Do You Get Hungry after Drinking?

funnybones2

It happened again last night … my “post cocktail munchie syndrome”. I met a friend for dinner and of course, a few drinks (two to be exact). We ate a lot of sushi and sashimi and I was full. But somehow after walking 10 blocks home, I found myself starving (or so I thought) 30 minutes later! I went on a chocolate seeking mission. Why does alcohol make me so hungry? Read on to learn why this may occur and learn some tips on how to deal with it.

I’ve experienced this hunger after drinking for as long as I can remember. It doesn’t always happen, but it does often enough to be annoying.  I’ve never understood why it happens. I realize that alcohol can cause low blood sugar, so it makes sense that you would get ravenous later in the evening if you skipped dinner. But why would this occur if you had ate a full meal prior to/or during drinking? You can’t possibly have low blood sugar!


Who gets hungry after drinking?
I polled some of my colleagues, friends and clients and the results are mixed. Some people have no interest in food, others eat because their friends are eating (group pizza indulgence at 2 am), some eat to prevent a hangover (though they really aren’t hungry) … and then there are those people like me who feel famished or have uncontrollable cravings after a few drinks . My cravings are usually for something chocolately – especially Funny Bones (yes – it’s embarrassing that a nutritionist eats Funny Bones!)


Why does hunger occur?
I did some research on the internet and couldn’t come up with any solid answers as to why this occurs. Here are some of the explanations I found:
– Alcohol is loaded with carbs and makes you secrete large amounts of insulin, which makes you hungry. However I’m not buying this explanation, especially if you just had a full meal. In addition, not all alcohol is high in carbs. Beer, sweet wine and drinks with sweet mixers are – while other kinds of alcohol are not.

-Alcohol loosens you up and can make you less disciplined. I am generally a healthy eater and would never dream of eating Funny Bones. But after a few cocktails, they are quite appealing. This explains some of my hunger/cravings – but not 100%.

– This last explanation was interesting. It says that there may be psychological factors involved. “Alcohol directly interferes with appetite control in your brain! It was found that after alcohol, food actually looked more appealing!” For more details, check out this link (not sure who “Dr. Stu” is – but he is an MD and lists references for the info in his article)


Tips to control post-drinking munchies

Obviously I don’t have foolproof tips, otherwise I wouldn’t have this problem – but here are some tips that have worked for some of my clients:
1. Try to eat something prior to drinking for the reasons I mentioned above.

2. If drinking makes you hungry, it is very important to have a little snack waiting for you when you get home. If you tend to crave sweets, maybe a fat free chocolate pudding or Skinny Cow bar. Or pick up a 100 calorie bar (like a chocolate Pria bar) earlier in the day and have it waiting for you.If you crave salty foods, pop a mini 100 calorie bag of popcorn and have it ready. Or have a 130 calorie bag of Baked Lays waiting for you.

3. The trick is to have the snack waiting for you when you get home. The worst thing you can do it go into a deli or grocery store after you’ve had a few drinks.
Avoid going to diners or pizza shops with your friends in the wee hours of the night. Go home!

4. Really focus on not eating after drinking. Tell yourself if you REALLY want the pizza or Funny Bones the next day, you can have them. Just avoid it that night. It is highly unlikely you will want it the next day.

5. If you know you will be going out for drinks, drink a lot of water that day as well as while you are drinking. Staying hydrated will help prevent a hangover.

6. The obvious – limit your alcohol intake! I find if I have one glass of wine, I am fine. Two glasses is tricky and three will cause hunger for sure.

7. If you are trying to lose weight and these post-drinking munchies are slowing it down, you may need to limit the nights you drink. Set a goal (i.e. you can drink 1-2 nights a week max)

Now, let’s see if the nutritionist can practice what she preaches!

Do any of you experience hunger after drinking? What do you do about it? 

RELATED POSTS

Sorry, we couldn't find any posts. Please try a different search.

MEET MARTHA

I especially love problem-solving, whether it’s helping women defeat issues plaguing them for years, helping a busy executive find practical ways to get heart healthy, or providing tips to help you reverse diabetes. That’s why I’m on a constant quest to expand my knowledge by staying on top of the latest research.

  • Martha's Nutrition Page

    Looking for up to date information on nutrition?  Follow my nutrition page!

  • PCOS Nutrition

    Interested in the latest PCOS nutrition news?  Follow my PCOS page!

  • Twitter

  • Instagram

  • Pinterest

Leave a Comment





sushiandsticks

20 Ways To Eat Out 550 Calories or Less!

No time to cook? We’ve got you covered. Here are 20 healthy meals from a variety of cuisines that won’t pack on the pounds. Most of them also have less than 30 grams of carbs.

Subscribe to my newsletter and get this free download.

Something went wrong. Please check your entries and try again.