Here’s why your coach is likely telling you to eat more:
Your Metabolism Needs Fuel
When you consistently eat too little, your body can go into a kind of “survival mode.” It slows your metabolism down to conserve energy, making fat loss harder and often stalling progress.
Muscle Needs Calories to Grow and Stay
If you’re strength training (which you probably are!), your body needs protein and calories to build and preserve lean muscle. More muscle = a faster metabolism.
Low Calories Can Lead to Bingeing
Undereating often leads to low energy, mood swings, and cravings — which can trigger overeating or bingeing later. More balanced eating can lead to more consistency and fewer extremes.
More Food = More Nutrients
When you eat more (of the right foods), you’re getting the vitamins, fiber, and minerals your body needs to function properly. That supports hormones, digestion, sleep — all key to weight loss.
What “Eating More” Usually Means:
- Higher protein (to support muscle)
- More nutrient-dense carbs and healthy fats (to fuel workouts and hormones)
- Not starving yourself — just being in a moderate calorie deficit, not an extreme one
If you’re tracking your food and feel nervous about eating more, talk it through with your coach. They’re likely setting you up for long-term sustainable fat loss, not a quick crash.
Want help spotting whether you’re currently eating too little? I can help you estimate that.
Bottom Line:
If you’re tracking your food and feel nervous about eating more, talk it through with your coach. They’re likely setting you up for long-term sustainable fat loss, not a quick crash.
Want help spotting whether you’re currently eating too little? I can help you estimate that.
Kickstart your nutrition with a plan that actually fits your life.
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by Amanda Gernert
NASM Certified Personal Trainer & Nutrition Coach
Amanda is a woman in her 40s, a wife, and a proud hockey mom to two boys who play Junior and club hockey. A cancer survivor turned fitness coach, she’s passionate about helping others build strength, confidence, and balance through sustainable nutrition and training.
When she’s not coaching or in the gym, you’ll find her hiking mountain trails, relaxing by the beach, reading a good book, or experimenting in the kitchen. Her mission is to inspire others to live strong, healthy, and empowered lives—both inside and outside the gym.
