Types of exercise and hunger levels

oat_bran
oat_bran Posts: 370 Member
edited November 15 in Health and Weight Loss
I wanna hear about everyone's experences with different types of exercise and their effect on hunger levels. Does exercise make you noticeably hungrier even if you eat the calories back? Is it all exercise or one type in particular?

I've hear that cardio makes many people hungrier. Others say it's heavy weight training or HIIT. Then other people say that burst training and HIIT actually curb their appetite. What's your experience?

On a related note, do you think light strength training (15-20 mins situps, crunches, butt lifts, light pilates exercises etc.) can have a significant effect on hunger levels?

Replies

  • JaydedMiss
    JaydedMiss Posts: 4,286 Member
    edited February 2017
    When i walk i dont get hungrier, But when i stair climb i do. My job is very active im a mover so im constantly moving very large furniture so thats steps + heavy lifting, It takes my appetite away entirely. Im ....weird.

    I kind of doubt light strength training would have any effect unless you expected it to, And itd be mental, But no one can really say but you.
  • zyxst
    zyxst Posts: 9,149 Member
    Jogging/running makes me hungry. I found that "tightening my core" activates my hunger signals. If/when I do either of those, I make sure it's close to a meal so I'm not overeating.
  • H_Ock12
    H_Ock12 Posts: 1,152 Member
    Weight lifting tends to suppress my appetite. On running days (3-5 miles, 2-3x/wk), I find myself hungrier...I run fasted and eat my meal immediately after.
  • Aetheldreda
    Aetheldreda Posts: 241 Member
    Walking (10-20km) and jogging (5-10km) tend to curb my hunger. I feel most hungry on my rest/less active days.
  • ashcky
    ashcky Posts: 393 Member
    I am usually the most hungry on my rest days.
  • JessicaMcB
    JessicaMcB Posts: 1,503 Member
    Food is almost repulsive post Run (10-30km), I honestly have no idea how some people manage to eat in race and not vomit. HIIT makes me hungry
  • FitCurves1818
    FitCurves1818 Posts: 90 Member
    I'm a cardio bunny who's never been a runner currently in week 5 of Couch to 5K and I am ravenous on my walk/run days. It's amazing how different physical activities affect the appetite/hunger signals.
  • mom22dogs
    mom22dogs Posts: 470 Member
    I lift weights for 45 - 60 min every other day. No affect on hunger. If I walk a lot, I get hungrier than usual.
  • TangledThread
    TangledThread Posts: 312 Member
    Running kills my appetite. Running 6+ miles puts me off food for the whole day although I am hungry the day after.

    Swimming=starved. I will eat everything in sight after a swim.
  • GiGiGoals138
    GiGiGoals138 Posts: 1 Member
    I've found that the higher the intensity then the higher the hunger levels. Especially with weight training. But, I get past it by going into "overtraining." After 3 days of heavy training, my appetite totally disappears--but it affects sleep & energy levels.
  • bbell1985
    bbell1985 Posts: 4,571 Member
    I don't do cardio so can't speak to that.

    I'm the most hungry the day AFTER heavy deadlifts. Not squats or bench so much. Those deadlifts will do it to me though.
  • Evamutt
    Evamutt Posts: 2,743 Member
    I usually make a fruit/veggie smoothie before I work out so I'm not any more hungry after
  • CafeRacer808
    CafeRacer808 Posts: 2,396 Member
    I'm famished after lifting or intense cardio. Steady state cardio kills my appetite for hours.
  • KeepRunningFatboy
    KeepRunningFatboy Posts: 3,055 Member
    Running distance like a marathon does. I've also found swimming really makes me hungry. Not really noticed it with other cardio activities.
  • Jthanmyfitnesspal
    Jthanmyfitnesspal Posts: 3,522 Member
    I mostly work out after work. Often, I go to the gym hungry.

    I have learned that a temporary cure for hunger is to work out at a relatively high intensity. My hunger goes away almost instantly and doesn't come back until about an hour after I stop. I used to eat a powerbar right before the gym, but there is usually no need! Later (and/or the next day) my apatite comes back with a vengeance!

    One problem I have is that weight lifting, although excellent for overall fitness, doesn't typically burn as many calories as a straight cardio session. Still, I am typically very hungry the next day. Of course, one cure is to hit the cardio again...
  • anacd
    anacd Posts: 38 Member
    ashcky wrote: »
    I am usually the most hungry on my rest days.
    I'm so glad I'm not the only one! I thought something was wrong with me haha I've been doing HIIT workout a couple of times a week and on my rest days I am so hungry!
  • ActionAnnieJXN
    ActionAnnieJXN Posts: 116 Member
    I haven't noticed an increase in appetite from walking, using my stationary bike, or doing exercise videos, but as a previous poster mentioned, swimming made me absolutely ravenous. In fact, I was so hungry when I was swimming daily that despite huge calorie burns, I was unable to lose much weight because I couldn't make myself maintain a consistent calorie deficit.
  • oat_bran
    oat_bran Posts: 370 Member
    Wow thanks everyone for your replies! It's really interesting how different activities have very different effect on everyone's hunger levels.

    I myself feel also hungrier a few hours after my runs and especially the next day.
  • LiftandSkate
    LiftandSkate Posts: 148 Member
    Deadlifts always make me HUNGRY!
    My long skate days usually make me pretty hungry, too.
    Other than that, i don't really notice much difference. I'm always hungry. Lol.
  • Timberla82
    Timberla82 Posts: 16 Member
    Swimming and weights make me ravenous (weights for the next 2-3 days). A run or a soccer match puts me off food, even a few hours after
  • quiksylver296
    quiksylver296 Posts: 28,439 Member
    Jthanmyfitnesspal wrote: »
    I mostly work out after work. Often, I go to the gym hungry.

    I have learned that a temporary cure for hunger is to work out at a relatively high intensity. My hunger goes away almost instantly and doesn't come back until about an hour after I stop.

    Same.
  • Running_and_Coffee
    Running_and_Coffee Posts: 811 Member
    Running long distances temporarily suspends my appetite but the next day I am usually starving IF I didn't hydrate properly the previous day.
  • GaryRuns
    GaryRuns Posts: 508 Member
    Ravenous after long runs. After my 20s during marathon training I would stop at Subway for a foot-long on my way home. Finished the AZ marathon a few weeks ago. After catching my breath I went immediately to a pizza truck and ordered a 10"! lol. And I do use chews, which are basically sugar, during my long runs so I'm not running without any calorie intake. Still, famished after long runs.

    Haven't noticed much difference in my appetite after circuit classes or weight training.
  • Madwife2009
    Madwife2009 Posts: 1,369 Member
    I can cycle/walk/do other cardio for hours and not be hungry. Half an hour's strength training makes me totally ravenous though. I am sure that people in the gym can hear my stomach growling as I leave . . .
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