Always hungry after starting strength training?

[EEqualzMcHammer]

I joined a gym about two weeks ago and began a programme which consists mostly of strength training and I'm ALWAYS STARVING. Like I'm eating well over 2000 calories. I go to the gym maybe four days a week and am probably there for about an hour and a half. I don't want to lose weight as I'm on the slim side (22% bodyfat) but want some nice lean muscle. I'm just afraid I'm going to start either gaining fat or bulky muscle because I'm eating so much...Or is this just a normal reaction to starting strength training? :/ Should I try and curb my hunger or give in to it? Is what I eat more important than the calories with strength training? Really need an opinion, cos I'm afraid I'm wasting my time in the gym eating around 2400 cals a day :S

[bellegirl16]

Yes, this is totally normal. I usually come home and drink half a protein shake and eat 2 to 3 hard boiled egg whites. Don't let yourself go crazy or you'll just get fat no matter how much you are working out.

[bellegirl16]

Don't give up the weight training. Ut rocks and so will you! 2400 calories a day is wayyyyy too much, be careful.

[EEqualzMcHammer]

How many are you eating do you mind me asking?

[bellegirl16]

I don't count calories but I am very careful about what I eat. 3 healthy (but good portioned) meals plus my pist workout meal plus maybe 1 healthy snack. No alcohol, soda, chips, etc. If I had to guess I'd say 1200 to 1500 daily.

[bellegirl16]

*post

[EEqualzMcHammer]

1200 can't be enough for someone doing all that exercise? I was a stone underweight when I was eating about 1400 and I wasn't even doing that much exercise?

[bellegirl16]

Like I said up to 1500. And if its a lot of lean protein it should be plenty. If you are still hungry fill up on fruits and veggies many of which are virtually calorie free. Don't get me wrong when I want a huge guilty pleasure meal I have one, just not daily.

[sovetskii13]

You feel more hungry because you're using a lot of energy during strength-training. Your body demands more food to refill your energy. I feel the same way. Normal reaction.

[kheserthorpe]

Please mention the difference between "some nice lean muscle" and 'bulky muscle"?

[EEqualzMcHammer]

As in I don't want to look like Serena Williams :P

[kheserthorpe]

Muscle is muscle. Not 100% true, but close enough for your purposes.

Gaining muscle for men is really hard.

Gaining muscle for women is staggeringly hard. Most women could never look like serena williams no matter what they do.

In any case, nobody in the history of ever has woken up one day, looked in the mirror and gone 'aww crap muscles too big did one too many squats yesterday'.

If you get to the size you want... then switch to a maintenance program. Till then, you either want to 'tone up' which means adding muscle, or not.

Anyway, Its a normal reaction to strength training, you should probably up your protein a little, and I'd suggest you monitor your waist line not your weight on the scale to make sure you're happy with how you're using those calories.

[EEqualzMcHammer]

I kind of want to know if I'm going to be gaining fat eating at a major calorie surplus BEFORE it's had an effect on my waistline though. :/ I am working out quite a lot, so would you say that it's ok to eat a fair bit more? I know it's not as black and white on that and depends on lots of different factors but in general..

[kheserthorpe]

4 days an hour and a half a day burns quite a lot.

Lets put it this way, if you accidentally gain 5 lbs of fat, you could eat clean and lose it in two weeks with your workout level.

What's your diet like now in terms of composition and timing relative to workouts?

[Phoenix98]

Your body is craving protein, protein is required for your body to rebuild the muscle you destroy when you train.

[Anonymous]

Muscles are very needy..