Even More Exercise Questions

[DriftingCrow]

Well I just finished week one and one day of the ChaLean Extreme program (and I've been doing my yoga too), and man I am friggin hungry all the time now.

Before starting this program, I ate about 1000-1500 calories a day, but now I am supposed to be eating about 2,300 or so in order to maintain my weight. The first six days of the program, I didn't feel all that much hungrier than usual, I was eating about 1,800 calories, but Friday I think the needed calories started kicking in, and yesterday I think I ate more than I ever have in my life besides today (I had 1,938 calories), and today I've actually eaten 2,443 calories (according to myfitnesspal.com). I am kind of shocked about how much I am eating, and it's really throwing my whole food schedule off. I have this thing where if I don't eat enough, I don't usually feel hungry, but I get all dizzy, shaky, and eventually start acting really stupid and then start to hallucinate (this is only after a few hours or so of the other symptoms), it goes away almost immediately after eating. I haven't really had a problem with this in years, because I figured out exactly how much I need to eat and when I need to eat to avoid any problems. Starting Friday though, I started to get the whole dizzy and shaky spells again (ate before anything else happened), and had 3 spells today even though I've been eating like crazy. I've worked out a lot and regularly before, but I've never had to increase my calories this much before.

(And yes, you don't need to tell me to see a doctor, I know what the problem is, and the answer is just to eat)

So, for you guys who workout a lot... 1) how long did it take your body to finally even itself out on the whole eating thing? Should I expect my body to want even more food then in the past few days, and about how often do you eat during the day? I am going to try to eat something every 2 hours tomorrow and see how that works out. Chalene in the videos usually says "we're jumpstarting your metabolism", is this what's going on (besides just burning more calories and building muscle then I have recently)?

And 2), I have to say, so far I am quite impressed with the results that I've had in just a week, I've seen other people's before and after photos  for the whole 90 days and they look great, but should I expect my progress to slow down some after the first week or so?

Finally, 3) what do you guys eat/drink before working out? I've been waking up a 5 am to work out before heading off to work, but now that I've gotten used to it, I've been waking up kind of hungry in the morning. I've started eating a spoonful of peanut butter before working out, which seems to work fine for now. My friend at work says she drinks one of those Beachbody pre-workout energy powders that you mix in water before she exercises in the morning, but I really don't want to spend a bunch of money on powders if something like peanut butter or anything else would work just as well for me.   

[chuck]

So, for you guys who workout a lot... 1) how long did it take your body to finally even itself out on the whole eating thing?
- my appetite is high but it changes from day to day. I am still not i any sort of pattern with it. i just know what my symptoms are and deal with them

Should I expect my body to want even more food then in the past few days, and about how often do you eat during the day?
- I eat about every three hours

I am going to try to eat something every 2 hours tomorrow and see how that works out. Chalene in the videos usually says "we're jumpstarting your metabolism", is this what's going on (besides just burning more calories and building muscle then I have recently)?
-you are burning more calories and body is requesting more.

And 2), I have to say, so far I am quite impressed with the results that I've had in just a week, I've seen other people's before and after photos  for the whole 90 days and they look great, but should I expect my progress to slow down some after the first week or so?

-yes. people will generally hit a plateau, that is usually after months, though. not weeks. If you hit a plateau, adjust your calories and your workout.

Finally, 3) what do you guys eat/drink before working out? I've been waking up a 5 am to work out before heading off to work, but now that I've gotten used to it, I've been waking up kind of hungry in the morning. I've started eating a spoonful of peanut butter before working out, which seems to work fine for now. My friend at work says she drinks one of those Beachbody pre-workout energy powders that you mix in water before she exercises in the morning, but I really don't want to spend a bunch of money on powders if something like peanut butter or anything else would work just as well for me.

-i have no idea whats in the drink your friend uses (maybe some sort of stimulant) if you want that, just drink a cup of coffee. I hate stimulants and am incredible sensitive to them.
-If its not stimulants, peanut butter is fine. Plenty of fat in it which gives you long burning fuel. I usually get some simple carbs before my workout (but i am trying to gain weight). You might try some complex carbs and a bit of protein before your workout. Maybe an hour before to give your body time to digest it a bit

ps i love your dog. please tell me everything about it.

[DriftingCrow]

Thanks Chuck, I'll stick with the PB in the morning and maybe add in some bread if the PB alone isn't enough. Eating something small every 2-3 hours seemed to work well today, although today was my "rest day" so I didn't need as much calories.

ps i love your dog. please tell me everything about it.

That's Sasha, she's a pomeranian. She loves to eat dental floss, computer chips, beef, and vegetables. She also loves coffee and knows plenty of ways to sneak sips out of people's cups. Her favorite activity is humping her toys (she's humping her squirrel right now) and the carpet, especially in front of company, and chasing the cat (although the cat asked for it). She likes to help me workout by jumping on my chest while I am doing crunches or my back while I am doing the Baby Scorpion or Plank poses, and she always gives me her "you are so pathetic" look while I am doing Downward Facing Dog. She likes to jump onto my shoulder like a parrot whenever she's afraid of something (like German Shepards, horses, and vets coming at her with needles), and she really enjoys barking at the neighbors.

[757ftmlo]

what kind of foods are you eating?

i have found that its not the amount of calories taken in but the type of carbs eaten, whole fruits, like apples, bannanas, watermelons, ->-bleeped-<- like that will fill you up, and about a gallon of water every 2 days.