OK, so out of swim,bike and run, I’ve barely done any swim training compared to running and a totally insignificant amount compared to cycling over the years, so I’m guessing this has something to do with it, but is there something intrinsic about swimming that makes the participant particularly hungry and tired immediately after? Further to this, does simply doing more swimming alleviate these feelings? Right now, I’m full of admiration for anyone who can do a double training day where they’ve swum first!
This is mostly due to not being adapted to swimming much. I train tons, but if I do a sport that is unfamiliar, I get much more tired and hungry because I’m inefficient at it.
Also look at what you’re eating before and after swimming (probably not enough of the right stuff.) Some people swim with no calories before or during and then wonder why they’re so hungry. The answer is pretty obvious if you pause to think about it.
You’re definitely not the only one this happens to. I’ve read a few different possible explanations, including that the cooler water has an effect on the body which makes you more hungry and also more tired because your body spends more energy to keep warm.
There is also theory that claims that the cold water submersion and reduced oxygen consumption plays a factor.
I swam this morning before work and I’m sitting here at my computer trying not to eat my arm off. For some reason I’m always starving all day if I swim in the AM.
I did a decent set this morning, with a bowl of cereal, milk and raspberries beforehand. I found having the same meal/snack afterward actually managed the hunger pretty well without going crazy.
You and me both. I even had a big breakfast that would normally keep me full until lunch, however on a swim morning I am always starving an hour or two later.
Same here. I can run hard and won’t feel that hungry. In fact, sometimes running seems like it suppresses my appetite, especially if it’s hot. Swimming is the opposite.
I don’t think it’s about being inefficient at swimming. Look at the local high school swim team and they’re chowing massive quantities of food immediately after their AM swim…at the pool. The XC team is not doing that. At least as far as I know. There is something different about swimming.
I agree with brett, it goes away over time, atleast it does for me
Today was a 4k set, no calories before hand – afterwards I had some eggs and a bagel and will be fine
6 years ago though, i’d be eating everything in sight
.
Not sure as to the validity of this but I have heard that because your stomach and organs are supported during the workout (as opposed to the up-and-down bouncing of say, running) you tend to have a larger appetite post workout because it is less stressful on your stomach.
This is mostly due to not being adapted to swimming much. I train tons, but if I do a sport that is unfamiliar, I get much more tired and hungry because I’m inefficient at it.
Also look at what you’re eating before and after swimming (probably not enough of the right stuff.) Some people swim with no calories before or during and then wonder why they’re so hungry. The answer is pretty obvious if you pause to think about it.
I have to say…even the swimmers I know who are really well “adapted” (ie 16:20 for 1650scy, or 1:42 for 200scy) eat a ton after practice. I don’t think being adapted has much to do with it. I swam a 6.6k practice this morning, and I was wayyy more hungry than when I swam 3k workouts when just starting out with swimming.
Your second point, though, sounds better - a lot of people swim on an empty stomach and wonder why they’ll eat anything that isn’t nailed down afterwards. Because you were probably borderline hungry when you started, and then you burnt 500+ calories.
To the OP - I eat a honey stinger waffle before practice and drink water during the practice. It helps dampen the hunger afterwards a bit. Tiredness - what helps me sometimes is waiting an hour after I swim to eat my meal. I think the combination of hard workout and larger post workout meal right afterwards can lend to a big crash. Waiting 45-60 minutes to eat after practice can help.
This is mostly due to not being adapted to swimming much. I train tons, but if I do a sport that is unfamiliar, I get much more tired and hungry because I’m inefficient at it.
Also look at what you’re eating before and after swimming (probably not enough of the right stuff.) Some people swim with no calories before or during and then wonder why they’re so hungry. The answer is pretty obvious if you pause to think about it.
I have to say…even the swimmers I know who are really well “adapted” (ie 16:20 for 1650scy, or 1:42 for 200scy) eat a ton after practice. I don’t think being adapted has much to do with it. I swam a 6.6k practice this morning, and I was wayyy more hungry than when I swam 3k workouts when just starting out with swimming.
Your second point, though, sounds better - a lot of people swim on an empty stomach and wonder why they’ll eat anything that isn’t nailed down afterwards. Because you were probably borderline hungry when you started, and then you burnt 500+ calories.
To the OP - I eat a honey stinger waffle before practice and drink water during the practice. It helps dampen the hunger afterwards a bit. Tiredness - what helps me sometimes is waiting an hour after I swim to eat my meal. I think the combination of hard workout and larger post workout meal right afterwards can lend to a big crash. Waiting 45-60 minutes to eat after practice can help.
a lot of people run on an empty stomach too, but don’t get to the same levels of hunger
Same here. I can run hard and won’t feel that hungry. In fact, sometimes running seems like it suppresses my appetite, especially if it’s hot. Swimming is the opposite.
I don’t think it’s about being inefficient at swimming. Look at the local high school swim team and they’re chowing massive quantities of food immediately after their AM swim…at the pool. The XC team is not doing that. At least as far as I know. There is something different about swimming.
I think running definitely suppresses appetite. I feel that way too.
I don’t feel the crazy hunger after a swim, I feel it after a bike ride. The longest I usually ride is about 40ish miles (sometimes a little over, sometimes a little under) and I take a Luna bar with me to eat. When I get home I swear I spend the next half hour eating. It’s nuts. Even my shorter rides at 25 miles make me starving.
My swimmer son, though – you should see the amount of food he puts away. And he tells me he often wakes up in the middle of the night hungry.
adaptation is part of it, and a minor part might be water temp, etc. The biggest part, IMO, is simply the amount of work being done. I don’t get particularly hungry after a 3K, 1 hour practice. I’ve done a couple of 6000m practices, and a few more times done doubles (noontime 2000, then back in the early evening for another 3K) without eating anything inbetween, and those days I’ve been ravenous.
When looking at “real” swimmers, most other athletes don’t train for 3 - 4 hours a day, 6 days a week. Cyclists might, but cycling is generally at a lower overall intensity* than swimmers will do, since swimming is using a greater propotion of their overall muscle mass, plus swimmers tend to be bigger than cyclists, so the caloric expenditure is higher. It makes sense then that elite swimmers are on the see-food diet.
- I’m not saying that swimmers train harder than cyclists, just that swimming uses more muscles, and a greater muscle mass, than cycling, so the overall intensity is higher.
One cause for post swim hangries is the cooling affect of the water… skin temp rises dramatically for bike/run but not so with swimming. An easy 30 minute swim will leave you much hungrier than an easy 30 minute bike ride despite both requiring the same kJ even if you’re well adaptered to both.
The solution if you’re really trying to watch your calories… 5 minutes in the hot tub.
Because it’s hard?
Because you expend more energy keeping your body warm in the water?
Because you are using more of your muscles to move?
Because water has a lot of resistance?
Swimming in college; 4-6 hours per day 5-6 days a week.
Eating 5-10k calories a day, always hungry and losing weight during the season?
Not sure why swimming might increase one’s appetite more than other activities; but it does require a lot of fuel.
Because it’s hard?
Because you expend more energy keeping your body warm in the water?
Because you are using more of your muscles to move?
Because water has a lot of resistance?
Swimming in college; 4-6 hours per day 5-6 days a week.
Eating 5-10k calories a day, always hungry and losing weight during the season?
Not sure why swimming might increase one’s appetite more than other activities; but it does require a lot of fuel.
I think you’re saying same as Jason, e.g. that it is the sheer amount of work being done, plus the size of the athletes, i.e. generally consid bigger than runners/cyclists. Swimming 4 hrs/day implies burning around 4000 cal for a collegiate level swimmer, and then he/she will need at least 2000-2500 more cal just for BMR and daily activities like walking to classes, etc.
For tri people, who are generally smaller and swim slower, they may only burn 800-900 cal/hr but, OTOH, if they are inefficient swimmers then they may be up in the 900-1000 cal/hr range.
You are hungry because your stomach is empty. Swimming does not slow down digestion. Every swimmer finishes hungry. When you run and to a smaller extent ride your body does not absorb a lot, especially solid foods. It is one of the few sports where distance swimmers eat ahead of a race. There was a famous picture of an Olympic athlete (Australian, I think) who looked like he had a pot as he was about to begin a race.
Tired after? You covered that in your first sentence.
When I say tired I mean I feel like I want to sleep rather than (or as well as) suffering from muscle/joint fatigue. I recognise your reason arguably still stands for both intepretations of “tired”. Thanks.
Heck if I know I’d enjoy knowing why, but I ain’t knocking it. The more I swim, the harder I swim the more I GET to eat. It’s a win win. I’m not a calorie counter, but I ain’t afraid to make stuff disappear whenever I want to. #foodsearch
Running and cycling suppressed my appetite for the most part. Swimming has turned it loose now that I am not fighting the water. I think it might be that the body can take so much more abuse in the water. If I ran as hard as I swam I’d be in the ortho’s office in a week. Just spitballing and guessing. That said I just finished 4200 and I’m giolng to Miguels for chips and guac, Modelos and the triple enchilada platter with extra refrieds and cheese. Then Marble Slab on the way home baby!!!