The Importance of Listening to Your Body: When You're Hungry

During the past two years working as a fitness trainer, I’ve learned first hand the importance of listening to your body. After all, when something’s wrong, our bodies are usually pretty good at letting us know. Tuning into the body’s signals is especially important because overtraining is a particular risk. In the days ahead, I will address some of the ways to tune in to your body's warning signals.

When You’re Hungry. There’s no science backing up what I’m about to tell you, but I believe it to be true. Your body is very good at telling you what you should eat. Think about it this way: If you have digestive issues, you may need to consume more fiber or drink more water. If you’re addicted to sugar, your body will let you know by taking you on the “glycemic roller coaster ride.” If you’re hung over, your body is sending you a clear message about the amount of alcohol you consumed. If you work hard in the gym, then you should reward yourself by eating clean, healthy foods that you can feel good about. For myself, I eat a very clean diet on weekdays, and on weekends I relax a little. This allows me to look forward to the weekend if I have kept a good diet throughout the week.

I’ve also found that by eating “cleanly,” that I’ve begun to crave healthier foods. Take advantage of all the delicious and fresh produce that the summer months afford us. A good way to ensure that you are getting a wide variety of vitamins and minerals is to vary the colors of the fruits and vegetables you’re eating. The more variety, the more vitamins you’ll be consuming.