Slim Down, Shape Up

		PAGE TWO OF THREE

Slim Down, Shape Up

You can lose weight by eating less or exercising more. Of course, if your weight keeps you from being able to exercise hard, a workout to burn calories may add to your frustration and simply make you hungry. It may be be best to try one thing at a time and slim down before we shape up.

This author has experimented with controlling weight by changing eating patterns and avoiding evening meals and snacks. Let's call it the Two O'Clock Plan. Here's how it works:

(This article is not a recommendation but is only meant to spur thought about eating behaviour. Always consult your doctor before starting a weight reduction program.)

Click on link to see more about the Canada Food Guide from Health Canada

The Two O'Clock Plan rules: You can eat anything you like, but no eating after two o'clock in the afternoon until the next morning, except for drinks. Liquids in the afternoon and evening must be low calorie and not milk shakes or similar meal equivalents.

Here's the reasoning: Calories from breakfast and lunch are consumed during the busy day but calories from supper and evening snacks can contribute to an increase in body weight.

The Two O'Clock Plan has been a learning experience. The first thing that happens is that you get hungry, very hungry, usually about six o'clock in the evening. We drink liquids to fool the stomach into thinking that we have eaten and that makes missing supper bearable.

The first surprise was that the intense hunger at six o'clock disappears by eight o'clock in the evening. In other words, we get hungry at supper time at six o'clock out of habit, not necessarily out of need.

A result of missing supper is that our stomach shrinks. There is time enough from two o'clock in the afternoon to six the next morning for the stomach to empty. When empty, the stomach shrinks slightly in capacity so that it takes less food to trigger "all full". That's what we wanted.






copyright © 2003-2005, Northwest Design, Smithers, BC, Canada