Does Skipping Meals Work?

Okay ladies- let’s get the facts straight on this age old myth… Starving yourself will allow you to lose weight.
Question: So if I want to lose weight, I should skip meals and use a starvation tactic, right? Answer: WRONG!! Here’s why… In order to lose weight you must create a calorie deficit. This means using more calories than you consume in a day. There are 2 ways to achieve a calorie deficit- increase physical activity and eat fewer calories. So you’re probably saying to yourself, well, don’t really have time for the whole exercise thing- starving myself, although drastic, will probably make more sense… I know, it seems logical, but it’s a self-destructive approach to weight loss and nutrition. What’s sad is that so many people, men and women alike, fall victim to this long time misconception.
When you starve yourself to lose weight, you cause your metabolism to slowdown- severely. Your metabolism is the key to losing weight. Its Greek meaning stands for ‘change and transformation’- how fitting!! The metabolism has many, many jobs, but in terms of weight loss, it is the determining factor on how many calories you burn… When you starve yourself, your body “thinks”, oh no- famine!! The body assumes that there is no food to be had- this can take place in just a matter of hours. See, years of evolution have made our body into a survival driven organism. Your body has the ability to constantly monitor itself in terms of survivability. What the body does when it believes you’re starving is to slow itself down in order to conserve energy. Usually this “conserving energy” means your body will leave your stored fat alone and start burning muscle tissue for energy- YIKES!! Muscle tissue is essential to having a highly efficient metabolism. Muscle tissue is pretty difficult to gain, especially for us women, so losing it can be detrimental to your weight loss efforts. Along with sculpting a killer physique and allowing you to look amazing in your favorite pair of jeans, muscle is like a calorie burning machine… Muscle actually burns calories at rest- pretty amazing, huh?!! So when you starve yourself, you essentially eat fewer calories, but you’re also technically burning less too, so you don’t really achieve the kind of calorie deficit you were seeking. You will actually find it increasingly harder to lose weight… Not to mention the injustice you do to your body by not providing it with the nutrition, vitamins and minerals it so desperately needs.
So I should eat? YES!! Surprisingly, you need to eat very often- on an average of every 2-3 hours. So dive in to the Cheetos and Oreos… No, no, no- that’s what got the fat on you in the first place!! Remember, everything that you put in your mouth, whether food or drink, contains calories (except good ‘ol water)… When you eat- let’s say a candy bar, your body says, hmmm- what can I do with this candy bar? When your body realizes that there is no real nutritional content, but mainly just fat, sugar and empty calories, it thinks, well I better use this for energy right away, but if it can’t- it stores as fat!! Your meals should be small and frequent. They should contain a portion of your macronutrients: healthy fats, complex carbohydrates and lean protein. Always keep unhealthy fats and sugar content in mind when choosing a meal.
So maybe you’re thinking’, I eat pretty healthy, why am I still fat… Remember, the body never lies. A good 80-90% of how we look is by what we put in our mouths- or a result of not eating much at all… Food and I mean healthy food, feeds the metabolism and causes it to have to go to work. In the shop, I often feel like a broken tape recorder. I have so many men and women ask me questions about weight loss. Typically they’re looking for the best or strongest fat burner we carry. I make sure I explain to each and every one of them that a pill, even the best, will not give them the everlasting results they seek. There are keys to weight loss: diet (dirty four letter word, but it just means what you consume), cardio and weight training… For long term results, you truly need to make it a lifestyle… Does that mean no pizza or fries for the remainder of your life- no. Moderation is the key and portion size is especially important. Stopping cold turkey may be difficult and even backfire on you… Try starting slowly- like may be this week you cut out all sugary drinks, like full sugared sodas, fruit juice, etc… Remember, sugar is just as much an enemy as fat… It is a simple carb that can store as fat if not used for energy right away. Maybe next week you cut down on all candy and desserts- try replacing them with sugar free Jello or sugar free pudding cups… The little modifications can make the biggest difference!!
If you have any questions or need one-on-one assistance, please feel free to contact me at 209-551-1495. Thank you for supporting our business!!
Kimberly