While choosing good food is an important part of living a healthy life there is something else to consider, and that is the times we choose to eat. We are creatures of habit. We thrive under routine. When we wake up at the same time everyday after a while we do it naturally without the need of an alarm clock. So what does this have to do with when you eat? Simple – our bodies function best when we eat at predictable times. People with different lifestyles often eat different foods at different quantities at different times. Here I’ll give you a couple tips to figure out what works best for you.
Eat breakfast – Eat within an hour of getting up in the morning. There are several different reasons why this is so important. First off by breaking your fast you are giving your metabolism a kick-start. If you skip the meal your body is more likely to hold on to the calories you consume later in the day. Second, by skipping your first meal you are more likely to eat more impulsively throughout the rest of the day and end up eating more then you need.
Give yourself at least 3 hours after your last meal before you go to bed – Eating right before bed can interfere with the quality of your sleep. As I’m sure everyone has had at least one night where they didn’t sleep well, you know how hard that can make the next day. On top of that while sleeping is when the liver works best to purify our blood. When we eat too close to bed time our liver has to focus on digesting our last meal rather then flushing out our system.
If you are trying to lose weight, eat multiple small meals throughout the course of the day – Eating breakfast in the morning helps to kick start our metabolism. In the same vein eating six or so small meals in a day rather then three big ones helps to keep it going. The actual number of times you eat will vary from person to person and it may take a little time to find out what works for you. Be sure to listen to your body. There is no need to force yourself to eat if you’re not hungry.
If you are trying to maintain weight, eat three meals a day – Once you are at a healthy weight the goal becomes to stay where you’re at. This is when it is a good time to eat the typical three meals a day.
Try to eat your meals at the same time every day – As with most things in life it is important to be consistent. You will see the most benefit if you can eat at the same time everyday.
If you’re not sure what would be best for you and would like some help, or if you’re looking for help with appetite control schedule an appointment today.
