The addition of exercise impacts people in various ways depending on their own unique and individual response.
The most common response upon exercising is an increase in hunger. It only makes sense since more energy is expended on a daily basis when you are working out and doing challenging and intense exercise sessions.
In some cases there is an overshoot of hunger – meaning some people will actually be hungrier in comparison to how hard they have worked.
However, even though you might want to eat back the energy you burned off during your workout and then some, if weight loss is your goal, and you proceed to do so, you will only be working against your own efforts and end up in a positive calorie balance.
You might gain some muscle and that’s a good thing, but the chances of you losing any fat will be slim.
If you find that your hunger levels are taking control and eliminating any value or benefit you would otherwise see from your exercise program, you may be overdoing your workouts or exercising too many hours per week causing an increase in hunger levels. Try cutting your exercise back to a healthier level so that your hunger level approaches a more moderate level.
Small Changes that Help
If this is not the case for you but your hunger levels seem out of control then additional means need to be addressed.
Often making a few small changes is all that is needed to help you quickly gain control over your hunger so you’re back on track and working towards your goal again.
Some strategies you can use to maintain better hunger control include:
Doubling up on your servings of vegetables to get more fiber into your day
Making sure you are eating healthy fats and accounting for the calories they provide
Sipping on hot beverages such as soup, tea or coffee to help fill the stomach and calm hunger
Making sure that you are eating enough total carbohydrates around your workout (you may need to add more to this time and then cut back on them at other points during the day)
On the other hand, some people may have a totally different experience when exercising. Rather than making them hungrier, it actually blunts their hunger.
Still others experience a combination of both. They might find that immediately after an exercise session they will notice a decline in their hunger but then an hour later, their appetite will come back with a vengeance.
Many people find that their body takes some time to adapt to exercise and regulate the amount of hunger that it experiences on a regular basis especially when upping the intensity (degree of effort used) in your exercise sessions.
The key is to be patient, listen to your body and learn how it is responding and adjust your lifestyle as needed.
No matter which column you fall into the most important thing to note is that you must make sure you are accounting for all your food intake. Don’t let yourself eat with abandon post-workout. If you find yourself that hungry and have a hard time controlling it, rather than overeat, investigate and learn how to manage it better.
Exercise must be a part of a well-rounded program for health enhancement so avoiding exercise because of the influence it has on your hunger level is not an option either. Simply learn how to structure exercise with your diet for optimal results.
Rebound Free Weight Loss can help you do just that…
For more tools and resources from Carolyn Hansen to assist you in attaining your health and fitness goals and achieving the success you desire in life, please visit:
It’s time to throw away all the false statements you’ve accepted about dieting and exercise and learn what it really takes to stay healthy and fit.
