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Let’s talk about a dancer problem that shows up in subtle (and not-so-subtle) ways:
underfueling.
It doesn’t always look like restriction or skipping meals. In fact, many dancers who are underfueling think they’re eating "enough." But when you’re training intensely, "enough" often needs to be more than you think.
Here are three common signs you might not be eating enough to support your training, recovery, and overall well-being:
⚠️ 1. you're exhausted by the end of class (or earlier).
If you start class feeling fine but halfway through you hit a wall, that’s a sign your body is running low on fuel.
This is especially common for dancers who:
Go long stretches without eating
Skip pre-class snacks
Don’t eat enough carbohydrates
Your body needs quick-access energy (aka glycogen, which comes from carbs!) to power you through high-intensity training. Without enough of it, you’ll crash.
⚠️ 2. you're sore all the time—even after lighter days.
Soreness is expected after challenging rehearsals, but chronic or lingering soreness (especially after light classes or rest days) might mean your body isn’t recovering well.
Without adequate fuel—particularly carbs and protein—your body doesn’t have what it needs to repair and rebuild. You’re also more likely to experience delayed recovery and even increased injury risk.
⚠️ 3. your mood, focus, and/or appetite feels off.
Low energy availability doesn’t just affect your muscles—it affects your brain.
If you feel:
Moody or irritable during class.
Struggling to focus on choreography.
Constantly thinking about food or feeling “never full.”
Or the opposite: you have no appetite, even after class.
...those could all be signs that your body is under stress from lack of fuel.
so, what can you do?
If any of those signs sound familiar, it might be time to revisit your fueling strategy. Underfueling is incredibly common among dancers, but the good news is: it’s fixable.
Start your journey with The Dancer's Edge today to understand exactly what to do next—including:
How to structure your meals and snacks
Timing your intake around classes
What recovery fueling really looks like
Your body (and your dancing) will thank you for it. 💕
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