They say you are what you eat. That may be true, but a new study reveals it’s not just WHAT you eat that’s important.
WHEN you eat matters, too.
In some ways, the WHEN might matter even more than the WHAT.
And if you’re willing to alter your own eating hours, chances are you’ll see dramatic improvements where it matters most.
One new study finds that tweaking your mealtimes could help to:
- REDUCE appetite
- KILL cravings
- IMPROVE weight loss
- BURN off fat
Ready for the most important part? As I said, it’s all about the timing.
Because the new study finds if you can compress your meals into a shorter timeframe that ends with an early dinner, you WON’T be hungry even as you go hours without eating.
It’s called intermittent fasting. And it’s remarkable what it can do for your appetite AND waistline.
Plus, despite the name, you won’t be skipping any meals.
Burn fat & feel full with intermittent fasting
You know the old stereotype about seniors LOVING early-bird specials? Well, it’s time to put that old chestnut to work FOR you.
Restaurants offer the specials to help fill the joint during unpopular times. And wise seniors—who let’s face it can tell you a thing or two about making your cash last—are more than happy to take advantage of those deep discounts.
Plus, BONUS, when you do pop in early the place won’t be so crowded, and you can actually enjoy your meal in peace.
But now, there’s ANOTHER good reason to tuck into an early dinner: It turns out it could effortlessly slim your waistline and curb your appetite.
The new study tested two different mealtime strategies:
- a typical pattern with meals spread out over 12 hours
- a time-restricted pattern eating all meals within a 6-hour window
When the folks tried the second plan, known as intermittent fasting, they had breakfast at 8 AM and dinner at 2 PM.
Now THAT’S an early-bird special!
You’d think eating dinner at 2 in the afternoon would leave you pretty much STARVING the rest of the day, and especially in the evening.
But that’s not what happened. Within just four days, folks on the intermittent fasting plan had lower levels of ghrelin. That’s your “hunger hormone” which tells your body when you should eat.
The volunteers hadn’t eaten in hours. But their bodies KNEW they had gotten what they needed. So those hormonal signals demanding they feed their faces again never got sent.
In other words, their appetites plummeted. Then something else remarkable happened. It was as if a switch was flicked on because they began burning MORE fat. And they were burning it off throughout the day in ways that aren’t seen in people eating on a more typical 12-hour schedule.
Why you should put down your fork before 7 PM
Unfortunately, this study didn’t run long enough to show how intermittent fasting can lead to a smaller waistline. But all the building blocks for weight loss were there.
Plus, there are plenty of intermittent fasting weight-loss success stories out there, PROVING it works in the real world. And other research shows this style of eating can help you shed weight, slash your heart risk, and even help ward off cancer.
Now I’m not going to lie to you. It does take some effort on your part to change the timing on your meals. And intermittent fasting isn’t for everyone.
But other options can still provide BIG benefits.
A modified intermittent fasting plan where your goal is to put at least 13 hours between your last bite at night and breaking your fast in the morning can lead to major improvements. So, for example, finishing your dinner before 7 PM and not eating again until after 8 AM.
In one study, breast cancer survivors who did this were 36 percent less likely to have their cancer return. And in another, researchers found that for every three hours of nighttime fasting, folks were 20 percent less likely to suffer from high blood sugar.
But if intermittent fasting isn’t for you don’t fret. You might find a low-carb diet a little easier to follow since it’s got fewer restrictions.
Either way, don’t let anyone talk you out of taking full advantage of those early-bird specials. Your bank account will thank you at the end of the month.
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