Is it normal to feel constantly hungry after starting the gym?

[AintNobodyHereButUsChickens]

I joined the gym in March, 2 days before COVID shut them down. I've been there most days for a week now and I've noticed I've been permanently hungry since I started last week! I never used to be this hungry all the time. I actually struggled to sleep last night because I was so hungry

I'm hungry now!

Set gym to be jyst before meal times

That way you’ll come home and eat

Totally normal for exercise to massively increase appetite, IME. I find it useless for losing weight as my appetite increases by at least double what I burn, and it makes healthy eating/portion control that much harder.

IvyKaty’s tip to time it just before the time you’d eat anyway is good. Just make sure you don’t up your portions when it comes to mealtimes.

Yes, of course. You're burning calories while gymming, as well as potentially craving more protein for muscle building. Your body needs more fuel.

The trick is that if you just shovel food in your face, you will gain weight no matter how much gym you're doing. It's very easy to overestimate how many calories a workout burns vs how many an extra carby snack contains.

Well done on keeping off the extra food! But you might want to allow yourself a bit more leeway. For a week or two, use something like MyFitnessPal to log your workouts and your food, and see if your net calories (food in minus calories out) is accidentally wildly under the amount you should eat.

I have to fit my gym sessions around the kids and DH so it's not always possible to time them for before meal times. I will keep this in mind though and do it where I can. I'm really trying to resist the urge to eat more food but it's hard! I'm doing it though. And surprisingly I'm actually enjoying the gym. I look forward to going, hate every minute I spend there and then I feel pleased with myself when I'm finished

Yeah, it’s normal. I know others have mentioned not eating too much but it could also be that you aren’t eating enough overall. I usually have a snack when I’m done just to take the edge of my hunger before it’s time for my next meal.

I wouldn’t agree that it’s normal to feel hungry after gym sessions. Research also shows that gym session fills the appetite www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/321660

I certainly find this happen

But if I go and do a 3 hour cycle I’m hungry when I get home

www.self.com/story/exercise-and-appetite

Interesting links ivykaty. I’m even more annoyed now that I don’t get this appetite suppressing effect that is apparently the norm!

tolleshunt, I would have a smoothy or latte after exercise and then see if you "really" want something to eat afterwards. A smoothy will fill you up as its lots of liquid and the same with a latte + its a bit of protein.

You may well find your not drinking enough, up the amount of fluid you have before, during and after your workout

I found this for the first week or two after our gyms reopened. Think my body was just a bit shocked to be honest! I just ate the extra for a week or so, but it’s calming down now and I’m back to my pre-gym eating and appetite levels

Ok, thanks, ivykaty, that’s a good suggestion. I do already sometimes have a latte when hungry, rather than solid food, as the milk and coffee combo do tend to head off hunger for quite a while.