People who are busy and trying to lose weight very often fall into the habit of skipping meals in order to cut down on their overall calorie intake. They then eat more at a later meal thinking they can “catch up”. The problem is that you may end up eating your daily requirement of calories by the end of the day, but the balance of when your body receives those calories is lopsided.
For instance, if you start the day out great by having a healthy breakfast of yogurt, eggs and toast but then skip lunch and eat a big dinner, you’ve thrown your body off balance by making the end of the day top heavy with calories. Most people are more sedentary at the end of the day and like to relax. That means that whatever it is you’re eating is sitting in you while you relax rather than being burned off as you go about your day.
Furthermore, when you skip a meal, you’re famished by the time you finally do get to eat later in the afternoon or early evening. You’re body is only going to use what it needs at that particular moment and nothing more. By the end of the day, you’ve already burned most of the calories you are going to burn during the day. Your body ends up storing those excess calories in your body fat and keeps them in reserve for the next time you skip a meal.
This can become a vicious circle of you’re trying desperately to cut back calories by skipping meals and your body is desperately trying to hold on to whatever nourishment it can get. Not only will you fail in your quest to lose weight, you’ll become frustrated because all your efforts aren’t giving you the results you desire.
The best way to ensure that your body has the nutrients it needs to burn fat during the day when you’re active and when your body needs it the most is to eat smaller portions more frequently. Instead of eating 3 big meals a day, eat 5 or 6 smaller meals.
The best way to ensure that your body has the nutrients it needs to burn fat during the day when you’re active and when your body needs it the most is to eat smaller portions more frequently. Instead of eating 3 big meals a day, eat 5 or 6 smaller meals.
Start your day with proteins and any carbohydrates you might want to have during the course of the day. Your body will burn those carbohydrates when you’re most active. End the day with proteins and fresh vegetables such as broccoli, spinach, kale, etc. Avoid having lots of carbohydrates later in the day when you’re winding down and not able to burn those carbohydrates off.
