Hungry on Time Off

[chelsealong]

Okay well I stupidly have amped up my cardio (I can get pretty addicted pretty quickly). Here is a layout of my workout schedule:
Monday: 50 Min. cardio (elliptical/bike) followed by 30 min weights ( I usually do 12-15 reps moderate weight)
Tuesday: 50 min swim-lift lower body for about 20 min
Wednesday: Rest
Thursday: 55 min cardio (ellitpical/bike intervals) 30 min weights
Friday: 50 min swim or 50 min elliptical/bike intervals-abs
Saturday:60 min swim/10 min cycle-lift upper body 20 min.
Sunday: 55-60 min cardio-abs
When I lift I usually do chest and triceps one day, next day legs (squats,etc) back/biceps and then shoulders. Latley I have been focusing more on cardio because I have been loving the endorphin burn rather then weights. Neverless my body has turned soft :( With all the cardio workouts my blood sugar levels have seemed to be all over the place. (I am not diabetic, I have been tested...I notice this more when I increase my workout duration time). I have also been exhausted. Although, I am not overly sore or having any sleeping issues.
My daily intake looks like this : 1,800 calories 49f/180protein/175carbs (roughly sometimes a little higher) I eat oats, whole grain wraps, egg whites, almonds, tons of veggies, pb, protein powder, a little fruit, very clean so to speak.
This week after feeling drained I decided to take a break and revamp my workouts (more lifting way less cardio) I am on day three of my break and have found that I am STARVING and I am not even working out. Being it day three, my blood sugar levels seem to be alot better (no attacks) but I am constantly hungry. I am eating at maintance 1,700 cals. Could this just be because my body is used to working out and is trying to recover? I am at a healthy 135 and am 5'7. To tell you the truth I do feel a little guilty eating alot when I am not working out....
S

[andrerox80]

oh lord, you need help, girl. on a bunch of levels.

[chelsealong]

This I know!! That is what happens when an a Type A person gets the idea that she should train for a Tri as well as keep up with weight lifting. I have the personality that I can do it all, I am far from perfect...this I realize. First and foremost I am working on nixing the cardio and upping the cals.

[kimm4]

1700 calories is not maintenance for you, it's too low.

[tinktinktink]

you should be eating way more than 1700 cals, no way is that maintenance for you

im eating that and losing and im doing no cardio what so ever

[thepowerwithin]

Former cardio junkie here, just like what you describe. Makes you hungrier than heck and skinny fat. Stop the cardio insanity, up your calories, and emphasize lifting. You'll love the results.

[chelsealong]

I am thinking I am going to start with Jamie Eason's 12 week program, this allows me to only do four days of lifting which I think will be a good start. I am not going to follow her diet plan and just work on upping my calories. Not going to lie, this is going to be one heck of a challage for me to up my cals and ditch the cardio. I have a mind set that the more cardio=more calories burned.

[toodlepip]

I am not going to follow her diet plan and just work on upping my calories. Not going to lie, this is going to be one heck of a challage for me to up my cals and ditch the cardio. I have a mind set that the more cardio=more calories burned.

It is a real adjustment to move away from the cardio mindset and you may go back and forth on it for a bit. But if you get 'addicted quick' shift that focus from cardio to lifting smart i.e. pick a well-designed program and make sure you are eating adequately to support it.

If you are burned out right now I would take a week off, eat WELL, nourish yourself, satiate that hunger, get a lot of sleep and use your extra time to pick a program that will help you reach your goals (which you don't really state).

[andrerox80]

im eating that and losing and im doing no cardio what so ever

how the hell is that relevant?

but, yes, op, your maintenance isn't 1700. see the sticky on calculating cals and macro's.

the cardio thing will be wicked hard oin the beginning, but then you won't even miss it and will feel sorry for the people logging endless hrs on the treadmill (and also getting no where w/ their bodies)

[megmo7]

how the hell is that relevant?

but, yes, op, your maintenance isn't 1700. see the sticky on calculating cals and macro's.

the cardio thing will be wicked hard oin the beginning, but then you won't even miss it and will feel sorry for the people logging endless hrs on the treadmill (and also getting no where w/ their bodies)

Agreed. Ever since I've stepped far, far away from the elliptical, I've found I've gained SO much more muscle definition. Lifting heavy is enough for me to break a sweat and feel like I got in an amazing workout anyway.

[chels23]

Okay so last week I basically took off from my hard workouts. I went to the gym on Mon/Wed/Fri. Each day I only managed to do some light walking on the treadmill followed by streaching as well as some very light lifts (more along the line of lifting 5lb dumbells) just to get my body to wake up, I was still very stiff all over. Food wise, by Friday I noticed I was not so starving. I managed to keep my cals around 1900 last week. Over the weekend we had a wedding to attend so I figured I would let myself enjoy life and give my body the extra cals it may need and see if that would make a difference in my energy levels. So Friday as well as Saturday I ate my fair share of food and drank my fair share of wine (chicken with lots of pasta, pork chops, potatoes, chocolate cake..you name it). I did not over stuff myself to the point where I was sick, but I ate plenty and drank plenty. Sunday into Monday I felt very jittery and very bloated (water weight I know). Monday morning I went for a very light workout once again, some elliptical to wake my leg muscles up and some sets of weight using no heavier than 15 pounds. The workout lasted for about 45 min. After my workout, I had some yogurt and was not very hungry until about 30 min later I could feel my blood sugar drop again so I ate quickly, but the rest of the day I felt fine and continued to eat normal.
Today, well that was another story. I was STARVING the whole day, it was as if I could not stop eating. I did not workout today at all and every hour I would be famished. Not only that, I was exhausted..everytime I would eat I would get a washed out feeling come over me. I am so confused and I am starting to get scared. This no workout thing and my body being in a state where it feels as if I could eat a horse. I am at a very healthy weight, heck I have cellulite so I am nowhere near starving myself. I am a little worried I might have messed up my thyroid or some other health issue that is causing me to be so freaking hungry. Any advice?? Should I see a doctor??

[gwnorth]

Any chance you're PMSing? I know my appetite seriously increases the week before my period.