Cultivating Energy through Body Awareness
- Oct 13
- 2 min read
By Erin Kuta, MPH, RD, LDN
As a Registered Dietitian and Intuitive Eating Counselor living with chronic fatigue, I’ve spent years exploring what truly supports energy. One shift that has been the biggest catalyst for improved energy, for myself and my clients, has been learning how to listen and respond to the body. It sounds simple, yet I see so many struggling with this level of body connection.
Our bodies are constantly communicating to us through signals such as hunger, fullness, thirst, fatigue, tension, changes in mood, or focus. These nudges are the body’s way of saying, “I need something.” When we miss or ignore these messages – which is all too easy in this modern, fast-paced world – our physical needs go unmet, and our body has to work harder to compensate. Over time, we end up depleted.
This points to the concept researchers call allostatic load—the cumulative wear and tear on the body that builds when we are chronically stressed or undernourished.
I started listening to my body out of necessity. Years of pushing through exhaustion and trying to “do more” had left my energy completely drained. I realized that doing more doesn’t make you a hero, especially when it means ignoring your body’s basic needs. With practice, I began to notice the subtle signals my body was sending: early hunger cues, such as losing focus, signs of needing a break, like irritability or tension, or when requiring deeper rest, like sluggishness or apathy. What stood out is how much context matters. For example, the same movement practice could leave me energized one day and completely drained the next.
Listening to my body provided a way to adapt, rather than forcing myself into a routine that didn’t always fit.
The impact of increased body awareness was gradual but impactful. My energy stopped swinging from one extreme to the other. I had fewer crashes, steadier focus, and felt more engaged in my day. Listening to my body hasn’t “fixed” my chronic fatigue, but it’s helped me feel more stable and present in my daily life. For my clients, I see the same pattern: when they work on pausing, noticing, and responding to their body’s basic needs, their overall body connection improves and they become more equipped at making adaptable decisions to support their energy.
In summary, energy is something we can cultivate through better communication with our bodies. Responding to cues like hunger, thirst, and fatigue may sound simple, but these practices create the foundation for resilience. In a world that constantly encourages us to push beyond our limits, tuning in to our bodies becomes an essential strategy for sustaining energy over time.
About the Author
Erin Kuta MPH, RDN, LDN, is the founder of Embodied Nutrition, a nutrition private practice based in Massachusetts specializing in the treatment of eating disorders, disordered eating, and body image concerns. She helps clients build flexible and sustainable habits free from the influence of diet-culture.
Website: www.embodiednutrition.com
Connect With Erin
Comments