A healthy diet and plenty of exercise and physical activity is the main combo to losing weight. We’ve all heard that and took it for real because it really is. The combination of lower calorie intake and proper fat burn can go a long way and help you lose weight. If you don’t stray from the path, that is. However, temptations are often too hard to ignore and we’re only human, so diets don’t work wonders always.
However, new studies have shown that how and when we eat is the most important step to losing weight. It’s not just what you eat. Our bodies have a biological clock that runs 24/7 and keeps everything in check. Throw it off balance and you’ll have trouble losing weight.
The clock runs a tight operation at different times of the day and night. If you want to keep it running in optimal shape, you’ll have to plan your diet around it.
The time of your meals and snacks can regulate your metabolism and weight, prevent a variety of health problems, and also affects your sleep cycle. As you can see, how we eat and when we eat is far more important than what we eat for losing weight.
A small disclaimer: we’re not saying that stuffing yourself with burgers at specific times during the day will help you lose weight. As a matter of fact, it can quickly destroy your health.
When Should I Eat?
Finding the optimal time when you should eat your meals is a bit confusing. One study showed that people who eat after 3 PM lose less weight than others. When it comes to breakfast and dinner, the differences are not that big. You shouldn’t eat dinner later than 6 or 7 PM, though, as it can interfere with weight loss.
What Should I Eat for Breakfast?
In general, the opinions on breakfast are divided. Some experts recommend a hearty meal, while others don’t think skipping is such a bad idea. Breakfast is still the most important meal of the day and you can allow yourself to make it a high calorie meal.
A good and hearty breakfast means you’ll eat less during the day which translates to fewer calories. The FDA recommends a breakfast full of nutrients that will keep your energy levels up. A good and nutritious breakfast is the first step towards achieving your weight loss goals.
Meal Times
The link between our biorhythm and weight gain is much more than what you eat. If you limit your meals to certain intervals during the day, you will put your body on a schedule.
This will change the biological clock and make it hard for the body to adapt. This is why smaller and more frequent meals every day have helped many people lose weight.
Regular meals also play a role in weight loss. We usually feel hungry every 3 to 5 hours, which means we should eat at that interval. If you can’t make it between the meals, you can eat vegetables and cheese for snacks.
How Much Should I Sleep?
We can’t stress how important proper sleep is for losing weight. Not sleeping enough will disrupt your body’s natural rhythm and throw your hormones out of balance. It essentially confuses your brain’s fatigue and hunger signals, leading to sugar and food cravings.
People who rarely get 7-8 hours overnight experience symptoms of metabolic syndrome. It’s a serious disorder which drastically increases the risk of heart disease and stroke.
Why Do We Tend to Snack Stuff at Night?
It’s because our unhealthy habits and diets are ruining our body’s natural clock. Night owls tend to eat fast food and drink carbonated beverages more often simply because their body is “wired” the wrong way. Of course, such a diet results in weight gain as well as numerous health problems.
Can Proper Meal Distribution Help with Weight Loss?
Well, it’s not a miracle worker, but yes, distributing your meals properly during the day can help you lose weight. Putting your body on a schedule will regulate your biological clock and help regulate your digestion.
Studies have found that it has almost the same effects on weight loss as intensive workouts. Furthermore, distributing your meals properly will also prevent cravings and suppress your appetite, resulting in weight loss.
Although calorie reduction is considered ideal for losing weight, it’s also very dangerous. We’d rather put our body on a schedule and choose a healthy lifestyle and diet over it – it’s the only road to healthy weight loss.
