5 meals a day

Now, you may be wondering how eating 5 times per day could possibly be good for you ! This eating plan, of course, consists of good, healthy foods along with good habits – you cannot eat pizza 5 times a day and expect to be a lean machine. Foods high in carbohydrates, like pizza, drag you down, bloat you and deplete your energy. It’s time for you to change your habits and start eating light and healthy.

Your first step to change your lifestyle and your eating habits is to start the day with a good healthy breakfast. Your body needs a source of protein and carbohydrates at breakfast. Continue your day by eating a good source of protein, carbohydrates and some fats every 3-4 hours. Do not let your body go more than 4 hours without food as you may slow down your metabolism. What we are working towards is to raise your metabolic rate so you can burn calories all day long, not just at the gym. Drink plenty of water before and after meals and throughout the day to curb your appetite. You want to flush out any toxins an excess fat in your body.

Try and plan your meals with foods you enjoy. If you do not like tuna, don’t force yourself to eat it. You will never stay consistent if you are dreading what you have to eat. Eat your meals slowly while sitting down. Too many of us eat on the run, standing in the kitchen or in the car. We do not give our bodies the chance to tell our brains we are satisfied and as you know, if you are not satisfied, you might over eat.

There are going to be days that you might “fall off the wagon”. For example, you might eat a high fat meal or over eat at dinner. If this happens, do not give up, get right back on your eating plan the next day and you body will not be affected. If you throw in the towel, that is where you get into trouble. If you make mistake at work, you don’t just quit your job – you correct it and move on. Remember, quitter never win!

Here are some tips to follow if fat loss is your goal :

• Have you food steamed, baked, broiled, poached, or roasted.
• Eliminate any rich, thick sauces and soups such as hollandaise and alfredo sauces (marinara is a better choice)
• Remove skin and fat from chicken.
• Eliminate butter entirely
• Eat smaller portions, more often, and never stuff yourself
• Share your dessert
• Learn to just taste, if it’s a food you can’t resist, stay away from it all together
• Chew gum while baking, especially during the holidays
• Ask for your salad dressing on the side, and dip you fork in it for taste
• Do not go out to dinner starved, this will lead you to over eat
• Drink plenty of water before and after meals