Let’s Fuel Our Beautiful Bodies
Let’s talk about fueling our beautiful bodies. Lately I have been realizing that I haven’t been eating as much as I should. Not because I want to look a certain way but because sometimes I just don’t feel hungry. I have also realized I haven’t been prioritizing snacks and eating as much as I should with the amount of activity that I do. I always eat my three meals, but I have recently realized the benefit of snacks and extra protein throughout the day. Further, I have started to see that some of my meals are not as sufficient as they need to be. I thought that I can’t be the only one who felt this way so I wanted to talk about it.
Some days I will have so many obligations back to back that I will not eat a sufficient snack to power me through. I have realized that I tend to get tired and low energy when I’m hungry. Although I don’t actually feel hungry, that’s what is happening. Hunger can come in different forms and you need to learn what it means for you. Nobody can tell you when you should or shouldn’t be hungry or if you should or shouldn’t be full. Only you know, but even then it can be hard to tell.
If i’m being honest, I didn’t know. I had to reflect on what I was eating and the amount of activity I was doing to know that I should be eating more.
I want to make this post because I think it can be very challenging to know how much to eat. The truth is, there is no real formula. Every body is different and requires a different amount of food. I know many of us are flooded with “What I Eat in a Day,” videos and posts, in fact I have posted a few on this platform. My reason for posting is not to provide a comparison or tell you how much you should be eating, but instead give you meal ideas. Despite the reason, this can be unhealthy for some people to see as they start comparing. “Comparison is the thief of joy,” and this is important to remember whenever your brain starts to go there.
In this post I want to talk about food. Food is energy and we need it survive. Food is also fun and delicious. We all need different amounts of food so comparing what you eat or how much you eat to someone else is ridiculous. We also eat different amounts of food on different days so we can’t compare the food we eat today to the food we had yesterday. Some days we crave a big salad packed with protein, fiber, and fats meanwhile other days we crave a big juicy hamburger. Both options are great! Both need to be eaten in moderation.
We need to learn to block out some of the toxic behaviors of our society. I constantly hear and see people trying to eat as little as possible and even bragging about it. We need to stop observing what other people are eating. Look inwards and focus on you. Listen to your body and eat what you need/ want, when you want.
When trying to add more food to my diet I have been adding nut butters and tons more protein and carbs. We need protein to keep us full and it helps grow and strengthen muscles. Carbs are great and I think we too often take them out because we deem them as a negative thing. Carbs are amazing for quick energy and our bodies need them to keep working. Try and ensure that each of your meals has a protein, carb, and a fat. Fiber is also great to include because it will keep you full for longer and aids in digestion.
Although foods like chips and processed foods fuel the soul, make sure you include whole foods that will help to keep your body functioning. Eating foods in their original source without going through a manufacturer is so beneficial because this is the way it was intended to be eaten. When a food goes through processing, you don’t actually know what happens to it. Conversely, if you buy local organic produce such as arugula, you know the exact steps that it went through before it hit your table.
I know it can seem impossible to find a food that doesn’t have something “wrong” with it. One food is too processed then one has too much sugar then one doesn’t have enough protein. All you can do is your best. Look at the ingredients on the packages and try to find the best option for you. I don’t know about you but I never want to sacrifice taste for ingredients. Life is too short to eat food that doesn’t taste good. I want you to know that healthy food can and many times does taste really good. I know we have all heard it before, but making food at home is a sure fire way to know every ingredient that goes into your recipe. However, in my opinion there is no need to obsess over it. If you buy something with canola oil in it, it is not going to kill you. Just be aware and maybe don’t buy it as often.
I want this to serve as a reminder to nourish your body because it does so much for us. We need to take care of our body and keep it going and the way to do that is fuel it and make sure you are resting and listening to your body.
Lastly I want to include signs of fatigue because I was not aware that these signs meant I needed to eat more.
Shaky muscles: When I was holding a yoga pose I was shaking but I just thought this was because it was a hard posture. In reality I needed more protein.
If you “can’t think straight”: Many times I thought this was because I was tired, but I just needed some energy through food.
Low motivation or feeling “blah.”
Slowed reflexes
Feeling sluggish
On the other hand, if you are constantly eating too much you will most likely feel a lot of discomfort in your stomach. Try to eat more throughout the day instead of a lot at one time. Then, you won’t be starving and feel like you need to inhale as much food as possible.