Running and not getting hungry?

dellafiora3395
dellafiora3395 Posts: 29 Member
in Fitness and Exercise
So I've had to up my running lately and make it more consistent to run cross-country in the fall. But I've noticed I haven't been hungry as often as I used to, nor am I eating as much. Has this happened to anyone else? How do you combat it?
[FYI, not asking for a tearing-apart of my private food diary. This is just a general question.]

Replies

  • mary_kate23
    mary_kate23 Posts: 156
    only thing I could think of would be that running pumps adrenaline.. which helps suppress appetite. other than that - I'm lost :)
  • Beezil
    Beezil Posts: 1,677 Member
    I dunno. That seems really weird, I'm ALWAYS starving after intense cardio. Not always right after, but soon after. lol
  • BrianSharpe
    BrianSharpe Posts: 9,248 Member
    Personally I find I tend to eat less in the summer, maybe a warm weather thing? It may also be the result of adaptation - your fitness may have improved to the point where you're burning fewer calories during the run. Are you running at pretty much the same pace?
  • runnercheryl
    runnercheryl Posts: 1,314 Member
    Running completely stops my hunger on the day of the run, but I'm always starving the day after. Is this the case?
  • m60kaf
    m60kaf Posts: 421 Member
    why is suppressed hunger an issue?
  • muzmacol
    muzmacol Posts: 358 Member
    yeah happens alot. Not sure why, tends to come on to me couple of hours later.
  • Michele7091
    Michele7091 Posts: 256 Member
    I am less hungry on days that I run. I have to force myself to eat sometimes.
  • DG_Allen
    DG_Allen Posts: 219 Member
    I ran 5 miles on an empty stomach Sunday and then ordered breakfast at the restaurant I ran to. But you know, I wasn't really hungry and I didn't eat it all.

    I think you're not alone.
  • dellafiora3395
    dellafiora3395 Posts: 29 Member
    Not feeling as hungry is an issue for me because I only really eat when I actually feel hungry, otherwise I get sick trying to shove food down my throat.

    I think it might possibly have something to do with the heat and the laziness of summer. I've gotten my splits a bit faster, but nothing too drastic.

    My mother gets all concerned when I don't eat as much after my runs, but I just wanted to come on here and see if other people have noticed the same!
  • LindaCWy
    LindaCWy Posts: 463 Member
    Happens to me too, after weight lifting as well. I'm gonna go with the adrenaline thing.
  • InTheInbetween
    InTheInbetween Posts: 192 Member
    Yep happen's to me too. I'm usually not hungry for a few hours after I run. I love it lol!
  • CycleFlow
    CycleFlow Posts: 55
    Very similar for me, especially if I run later in the day when my body has sufficient fuel to burn. In that case it isnt until the next day when EPOC has taken effect that I get really hungry.

    If I run early in the morning I tend to eat a little more like normal throughout the day, evenly making up calories.

    I would say its normal. Try varying the time that you run and see how it effects your body and apetite. If you are in tune enough to eat when you are hungry, try something light and easy to refuel after your run to make sure your not going to crash later, and then when you (or your tummy) feels motivated eat something more filling and balanced.

    :D
  • kylTKe
    kylTKe Posts: 146 Member
    I know a lot of people who get like that. They can't eat during a run and have a lowered appetite afterwards. Personally I'm not like that, I feel hungry and can eat during as well as after a run with no problems. It seems to me like it really just depends on the person. One of my favorite running stories is about Dean Karnazes balancing a whole pizza (hawaiian), cheesecake, and thermos full of coffee with one hand and eating with the other (while running).

    I could also imagine that the summer heat (especially running in it) could cause you to have a lessened appetite.
  • fitchudel
    fitchudel Posts: 1
    Late to this post but I have noticed that after a run, I am not hungry but after a bike ride, I am famished. Go figure!
  • sunflowerhippi
    sunflowerhippi Posts: 1,099 Member
    Running completely stops my hunger on the day of the run, but I'm always starving the day after. Is this the case?

    Same for me. I end up really under calories on my run day but the next day it balances out.
  • Eric_DeCastro
    Eric_DeCastro Posts: 767 Member
    weird, after a run I'm usually very hungry. so I usually have an extra huge salad with walden farms ) calorie dressing.
  • _Calypso_
    _Calypso_ Posts: 1,074 Member
    The first 2hrs after a long run I'm not hungry either. I can go about 4-5hrs w/out eating after a long run...but I don't. I make myself eat about 2.5hrs after my run - but it seems to open Pandoras box and I'm usually starving by lunch!!
  • workout_ninja
    workout_ninja Posts: 524 Member
    I can be starving before a run, and by the time i finish it, dont feel hungry at all. I eat anyway though!
  • rachael726
    rachael726 Posts: 202 Member
    This I think (I'm not a doctor), is completely normal. I have experienced this as well. I usually get hungry 3-4 hours later..then I eats all the food..NOM NOM NOM lol
  • bagge72
    bagge72 Posts: 1,377 Member
    After my runs I'm not starving either, but I am extremely tired and lethargic so I know I need to eat, and once I do... it's on.
  • equestrian_girl
    equestrian_girl Posts: 15
    I'm pretty sure this has to do with dopamine levels. Running increases dopamine, which is the chemical that crashes when your brain needs to tell you you're hungry/craving things.

    It's the same with smoking, nicotine increases dopamine levels, which curbs your appetite.

    If running has this effect on you, consider yourself lucky!!!
  • sraelcohen
    sraelcohen Posts: 1
    When running, the stomach moves, the stomach has a chemical lining which when moved fills it, which in turn makes you think you are less hungry or not hungry at all.
  • MeanderingMammal
    MeanderingMammal Posts: 7,866 Member
    Has this happened to anyone else? How do you combat it?

    I do find that I'm not as hungry after an interval run, but after my LSR I'll eat anything that slows down enough to catch
  • matuskap
    matuskap Posts: 131 Member
    I also dont feel hungry afterwards but, if i wait too long before eating(for example waiting for actual hunger), i get really hungry really quickly and then i can eat 1+k cals worth of cereal, oats, milk and whey protein mix and still feel hungry. And 1k of that mix is a lot of volume. Expecially if you let the oats soak up the milk.

    Therefore i dont eat based on feeling when i run, rather use preventive meal to control myself in a long run.
  • WanderingPomme
    WanderingPomme Posts: 601 Member
    Same goes for me! Having that feeling right now actually. If I waited for actual hunger it could come in later in the day when it's too late and I'd be stuck eating so much, too much at one time. I'm getting ready to shove down food down my throat. Thank God for almond butter for making it easier for me to eat back calories. Lol
  • MeanderingMammal
    MeanderingMammal Posts: 7,866 Member
    Therefore i dont eat based on feeling when i run, rather use preventive meal to control myself in a long run.

    I generally throw a bottle of recovery drink down my throat after a session and that can mitigate the issue.
  • mzbek24
    mzbek24 Posts: 436 Member
    I get that feeling pretty often after I ride. I think you just have to get past it and eat because your body needs it, especially if you exercise on an empty stomach, which I normally do. Something like a smoothie might help, drinks usually don't fill me up and they're good after workouts.
  • GillianMcK
    GillianMcK Posts: 401 Member
    Not feeling as hungry is an issue for me because I only really eat when I actually feel hungry, otherwise I get sick trying to shove food down my throat.

    I think it might possibly have something to do with the heat and the laziness of summer. I've gotten my splits a bit faster, but nothing too drastic.

    My mother gets all concerned when I don't eat as much after my runs, but I just wanted to come on here and see if other people have noticed the same!

    I'm not hungry after my run but I tend to try and have a small amount of fuel within 20min of finishing, it can be a banana, 10g of pine nuts, a glass of milk, I had read a few articles a while ago that was looking at the increased recovery if fod is eaten within 20min of finishing (our guys that do obstacle runs like Tough Mudder and Dirty Weekend swear by chocolate milk (got to be Frijj), it's got everything in it carbs, protein & fat as well as helping hydration), peanut butter & jam sandwiches are meant to be good as well as they're high on the GI so help replenish the muscles quickly.

    I imagine it would really only become a problem if you were really increasing the mileage and you would have to learn to eat regardless of being hungry, I can go 10miles XC without fuel but by 13miles I'm starting to struggle, still not hungry but starting to struggle energy wise.
  • IliN82
    IliN82 Posts: 108
    Actually I am with you! Especially in the evenings when I get the snack attack cravings, if I go for a run, it seems to make me NOT want to eat. If I run in the morning however, I am starving about an hour after my run!
  • Platform_Heels
    Platform_Heels Posts: 388 Member
    Sounds normal. I am not hungrier when I run.

    Now lifting on the other hand, after a really good lifting session I am STARVING and hungry for most of the day.

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