So we’re doing one of those book advent calenders for our girls
Where the elves drop off a book every day
And they open it for the advent calendar and then we read it at bed time…
But the funny thing is how one of my daughters has started asking whether the elves are in her bedroom
Almost like my fear of the bogeyman. (or boogeyman as I used to say haha)..
And speaking of the bogeyman…
It reminds me of the monster that comes and makes sure that all the food we eat after 6pm are stored as fat… 😉
You see, the other day when I was chatting to a few of the ladies
They mentioned that they don’t like eating late
Because ‘it will all be stored as fat as you don’t burn It off’
And I get that.
It makes sense and sounds logical..
And – perhaps – if this was true
It would make life easier..
Just eat earlier in the day.
But the truth is…
Your body does not care when you eat…
It’s the minutia.
And actually
It’s your overall intake across the day, week, month that matters.
That said…
Eating late at night might actually make you put on weight…
I know that sounds hypocritical, but hear me out…
No one EVER messes up their diet at breakfast…
Your willpower is higher
You’re less tired
And it’s a bit easier.
But after a long day
Working
Sorting the family
Doing some jobs
More emails
Your willpower?
Pretty low…
And if you suddenly stop
Go to the shops hungry
Or go home to find Quality Street handy..
You’re likely to eat MORE calories by eating later in the day…
That’s why if someone says ‘eating after 6pm makes you fat’…
It might actually work and help you consume fewer calories.
Not because your body turns it into fat
But because you just make better choices…
And all of this reminds me about
how they tell you that you HAVE to eat breakfast to ‘spike your metabolism’ or that ‘you’ll go into starvation mode and store loads of fat on your stomach’
Truth is: The research shows there is NO change in your metabolism or weight loss whether you eat breakfast or not
My point?
I’m all for routine. In fact, it’s something I’m pretty big on.
BUT..
You do not have to eat breakfast to lose weight if it doesn’t fit your lifestyle
^^^ Maybe you’re up super early, value an extra 20 minute in bed or prefer to eat more later when you’re actually hungry
But what actually is breakfast (this might surprise you…)
You see, most people see breakfast as the meal they eat when they first get up
But it is actually defined as ‘breaking a fast’
AKA
The first meal you eat. So – technically – eating your first meal at 12pm still means you had ‘breakfast’ as you are ‘breaking your fast’
Why you SHOULD eat breakfast?
1) It might stop you grabbing anything high fat / sugary on-the-go
2) You can often choose what you want to eat in the morning as you’re likely to be at home so can pick nutritious foods that keep you going for longer and stop you snacking (get your vitamins and minerals in)
Why breakfast might not be for you…
1) You’re busy in the morning and food just isn’t a priority for you as you’re not hungry and won’t enjoy your food
2) You prefer to eat a bigger meal in the evening and want to balance your intake throughout the day
^^ Something I often do when eating out BIG to compensate
Do I – and the ladies – using inside our Fit For life Programme eat breakfast?
Sometimes….
You see, it depends
^^^ Like most of things when it comes to diet, losing weight, and toning up
on your lifestyle, work, schedule and preferences.
You do what works for you..
how do you know?
Try it..
Because DOING
Is always better than READING…
Do you eat breakfast?
Do you eat late at night?
Matt ‘bogeyman’ Fruci