Your Inner Voice

We’ve all heard it before; eat when you’re hungry and stop when you’re full, but what does that really mean?  With so many factors influencing our eating habits, it’s no wonder we can feel disconnected with that inner voice that tells us when and how much to eat.

Eating too much and too little can cause weight fluctuations, hormonal imbalances, fatigue and irritability, and digestive issues among other things. Fortunately, you can reconnect and reset your intuition with these tips:

• Tune in to your body’s signals to re-define hunger and fullness. Feeling tired, cold, weak, or your stomach growl are all signs of hunger.  In contrast, fullness is feeling energized, calm, satisfied and better able to concentrate.
• Act on those cues at the right time with a scale from 1-10. If 1 is full and 10 is ravenous, it’s important to start preparing food at a 3 so you can make healthy decisions. In contrast, you should stop eating at a 7 to promote healthy digestion and avoid overeating.

Whether you are looking to lose weight or build muscle, paying attention to your body’s cues is a healthy eating habit we should all practice.

Author:
Sarah Mattison Berndt, MS, RD, CD
Owner Fit Fresh Cuisine & Hybrid Athletic Club
www.fitfreshcuisine.com
www.hybridathleticclub.com