How To Deal With Increased Hunger After Exercise

We’ve all experienced it. That feeling of increased hunger after exercise. But is it hunger or something else?

Many people fall into the trap of exercising for food. They might eat a piece of cake and then run an extra mile to make up for it. The problem is that the extra mile is probably not going to burn off that piece of cake and it’s a bad habit to get into.

Either way, there are some things you can do to keep the hunger pains from ruining your diet for the day.

How To Avoid Hunger After Exercise

Number of Calories

Some people think they can eat as much as they want after exercising. While it can take an hour to burn off 500 calories, it can take only five minutes to eat the same number back. A better strategy, according to some dietitians, is to eat back half of what you burn. So for example if you did burn off 500 calories, you could eat back up to 250 calories. Not that you have to, but you could and you would still be at a 250-calorie deficit.

Type of Food

Another strategy to satisfy a post-exercise hunger is to eat the right type of food. Not all calories are created equal. While you could drink down 250 calories by consuming an energy drink after exercising, eating an apple with peanut butter will be more satisfying and keep you full longer, thus reducing the temptation to further snack.

Staying Hydrated

Sometimes signals in the body get crossed. It’s fact we lose water through perspiration and through our breathing. This loss is of course amplified when working out. You may be interpreting this loss of water as a sign of hunger when in reality, you are dehydrated and need to drink water. Before consuming food, try drinking an eight-ounce glass of water and wait 20 minutes. If you’re still feeling hungry, then go ahead and eat a light healthy snack. In many cases, the glass of water will suppress the hunger signal.

Pre-workout Snack

As counterintuitive as it may seem, eating something that gives you quick energy right before a workout, such as a piece of fruit, can actually lessen the post-workout hunger signal. By adding in those extra quick absorbing calories, you don’t end up burning as many stored calories as you would otherwise, but you won’t feel as hunger at the end of your workout either. So instead of consuming 500 calories post-workout, maybe a 150-calorie snack satisfies you instead, thus saving you a couple of hundred calories or more in the end.

Timing

By timing your workout so you’re finished around a scheduled mealtime, you can avoid eating extra calories that you would otherwise had as a snack.

By using these strategies, you can deal with your post-workout hunger without busting your calorie count for the day. Eat smart and listen to your body to ensure you really know what it’s telling you.

15 Foods To Eat Before & After You Exercise

Good nutrition is essential for an effective fitness program. What you put into your body plays a key role not only in how you feel and look, but also in how you perform. People are often amazed at how small dietary changes can reap huge results with their fitness goals.

Whether you want to build muscle or improve your cardio performance, this free report, 15 Foods To Eat Before & After Your Workout shares strategic nutrition tips on have to avoid hunger after exercise and help you achieve better nutrition and a new personal best.