What you eat is very important if you are on a weight loss journey, but when you eat may be just as important.
According to a registered dietician, slimmers should leave a specific amount of time between eating dinner and eating breakfast the next day to see results.
Courtney (known as @dietitianwithtwins on TikTok) took to the sharing platform to reveal something that is often “overlooked” by those trying to see the number drop on the scales.
The expert said: “Allowing yourself at least 12 hours between the last meal of the day and the first meal the next day helps your body go into fat-burning mode instead of constantly being in fat storage mode.
“In fat storage mode, it’s obviously really difficult to lose weight, but 12 hours is all you need to switch it up and start burning fat.”
Adhering to this rule might mean eating your evening meal at 6pm and not eating again until the next morning at 6am.
Courtney’s tip is in keeping with the idea of intermittent fasting as a weight loss technique. Intermittent fasting essentially means only eating during a specific window.
There are various ways to practise intermittent fasting and it is always important to consult your doctor before trying out any weight loss methods.
Experts from John Hopkins Medicine said: “You can pick a daily approach, which restricts daily eating to one six to eight-hour period each day. For instance, you may choose to try 16/8 fasting, eating for eight hours and fasting for 16.
“Another intermittent fasting plan, known as the 5:2 approach, involves eating regularly five days a week. For the other two days, you limit yourself to one 500-600 calorie meal.
“An example would be if you chose to eat normally every day of the week except Mondays and Thursdays, which would be your one-meal days.
“Longer periods without food, such as 24-, 36-, 48- and 72-hour fasting periods, are not necessarily better for you and may be dangerous. Going too long without eating might actually encourage your body to start storing more fat in response to starvation.”
The dietician also advised slimmers to be aware of any nutrient deficiencies they may have if they want to see results.
She said: “There are so many nutrient deficiencies, like a deficiency in B vitamins, magnesium and vitamin D that can interfere with metabolism, making it really difficult to lose weight.”
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Leaving 12 hours between dinner and breakfast means no late-night snacking
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Courtney encouraged those on a weight loss journey to ensure they are following a nutrient-rich diet by “focusing on real food instead of just calories alone”, supplementing when needed and finding out if they have any deficiencies.
Finally, the expert advised slimmers to meal prep. Making meals in advance means you won’t be tempted to snack throughout the day.
The dietician said: “With crazy schedules, lots of stress and cravings throughout the day, you want to make sure you have the majority of your meals prepped ahead of time – so you can grab something nourishing and go while staying on track.”
Another way to slim down is by rethinking your coffee routine. Drinking your coffee at a specific time can boost fat burning and burn more calories.
