When To Eat: How Important Is Meal Timing For Losing Weight
There’s no denying that a healthy diet and more physical movements are part of maintaining weight control. Hence, you are probably trying your best to avoid certain foods every mealtime and do your best to sweat off by exercising.
However, if you still struggle with a few extra pounds, there may be another variable you might want to tweak a little: the timing of your meals!
As the saying goes, timing is everything! When it comes to eating, it’s also important to follow the right timing, especially if you’re trying to lose weight. Although it sounds too good to be true, research shows that changing when you eat may help you shed off those extra pounds and improve your overall health at the same time! Read on to find out the importance of meal timing for losing weight!
How important is meal timing?
When talking about meal timing, it’s essential to remember that your mealtime should align with your circadian rhythm – your body’s natural internal rhythm. Your body is designed to produce a different combination of hormones in the morning than at night: the morning combination aims to help you feel awake and alert, while the nighttime hormones help you sleep.
Concerning weight loss, studies have shown that your body’s fat cells have a circadian rhythm as well. Earlier in the day, its activities aim to help your body use fat and energy, while your body is likely to accumulate fat at night. Research also shows that people who work at night typically weigh more than people who work during the day.
When is the right time to eat?
The desire to eat bangs at your stomach’s doors every 3-5 hours by using your body’s internal rhythm. This is why several people are used to having 3-4 meals a day! To help you out, check out when is the right timing to eat.
Breakfast
We all know that breakfast is the most important meal of the day! It’s good to ingest a high-protein breakfast between 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. when you aim for weight loss. Eating between these hours helps reduce the risk of fat accumulation in the body, making you feel less hungry throughout the day.
Mid-morning snack
A mid-morning snack is unnecessary, but if you get hungry quickly, it’s fine as long as you follow the right timing. Your body takes a minimum of 4 hours to digest and absorb the food you eat, so it is advised to consume your mid-morning snacks at least 2 to 4 hours after eating your breakfast.
Lunch
Having a satisfying lunch is also critical. It is advised that this meal of the day is when you should eat the most. Never skip lunch if you’re trying to lose weight because skipping lunch will leave you hungry and might lead to overeating during dinner. If possible, you should eat your lunch before 3 p.m.
Afternoon Snack
Like your mid-morning snack, you should take your afternoon snack 2 to 4 hours after your lunch. Eating snacks in between meals prevents you from overeating. To speed up your weight loss process, try to have snacks such as fruits, smoothies, or nuts and increase your vegetable intake too!
Dinner
When it comes to dinner, it’s advisable to have a light dinner at night, and it should be taken before 7 PM. Dinner should be consumed at least three hours before your bedtime. Should you be hungry and crave a midnight snack, keep in mind that it is advisable not to have anything 2 hours before sleeping to lose weight.
Conclusion
Your weight loss journey can be challenging, and there may be times that you’ll only see little progress. Along with a healthy diet and a proper workout, meal timing is also an important factor in losing weight, so make sure to keep in mind the recommended meal times.
Aside from the three primary keys – diet, exercise, and meal timing, you may also try TCM slimming treatment to achieve your desired body in no time. Here at Slim Couture, we have experts that use traditional Chinese medicine techniques to help you shed some extra pounds and achieve your dream physique! Feel free to contact us and start your weight loss journey at the best slimming centre in town.