Re-comping Hunger Question

RayahEllen
RayahEllen Posts: 40 Member
edited November 16 in Food and Nutrition
Hey everyone!
I have a question for you all out of mainly curiosity.

I am 21 yo female, 5'2, 140 lbs, with a last tested RMR of about 1170 by a bod pod machine. The bod pod was last September and I have since started a lifting program and cut out all cardio so I assume I have probably put on a little more lean mass since then (I have visibly leaned out and my measurements are smaller even though my weight is the same). From my early teens, I have always been at one of the two ends of the spectrum-- eating 1200 calories everyday and working out for an hour or two without eating back my exercise calories or eating probably close to 3,000 calories a day in a giant food free for all. In the last two years, I have become more learned about exercise and nutrition and have been trying to find my balance.
Since January, I have been slowing increasing my calories from 1350 by 100 calories/month to try to help readjust my body and mind's sense of balance and find my maintenance for the first time after so many years of restricting for months and binging for months. On March 1st, I upped my calories to 1650 calories and I have been very hungry since then! lol Did anyone else experience this when re-comping? I don't know if I am just becoming more in-tune with my body's signals and not just ignoring the hunger anymore or if my metabolism has revved or what but I find myself hungry more often than before. My macros are 30p/30f/40c, I eat plenty of veggies, fruit, and fiber, and drink 80 ounces or more of water a day. My food diary is open if you want to take a peek.
I'm anxiously awaiting April 1st so I can bump up to 1750!! lol

Thanks for any replies,
Rayah

Replies

  • sammyliftsandeats
    sammyliftsandeats Posts: 2,421 Member
    When did this hunger start?

    Does it have anything to do with your menstrual cycle?
  • RayahEllen
    RayahEllen Posts: 40 Member
    No, My last cycle was the last week of February, so it should be about two weeks til my next one again. It started when I upped my calories to 1650. At first I realized that I was being a lot more grumpy towards my husband, and then I kinda just connected the dots that I was just hangry. lol
  • AFGP11
    AFGP11 Posts: 142 Member
    It probably has to do with you gaining more muscle while losing fat. I think if you upped your protein a little and had a little less carbs (like 5 percent maximum for both) you would see a difference in hunger levels. Overall your diary looks pretty solid, so I say trust what your body is telling you. It is hungry!
  • deannalfisher
    deannalfisher Posts: 5,600 Member
    if you are working out, are you eating back exercise calories? MFP is based on that method of calorie assignment

    I did (as I'm working with an RD) that as they are slowly upping my calories, I get really hungry every couple of weeks - it has been the sign for them that I may need an adjustment
  • Francl27
    Francl27 Posts: 26,371 Member
    RayahEllen wrote: »
    No, My last cycle was the last week of February, so it should be about two weeks til my next one again. It started when I upped my calories to 1650. At first I realized that I was being a lot more grumpy towards my husband, and then I kinda just connected the dots that I was just hangry. lol

    That's exactly when I get hungry - 10-14 days before my cycle. Just FYI. Depends on the month though...

    But yeah, it happened to me. I got so hungry when I started upping my calories (I went on vacations 2 lbs from my goal) and it's very hard for me to cut now (I can cut for 2-3 days then I'm STARVING on day 4). That's how I ended up maintaining 5-10 lbs from my goal weight. I'm not really sure why, I'm guessing that increasing calories 'unblocked' hunger hormones that were suppressed after 1 year of eating a deficit.
  • StealthHealth
    StealthHealth Posts: 2,417 Member
    You may be finding that your NEAT has increased as you have added more calories.
  • RayahEllen
    RayahEllen Posts: 40 Member
    Thanks everyone. I just needed re-assurance that I wasnt going crazy and that my hunger levels really could have spiked.

    I don't think it has to do with my cycle because I've been hungry since I upped my calories, which happened to coincide with the last few days of my period.

    NEAT is the concept that as I've eaten more, I have more energy to be active which causes me to be more active and need more calories, right? That could be it. I also just started a job where I'm more active than my last job. My last job I was sitting at a desk 95% of the day and my new one maybe only 80%. That could be impacting it too I guess.

    I may just finish out this next week at 1650 and then jump the gun and go ahead to 1750 before April 1st of this continues. I don't want to trigger a binge.

    Thanks again!
    Rayah
  • middlehaitch
    middlehaitch Posts: 8,486 Member
    I think you have just hit the nail on the head :)
    Your NEAT has increased through a higher activity level at work, and day to day activity as you are better fuelled.

    Up your cals by either 50 or 100.
    Or
    Re input your stats into MFP with a higher daily activity level and see where that gets you.

    Cheers, h.
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