You’ve probably heard a lot about how to time out your meals and how to fix your portions to achieve optimal weight loss, but does meal size and timing really make a difference when it comes to weight loss? For the answer to this question, keep reading, especially if you’ve been struggling with shedding those extra pounds.
What Some Researchers Have Said
Most people are told to eat a big breakfast, a medium sized lunch, and a small dinner, but is there really any truth to this tactic in terms of its effectiveness at weight loss? Researchers wanted to answer this question, and they published their findings in the International Journal of Obesity. What they concluded is that, while there is some truth to this advice.
What they realized from their study is that individuals who eat lunch early (before 3 p.m.) are able to lose more weight. So it isn’t so much about how much you eat for lunch, but when you eat your lunch. Those who ate lunch later in the day (after 3 p.m.), lost fewer pounds and also had reduced insulin sensitivity.
This research answered some questions regarding meal size and timing, but there are still questions that remain.
What About Portion Sizes?
When it comes to weight loss advice, another common recommendation is to watch your portion sizes. But does your meal size really make a difference?
In the same study, the researchers found that the differences in the participant’s’ weight loss results weren’t so clear-cut. Those who ate lunch later often ate a smaller breakfast or skipped it altogether, so perhaps their weight loss results had more to do with how they behaved at breakfast than when they had lunch.
Some theories also state that the body is able to process glucose differently during different times of day. It is even believed that when you eat will affect your circadian rhythm, and that can impact weight loss more than portion size.
Ultimately, more research needs to be conducted on meal size and planning, but it may be worth having your lunch early, while also sticking to appropriate portion sizes. Eating more calories earlier in the day will give you more time to burn off those calories, as opposed to later on in the day when you are resting or ready for bed.
Also remember that, by using a weight loss product like FenFast 375, you can support your weight control regardless of when you eat, so you can take the guesswork out of your weight management strategy.