Are You Accidentally Under-Eating?
This might surprise you, but quite a few of my nutrition coaching clients are actually under-eating.
It’s usually not intentional and tends to happen when life gets busy, workouts pick up, or you’re trying to make “healthier” choices without realizing your body may actually need more than what you're giving it.
One of the biggest misconceptions I see as a nutrition coach is the idea that eating less means getting better results. But when your body isn’t getting enough fuel, it can impact everything from energy and recovery to strength, performance, mood, sleep, and hormones.
Signs you might be under-eating
The tricky part is under-eating doesn’t always feel obvious right away. In fact, many people assume feeling exhausted, constantly hungry, overly sore, or “running on empty” is just part of being busy or working hard. But over time, your body will usually start sending some pretty clear signals that it may need more support. Here’s what to look out for:
You feel low-energy or drained during your workouts and/or throughout your day
Your performance feels off or like you’re not getting stronger despite being consistent
You’re sore longer than usual
You feel lightheaded, shaky, or hit a wall mid-workout
You’re constantly thinking about food
Your sleep feels off or you’re waking up in the middle of the night
You feel more irritable than usual (ever heard of being hangry?)
For the ladies: You’re noticing changes in your cycle, i.e., longer cycles, irregular/missed periods, or more intense symptoms than usual
This is a HUGE part of my story. I struggled with irregular/missing periods for nearly a decade without realizing my body simply needed more fuel and support.
None of this means you’re doing anything wrong, but it could be your body’s way of asking for more fuel!
So, how much should I be eating?
I won’t get into super specific numbers or recommendations here (that’s what 1:1 nutrition coaching is for!), but if you’re reading this and thinking “that might be me…” this is exactly what a nutrition consult at our San Luis Obispo studio is for!
Working with a nutrition coach can help you better understand:
Whether you’re eating enough to support your goals
How to fuel your workouts and recovery
How to build a balanced plate that actually keeps you full and energized
How to support long-term health without extreme restriction
A few frequently asked questions
Here are a few frequently asked questions about under-eating, fueling your workouts, and working with a nutrition coach:
Can under-eating affect workouts?
Absolutely. Under-eating can impact energy, recovery, strength, endurance, and overall performance during workouts.
Can under-eating affect hormones?
100%. For women especially, consistently under-fueling may contribute to irregular cycles, missed periods, sleep disruption, and increased stress on the body.
What does a nutrition coach do?
A nutrition coach helps you better understand how to fuel your body, support your workouts and recovery, and build sustainable nutrition habits based on your goals and lifestyle.
Is nutrition coaching only for weight loss?
Not at all! Many people work with a nutrition coach to improve energy, performance, recovery, relationship with food, or overall health.
Our nutrition coaching program is designed to help people in San Luis Obispo and beyond feel and perform better, and build habits that actually fit your real life. Whether your goal is more energy, improved performance, body composition changes, or simply feeling more confident around food, we’d love to support you!