Weight should not be an obsession for amateur runners; it is better to focus on optimizing training, nutrition, sleep, and stress, while trusting one’s body to regulate its weight naturally.

noli's read

The approach suggested by the creator aligns with current recommendations in sports science, which prioritize functional performance and metabolic health over simple caloric restriction. Studies, including meta-analyses on nutritional periodization, confirm that sufficient energy availability is crucial for recovery and injury prevention (source: International Journal of Sport Nutrition and Exercise Metabolism). The idea that the body can self-regulate is supported by the principles of intuitive eating, which shows a correlation with better psychological and physical balance (observational studies). However, this total trust in one’s body can be nuanced for athletes with specific competitive goals where the power-to-weight ratio is a real biomechanical factor, although its excessive optimization carries documented risks of Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport (RED-S). The advice is therefore highly relevant for avoiding eating disorders while remaining focused on overall progression. In summary, prioritizing the foundations (sleep, training) is a robust and safe strategy.

the sources

1. 1Hall KD, Heymsfield SB, Kemnitz JW, et al. 2012
2. 2Rolls BJ 2009
3. 3Stewart TM, Williamson DA, White MA 2002
4. 4Neumark-Sztainer D et al. 2007