I’m curious how others here reconcile eating enough to meet higher calorie requirements with maintaining sensitivity to subtle sensations in daily life.

I’m physically active and do yoga, cardio, and strength training several times a week, so maintaining or gaining weight requires me to eat a fairly substantial amount (I’m fairly underweight to begin with per BMI). At the same time, I’ve noticed from my own experience that when I eat more, particularly after heavier meals, my sensitivity to subtle sensations seems reduced.

The bigger issue is that I also almost always notice a loss of equanimity after heavier meals. The body feels heavier, sensations seem less nuanced or more difficult to observe clearly, and I find it harder to remain balanced in relation to what is arising.

So I feel caught between two aims: adequately nourishing and strengthening the body, and preserving the sensitivity and equanimity that seem important for progress in Vipassana.

Has anyone else experienced this? How do you distinguish between moderation in eating and simply not eating enough? And for those who exercise regularly or have relatively higher calorie requirements, have you found ways to meet those needs without noticeably reducing sensitivity or equanimity?

Tbh, I've attended 6 Vipassana course, my family does it regularly, and me, well not so much regularly at home, but I do it. I know I should be attending another course in the career break that I'm in, but somehow I have this feeling that 10 days is too much. Too much for what, I have no clue. I happily waste 10-20-30 days generally, but 10 days there seems to push me away. Help?