How do you know if your body is craving protein/carbs/fats???

[Pharm_Fed]

I read people say, "My body was craving carbs.", or their body was hungry for protein, or they were just hungry for the calories.

I'm sure this is something that takes a lot of listening to your body to understand fully, but can anyone attempt to explain the difference between knowing your body craves carbs, or protein or whatever?

Is it what sounds good to eat? For example, if a steak sounds good at the moment your body is craving protein? If you're hungry for some rice or a potato your body is craving carbs? Or is there more to it than that?

I would like to know the difference so I can begin to listen to my body more but I'm not really sure what to pay attention to. Any help would be appreciated.

 

[PHIL HERNON]

Well

I read people say, "My body was craving carbs.", or their body was hungry for protein, or they were just hungry for the calories.

I'm sure this is something that takes a lot of listening to your body to understand fully, but can anyone attempt to explain the difference between knowing your body craves carbs, or protein or whatever?

Is it what sounds good to eat? For example, if a steak sounds good at the moment your body is craving protein? If you're hungry for some rice or a potato your body is craving carbs? Or is there more to it than that?

I would like to know the difference so I can begin to listen to my body more but I'm not really sure what to pay attention to. Any help would be appreciated.

Start thinking internally........not saying "my body" like it is out there someplace to figure out....it is inside of you. Listen to the signals.....a protein craving is a low stomach "ache"......a sugar craving is an upper, almost throat craving.....fats need to be adjusted accordingly per your goals........thats as much as I will say.

 

[whiteknucks]

Start thinking internally........not saying "my body" like it is out there someplace to figure out....it is inside of you. Listen to the signals.....a protein craving is a low stomach "ache"......a sugar craving is an upper, almost throat craving.....fats need to be adjusted accordingly per your goals........thats as much as I will say.

phil i never realized that until now. that is an excellent observation you have made. or did someone else point that out?

 

[Pharm_Fed]

Start thinking internally........not saying "my body" like it is out there someplace to figure out....it is inside of you. Listen to the signals.....a protein craving is a low stomach "ache"......a sugar craving is an upper, almost throat craving.....fats need to be adjusted accordingly per your goals........thats as much as I will say.

Ok that makes sense. I have never really noticed the hunger in a different place. It always just seems to come from my belly region. I guess I have to pay closer attention. Thanks for the quick reply.

Is there any way to help explain it other than that?

 

[PHIL HERNON]

Well

Ok that makes sense. I have never really noticed the hunger in a different place. It always just seems to come from my belly region. I guess I have to pay closer attention. Thanks for the quick reply.

Is there any way to help explain it other than that?

Is there a more simple way to put it? I really ...........dont think so. Up........down........tummy...........

 

[Pharm_Fed]

Is there a more simple way to put it? I really ...........dont think so. Up........down........tummy...........

Hehe, that is simple. I just meant maybe other signs to look for. Although I haven't been paying attention specifically for that I've never noticed the 'hunger' come from anywhere other than my stomach. I will start paying closer attention though. Thanks

 

[PHIL HERNON]

Well

Hehe, that is simple. I just meant maybe other signs to look for. Although I haven't been paying attention specifically for that I've never noticed the 'hunger' come from anywhere other than my stomach. I will start paying closer attention though. Thanks

Shaking, seeing " stars" , weakness, odd feeling in tongue, dizzy.......are OBVIOUS signs of low blood sugar.....carbs right away then protein....

 

[machola]

its about knowing your body imo. the need for carbs is the most obvious. mental changes are the big sign for most people. irritability, fatigue, mental fog, unsteady hands. it progresses to this over time. it starts out very mild... protein is obvious too but not as pronounced. it doesn't happen as often. if you're like me you're always eating protein. i think protein stays in your system a while so you can go without if for longer. opposed to carbs which i need every 2-3hrs. my body burns through carbs... if you can't tell the feeling just try to go without it for a while until you feel the craving. then you will be able to recognize it in the future. its all about learning your body

 

[Steve123]

I don't know man, I'm kind of like a Doberman, I hunt according to sight! SOmetimes I'll look at a carb source and almost can't control myself. Often, they don't appeal to me. Usually if I'm really hungry I'll pull a chicken breast from the freezer, nuke and eat it. Or grab a fist full of delly meat from the drawer. Usually after about 1/2 pound of meat, all cravings go away.

 

[VitoBrata]

Shaking, seeing " stars" , weakness, odd feeling in tongue, dizzy.......are OBVIOUS signs of low blood sugar.....carbs right away then protein....

Phil, I know you are a proponent of "eating when you are hungary" However, when dieting should every craving be addressed?

 

[PHIL HERNON]

It may

Phil, I know you are a proponent of "eating when you are hungary" However, when dieting should every craving be addressed?

It depends upon how you look and IF you know your cravings and what the consequences are of them.....

 

[bigguns078]

Phil, I know you are a proponent of "eating when you are hungary" However, when dieting should every craving be addressed?

I think the first couple of days when you reduce calories, you will have increased hunger.. Always happens to me when i drop my calories around 15-20%. After a couple of days those hunger pains go away because my body has adjusted to the reduction of calories..

 

[tkav1980]

cravings are due to a couple of factors. remember your body is smarter than you think it is. high simple sugar foods can produse a euphoric feeling more potent than heroine or sex. it is an evolutionary trait. due to the rarity of high sugar contant foods in NATURE. cave men ate primarily meat and some veggies, every once in a whil they would stumble on a bees nest and get some honey or maybe a blackberry bush and get alot of fructose from that. it is an easy source of energy for the body to use and giving yourself that gets you a chemical reward from the brain. your brain "remembers" what foods supply what nutrients. if it didnt there would be no reason for the sence of taste. its a chemical chain that links certain foods to certain nutrients. it is a mechanism for your brain to remember where its gets its fuel from. no on to how "I" would deal with cravings. a balanced diet is the key IMO to avoiding cravings. if your body gets everything it needs on a regular basis cravings will be limited. the would be no real reason for them. finding the proper macro nutrient ratio for your body would be a big step in avoiding cravings and achieving your bodybuilding goals. if your body is never denied everything it requires for proper functioning it would not crave anything extra. unfortunately the body isnt totally perfect and neither is your diet. or anyone's for that matter. so you will get cravings from time to tim even with the best diet. the best thing you can do is satisfy the craving and move on. the easiest one to satisfy will be the craving for simple sugars. due to the potentancy it will only take a small amount. use real sugar instead of splenda in 1 cup of coffee in the morning IF you are craving sugar and that shold set that right. as for fats i say go nuts so to speak. i mean eat walnuts. or use walnut oil. your body and your goals will thank you for it. if you are doing EVERYTHING right the cravings for protien are the easiest to handle. just eat some, or sip on LBA's. worrying about alittle sugar in the morning is overthinking this. if your body needs it give it a small amount to get over the craving and get your butt back on track.

 

[Pharm_Fed]

Good post tkav. I don't have much of a sweet tooth so my sugar cravings are few and far between. I would much rather have salty carb, chips, popcorn, french fries. Those are the foods I have to keep myself from eating. I can walk down the candy isle and not be tempted hardly at all. I do get a good portion of my carbs from fruits so that probably helps keep the sugar cravings at bay.

Your post does make sense though. I've noticed that as I've started dieting recently, I've reduced my carbs from about 450g a day to about 200g a day, and my cravings for popcorn, chips and things like that are much greater now than before. Since I'm eating less than half the carbs I used to that makes sense.

Thanks for the post bro.

 

[tkav1980]

Good post tkav. I don't have much of a sweet tooth so my sugar cravings are few and far between. I would much rather have salty carb, chips, popcorn, french fries. Those are the foods I have to keep myself from eating. I can walk down the candy isle and not be tempted hardly at all. I do get a good portion of my carbs from fruits so that probably helps keep the sugar cravings at bay.

Your post does make sense though. I've noticed that as I've started dieting recently, I've reduced my carbs from about 450g a day to about 200g a day, and my cravings for popcorn, chips and things like that are much greater now than before. Since I'm eating less than half the carbs I used to that makes sense.

Thanks for the post bro.

if you choose the right carb source i dont see a reason that you cant up them alittle and keep losing fat. lets think about carbs for a min. they are your body's primary source of energy. simple carbs require verry little energy to digest and use so you body will tell you to eat them. but its not necissarily the simple carbs your body wants its just looking for an energy source. what would happen if you gave your body a carb source that tougher to break down? my guess is it will take longer to digest but the craving will be satisfied and the extra energy expended to digest it will leave you with 2 results. 1 you gave your body the carbs it needs. 2 you "tricked" your body into using a different source and expending more energy on the break down which will make you hungrier allowing you to get in more protien, good carbs, and healthy fats all while droping body fat.

 

[Pharm_Fed]

if you choose the right carb source i dont see a reason that you cant up them alittle and keep losing fat. lets think about carbs for a min. they are your body's primary source of energy. simple carbs require verry little energy to digest and use so you body will tell you to eat them. but its not necissarily the simple carbs your body wants its just looking for an energy source. what would happen if you gave your body a carb source that tougher to break down? my guess is it will take longer to digest but the craving will be satisfied and the extra energy expended to digest it will leave you with 2 results. 1 you gave your body the carbs it needs. 2 you "tricked" your body into using a different source and expending more energy on the break down which will make you hungrier allowing you to get in more protien, good carbs, and healthy fats all while droping body fat.

All good points, I'm still trying some things out. It seems easy for me to gain OR lose weight, which is weird I guess. I gained a little over 30 lbs since the beginning of the year all natty, and have lost 9 in the last two week since dieting.

I may try some different carb sources to see how my body reacts based on what you just said though. Thanks again.

 

[tkav1980]

no problem. i just wanted to add that if your not currently doing it you should train under Phil. the thing he does is figures out your body FAST. then adjusts everything to get you FAST results. if you go through the member pics section look for my threads and you will be able to see the difference in a short time. hell look at any of his clients pics. the results speak for themselvs. 2 things will happen if you do what he tells you. 1 you will lose fat. 2 you will gain lean muscle.

 

[PHIL HERNON]

Nice

All good points, I'm still trying some things out. It seems easy for me to gain OR lose weight, which is weird I guess. I gained a little over 30 lbs since the beginning of the year all natty, and have lost 9 in the last two week since dieting.

I may try some different carb sources to see how my body reacts based on what you just said though. Thanks again.

I think having the ability to gain and lose fast is a great genetic trait.

 

[Pharm_Fed]

I would love to do that, unfortunately right now I'm still going through school and am not working so I'm living off just my fiance's income. We can barely afford to pay bills and buy food so that will have to wait until a more financially feasible time

 

[Pharm_Fed]

I know one thing about cravings. The later it gets at night, the more I crave things I shouldn't eat! That one I can't figure out. I have no problem eating clean during the day, but it's like as soon as the sun goes down, I start wanting worse and worse food. lol.