Insatiable appetite now exercising-help stop me eating!

[GotTheMorbs]

I have tracked my calories for years, it helped me lose and maintain my weight.

I have always walked and done yoga but, for the last couple of weeks, I have added in weights. I now cannot stop eating!

Today I have had 3,939 calories! I have been the same for a couple of weeks. My tummy is now bloated and wobbly after previously being pretty slender.

if you do weights/exercise, do you get insatiably hungry? I just feel like I can’t fill myself and I haven’t been like this for years. I just can’t stop stuffing carbs in. Any advice?
TIA

Haven’t you increased protein?

I get that a bit too when I started back doing weights after a long hiatus, just make sure you are drinking enough water as some of it may be thirst masquerading as hunger. Especially if you are building muscle, your body will need more water intake.

I usually try and drink a glass of water first, and if I'm still hungry after 10 minutes I will have something small. I have to say after a few weeks, it subsided a bit and now I don't feel as ravenous after a workout.

Also as a previous poster said - are you upping your protein? Try and have some healthy snacks on hand to stop you grabbing carbs.

Rather than eating less I’d focus on eating differently. I run a lot & weight train and I find that actually if you’re clever with your choices you can eat a lot without eating a lot of calories. So for example instead of having spaghetti bolognese I will have vegetable noodles with the bolognese- I can have a HUGE portion of that for 500 calories whereas the same amount of spaghetti would have made that a 900+ calorie meal. The same with lunch, rather than having a chicken sandwich I will have a huge bowl of chicken pasta salad. Same with snacks, rather than having a couple of biscuits for 150 calories I can have quite a big portion of popcorn. It’s about focusing on volume eating basically, carbs are not the enemy and you need them when training but there are ways to bulk up your meals without making them hugely calorific. Also as previous poster suggested focus on your protein intake, it keeps you fuller for longer x

How much lean protein are you eating? Almost 4000 calories is twice a safe amount for a woman.

Try having smaller, more frequent meals?

Drink more water-at least 2 litres a day (not fruit juice - try fruit tea)

Cope with mild hunger. It won’t kill you.

My most effective weight loss has not come when I keep a strict calorie target. It is when I go for a calorie deficit.

so more exercise means more food. Specifically more protein for me.

I track both an estimate of calories burned and a count of calories for the day and make sure they stay balanced.

the exercise is good for you beyond weight loss and your body needs fuel to make it happen.

actually if you’re clever with your choices you can eat a lot without eating a lot of calories.
Thats the way I’ve been eating for the last 4/5 years since losing the weight. I just can’t understand such an increase in carb cravings now I’ve added weights.

Haven’t you increased protein?
Yes.

the exercise is good for you beyond weight loss and your body needs fuel to make it happen.
I’m not trying to lose weight. If anything I need to put a little on. I have been slightly underweight for the last couple of years. I want to get to strong, rather than skinny.

Cope with mild hunger. It won’t kill you.
It’s not even like I’m actually hungry tbh, my tummy is groaning. I just feel like I need to stuff carbs in!

I’m drinking plenty of water and I’ve had 112g protein today. I will try more frequent, smaller meals.

I get that a bit too when I started back doing weights after a long hiatus
That is slightly reassuring. I hope it will level off then and I can regain some control.

Thank you all.