A client asked me this last week and thought I would share my answer with everyone, in case anyone else feels this way…
Why am I hungrier on rest days?
Could be for a few different reasons:
Proteins from the food you eat are broken down into amino acids, which are then used to rebuild muscle tissue. This means that after training, you will have increased energy and protein needs, so it is reasonable to say that you feel hungry on rest days because your body may still be recovering from previous training sessions
On days of high training load/volume, hunger is often suppressed after exercise (especially after vigorous exercise), most likely due to redistribution of blood flow to the extremities, away from the gastrointestinal tract
When you exercise, you create an energy deficit. If you’re not eating more to replace that deficit (like when you’re trying to lose weight, for example), it’s only natural to feel hungry.
High-intensity exercise can serve as an appetite suppressant due to the accumulation of lactic acid. It can take a while for your appetite to return afterward, which is why you may find yourself eating less in the hours after a super tough workout. Eventually, this effect wears off, and you start to feel hungry again. (So if you work out in the evening, hunger may set in the next day.)
You may not be eating enough before and after workouts. It can take up to seven to 14 days for a muscle to fully recover after a difficult workout, and this largely depends on the type of fuel you are giving your body. Your body needs carbohydrates to refuel the glycogen stores used during your workout, as well as protein to assist with muscle recovery. If you burn calories and strain muscles in a workout and then don’t eat enough to assist with healing, not only will you have extended muscle fatigue, but you will also feel hungry
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