In this day and age with a wealth of health information at hand it amazes me people still overlook and don’t get the value of eating little and often. Traditionally in society it’s the norm to eat 3 big meals a day i.e. breakfast, lunch and dinner. However, in my experience eating this way hampers your ability to reduce body fat. Let’s explore why I strongly advocate eating little and often …

Stabilises Blood Sugar

If you stick to the traditional 3 meals a day format then the chances are you are going to snack between meals and mostly in an unhealthy way. When you consider what most people snack on it generally constitutes confectionary, bread or something sweet and so it isn’t difficult to see why people struggle to shed the spare tire.

Getting my clients to eat more frequently has helped them combat the desire to snack unhealthy because they know a nutritious meal is just around the corner. There are no set rules as to how many hours to eat within but we generally shoot for every 3-4 hours. This greatly helps in avoiding peaks and troughs in blood sugar. If you allow your blood sugar to get too low your body suddenly craves sugary food and that’s when you are tempted to reach for the cookie jar.

Provides Structure

By nature I think humans work best with a little structure and routine in their life. Having a meal plan with several pit stops throughout the day does just that. I have found clients are less prone to deviating from their plan because they get into their routine and enjoy it. It becomes part of them.

Increases Metabolism

There is ongoing debate as to whether overall calorie consumption or meal frequency governs or influences metabolic rate. Some studies suggest that through a process known as peristalsis which is the flexing of muscles at the beginning of the digestive tract that the amount of calories used throughout the day can increase by 10%. I speak from experience and from real life results. I have found that regular eating patterns have elevated my metabolism and also that of my clients.

Increases Energy

This point ties in with point one on stabilising blood sugar. To be energised and get the most from your training it’s best to keep your body fuelled. Eating little and often helps avoid dips in blood sugar levels which is directly linked with a dip in energy.

More Enjoyment

Alot of people especially women struggle to eat meals in the conventional sense. It becomes a bit of a chore for them. By eating smaller portions but more often you can break this feeling and make life easier for yourself and more enjoyable.

More Variety

This might not be such an obvious reason to eat little and often but it is one I love to use. If you are eating 6 times a day as opposed to 3 that means you have the potential to enjoy much more variety in your food choices. As a result, I find clients enjoy their diet more because they can eat a wider selection of foods and who doesn’t like to enjoy different foods?

Eating on a frequent basis is something I have always done and will continue to do so. I am yet to meet anyone who has made this switch and regretted it. The positive health results speak for themselves.