When people hear that they should be eating more to lose weight it sounds like a crazy concept.
For years so many of us have limited our calorie intake and that meant really cutting down on the amount of food that we ate. Though there is some validity in cutting down on the calories, you need to go about it the right way.
If you are after weight loss then you need to eat more. A very powerful statement that has some far reaching consequences. This doesn’t mean that you go crazy and eat whatever you want for each meal. It means that you spread out what you would eat over the course of six mini meals that you enjoy more frequently throughout the day.
If you want weight loss to be yours then you should be targeting eating smaller meals more frequently throughout the day. This does take some getting used to but before you know it you have adapted and you never feel hungry. So why is it that eating more meals can actually help you to lose weight?
Helps to Keep You Full Longer
First and foremost the reason that so many diet plans fail is that they force you to restrict your calories to an unreasonable level. You are therefore starving by the time you get to your next meal and you tend to overeat. When you are eating more frequently throughout the day, you are never going to feel that hunger.
You should never be working towards deprivation as the body will backfire and react by holding onto every single bite that you eat. So while you think that cutting back drastically on what you eat will help, it will actually cause you to gain weight. When you simply spread out your meals you feel full for longer and you never have that opportunity to feel hungry—no overindulgence and a very regimented and smart way of consuming your calories!
Makes for an Excellent Way of Combining Food Groups
You hear all the time that you should be eating all of your food groups. For many people the notion of eating the vast array of healthy and nutritious foods tends to feel overwhelming. It doesn’t have to be and when you eat smaller meals more frequently throughout the day it offers an excellent opportunity for combining food groups.
To get the most value out of every mini meal you want to combine food groups such as protein and whole grains like a whole wheat pita with hummus. Perhaps combine dairy and a fruit for your next mini meal such as cottage cheese and peaches. The point is that when you are more mindful of your meals and spread them out in this manner you can present the opportunity to combine food groups more effectively.
It does take some preparation but in the end combining the food groups in this manner not only helps to ensure that you get everything in, but it also helps you to feel full longer and get everything you need for weight loss and for your health.
Ensures That You Always Have Energy and That You Spread Out the Calories
We all hit that slump, usually in the afternoon, and when we feel hungry and lethargic we will eat just about anything. When you are eating smaller meals more frequently you not only don’t feel hungry but you feel far more energized. You are effectively spreading out your calories and using the energy from them to power through your day.
This is the way that we’re meant to eat and it’s the best source of energy. That helps tremendously with workouts but it also helps you to maintain the energy you need to make it through your day. Spreading out the calories ensures that you never overeat and that you don’t overindulge in far too many calories or too large of a portion in one sitting. This is revolutionary and sure to be how you end up eating even beyond the point where you reach your weight loss goals.
Hi, Glenda. People tend to do best with about 2-1/2 to 3 hours between meals/snacks. There is mixed research about the advantages of 6 over 3 meals per day, but nothing conclusive states that the liver or weight loss efforts are harmed by frequent meals.
Ossie-Sharon, please tell me what the length of time between eating should be…Also, I heard in order to help your liver do its job it needs at least 4 hours between eating. What information can you give me re: Leptin and how it affects fat gain or loss
Hi, mmwiese. The amount of food generally get easier, or you will ease into a level of eating that is comfortable for you long-term. The key word is “comfortable,” meaning it is also not too little. It is important to eat enough to avoid major hunger and slowing of your metabolism.
Hi, Denise. Actually, it is very much the opposite. Carbohydrates need protein to slow down the sugar and insulin spikes in the blood that lead to weight gain, and fat needs carbohydrate to be “burned” properly. That is why the meal patterns in this program focus on combinations.
I find the TrimDownClub menu’s very convenient, but I really struggle to eat all the food – it is way too much for me! What advice is there for me?
Is it true that starches and meats such as meat and potatoes, should not be eaten together and why?