Help- insatiable appetite no idea why!

keiraev
keiraev Posts: 695 Member
edited November 10 in Food and Nutrition
I really don't know what is going on with my appetite at the moment, I just seem to be hungry all the time.

I'm maintaining my weight so I dont want to lose but I'm scared of putting on because of how hungry I am all the time. I am a few weeks into a new lifting programme (NROLFW) so have my net calories set at 1700 so generally I eat between 1700 - 2200, but I'm even starving on non lifting days too!

The weird thing is am craving fairly healthy food & protein, and I keep going over my calories for this reason. I'm aiming to eat around 100g protein a day so I should be full really- especially because until a couple of months ago I was very used to eating at a deficit.

Has anyone else had this happen to them especially when doing more lifting than before?

I'm 5ft 3.5 & around 119 lb (not weighed for a month so don't actually know).


Feel free to look in my diary - I seem to be going over ALL the time :(

Replies

  • MJ7910
    MJ7910 Posts: 1,280 Member
    you already know my spiel on getting vitamin levels checked... but i also think sometimes we are just really hungry, we have hungry weeks. our bodies just want more some weeks. i have definitely been there. but i found out i had vit d deficiencey and now that i'm correcting it, my appetite has been more under control and my mood better. i wonder if i was hungry and craving things all the time because my body was trying to correct it... i am not sure. but i do feel better and less hungry now that i'm taking steps to correct it.
  • gemiwing
    gemiwing Posts: 1,525 Member
    How's your fiber? Been getting enough big leafy veggies?
  • LabRat529
    LabRat529 Posts: 1,323 Member
    I've been starving since I started lifting weight too! I don't know if it's just phycological or if it's actually my body crying that it needs more calories... but I'm pretty much famished.

    Not the help you were looking for... I know.
  • Stumoo
    Stumoo Posts: 14
    but i found out i had vit d deficiencey and now that i'm correcting it, my appetite has been more under control and my mood better.

    Hmm, vitamin D deficiency might cause excessive appetite? I didn't know that, could be another reason people tend to put weight on in the winter. As soon as the weather is good it's always recommended to get at least 15 minutes of sun a couple of times a week... don't forget a moderate sunblock cream if the UV index is high though!

    Eat oily fish too to get vit D in the diet.. there are a few other sources but can't remember off the top of my head.
  • keiraev
    keiraev Posts: 695 Member
    I eat plenty of fish & veg and take multivitamins I don't think I'm deficient in anything!
  • Stumoo
    Stumoo Posts: 14
    I eat plenty of fish & veg and take multivitamins I don't think I'm deficient in anything!

    Simple then - you're pregnant! Joking of course ;-)
  • keiraev
    keiraev Posts: 695 Member
    I eat plenty of fish & veg and take multivitamins I don't think I'm deficient in anything!

    Simple then - you're pregnant! Joking of course ;-)

    LoL - impossible :)
  • Bentley2718
    Bentley2718 Posts: 1,689 Member
    I've read (somewhere) that in addition to the calories burned actually lifting, your body also needs additional energy to repair your muscles when you lift or do other muscle-building exercise (I've heard this called "afterburn"). I'm not sure if this has been empirically verified, but it does make sense at some level. Also, I find when I push my exercise beyond some threshold, I seem to get WAY hungrier, out of proportion with the increase in exercise.
  • MJ7910
    MJ7910 Posts: 1,280 Member
    I eat plenty of fish & veg and take multivitamins I don't think I'm deficient in anything!

    maybe it's just a "hungry week" then... i have those from time to time. i can relate.
  • shaycat
    shaycat Posts: 980
    This happens to me sometimes to, especially when starting a new workout. I am maintaining too.
    Lean muscle helps you continue to burn calories all day. If your hungry, eat, if its healthy stuff dont worry about it unless you start noticing you are gaining fat.
  • becoming_a_new_me
    becoming_a_new_me Posts: 1,860 Member
    Try to avoid simple carbs as they spike your glucose level then leave you hungry faster. Pair soluble fiber with protein. Protein takes longer to digest and soluble fiber slows the emptying of the stomach. From my blog: This type of fiber forms a gel by attracting water. This slows down the digestive process, delays the emptying of the stomach, and makes you feel fuller longer. The slower emptying aids with controlling blood sugar levels and insulin sensitivity. This type of fiber can also reduce LDL (bad cholesterol) levels through the interference of dietary cholesterol absorption. There are many types of soluble fiber. Normally you would look to red, yellow, orange, blue, and purple fruits and veggies such as apples, oranges, strawberries, cucumber, celery, and carrots. You can also get soluble fiber from oatmeal, lentils, nuts, dried peas, beans, psyllium, and flaxseed. Some sources of soluble fiber are also insoluble.

    Hope this helps!!
  • keiraev
    keiraev Posts: 695 Member
    Try to avoid simple carbs as they spike your glucose level then leave you hungry faster. Pair soluble fiber with protein. Protein takes longer to digest and soluble fiber slows the emptying of the stomach. From my blog: This type of fiber forms a gel by attracting water. This slows down the digestive process, delays the emptying of the stomach, and makes you feel fuller longer. The slower emptying aids with controlling blood sugar levels and insulin sensitivity. This type of fiber can also reduce LDL (bad cholesterol) levels through the interference of dietary cholesterol absorption. There are many types of soluble fiber. Normally you would look to red, yellow, orange, blue, and purple fruits and veggies such as apples, oranges, strawberries, cucumber, celery, and carrots. You can also get soluble fiber from oatmeal, lentils, nuts, dried peas, beans, psyllium, and flaxseed. Some sources of soluble fiber are also insoluble.

    Hope this helps!!

    Definitely useful- thanks!
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