Attention ladies and gentlemen. YOU DO NOT NEED TO "EARN" YOUR CALORIES!

I over heard two young ladys chatting the other day--this is what I heard.

"I am going to skip breakfast this morning, I missed my morning workout. I don't feel right eating, unless I earn my calories."

*$#%$@*!!!! Just no!

The belief that you can't eat because you didn't sweat for 60 minutes (or more) is not only sad, but it is metabolically, physically, and emotionally damaging.

HOW?

1️⃣Food fuels your metabolism. If you opt to skip meals due to not working out, your metabolism will SLOW down. This looks like a compromised digestive system, PMS, hair loss, no libido, hard time losing weight, sleep issues, etc. YOU "earn" the right to eat, just be being alive. The right foods supports function, health and vitality --not the opposite.

2️⃣ Avoiding meals will result in a "stressed body". Your body needs fuel (sugar) to maintain your blood sugar. Without adequate fuel, your body will look for other resources (you--muscles, skin, thymus, organs) to keep blood sugar stable. Thus, missing that morning meal due to missing your morning workout will result in a dose of catabolism!

3️⃣ Punishing yourself by not eating, to pay for your missed workout, is on the edge of an eating disorder. You shouldn't have to "earn" your food/fuel. You deserve fuel/food because you are alive. Your body "earns" it's calories by breathing, thinking, moving, creating hormones, digesting, detoxing, etc. Controlling your food/workout with punishments and rewards will create an unhealthy relationship with food and yourself.

Bottom line: Using food as a reward/punishment for exercise/not exercising is as far away from health, as well (other stuff going on right now).

Health is ABOUT fueling your body.

Instead of punishing yourself if you miss a workout--

👉Eat every 3-4 hours
👉Consume proteins, fats and carbs in every meal
👉Consume nutrient dense foods--dairy, liver, shellfish, eggs, fruit
👉Workout because you want to become stronger, more flexible, improve skills, and you enjoy it NOT because you have to earn your meal.