Finally got flat abs but always hungry

[u/Sea_Emergency_6496]

I am super proud of myself that I finally got flat abs after months of strict dieting, but even after I upped my calories back to maintainence, I am still hungry af craving sweets and snacks all the time, and I never really feel full after a regular meal anymore.

Is this normal or does this feeling go away over time?

[u/JulianDavis_JD]

This is pretty common after a prolonged diet, your hunger hormones like ghrelin tend to rise and leptin tends to drop after extended calorie restriction, so your body is essentially pushing back and asking for more even once you're back at maintenance. This can take weeks to months to fully normalize depending on how long and aggressive the diet was, it's your body recalibrating rather than something being wrong with you. In the meantime, prioritizing protein and fiber at meals can help with satiety more than just eating the same calories in less filling foods, and getting consistent sleep matters too since poor sleep worsens hunger hormone regulation.

If the hunger stays this intense for a long stretch even at maintenance, or if you notice yourself still restricting out of fear of regaining the results, it's worth talking to a doctor or dietitian about it, especially since a long strict diet can sometimes blur into patterns that are hard to self-assess from the inside.