Eating enough? Four signs you might not be.

If you're like me, you are probably prone to eating for pleasure on occasion. Think cookies, cupcakes and chocolate. A good glass of wine or a perfect piece of seasoned chicken breast. Even veggies roasted to perfection. Whatever your favorites may be, food can have this way of taking over your senses. But it can also have a way of taking over your body if you aren't careful. And that's why the diet industry is so incredibly successful. Don't eat this! Restrict that! Lose weight, food is the enemy! They scream at us from every angle, and as a result, we forget about eating for pleasure. Heck, we even forget about eating for fuel. Instead, we focus on not eating. Or eating the bare minimum. And that's what gets us into trouble.

Your body needs a certain amount of fuel every day simply to exist. This is called your Basal Metabolic Rate (BMR). Click here to calculate yours, then follow the instructions to figure out how many calories you really need to be taking in. (It will go up based on your level of physical activity.) Remember, if you want to lose weight you'll need to burn more than you take in. And that brings us back to the topic at hand—if you don't take in enough fuel, you'll hinder rather than help your body in every way.

Not sure if you're taking in the right amount?
Keep a food journal, and watch for these four signs:

1) You are constantly tired.  
2) Your muscles are shrinking.
3) You can't seem to lose weight.
4) Your bones are weak.

Sounds pretty general, and these signs are, so keep in mind that the above can also represent other issues. It's always best to speak with your doctor if you aren't feeling your 100% best.

Question: How do you balance healthy eating with eating for pleasure?