AIBU to find swimming makes me far hungrier than expected?

[Wasabiforlunch]

I’ve recently started trying to lose weight and get a bit healthier, and for the first time in ages I’ve actually found a form of exercise I enjoy , which is swimming. It feels manageable on my joints (I do struggle with joint pain, which rules out a lot of other types of exercise), and I can feel that I’m working harder than I was before. My heart rate is up, my watch shows I’m burning calories, and generally it feels like a positive step.

The problem is the hunger afterwards. I come out of the pool absolutely starving, not just a bit peckish, but properly hungry in a way that’s quite hard to ignore. I am trying to stick to a calorie deficit, so it feels a bit counterproductive if I end up wanting to eat everything in sight after a swim.

Before this, I was fairly sedentary, so I suppose it’s a good sign I’m actually moving.
But I’m finding it quite difficult to balance - I don’t want to undo the benefits of exercising by overeating, but equally I don’t want to feel miserable and hungry all the time.

Has anyone else experienced this with swimming (or exercise in general)? Any tips on how to manage the hunger without derailing weight loss would be really appreciated.

I read something (can’t remember what) that suggested it’s actually thirst, due to sweating, but you don’t recognise it because you don’t notice the sweating when you’re in the water. You could try having a big drink and waiting a while to see if that helps?

Oh, that's good advice for us who live two hours from the sea.

The absolute best thing you can do is find things to eat that satisfy you, aren’t hugely calorific, and allow you to stick to your calorie goals. This may involve some experimenting. I track my calories religiously and my almond mum I’m sure thinks I eat a ton, but I’m a size 10 and leaner than I’ve ever been.

That's interesting. Swimming always makes me hungry, and I always assumed it was to do with the cold/after drop. But really good advice to have a big drink afterwards - I will try that next week.

This is why I had to stop swimming!

Do you eat before? Not immediately before I mean within a few hours.
my usual swim routine (2-3 times per week) is to have breakfast around 1-2 hours before. (Or lunch, but it’s usually morning for me as I work shifts)
I generally have granola, kefir and berries/chopped apple. This seems to keep hunger at bay. If I only had fruit or cereal with milk it wouldn’t be enough. And yes, as a pp said, big drink of water afterwards.

Can you not eat protein and stay within your calorie allowance? Porridge for breakfast then take some boiled eggs / yog/ chicken breast for after swim

I took my kids swimming today and when I got out, I actually heard my stomach rumble. I don't remember the last time I heard that sound! Also had to nap at 4pm and have eaten about thirty digestives since then. But keep up the swimming, health is about more than just weight loss. Pack a healthy but filling lunch to demolish as soon as you get out. Intermittent fasting has been transformative for me, because I don't feel I am denying myself anything during my eating "window". I'm currently pregnant but prior to this would eat from about 10.30am - 4.30pm and literally pack away whatever I wanted during those hours. Then it was herbal tea for the rest of the evening. The weight fell off (and I am a "skinny fat" so those were stubborn lbs to shift). But more importantly my sleep and mental health is the best it's ever been, mainly I think due to the anti inflammatory aspects of fasting.

Don’t give it up! It’s doing you a great deal of good. It’s getting your metabolic rate up, which remains higher for some time after exercising, which will help burn more calories.
As above, plan to have your main meal straight after swimming 😊

Yeah I’m ravenous after.

I try to time it for before a meal. Usually have about a pint of tea afterwards as well especially if it’s a sea or river swim.

I swim for strength not to lose weight.

I swim every day, and have done for years, usually between a km and a mile in crawl. It's amazing for my mental health, cardiovascular fitness and core strength, I absolutely love it. I am never hungry after swimming. I swim on an empty stomach and drink a milky decaf coffee afterwards. I only feel hungry in the mornings on days I don't swim!
Sorry, this is no help to you OP, it's just interesting how different people's metabolisms work..

In the years I've been swimming, my BMI has varied between 42 down to 25. In my experience, swimming makes no difference really to weight loss, only calorie deficit will do that.

But don't stop if you love it, the benefits are enormous. Just find what works for you within your calorie allowance. You are finding a new way of life with your diet and exercise so shifting around a meal or a snack should be achievable.

Yes always makes me very hungry and tired.

I’d try to have something high in protein afterwards like Greek yoghurt to help fill you up.

Wtf? 😆 This isn’t about you 😆

I remember reading something donkey's years ago saying that when you exercise the raised body temperature you experience decreases appetite but you don't get the heating effect when you swim, hence being ravenous afterwards

You mentiones you are trying to lose weight, are you on a diet or eating plan too? I did slimming world, and so afger swimming I'd have a meal of free foods to fill up. Jacket potato, baked beans and salad. The problem isn't being hungry, it's just what you eat. If you are prioritising protein, could you have a protein shake afterwards or some ham or cooked chicken, or if it's fibre a big bowl of cereal?

I swim first thing and eat my breakfast after or swim straight after work then eat my evening meal straight after. That way I know I’m eating as soon as I’ve finished.