Sooooo hungry....doing something wrong?

[Wonderwandarocks]

I am a very petite 85 lb, 4'8" female. I exercise every day--3 days strength, 3 days cardio, one day yoga/pilates, with workouts generally lasting 60 to 90 minutes and being higher on the intensity level. I generally take in between 1200 and 1500 calories a day depending on the workouts I do.

My problem is, I can't seem to get a handle on how hungry I am all the time. I eat my veggies and fruits and fiber and protein and good fats. I take time to sit and eat. But there's no real in between--I'm either ravenous or stuffed. It's to the point where, even though I load up on healthy stuff, I'm embarrassed to eat with others because they always comment on the quantity. To make it worse, with as petite as I am, I only burn about 400 calories (net) a workout at the absolute max. (Most are more in the 250 to 300 range.) So it is very easy for me to undo the work I've done with exercise if I can't control my appetite. What should I do?

 

[jamie vaughn]

Hi there,
I realize you are quite small but if you're training at a high intensity most of the time you might be throwing your body into overdrive and need the extra calories for recovery. Your intake seems low considering your workout level. Maybe try increasing your intake a bit and eat smaller meals more frequently? Or consider cutting back a little bit on the length of your workouts? Being ravenous is certainly not a good feeling and in myself it would result in a binge so i generally make sure i'm combining enough fat/ protein/ carb at each meal/ snack to satisfy me but not stuff me. I wouldn't focus too much on your calorie burn - not so sure how accurate any trackers are but i'm sure you also have an afterburn effect of some sort if you are doing such intense workouts.
Take care,
jamie

 

[~Elsie]

if you're training at a high intensity most of the time you might be throwing your body into overdrive

THIS.

Also, Wanda, just be concerned with your own needs. Folks comment on my amount of food intake as well given I am "slim" & they wonder where "I put all the food". I know it is easier said than done, but try not to let it bother you and ENJOY your food/fuel. Everyone is different and have different needs. Most women in my own family seem to not be able to eat or enjoy as much food cause they are easy gainers. While myself and my sister have to eat more to keep our energies up through the day and for me, not to be cranky. Hungry me = very unpleasant me. I cannot NOT eat if I am feeling hungry. I also find that while most folks find HiiT-type workouts do not make them as hungry, they make me Hungry as all hell! Like starving. While I do HiiT probably three times per month (not includng sprinting to the train cause I am running late!), most of my cardio is moderate intensity.

I would also just add to make sure you have a diabetes, thyroid etc. tests done just to be sure.

 

[nckfitheart2009]

Hungry me = very unpleasant me. I cannot NOT eat if I am feeling hungry. I also find that while most folks find HiiT-type workouts do not make them as hungry, they make me Hungry as all hell! Like starving. While I do HiiT probably three times per month (not includng sprinting to the train cause I am running late!), most of my cardio is moderate intensity.

I would also just add to make sure you have a diabetes, thyroid etc. tests done just to be sure.

This makes sense to me based on this below

Folks comment on my amount of food intake as well given I am "slim" & they wonder where "I put all the food".

Being able to smoothly sail through a 3x Hiit frequency per week is not for everyone. It require STRENGTH, energy.
One should have some efficient energy tank to complete even a 15 minutes true Hiit. Steady pace does also require
energy not the same type though. I suppose I do not need to add energy comes from food

Reading the original thread has made me recall other similar cases. My suggestion is you get yourself checked for all mentioned
by Elsie. Your metabolism sound a bit over the place going from being hungry to not eating. Such low body mass index is
also an indicator (I am a very petite 85 lb, 4'8" female) IMO. All the best

 

[poohpeggy]

I always get hungry when doing heavy weights. I have found 2% cottage cheese helps me a lot. I put my portion in a food processer and process until it is smooth and creamy. I put it in my bowl and add some thawed frozen strawberries packed in sugar. I like the juice and do not have to use much and it slightly sweetens the cottage cheese. It is my favorite meal.

 

[nckfitheart2009]

I always get hungry when doing heavy weights. I have found 2% cottage cheese helps me a lot. I put my portion in a food processer and process until it is smooth and creamy. I put it in my bowl and add some thawed frozen strawberries packed in sugar

Love this. Once processed, you get a creamy pudding. I do have this evening when I need
something --- strawberries is not one my favourite berries though. Great suggestion though

 

[sjdavis]

"creamed" or smooth cottage cheese is also a great mayo replacement. I mix it with greek yogurt for a tang. It is fantastic in tuna and in salads like macaroni, potato or egg salad. I do add a little salt though b/c you don't really realize how salty mayo is until you're using a substitute.

 

[nckfitheart2009]

"creamed" or smooth cottage cheese is also a great mayo replacement. I mix it with greek yogurt for a tang. It is fantastic in tuna and in salads like macaroni, potato or egg salad. I do add a little salt though b/c you don't really realize how salty mayo is until you're using a substitute.

Mayonnaise is fattening we know. It is our Belgian traditional sauce. I rarely have it with fries so I suppose I am allowed not to replace it. A good mayonnaise should not taste salty --- The recipe has definitely been altered/modified

 

[maddiesmum]

Try not to over-think it.

You exercise a lot, and intensely. You suffer hunger pangs. When you do, your body is clearly communicating with you, so eat. Don't count calories so much. Focus on what is on your plate in terms of nutritional value and eat until satisfied. When not hungry, don't eat. It's quite simple.

You make huge demands upon your body, requiring it to produce a lot of energy for it to power through your workouts, so feed it.

Who gives a toss what other people think about the quantity you eat? We are all different. Eat what you need. Stay healthy and happy. Don't think about it all quite so much. Just do.

Clare

 

[Justinef]

Brilliant Clare. Just brilliant.

 

[snowlover]

If people are commenting on how much you eat they are just jealous and most of all rude! Years ago in college people used to comment on how much I ate--I was not skinny, not fat, just athletic and fit, like today. I used to point out to these rude people that I ate more than my morbidly obese roommate but stayed thin so what's their point? I more recently had a coworker ask me what I was eating. It was a plain wrap with some turkey sausage in it (I take free food my mother gives me because, quite honestly, I don't make enough to keep up with my grocery bill). This woman then tells me that she didn't think I should be eating it, that it's not healthy. I remarked that it wasn't any of her business (because it isn't!). I've seen what she and my other coworkers eat and it's not pretty but I don't tell them they shouldn't be eating this or that. Not to mention the majority of them, including this woman, are so out of shape many of them couldn't even handle the warm up from a Cathe workout.

I'm totally with Clare: eat when you are hungry and don't when you are not. I've never counted calories in my life nor concerned myself with how many calories I'm burning. I just go with the flow and as long as my clothing still fits, I'm maintaining. Sometimes it's best not to stress, just listen to your body and go with it!