Macros and Intuitive Eating

For athletes, nutrition plays a crucial role in supporting muscle gain, performance and recovery.

While tracking macronutrients is effective in supporting sports performance, transitioning to intuitive eating can provide a more sustainable and flexible approach to fueling your body.

In this post, we'll explore how weight-class athletes can make this transition effectively without compromising performance.

Understanding Intuitive Eating

Intuitive eating is a philosophy that encourages listening to your body's hunger and fullness cues.

Rather than strictly following external rules or guidelines. It involves honoring your hunger, respecting fullness, and choosing foods that satisfy both your physical and emotional needs.

Benefits of Intuitive Eating for Athletes

➡️ Improved Relationship with Food: Intuitive eating helps foster a healthier relationship with food by removing the stress and rigidity associated with tracking every bite.

➡️ Enhanced Performance: By tuning into your body's signals, you can better fuel your workouts and optimize performance.

➡️ Sustainable Approach: Intuitive eating is a long-term approach to nutrition that can be maintained year-round, making it ideal for weight-class athletes who need consistent energy levels.

Tracking Macros -> Intuitive Eating

1️⃣ Mindful Eating: Start by practicing mindfulness during meals. Pay attention to the taste, texture, and satisfaction of each bite.

2️⃣ Trust Your Body: Trust that your body knows its nutritional needs. Learn to differentiate between physical hunger and emotional hunger.

3️⃣ Experiment with Food: Explore a variety of foods and flavors to find what makes you feel your best both physically and mentally.

4️⃣ Monitor Performance: Keep track of your athletic performance as you transition to intuitive eating. Adjust your approach as needed to ensure you're meeting your training and recovery needs.

5️⃣ Seek Support: Surround yourself with a supportive network of coaches, nutritionists, and fellow athletes who understand and encourage your transition.

our athletes initially utilize a macro-based approach to nutrition.

This is with the intention to learn nutrition fundamentals, understand how to properly fuel for sport, and manage bodyweight fluctuations for weight-classed athletes.

Once athletes are ready and confident, we shift to intuitive eating practices.

Transitioning from tracking macronutrients to intuitive eating is a journey that requires patience, practice, and self-awareness. By listening to your body and trusting its signals, you can fuel your athletic endeavors while enjoying a healthier relationship with food. Remember, the goal is not perfection but progress towards sustainable performance and well-being.

hi, I’m katie!

I am a Sports Nutritionist who works with strength and team athletes. As a lifelong athlete myself, I know the difference nutrition makes in athletic performance. After transitioning from collegiate softball to competitive Crossfit, I dove into macro-based nutrition habits and now help other athletes do the same!

Having working with nationally and internationally recognized athletes, I now help competitive and lifestyle athletes learn to fuel for their unique needs.

I would love to connect with you and hear about your specific goals. Schedule a discovery call below and let’s chat!