I always eat 5-6 small meals each day in order to keep my metabolism on fire. If you skip breakfast the chances of your metabolism becoming slow and sluggish is increased significantly. I want to make sure my metabolism stays revved up and in top gear throughout the day.
Rule 2: Eat your greens…
Try to eat at least five servings of fruits and vegetables a day as a means to help boost immune function and reduce risk for chronic disease. Remember restricting any one of the major food groups can lead to a macronutrient imbalance and corresponding vitamin and mineral deficiency.
Rule 3: Every 9 out of 10 meals you have, has to be in your plan.
In other words if you are eating five times per day, you would eat 35 meals per week in total. Effectively 3.5 of them can be your choice, within reason of course! I call these my junk meals, so try to find out what combination works best for you. If I eat well all week I always indulge in a few small treats on the weekends as my reward. This does two things, keeps me sane and keeps my body guessing as to what I’m doing. This approach seems to work well for me as I really look forward to the weekends. Chocolate, cheesecake and Caramel Slice … YUM!
Rule 4: AVOID sugar and Limit your complex carbs with your last two meals
Hidden sugar is the number one enemy for most “saddle bag” sufferers and is a major reason why many people fall short of reaching their health and fitness goals. Read your food labels carefully and try to avoid rich sauces and fatty dressings that contain large amounts of sugar as they can be disastrous when trying to control your blood sugar levels and manage your weight. Excess consumption of complex carbohydrates in the later part of the day can also contribute to an energy surplus and if you are not careful can easily be stored by the body for later use. Portion control is paramount!
Rule 5: Drink at least 500ml of water with every 10 kg of body weight
Water is my number one weight loss secret! It has no calories, sugar or fats and is a great way to quench your thirst without adding to your waistline. Many people often mistake thirst for hunger, so if you drink plenty of water throughout the day, you may need less food to keep you feeling satisfied. Not to mention, water is the only thing that will eliminate waste from your body. If you don’t keep well hydrated, your body simply cannot rid itself of those nasty toxins which inevitably end up on your thighs and hips.
Rule 6: Move more!
Try to get yourself moving each day for a minimum of 30-45 minutes before your day begins. Whether you get outdoors for a walk or hit the gym just remember to schedule it in before the day ends. I find it best to get it over and done with first thing in the morning. That way if I am tired from a hard days work, it doesn’t give me an excuse not to do it. Remember consistency is the key! This will kick start your metabolism for the rest of the day and help you get revved up and off to a good start! Any type of regular physical activity, no matter how moderate, can help you to lose body fat. You can always increase the level of intensity to speed up your results.
