Eating less isn’t the answer. Your hormones and strength depend on what you eat and how much.

I’ll be completely honest, I used to think eating less was the answer for a lot of things. Skipping breakfast became a habit, pushing off lunch was easy and eating low-calorie foods was my norm. All of this only to end up feeling weak and exhausted all the time, and defeated at my lack of progress. 

Even more frustrating was that I thought I was doing everything right, but little did I know, I had it completely wrong. But, unfortunately, that is a big reality for a lot of women. 

Growing up, we heard a lot about eating less and moving more to have the “perfect body”. As I got older, I realized that instead of focusing on how my body looks, I need to focus on what my body needs to function and be healthy. The number on the scale shouldn’t be your compass; prioritizing your health and wellness should be. 

What a lot of people don’t talk about is how women need to eat enough to maintain hormonal balance, because when your hormones are unbalanced, everything can get out of whack so easily. So when you cut down on your calories and stop eating, your body can’t handle it and starts working against you. 

If you can relate to feeling this way and struggling to find balance, I’m here to help. As women, we should strive to support each other and pursue wellness rather than unrealistic body standards. So, today I want to share how eating enough food relates to hormonal health and physical strength. 

The Importance of Hormonal Health

As a woman, your hormonal health matters a lot. It impacts so much in your body, like your energy, sleep, mood, weight and menstrual cycle. These are all things that can be greatly affected when your hormones are out of balance. 

One of the biggest things that can mess with your hormone levels is not eating enough. When you are consistently undereating, your body goes into panic mode and tries to conserve energy. This shift affects your hormones, causing cortisol levels to spike, your thyroid to be disrupted and unstable blood sugar levels. 

Here’s what this leads to: 

• Trouble sleeping

• Anxiety and stress

• Weight gain

• Exhaustion and fatigue

• Headaches

• Sugar cravings

This is not something to be taken lightly. Undereating is not going to give you results like fast weight loss or more muscle. All it’s going to do is deplete your body and throw your hormones into a constant state of distress. 

If this really resonates with you, I’d consider reading my blog about Getting Your Hormones Checked. While increasing your calories and developing healthy eating habits will help your hormones out, sometimes it’s good to get your hormones tested, too, for extra support. 

Once you understand your hormones and what affects them, things start to click into place, leading to change and real health results. 

Lifting Weights as a Woman

I hear this fear from women all the time: “I don’t want to look bulky.” Many women are afraid of appearing overly muscular, so they avoid lifting weights. Instead, they opt for starving themselves and intense cardio. They do this in hopes of getting toned and strong. So, where is the balance, and how do we get results?

If you want to be toned but not bulky, you can’t just rely on cardio and a low-calorie diet. Building enough muscle to support your body and feel healthy is so beneficial. If you want to start weight lifting to build muscle and feel healthier, you’re going to have to eat enough food to keep up and see results. 

If you are weightlifting, but not eating enough, you may feel: 

• Drained after workouts

• Super shaky and weak

• Stuck and searching for results

Your body needs support to actually gain muscle, and that fuel comes from what you eat. When you start lifting weights with health in mind and focusing on food just as much as training, things can start to shift. 

When you pair eating well with lifting, you’ll feel:

• Stronger 

• Toned

• Energized 

• Motivated

• Balanced

These right here are the kinds of results worth chasing, and it depends on calories — not cutting them, but getting enough to fuel. Strength isn’t built through starving yourself; it’s built through proper support.

How to Start Eating More

If your hormones and strength depend on you eating enough every day, how do you start? Luckily, I have a good answer for you; it doesn’t have to be complicated or stressful. Gentle changes in your everyday routine can make all the difference; it comes down to whether you’re willing to step away from the lie that eating less is best. 

If you’re wondering where to start, just know that you aren’t alone. Here is a simple plan to guide you as you start nourishing your body the way it needs. 

• Eat consistently throughout your day. Don’t skip meals no matter what, and snack on healthy, nourishing foods for extra energy during the day. 

• Start your day with protein; it’s so important. Be intentional about breakfast and try to get protein in every morning to start your day off strong. 

• Create healthy and balanced meals. Try to plan your meals so you get sufficient amounts of protein, healthy fats and carbs throughout the day. 

• Don’t be afraid of carbs; they’re not your enemy. Despite what many may say, your body needs healthy carbs to stay energized and balanced. 

• Hydrate as much as you possibly can. Tracking your water intake ensures you’re getting enough water each day to avoid headaches and fatigue. 

• Track your macros if you’re ready to get serious about your nutrition. This has been such a game-changer for me. I personally use the Cronometer app and weigh my food so I can really understand what I’m eating. If you’re not sure where to start, you can even ask ChatGPT to help you figure out what your protein, carb and fat goals should be based on your weight or health goals, then plug those numbers into your app. It’s eye-opening in the best way.
  
  Tracking gives you a clear picture of whether you’re eating enough, and for so many women, the goal is actually to eat more, not less. Not hitting your macro goals is just as important to notice as going over them, because your body needs consistent fuel to function and feel its best.
  

• Try lifting weights; small steps lead to visible results. You don’t have to go overboard to gain muscle. Eating well and training consistently is all you need. 

Taking care of your body is not about being perfect all the time. It’s about taking baby steps and learning as you go, because even a little progress leads to lifelong healthy habits. When your body is being properly supported, everything falls into place. 

When you start to feel discouraged, remember that the way your body looks is not where your worth lies, because it won’t last forever. But having a healthy, strong body will keep you supported and energized to live your life to the best of your ability.

Remember, Food is Meant to Nourish

There is a reason our bodies crave food: they depend on it to function properly and regulate hormones and muscles. Let this be a reminder to put your best foot forward this year and start eating enough so that your body is as healthy as it can be. 

When you fuel the right way, you’ll feel the shift and won’t want to turn back. 

Being a woman isn’t easy, so many lies in the world tell us that our bodies are worth starving for. Trust me, it’s not worth it, and you’re never alone in this struggle. 

I hope this blog encouraged you to start eating more for your health, hormones and strength. If you want to stay connected and get more encouragement and health tips, click here to sign up for our newsletter.

Here are some more wellness blogs to check out: 

• Getting Your Hormones Checked

• Cutting Your Screen Time

• Why Blood Sugar Balance Matters

• Counting Your Macros

• Brain Fog, The Silent Killer 

Taking steps to improve your health and wellness is something you’ll never regret. So here’s to learning and growing, one step at a time.