I always used to think that on the days I wasn’t running or working out that I should be eating less. Maybe so in some cases, but I think its more important to listen to your body. I have actually found that I get really hungry on my rest days now. If you think about it, this kind of makes sense. If one day I go out and run 22 miles and burn 1,800 calories just running, then the following day my body is going to be telling me to eat. Even though I’m not working out, my body is working hard to repair itself from everything I put it through the previous day(s).
On Sunday I woke up at what my body thought was 6am but it was actually 5am because of daylight savings time. Regardless, I knew I would be hungry early so I made some coffee while I got started on breakfast.
I made Michele’s maple raisin acorn squash pancakes since I was planning to prep those for the week anyway. I doubled the recipe by using the whole squash.
These are really filling and I ate them around 6:30 am and they kept me full for a few hours. But let’s be real, I can’t really go more than a few hours before eating so around 9:30 it was not even close to lunch time so I made a smoothie.
I did some blog stuff and watched the NYC marathon and before I knew it my stomach was grumbling for lunch. Our options were limited and there was no way I was going out to get anything. I ended up eating pasta that was leftover from Friday night. I added grilled chicken and spinach. I ate this around noon and was remind pretty quickly why I don’t really eat pasta anymore. My stomach didn’t feel great, I was tired, and I got hungry again by 1:30.
For a snack I had some of the chocolate chip cookie dough bars I made last week. But I knew these wouldn’t hold me over for long. I ended up eating more than this amount.
Lots of water, all day long. This is my favorite glass because it’s so big.
Around 4 it was wine time. Ok in our defense it should have been 5pm. We had to book flights for the holidays which is a little stressful so a little wine helped to take the edge off.
Dinner was salmon, broccoli, and roasted red potatoes. I think I ate something pretty similar in the food I shared last week. We try to eat salmon once a week and usually its on Sunday or Monday because its still fresh on those days.
We ended the day with some cookies. There were a few of these left from last week and I had just made this kind for the first time.
Do you eat differently on a rest day than on a day you workout?
Do you find that you get more hungry the day after a long run?
Thanks, Jenn, for hosting another week of WIAW!
Glad you made the pancakes, they look really good! I don’t sat any differently on rest days, at least not on purpose or that I’ve noticed. Also, the day after 22 miles might technically be a rest day but I think you’re still in major recovery mode anyway, so the more good food the better!
The pancakes are great! You are right about being in “recovery mode” especially after a really long run!
I sometimes find I am starving on rest days, the same appetite level as a running day and sometimes not as strong of an appetite. I swear it all depends which I guess is why we need to eat according to how we feel. So often after harder long runs or weeks of higher mileage, I am just an eating machine.
It can change a lot for me too. I do notice that I am hungrier on my rest days after the long run days compared to if I take a rest day in the middle of the week.
I think I eat more on rest days too. Sometimes after a run I can’t eat right away or I’m not hungry for a while, but on rest days I always wake up starving.
Yea I think thats part of it. When I thought about how much I ate the day I ran 22 miles I realized it really wasn’t that much. It’s no wonder I woke up starving on Sunday!
I always end up eating more on rest days – I think it’s important to give your body enough nutrients to be able to repair itself after running hard! I also find myself not eating very much on high mileage days, eating almost anything before I run inevitably gives me cramps and I always feel a bit nauseated after a run for some reason
I have also noticed I probably don’t eat enough on long run days. Thats why I have found that just listening to my body seems to work best!
I’m always able to eat more after a long run, whether or not I may be hungry. Its the day after the long run that gets me. Then I am like a hoarding squirrel.
Yep, I definitely feel hungrier the day after a long run than any other day! Good thing its usually a Sunday and I don’t have to deal with being at work!
I notice I am extra hungry after a big workout, too. I had a speed workout last night that was pretty intense. I am expecting to be starving all day. I definitely know what you mean about holiday travel being stressful. I just booked a flight home for Thanksgiving. I wanted to cry when I saw the bill.
I bet if I did hard workouts at night I would really be starving the next day!
I never really noticed if I eat more on rest days or not, but I have noticed now that I’m building my weekly mileage back up post-marathon my appetite is going right back up with it! At first I was wondering why I was so hungry all the time and then I remembered I’m once again running more than 10 miles in a week! haha
Mmm those pancakes sound really good! Do you put anything on them or eat them plain?
I usually add a little maple syrup, but they don’t even really need it! They would probably be good with almond butter, too!
The pancakes sound delicious! Have a great day!
They were! Thanks and you too!
I definitely eat more on days after a long run. Days I workout intensely or more than once I’m not necessarily more hungry but I make myself eat a little more since I know I need the fuel.
I do the same thing! I was really surprised that i wasn’t that hungry after running 22 miles, but I woke up on Sunday starving!!
I am always hungry and it doesn’t change on a rest day. It’s important to eat just as much, but maybe less carbs on a rest day!
Good point! I usually don’t pay attention to how much I’m eating, but I always try to eat more carbs in the day before a long run.
I feel the same way when I don’t run like I shouldn’t be eating as much. But like you said I guess it does make sense. But I never thought of it thay way. I ate salmon all the time as well. A friend just brought fresh salmon back from upstate New York tbis week and I’m exciting to try it.
That salmon sounds great! Enjoy!
I think I eat the same rest days/running days. I have noticed that I am less hungry long run days (my Stomach always feels awful after) but the next day, definitely more!
I should eat salmon more…
I know that I should eat more fish in general, but we don’t have a great selection at our grocery store. I figure that salmon is supposed to be so good for you, so I at least try to eat that once a week!
I feel like I am a weekday vegetarian and then I run my long run on Saturday and I can’t seem to get enough food into my mouth! It’s crazy and it leaves me feeling like crap 🙁
Sorry to hear that! I used to get so hungry when i was training a lot but I realized I wasn’t refueling with the right foods. I have felt much better since eating more natural foods..I actually feel like I get full enough for a few hours whereas before I felt like I could eat nonstop all day!
I”m normally fine on rest days but that’s due to eating all the things on the day when I do have a long run. I try to keep things healthy but sometimes I just have to have something that boosts the calories in my system.
I think if I ate more on my actual long run day maybe I wouldn’t be as hungry the next day. For some reason I feel like I have to force myself to eat after my long run!
The day of a long run is usually not a super hungry day, but the day after is when I am starving all day long! Your salmon looks delicious! Fresh seafood is always a great treat…especially for me in the Midwest! 🙂
Thanks! The salmon is pretty hit or miss at our grocery store, but lately its been pretty good!
I’m so glad that you said how hungry you are because I truly could eat a freaking cow on my days off, it’s unbelievable! Even if it’s not following a tough workout, I find myself absolutely starving!
All that food looks delicious! I think that the cookie dough bars are calling my name, YUM
It seems so weird to be so hungry on rest days, but I guess it makes sense! The cookie dough bars were great..I’m kind of sad they are all gone!
those pancakes look so good!
They were great!