why do you get infinitely hungrier during cutting phase?

[jizzle124]

When I was bulking (3400 cals), I had a hard time getting my calories in.
Even in the morning, I couldn't eat. Getting even 2000 calories in was difficult. 3400 everyday was a challenge. I was sick of food all the time.

Now, cutting at 2400 calories, my stomach is always growling and I feel weak all the time. Even after a big meal, I feel like I can eat a horse.

Anyone have this and know why?

[JPenn17]

I think it's because our bodies want a certain amount of food. when you bulk your eating more. When you cut your eating less. Your stomach sends signals to your brain to get back in balance either way. It's part of what keeps us alive and sane.

[SideSteal]

You're at a caloric deficit. This is basically bro-science, but your body basically has an expected amount of calories to maintain current bodyweight. When you consistently eat under this amount, your body is telling you to eat more.

[jizzle124]

You're at a caloric deficit. This is basically bro-science, but your body basically has an expected amount of calories to maintain current bodyweight. When you consistently eat under this amount, your body is telling you to eat more.

holy crap man.
I wish my body would stop telling me to eat. I never knew I could get this hungry. And this is coming from a guy who had his jaw wired shut for 3 months and lived off juice and protein shakes.

Last night I had a dream about nachos and I woke up next to drool..

[camau71]

If you're eating really clean, low starches will cause some of this. The brain uses roughly half of the glucose your body takes in. When you go from lots of carbs to low carbs, glucose levels drop throughout the day and you're brain get freaked out and signals you to eat more carbs to kick glucose up to the levels it has been accustomed to. The bigger factor is knowing you're dieting and feeling deprived.

Just have to tell yourself that the situation is temporary and looking great on contest day is worth the pain. Just part of the price but worth it.

[Bohdizzle]

Just drink water non stop.. fills you up till your next meal.

[lovingit]

Because when we diet our bodies create more of the hormone ghrelin which triggers hunger.

[Electricheadd]

Not sure what your macros are like but I am not nearly as hungry when I eat more protein and less carbs.

[jshpark]

I know how you feel man. cutting is a biatch but it is working... slowly but surely.. I started with 1.5lb/week loss and i was so hungry so I backed down to 1 lb/week. I do a lot of interval training, strength 2 times a week, and am a full time student (a lot of walking around campus) so I'm probably burning more calories than I think..

It's gettin to the point where I am planning breakfast in the morning lol.. Feel really hungry at night but I feel proud in the morning as I can tell I am getting leaner.. I'm trying to go 1 lb/week until the week of the 22nd of April.

It would probably be a good idea to do a maintenance week just to get some mental and physiological benefit.. EC Stack would work but I don't like the feeling I get from it.. I would only use that if you are doing rapid fat loss or something

[m4rt1ndunh4m]

Thinking..

[legends159]

chew gum and drink hot liquids like tea or coffee. it helps a lot

[luckducky433]

Last night I had a dream about nachos and I woke up next to drool..

Haha, I've been doing well on my diet I started, but now that I saw you mention nachos...I just had a 75gram bowl of quinoa, unflavored...and now I'm depressed

MMMMM...nachos...

[amazongb]

probably because you went straight from bulk to a cut.. you could try bulk>maintenance>cut next time and the transition might be smoother.

That said, 2400 cals is plenty, and you shouldn't feel that hungry. Time your meals so you have cals available when you are most hungry - for me, I eat light breakfast (maybe 150 cals), then bigger lunch, big afternoon snack, big dinner. I seem to be hungry most later in the day... so, just plan as much as you can, and drink lots of water.

[BlackHawk]

It is certainly bad at first but your body adjusts. I am 3 weeks in and I have to remind myself to eat so I can make my cals for the day.

[SherOfPunjab]

Try EC stack you won't be that hungry and it will help your cut.