When Do We Eat?

This topic is a hot button issue. Some believe eating late at night causes weight gain while others believe that a calorie is a calorie no matter what time of day or night it is. Let's break it all down (like digestion) shall we. Why do we eat? We eat to get nutrients, vitamins etc. which in turn can be converted into energy. With energy on our side we can move. If we have the right type and amount of nutrients and we move just the right amount we can attain balance. And with that balance we look and feel fit. We tend to eat during the day when we need the energy. (We're awake after all). At night when we sleep our body heals and repairs itself. If our body has any say in the matter restoration is what it wants to do when we sleep. But if we (you) have eaten too late at night and then head straight to bed then the body needs to spend energy digesting. If the body can't get the job done efficiently then the excess calories will be stored as fat. Yup, I said it-fat!

The general consensus is that the last meal should be all said and done by 7pm. Why 7pm? I don't know, it sounds kind of arbitrary to me. Let's try this: give your body 2-3 hours of digestion time after your last meal before putting head to pillow. That way when we are asleep the body can groove on what it needs to do. The bigger issue here is balanced meals throughout the day. Eating 4-5 small meals during the day keeps the tank balanced and makes for easier digestion than eating three huge meals. This eating habit leads to a lesser chance of you craving the late night munchies. But if you must; a fruit or vegetable will do it. If your last big dinner was at 5:30 and you normally go to bed at 11pm then by 10pm those potato chips, fries topped off with ice cream for desert are going to look pretty good.

Getting back to the school of 'a calorie is a calorie'. This is actually true. It's like that old joke/trick from the 1970's,"...what weighs more a thousand pounds of feathers or a thousand pounds of bricks?" A calorie, which is a unit of energy is the same at 6pm as it is at 7pm. But digestion time is the key. Furthermore, if you've done all of your running around during the day, and eaten right then the late night calories are not necessary. Your cup overflows and not in a good way. And as I said earlier what you don't spend or get rid of as waste heads straight for the fat party mezzanine to party with the other fat cells.

FURTHER PRICE TO PAY

Another side effect to the late night binge can be acid reflux. Here's the formula: Big meal. Lie down in bed with full stomach. Acid comes in to work on meal. Gravity moves excess acid up toward the esophagus as opposed to the other direction to the small intestine.

THE WRAP UP

Once again common sense wins out. If you must snack, eat the good stuff and not too much. If you've done your 4-5 meals during the day you won't be craving that big a snack. But in the event you do grab the snack give yourself ample time to digest before you hit the rack. Keep up the exercise routines, eat right and it'll all be cool.

Eat Right And Feel The Might

Lately I've been hearing a common theme from clients and friends. "I workout X number of days per week, but I'm not losing weight." As much as it pains me to say this (although not really) it may be time to look at your diet. And by diet I'm referring to what you eat not, a specific diet like Jenny Craig or Atkins. (And for legal reasons I'm not knocking those diets either, by the way). The first order of business is portion size. Generally speaking restaurants across this great nation give you far more than you need. If you don't believe me just look at the obesity rate in America. Next look at 'what' you are eating. If you eat fast food at all then just throw in the towel immediately. Don't do it! Stay away from the fast food light!

LET'S BREAK IT ON DOWN

You've got new sneakers and a cool workout outfit. You've joined a gym or in some other way you've managed to jump off the couch. Good for you. You've started your new routine but don't have a ton of energy and you're not getting the gains you want. Why? Your body needs fuel. This is then converted into energy which leads to a kicka** workout. But I'm here to tell you that fast food ain't gonna give you didley squat! You'll push and push but a lean mean fightin' machine you will not become! Eating fast food is like putting bad gasoline in your car. Oh, it'll move but it'll sputter, spit and cough and before you know it your're taking her to the mechanic. Comprendez?

TRY THIS ON FOR (A SMALLER) SIZE

Keep a journal of everything you eat for one whole week. No cheating. At the end of the week spread out your food map on a table like an international spy would before a dangerous assignment and ask yourself what you could cut? Were you getting enough greens and fruit? How many little donuts did you actually sneak? And yes you absolutely have to count those silly concoctions from a joint that rhymes with Carducks that truly have little to do with...coffee. Can you imagine? People get a 'coffee' drink with caramel syrup and whip cream out of a can!!! a can I say!!! And they wonder, "Gee Doc I get these funny chest pains when I run on the treadmill."

Next, drink lots of water. Try substituting it for a snack. Like when you feel that urge come on for one of your fave muffins that although contains bran is the size of a grapefruit. (And, ironically a grapefruit would be the better choice). But if you absolutely must snack then go for the carrot sticks or other veggies. They're non fat and energizing too! Yeehaw! Another good snack is nuts. Specifically almonds and walnuts.

TRIVIA

Little known fact, as Cliff Clayvin of t.v. show Cheers used to say, is after actor Christian Bale finished the shooting the movie The Machinist he needed to gain weight fast. (Not the muscle part, just weight, as his Machinist character starves and gets down to 122 lbs.) He gained the weight back quickly by eating...wait for it...bread! So be careful how much bread y'all intake.

And so ends this this first blog entry. Stop by again for more fitness facts, fables and funky words.

Peace, love and fitness to you all