There is a thing called “hunger high” and it is basically the coming to terms with - and learning to function in - a state of mild to moderate hunger (not starvation, mind you, but hunger). Your body gets used to this deprivation and begins to burn what is ON your stomach instead of IN your stomach. Once you get comfortable burning fat instead of sugars, that’s when the big, big changes happen.
And, this is why, after some time, you start to want to eat healthier because you lack nutrients and your body instinctively calls for them. If you told me a year ago that I’d be eating wild blackberries, oranges, strawberries, and tons of veggies as the biggest portions of my meals, I’d say get lost and laugh at you! But it has become a reality! Nonetheless, I still have days where I go for Popeyes or whatever is less than optimal and enjoy it…well, somewhat enjoy it (not like I used to, though). It doesn’t really matter once you’ve obtained balance. You can enjoy your life and move on.
I don’t care for being full. I really don’t. I love running on…“me”…lol. Now that I’ve advanced my caloric intake, I can run hotter and harder for longer and I have great workouts—and I don’t feel so drained post-workout. It is amazing how your body can learn to ration its power. And this somehow does worlds for strength training. No shaky workouts, no early fatigue…just amazing.
The first week is especially tough, and the next 3 weeks continue to demand discipline, but when you get to that moment when you start to say to yourself: “I can keep doing this!”, then you’ve won. At times, you need to remind yourself why you must keep on (at first, anyway)…
1) You will only get worse if you go off it.
2) You will be feeling better.
3) You will save on food expenses.
4) You will have more time and be more productive during the day.
etc.
It happens NOT to be true that if you eat late you will gain weight. It doesn’t matter when or at which meal you eat. It is your calories-in/calories-out quota that determines weight gain or loss. Only in excess of your daily caloric needs does frequent napping enhance fat storage (sumo wrestlers do that to gain before competitions).