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For decades, we\u2019ve been bombarded with messages about diets, weight loss, and calorie crunching. This led generations to feel constantly ashamed of their bodies like they always needed to lose weight, and that they must keep track of every bite they eat.<\/span><\/p>\n For many people, this has caused distorted body images, eating disorders, or simply not enjoying food the way it\u2019s meant to be enjoyed. This school of thought needs to be reprogrammed, and at the base of it is how much we eat.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Chances are your relationship with food has also had its ups and downs, so here\u2019s the question \u2013 are you actually eating enough calories?<\/span><\/p>\n Before we can dive into philosophies and approaches towards eating and calorie consumption, it\u2019s essential to understand exactly what a calorie is. It\u2019s common for people to think they need to eat fewer calories or this and that, but oftentimes they don\u2019t even know what calories are or what they do.<\/span><\/p>\n Simply put, a <\/span>calorie<\/span> is a measurement of energy.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Calories measure how much energy we get from food and drinks. They are essential for energy, organ function, and keeping us alive. The science behind calorie intake and weight management seems simple.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n To maintain relatively the same weight, the energy you intake should be about the same as the amount of energy exerted through exercise and normal body functions. People assigned female at birth should average about 2,000 calories per day. This number changes depending on your activity level and individual needs.<\/span><\/p>\n This seems simple enough, but lived experiences are obviously more complicated.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Whether it\u2019s because diet culture has made you feel like you need to eat less, or because life has been keeping you busy \u2013 it\u2019s pretty common that people, especially cis women, are not eating enough. We\u2019re constantly juggling so many things \u2013 work, family, school, a social life, hobbies, and sometimes nourishing our bodies comes last in our priorities.<\/span><\/p>\n But a properly nourished body means that you have more energy to do the things you need to do and enjoy the things you want to enjoy.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Here are a few signs that you\u2019re not eating enough:<\/span><\/p>\n You might be confused why weight gain is on this list. Shouldn\u2019t eating more make you gain weight? Not necessarily.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Calorie restriction sometimes tells your body to go into starvation mode, which means it breaks down lean muscle to conserve energy. Without enough calories, you can experience an increased level of the stress hormone cortisol in your body, which can cause weight gain.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Not eating enough can also trigger hormonal imbalances that lead to weight gain. More so, if you don\u2019t have enough energy to stay active and go about your life, you may find yourself gaining weight.<\/span><\/p>\n On the other hand, yes, some people need to lower their calorie intake to lose weight. It goes back to the equation of calories in versus calories out.<\/span><\/p>\n That being said, we\u2019re not here to focus on weight loss or weight gain, we\u2019re talking about nourishment, feeling good in your body, and having enough energy to enjoy your life.<\/span><\/p>\n Calorie intake isn\u2019t about making your body look a certain way, although it\u2019s totally fine to have healthy goals. Instead, we\u2019re focusing on how the food you eat makes you feel.<\/span><\/p>\n For most people, counting numbers is a thing of the past. Instead, it can be a lot more helpful to prioritize essential nutrients and track how what you\u2019re eating makes you feel.<\/span><\/p>\n Focus on eating whole foods, minimizing added sugar, and getting these <\/span>essential nutrients<\/span>:<\/span><\/p>\n It can also be incredibly helpful to learn about <\/span>balancing your blood sugar<\/span>, which also plays a huge role in your energy levels.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n You receive so many messages about what we should or shouldn\u2019t be eating, we understand that it can be overwhelming. That\u2019s we want to empower you to tune into your body\u2019s needs, symptoms, cravings, and more to help guide your food choices.<\/span><\/p>\n You\u2019re the only one living in your body, and living your life, so ultimately only you can decide on what foods work for you, and how much of them you need. Still, it can be helpful to have guidance about the basic principles of nutrition or how to find foods that feel good for your body.<\/span><\/p>\n Not that you needed permission, but here\u2019s your reminder to see food as nourishment, focus on the way your body feels instead of how it looks, and enjoy your life!<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\nWhat Are Calories?<\/h2>\n
Why You Might Need to Eat More<\/h2>\n
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Calorie Deficits and Weight Loss<\/h2>\n
Focus on Nourishment, Not Numbers<\/h2>\n
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Eat For Your Body and Your Life<\/h2>\n