3 Huge Red Flags You're NOT Eating enough!

Hey Muscle Mommy,

One of the biggest misconceptions in women’s fitness is the idea that “eating less” automatically leads to better results.
For years we’ve been taught that if we want to look lean, toned, or “fit,” we need to cut calories, do more cardio, and keep shrinking.

But here’s the truth:
if you’re lifting weights and trying to build a stronger body, not eating enough can actually hold you back more than anything else.

In fact, most of the women I coach don’t realize they’re under-fueling until their body starts throwing out very real warning signs.

Here are a few you should watch for:

⚠️ 1. You’re Always Tired (Even When You’re Sleeping)

You’re training consistently. You’re getting 7–8 hours of sleep. Technically, you’re “doing everything right.”
But you still wake up tired and dragging through the day.

When your body isn’t getting enough calories to support both your daily energy needs + your training demands, recovery starts to suffer. You stay inflamed, under-recovered, and fully exhausted — even when you feel like you’re resting.

⚠️ 2. Mood Swings, Cravings, and Low Energy

If you’re constantly irritable or find yourself craving sugar at night, it’s often not a willpower issue — it’s your body asking for fuel.
When your energy intake is too low, your blood sugar becomes harder to regulate and your brain starts looking for a quick source of energy (aka carb cravings and mood swings).

Little reminder: food is fuel, not the enemy.

⚠️ 3. You’ve Stopped Making Progress in the Gym

This one hits hard:
Your workouts are still happening… but your lifts aren’t going up.
You feel weaker, stuck, or just “meh” during training.
That’s a major red flag that your body doesn’t have the resources it needs to build muscle.

Your body will not prioritize strength or muscle gain if it thinks it’s in a constant deficit. When calories are too low for too long, the body chooses survival over performance — and your progress stalls.

So What Should You Do?

The solution is not more cardio.
It’s not doubling down on restriction.
It’s literally… eating more.
Fuel your lifts. Fuel your recovery. Fuel your life.

That might look like:

• Adding a handful of rice or potatoes to a meal

• Using olive oil / avocado / nut butter for extra calories

• Switching back to full-fat dressings or dairy

• Eating a carb + protein snack before lifting

Start small and pay attention to how your energy, mood, and strength change over the next 1–2 weeks.
Most women are shocked by how much better they feel when they actually fuel their body properly.

Remember:
You don’t build a stronger body with less. You build it with enough.

-Vic