The Most Wonderful Time To Eat Lunch

In case you were wondering, TRX is amazing and awful and terrible and awesome all at once.  For 25 minutes, all I could think was "KEEP GOING." My body is definitely not in the shape needed to go at my normal break-neck effort without petering out! I started very strong but by the end, I was doing my best just to not barf/pass out/what have you.  I made it to the end of the class, though! I got the DOMS bad, man; I've been so sore for two days straight! Despite the serious abuse, the soreness only makes me want to go harder.  I can't wait to hit the next class I can!

TRUE FACT: Clocks are jerks.

I also had a really big lesson this week in meal timing. There were a few days where I really struggled with my calorie goals because I'd be so hungry. This wasn't "I want to eat because it is an activity I enjoy" hunger, it was my body telling me I needed more nourishment.  I reflected on the days I struggled by reviewing my entries in MyFitnessPal and realized I'd been hungry for a long time before eating on those days.  I also had eaten when I wasn't really hungry but had time to do so.

For the past few days, I tried something different.  Instead of worrying about when I should be eating, I simply ate a small meal or snack when I was actually hungry. I also made sure that I was eating protein and fiber in each sitting (which can be tricky if you don't eat red or white meat!). The results are like a light switch! Suddenly, my calorie goals made sense and were easily achievable. I felt kind of silly because it is such a simple solution but I'm very glad for the epiphane.  Especially since I'm totally a jerk when I'm hungry (sorry, Mr. Husband!).

I did some Google-Fu and found that there really isn't a sciencey reason to eat small meals.  There are pros and cons for it that are all based on individual preference.  Eating small meals throughout the day doesn't speed metabolism, encourage weight loss in any way, or reduce insulin spikes.  For people who struggle with portion control it can actually encourage over-eating. For people who are not mindful of micronutrients, it can lead to poor decisions. 

Truly, the advice all boils down to what works for you.  Eat when you're hungry.  If you're not sure if you're hungry, drink a little water then wait 20 minutes.  Eat something packed with protein or fiber to increase the satiety you feel from your meal.  If you end up eating 6 meals that add up to your daily calorie goal, so be it!  If three scheduled meals works best for you, excellent! Just listen to that awesome bod of yours!