A client once asked me: “I don’t know what it is, but I often feel hungrier on days when I’m not personally training. Why is that?”

If you’re curious why your appetite changes when you exercise, the first thing to know is that a fluctuating appetite is normal. That’s good news because you don’t have to worry that something is wrong. But it’s bad news because if you don’t understand what’s going on, you might want to overeat or even binge on days you aren’t working out.

How Exercise Affects Your Body

Exercise affects your body’s chemistry, so when you exercise, your hunger is suppressed. What happens is that the blood that’s normally in your gut moves away to other areas of your body, where it’s needed to support the activity.

During exercise, your body uses energy in the form of glucose and carbohydrates. A redistribution of glucose and carbohydrates causes you to feel less hungry after you work out, especially if you had a vigorous workout.

The next day, if you aren’t exercising, you’ll feel hungrier because your body is working to return to its normal state. Glygocen (a type of glucose) signals your body to restore its energy balance. You recognize this signal as hunger.

If you do strength training, you may find yourself even hungrier because your metabolic rate increases for 36 hours as your body recuperates from the strained muscles.

For good health and wellness, tune in to your hunger levels and then adjust your eating accordingly. Watch for those signals that tell you to eat and be sure to answer by eating something healthy that supports your body’s recovery.

Post Workout Food Recommendation

I recommend you bring a good source of simple carbs and proteins for your post-workout. For example, I love having cream of rice with banana and @livbody PP. Also, make sure you don’t skip meals on rest days. Your body needs those fuels to restore and get ready for the next training day.

If you need help managing your food intake while meeting your fitness goals, contact me. As an online fitness coach, I’ll teach you about the right balance of foods and when to eat them for optimal results.