Research Shows When You Eat Could Be As Important As What

Dieters can sometimes become so focused on the types of food they eat that they forget about all the other elements which can go into weight loss. The timing of meals in particular is an important factor which is thought to contribute towards your chances of achieving successful weight loss.

It has been proved that those who skip meals are more likely to put on weight. This can also be the case when people eat their meal late rather than skipping it altogether. Many people are guilty of skipping breakfast, for example, and then having a snack mid-morning, but new research has shown that skipping meals in this way to compensate for a hectic lifestyle can have a hugely negative effect on your wellbeing in the form of variable blood sugar levels. This can lead to problems with energy levels and difficulty in maintaining or losing weight.

Nutritionists advocate eating regular meals to maintain your wellness, and, in particular, eating little and often during the day. This approach keeps the body’s blood sugar levels constant. It also avoids hunger building up, as it is when you feel hungry that you are in greatest danger of succumbing to an unhealthy snack.

Women in particular can be sensitive to going long periods without food, projecting them into hypoglycaemia, which is the name given for very low blood sugar levels. They should aim to eat around every three hours. On a normal day when breakfast falls at 8am, this would involve ensuring you have a morning snack around 11am, eating lunch at around 1pm followed by a snack at around 4pm and then dinner at 7pm.

You should then try to avoid eating after tea, or if you do feel the urge to eat, have a herbal tea or something light such as some berries. Snacks should consist of healthy things such as fruit, raisins, nuts, raw veg and humous or organic yoghurt. Fruit juice should be avoided when losing weight as the sugar goes straight into your blood stream without the benefits of any fibre.

Finally, try not to eat at your desk as this can distract you from focusing on what you are eating. Find a designated eating area and pay attention to the process, stopping when you become full.