A Tribute to Instinctual Eating

Long ago, we had no idea what the hell a calorie was. Much less a gram of protein or complex carbs. In the early times of our ancestors, life was… relatively simple. They would hunt, gather, and prepare during the daylight hours, while eating and resting at night. Obesity-related diseases like diabetes and hypertension were non-existent. In fact, obesity was rarer than ever. The people of this period had one thing down for sure- they knew how much to eat. After all, it was a “survival of the fittest.”

If there’s a lesson we can learn from our early ancestors, it’s the instinctual eating patterns that they followed. While it may take some work at recapturing that ability, it is certainly possible to reach your goals through this method. I’ve done it very successfully, along with countless others. All it takes is a firm understanding of what the human body’s natural instincts are towards food.

Here’s how to regain that natural instinct:

1. Eat natural, whole foods. Scrap the protein powder and consume lean meats. Eat plentiful amounts of fruits and vegetables.
2. When you are under greater physical stress (meaning more intense workouts or cardio), consume enough to satisfy the hunger.
3. When you are under lesser or no physical stress (light lifting & cardio or none at all), consume enough to satisfy hunger.
4. Don’t concern yourself with how many meals you are getting in. Eat to satiety when hungry and this will be taken care of.
5. Consume the bulk of your daily food intake immediately following your workout to recoup that lost energy and help ensure proper recovery and growth.

Now, I know you’re asking, how will I know if I am eating too much? Here’s your answer: The human body was designed to tell us when food is demanded more or less - case in point, when you’ve had a busy day full of physical activity. You’ll likely be much more hungry than you would be on a day where you were mostly sedentary.

Give it a try and see how you end up. If you’ve been killing yourself with all those calorie counts, macronutrient percentages, and the likes, then this is something that may just give you that much needed peace of mind you’ve been seeking.