EPISODE · Sep 30, 2024 · 30 MIN
#6 - Calorie Tracking vs Intuitive Eating: How to Choose the Right Tool for You
from The Athlete Mom Project | Pregnancy Workouts, Postpartum Exercises, Meal Plans, Diastasis Recti, Back Pain, and Mindset Tips · host Chandler Sommerfeldt | Strength and Conditioning Coach, Postpartum and Precision Nutrition Certified and Active Life Professional Candidate
In this episode of The Athlete Mom Project, we break down calorie tracking vs intuitive eating and talk about how to decide which approach is best for you — especially during busy, high-stress seasons of life. The question isn’t whether calorie tracking or intuitive eating is “better.” The real answer is that both can be useful tools, depending on your current capacity, stress levels, and relationship with food. For many moms, chronic daily stress keeps the body in a heightened sympathetic (fight-or-flight) state, which can disrupt hunger and fullness cues. Elevated cortisol levels can create false hunger signals, cravings, and confusion around appetite — making intuitive eating difficult when the nervous system isn’t regulated. In this episode, we talk about: the pros and cons of calorie tracking when intuitive eating works — and when it doesn’t how stress and cortisol affect hunger signals why structure can sometimes support freedom how nervous system regulation impacts fat loss and food choices If you’re hoping to lose weight without tracking, this episode explains why nervous system regulation may need to come first. Practices that support the parasympathetic (“rest and digest”) system — like breathing, sleep, and recovery — can help restore clearer hunger cues over time. This conversation offers a more compassionate, realistic approach to nutrition — one that meets you where you are instead of forcing a method that doesn’t fit your current season. There’s no single “right” way to eat. The best approach is the one that supports your body, your mind, and your life right now. his episode is especially helpful for moms navigating weight loss, chronic stress, or confusion around hunger cues. 🔗 Resources & Links 📖 Read the full breakdown of this Podcast episode on my Substack 👉 [Read it Here] 🏔️ Join the Athlete Mom Project Course Training that fits motherhood — without burnout, all-or-nothing, or sacrificing family life. 👉 [ Learn More Here ] 🎙️ Subscribe to the podcast If this episode helped you, please rate, review, and share it with a mom who’s trying to lift while raising kids. 💪🏻 Connect with me on Instagram 👉 [@withchanyoucan]
What this episode covers
<p><strong>Athlete Mom Project Resources:</strong></p> <p><strong>Instagram:</strong> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/withchanyoucan/" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">@withchanyoucan</a></p> <p><strong>Facebook: </strong><a href="https://www.facebook.com/chandler.sommerfeldt/" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Chandler Sommerfeldt</a></p> <p><a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/withchanyoucan" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong>FREE FACEBOOK COMMUNITY </strong></a>- join a bunch of other moms on a mission just like you!</p> <p><br /></p> <p>Today I talk about calorie tracking versus intuitive eating and which one is the best option for you? My answer is both.</p> <p><br /></p> <p>But I strongly believe there is a time and a place for each.<br />As a mom, you’re likely dealing with daily stress, even if things feel manageable.<br />This chronic stress can activate your body’s sympathetic nervous system, also known as the “fight-or-flight” response.<br />When this system is triggered, cortisol levels rise—cortisol being a hormone that helps your body handle stress.<br />Elevated cortisol can interfere with hunger regulation by sending false hunger cues, making it difficult to distinguish between actual hunger and stress-induced cravings.<br />This heightened state of stress makes it harder to rely on intuitive eating, especially if you’re not yet fully knowledgeable about nutrition.<br />In situations like these, calorie tracking can help provide clarity and structure until your body is more regulated and your hunger signals are more reliable.<br />If you’re hoping to lose weight without tracking, I’d suggest focusing on nervous system regulation first, through practices that activate your parasympathetic nervous system—the system responsible for “rest and digest” functions.<br />Techniques such as deep breathing, meditation, or even adequate sleep can help reduce cortisol levels and promote a state of balance.</p> <p><br /></p> <p>If you are still feeling overwhelmed, book a FREE discovery call with me and let’s create a step by step approach that YOU can feel good about.</p> <p><br /></p> <p><a href="https://calendly.com/withchanyoucancoaching/coaching-consultation-call" target="_blank" rel="ugc noopener noreferrer">Book a FREE Discovery Call With Me HERE</a></p> <p><br /></p> <p>Please like and subscribe, rate it, and share with your friends if you found this valuable. </p> <p><br /></p> <p>And remember—with Chan, you can 💪</p> <p>Let’s climb this mountain together!</p>
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#6 - Calorie Tracking vs Intuitive Eating: How to Choose the Right Tool for You
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