Tips & Tricks
When you are working to speed your metabolism, lose weight, adjust to health concerns or just shift your body’s habits, getting in an eating routine is essential.
Your body needs to know that it has more fuel coming, just like any other machine, it depends on this “fuel” to keep functioning efficiently. Is it hard to eat 6 times a day? At first, yes! It’s a lot to think about, a lot to plan, and very easy to blame a busy day, job, life, child…
Here are a few tips:
1) Keep some form of nutrition nearby. This may be protein bars stuck in a desk drawer, or yogurt in the fridge at work, an economy container of raw almonds on your desk or back to basics….an apple and a jar of peanut butter for dipping! This is for those times you are too busy to eat, push yourself to EAT! The longer you wait to fuel the machine the more it will take over on its own, for survival, and begin storing what little you did eat in bad places!
2) Plan ahead. If you know you will be traveling and in the car, pack some snacks. Fruits, nuts, popcorn, protein bars…just be careful of the sugar levels. Store bought snacks while they appear healthy can be loaded with sugars which will NOT satisfy for long and leave your machine feeling lazy and craving bad things later. Invest in a small cooler and pack a small salad with chicken breast, almonds, feta, dried cranberries and lots of fresh veggies. You’ll be satisfied, feel great, have energy and not have to kick yourself for eating a burger and french fries…yuck!
3) Keep it simple. Thinking you can go from eating 1-2 times a day to suddenly 6 is not going to be a plan you stick with. Gradually add snacks, small meals, focus on getting protein in every meal whether that be peanut butter or raw nuts or eggs, protein is key for the tummy to tell the brain “I’m full”. Then before the brain talks back to say it’s hungry, FEED IT! Waiting too long to eat leads to cravings for carbs and sugars, spiking our blood sugar, feeling fine for a short time then dropping us again. Break that habit!
4) Water. I know, everyone says it but your ‘machine’ needs water, drink water often. Find your favorite bottle, make it your friend, keep it by your side and pay attention to it. This helps to keep the body moving even when not in motion. Again, at first it’s a challenge but allow your body time to accept the changes.
