So I've been wondering this for a while. Everyone says to eat when you're hungry. Stop when you're full. Well, I currently aim to eat around 2200-2400 cals a day. I am a D1 collegiate rower and currently practice twice a day. I've been focusing on eating balanced and making my calories count; however, lately I have found that I am extremely hungry around 8:30-9:00 PM ish. However, by that time I have used up all of my calories for the day. I know this isn't thirst because I am extremely good about hydration. My question is this: should I have something light if I'm extremely hungry and at calorie total or should I just ride it out? Oh, and for reference, I'm 6' tall and do one 2 hour highintensity session and the other is weights or an hour and a half of stationary erging (rowing machine) at a steady state (60% heart rate). Thanks so much for your help! Much appreciation.
Question on Night Hunger
- Thread starter K-ray
- Start date
Nighttime Hunger
Well I'm not a health and fitness expert. However, I'm not a fan of starvation and I'm sure if you say it's actual hunger and not thirst, then I would have something light. Especially with all that activity you do throughout the day. I would try to have my last snack before 9pm. And I would do protein instead of a carb right before bed.
I hope this helps.
Well I'm not a health and fitness expert. However, I'm not a fan of starvation and I'm sure if you say it's actual hunger and not thirst, then I would have something light. Especially with all that activity you do throughout the day. I would try to have my last snack before 9pm. And I would do protein instead of a carb right before bed.
I hope this helps.
KaraCooks
New member
Is there some way you can rearrange your meal plan so that you have 200 or so calories left over at the end of the night for a snack? That seems like it would make the most sense to me ... if you know you're going to be hungry, then plan around that.
I do the same thing on the days I lift weights. After a regular run in the evenings, I can go home and wait to cook dinner until my housemate is also ready. On the days I lift, I come home and need FOOD NOW, so I make sure on those days that I have the calories allocated for a protein drink or some protein heavy snack.
I do the same thing on the days I lift weights. After a regular run in the evenings, I can go home and wait to cook dinner until my housemate is also ready. On the days I lift, I come home and need FOOD NOW, so I make sure on those days that I have the calories allocated for a protein drink or some protein heavy snack.
Beatlesboy
New member
I have this same situation where I've had my calories for the day (around 2,000) but I exercised for 2-3 hours intensely and I'm really hungry at night. I'll even wake up in the middle of the night and HAVE to eat something it's that bad.
I've had this same problem as you and Beatlesboy - it SUCKS. If I just try to go to bed it takes forever to fall asleep, and if I wake up at 2:30 or 3:00 AM feeling like I'm starving to death I don't know what to do.
Go to a supplement store and get a 12 hour release protein shake. Drink it before you brush your teeth and go to bed... that way you get to feed the muscles you ripped up during the day, without messing up your meal plan. If you don't up your calories a little like Jynus recommends, you're probably burning some of the muscles your making by restricting your calorie intake too much. A big glass of milk might help too, if you don't like protein shakes. Honestly, if you're 6' tall and working out 2 hours a day, you have nothing to worry about by throwing in an extra 100-200 calories before bed to get you through the night. It might even help you out, physically.
Keep up the awesome work with your training
Go to a supplement store and get a 12 hour release protein shake. Drink it before you brush your teeth and go to bed... that way you get to feed the muscles you ripped up during the day, without messing up your meal plan. If you don't up your calories a little like Jynus recommends, you're probably burning some of the muscles your making by restricting your calorie intake too much. A big glass of milk might help too, if you don't like protein shakes. Honestly, if you're 6' tall and working out 2 hours a day, you have nothing to worry about by throwing in an extra 100-200 calories before bed to get you through the night. It might even help you out, physically.
Keep up the awesome work with your training
you are so focused it's scary. but good for you. I loved your comparison of your body to a car. you should take care of the things you cherish and love, including your body. When I am doing great on a diet, I feel like my body is loving me for it. Putting good, wholesome foods into myself makes me feel like I'm in control.
TaoJames
New member
This has been answered above, and to be fair it has been answered well... If you are training that hard for 2 hours a day an extra 200 calories will be fine. If you dont want to then you will have to alter your meal plan, but with that kind of training its going to be hard to steal 200 calories without leaving you hungry during the day.
Having tried cutting the calories before training I found I stalled out and training became much harder (then I passed out) so dont do that!!!
Also why are you looking at BMI as a measure? As your rowing your BMI is always going to be bigger due to muscle mass you need and develop to allow you to compete.
Just a thought....
Having tried cutting the calories before training I found I stalled out and training became much harder (then I passed out) so dont do that!!!
Also why are you looking at BMI as a measure? As your rowing your BMI is always going to be bigger due to muscle mass you need and develop to allow you to compete.
Just a thought....
Thanks so much for your help everyone. Yeah I practice about three and a half hours a day. Its cool though. I've added an extra snack/have moved dinner to a later time and am feelin better. As for bmi focus, I'm not really focused on that, so much as it just shows up on the ticker. I'm aiming for 175 morning weight because that way I'll sit in the 175-180 range, which is good for a competition weight. My goal is to lose six pounds in the next six weeks and is going nicely. I don't want to lose too much too quickly, because I want fat loss. Also, I want 175 because I plan on throwing on 10 pounds of muscle over the course of next year. Again, thanks so much to everyone. You all are so helpful. 
and good luck.
and good luck.