Often times I'm approached by a frustrated person who can't
seem to drop the weight. They tell me that they exercise,
they eat healthy, and they drink plenty of water. "So why
can't I lose weight?" they ask. Not only are they
frustrated, but they are getting close to losing hope that
they will ever lose the stubborn pounds that plague them.
Do you want to know what I ask them? It is a simple
question that usually reveals the problem behind their
inability to lose weight.
"How often do you eat each day?"
The most frequent answer that I get is 2-3 times each day.
Most of us are fooled into thinking that in order to lose
weight we should eat as little as possible, this is simply
not true.
The problem with going for an extended period without
eating is simple: your body thinks you are starving. As a
result your metabolism slows to conserve energy and when
you do eat the food will be put into storage - also known
as fat.
Want to lose fat? Eat 4 to 6 small meals a day to easily
kick your metabolism into high gear. Eating smaller meals
throughout the day forces your body to burn calories all
day long and the results are amazing. When you begin to eat
in a "grazing" fashion your body will respond by dropping
unwanted pounds.
This is probably not the first time that you have heard
this tip - but, if you are like most unsatisfied fitness
enthusiasts, then you simply don't do it. Why not? As far
as weight 1oss tips go, this is about as easy at they
get...so why the resistance?
Here are the top 3 reasons I hear:
1. I don't have the time
Now you and I both know that, no matter how stressful or
demanding your job is, you can still find 5 minutes every
few hours for a snack. The issue here is not that you don't
have the time - it is that you just aren't making it. Sure,
old habits are hard to break and maybe you have a set time
that you like to eat everyday. That is fine - don't change
the usual mealtimes, just add a couple of snacks throughout
the day to keep from going hours on end without food, and
then eat a little less at your regularly scheduled meals.
2. I tried it and it didn't work
There is no way that you really tried it and it didn't
work. The formula is simple: small meals every 4-6 hours.
Emphasis on the word small. These aren't four course
meals...If this is your story then read on for a sure-fire
plan to make this tip work for you.
3. I forget to eat
When you first start eating 4-6 small meals instead of 2-3
there will be a bit of an adjustment time. If your body is
used to going for hours on end without food, then you may
not feel hungry when it is time for your next small meal.
The key here is to be as organized as possible. Think ahead
and pack small meals so that they are ready to go. With a
little effort you will be eating every few hours like
clockwork.
Your Fool-Proof Plan:
* Eat small nutritious meals every 3 hours throughout the
day, eat your first within 30 minutes of waking.
* Make sure that each meal contains quality protein,
complex carbohydrates, mono-unsaturated fats and fiber.
* Your goal is to eat more often, not more calories each
day.
* Keep a food log - write down what you eat when you eat it
and take time to review your progress.
* What should you eat? Whole grains, fresh fruits, lean
protein and veggies.
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Machelle Lee owns and operates The Invisible Gym in Santa
Cruz, CA. Her mission is to inspire people to become
physically active and enjoy the benefits of a balanced,
healthy lifestyle. For more information and questions you
can visit her website.
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