cheat days. You would be amazed at the amount of empty calories you are consuming and it might make you think twice before eating that dessert. High carb days for me include extra fruit, rice cakes, brown rice, sweet potatoes and lots of vegetables. That is a "high carb" day. I wake up feeling full of energy and completely satisfied. If I drink wine and eat unhealthy carbs full on processed flour and sugar, I wake up feeling tired, hungry and sluggish. Rethink your carbs.

Funny, that never happens to me. I swear that anti carb people just look for any excuse to convince themselves that carbs are bad.

Yesterday I ate pretty much 90% desserts, pancakes, bread, ice cream... (it was my birthday!). I actually had a kick *kitten* workout after that meal too, imagine that.

Anyway, this morning I wasn't very hungry at all and ended up having breakfast a bit later than I usually do. I'm actually feeling great, didn't need 3 cups of coffee as usual, and I don't think I'll have much of an issue sticking to my deficit today. Also been doing pretty good on my workouts.

OP, I think the key is to make sure to have a balanced breakfast after you have a day like that... Mine was whole wheat toast with nut butter and an apple. Plenty of fiber, good fat, some protein.

There's a few things that go into it. When I used to have really bad binges during my more restrictive days of dieting, I would be so incredibly "hungry" the next morning. This compounds because you want to eat less in your mind the day after, so it sort of perpetuates a binge-cycle.

Drink LOTS of water. You're probably a bit dehydrated. Your body is also probably expecting more food again, so there may be some strong chemical signals going on.

I think I read something about not digesting and absorbing all the nutrients, so if you over-eat too much in a small window, it leaving your intestines full of food without satisfying your nutrient receptors, but that could just be someone's hypothesis.

nicole_j wrote: »

When you eat processed foods that are high in sugar and carbs your body isn't getting the nutrients it needs which in turn causes cravings and hunger. The more junk you eat the more you will crave junk. You should always log your meals, even on cheat days. You would be amazed at the amount of empty calories you are consuming and it might make you think twice before eating that dessert. High carb days for me include extra fruit, rice cakes, brown rice, sweet potatoes and lots of vegetables. That is a "high carb" day. I wake up feeling full of energy and completely satisfied. If I drink wine and eat unhealthy carbs full on processed flour and sugar, I wake up feeling tired, hungry and sluggish. Rethink your carbs.

So very true. At least for me it is. Great response!

You can't learn about you if you only log when it is easy or when you are good. You can get a lot of insight on the days you consider bad days.

A nutritionist I took a class from recommended every meal include protein, produce and some healthy fat. It seems to be a decent rule of thumb. It might help you get through the hungry day.

Snacking on mustard and pickles helps kill my appetite, but I'll retain more water to dilute the salt, for a day or two.

Francl27 wrote: »

nicole_j wrote: »

When you eat processed foods that are high in sugar and carbs your body isn't getting the nutrients it needs which in turn causes cravings and hunger. The more junk you eat the more you will crave junk. You should always log your meals, even on cheat days. You would be amazed at the amount of empty calories you are consuming and it might make you think twice before eating that dessert. High carb days for me include extra fruit, rice cakes, brown rice, sweet potatoes and lots of vegetables. That is a "high carb" day. I wake up feeling full of energy and completely satisfied. If I drink wine and eat unhealthy carbs full on processed flour and sugar, I wake up feeling tired, hungry and sluggish. Rethink your carbs.

Funny, that never happens to me. I swear that anti carb people just look for any excuse to convince themselves that carbs are bad.

Yes, that!

I'd estimate the OP's "problem" is 80% in the mind, and 20% needing a bit more fat or protein.

Jthanmyfitnesspal wrote: »

I'm finding that if I indulge in carbs one day, I'm hungry the day after.

Today is a case in point. Yesterday was a big carb day and today I'm plagued by hunger. At 10:30, I'm still hungry, despite having a good breakfast at 8. I'm realizing that this is exactly why I've gained weight in the past and I need a new approach.

Suggestions welcome.

I suggest that you gained weight in the past because you ate too many calories.

Calories.