Question about being hungry and what to eat--only answer if you lift weights please.?

Question

I'm a 21 year old guy. I work out usually about 5-6 days a week. Four of those are lifting free weights, and I usually do HIIT on a stationary bike (too cold to run) 5 or 6 days a week. The thing is though that sometimes I feel like I'm always hungry. I mean breakfast is usually the same--a bowl of KIX and a bowl of Honey Bunches of Oats with skim milk. KIX isn't so sugary and I'm not giving up my HBO. Lunch is usually the same too--A turkey sandwich with cheese and little bit of that fake butter stuff : P and then usually I'll have a non-fat yogurt and some sort of fruit or a piece of corn bread as a treat. Between those two at work I'll usually have a pear or an apple while I'm on break. After I eat lunch I work out and have my post-workout snack afterward. By the time my dad serves supper I'm just starting to get hungry again and he generally makes healthy stuff. After that I usually don't eat but I mean what's an ok snack to have at night--I get hungry! It just seems like a couple

hours after I eat an actual meal I’m hungry for a snack again. I am not necessarily trying to get super buff but I do enjoy lifting weights and working out. And like I said I do the HIIT. I guess mostly I’m just asking do you think I’m eating enough? And when I’m hungry what’s an ok snack? Thanks for any input.

Answer 1

You should be having 6 "mini-meals" during the day. You're very active, and the demands on your body are high. I work out almost as much and I eat every 2-3 hours. Protein powder is a great way to reach that goal.

Get a big canister of whey protein powder and have a shake an hour before you go to the gym. I mix mine with 8 oz. of soymilk, but just water is OK if you want to save on calories. Have that along with your usual snack. Also, IMMEDIATELY after you finish working out, have another shake and plenty of carbs. Bread, fruits, juice, even sugary candy is ok.

Weight-training and high-intensity cardio depletes your bodies glycogen, and you're hungry all day because your body needs to replenish it. Having a big load of carbs right after your workout (and a big helping of protein) will help jump-start that process and it's the prime-time to start the muscle repair and recovery process.

Answer 2

Your problem is that you have gone fat free!!! this isn't good for anyone!! Natural saturated fats: whole milk, butter, real salad dressing, etc. will keep you feeling satiated a lot longer than will all that fake butter and nonfat yogurt stuff.

Don't overboard on the stuff, just have a sufficient amount to satisfy your brain!!!

Have a bit of peanut butter with the apples or pears.

Have bacon and eggs with whole wheat toast instead of the heavy carby cereals!! You will feel fuller much longer.

Fats do not make people fat!!! Cereals and grains do.

Answer 3

It sounds like you might not be eating enough for your activity level. You should never eat below 1500 calories and as active as you are, it sound like you should be taking in much more to keep your metabolism up and burn fat WITHOUT loosing your lean muscle that it sounds like your working hard for.

I do "2 a days" at the gym 5-7 days a week...cardio for 45-60 minutes in the morning and lift weights in the afternoon after work. I'm the same way...hungry every 2 hours like a baby. That USUALLY means your metabolism is pretty revved up and needs fuel.

I usually eat 5-6 small meals/snacks per day. Try protein in the morning like eggs/eggwhites and whole grain cereal or oatmeal. Add a protein shake/bar once or twice per day (your body needs the protein for lean muscle growth) and continue with your meals making sure you eat lean meats (turkey is awesome) and green veggies. If you find you are still hungry you can add in brown rice or sweet potatoes for carbs and bulk. Post workout you need to have something like a protein shake fairly quickly (15 minutes), then a meal with a complex carb and lean protein within the hour. Fruit is Ok but high in carbs if your trying to watch that. Peanut butter is great after a workout bt I do shakes...they agree with me best. A handfull of nuts (almonds), yogurt, fat free cottage cheese or another turkey sandwhich is fine for a snack in the evening too! I personally try not to eat after 7:30pm, prefering to do the protein shakes instead but again, that works for me and might not be enough to satisfy you...

The best proteing powder is Champion (I love the cookies and cream). It tastes good and actually mixes well instead of clumpy. I also mix it in with plain oatmeal and bake it into whole grain pancake batter for extra protein.

If you want some good tips, try bodybuilding.com. I know the name is intimidating but I get diet outlines, snack and meal tips as well as workout and supplement info from there...IMy body gets used to routines at the gym and diets very quickly and I constantly have to challenge myself in those departments to acheive my goals. Sound like your on the right track.

Answer 4

i used to carry around sunflower seeds, or nuts... yogurt is good ... sliced tomatoes with balsamic. sliced cucumbers....watch the fruit... high in sugars.... a protein shake always fills me up.... mare you eating your turkey sandwiches on wheat bread? i used to boil a dozen eggs and eat a hard boiled egg for a snack.... also you can make tuna salad or chicken and eat it in top of sliced tomatoes!!!

Answer 5

so eat more! woth all the working out you do, your not gonna get fat.