Keeping my weight at the right level has always been a challenge. I felt sure that it would continue to be that way for the rest of my life. Yet nothing has been further from the truth! I weigh less now in my fifties than I did in my late twenties.
How can this be? I simply keep an eye on my blood-sugar levels. Around 4pm, I used to get a sap in energy and I’d get a longing for food. So I’d grab the first thing that came to hand, which was usually the wrong kind of carbohydrates. No surprise then that my tummy ballooned!
And it appears that when fat gathers in the visible places, it’s also attaching itself to hidden areas such as the heart and the arteries. So now I’ve evened out my blood sugar level, and I rarely feel tired or overly hungry. I’m surviving the symptoms of the menopause more easily now too! But the best thing for me is enjoying a great night’s sleep.
The ’secret’ is to eat every couple of hours, but just don’t eat much. I used to miss meals during the day several times a week. Then I’d catch up in the evening, and gorge! This was the worst thing I could do.
I ought to have been taking in modest sized ‘meals’ several times a day. Our metabolic rate peaks around the middle of the day, and slows down rapidly after that. That’s why we must focus on a good breakfast and two or three light meals during the day.
Breakfast had to become an everyday occurrence. I only eat a small amount, which saves me having to tot up the calorific value. (Our stomachs are not massive empty containers – we should be aware not to overstretch them).
I like to prioritise time for lunch, as whenever possible this is my main meal. When the end of the afternoon comes around, a morsel of food is all I require to easily keep me going until my light evening meal. Brightly coloured vegetables feature strongly in my diet, and I eat protein several times a day.
The right types of fat should still be included in our diet – this is especially important for good health. Nuts and seeds are highly calorific, but great eaten in moderation.
Lastly – and this has certainly assisted my weight loss – I’ve minimised the glasses of wine I drink each week. The high temperatures I was experiencing are a rarity now – a benefit of less alcohol I think! Have I found it difficult? Not when I think of all the benefits it brings. I’m carrying less weight, have more energy, a clearer and brighter skin, less hormonal challenges – oh, and better sex too!
(C) Scott Edwards. Navigate to WeightLossDietWar.com for excellent advice on reduce fat and diet pills.