Is There Another Way to Lose Body Fat?

As a personal trainer, I mostly hear the same health and fitness goals. Some people have specific goals in mind like training for a marathon or specific sport etc. Most of the goals fall into the category of weight/inch loss and increased muscle. The exercise prescription varies for each person depending upon what that person is doing for exercise now and what their goals are.

Whether it is weight loss, muscle gain or toning, part of the desired result for most people is to lose fat so their muscles will be more defined.

And that’s why I keep on talking about nutrition. A lot of people exercise. Some exercise really hard and yet they still have a lot of extra girth covering hiding their muscles. And they will continue to have that girth. In fact, the girth will likely increase as they age regardless of how much they exercise. (unless it is 8 hours of continuous exercise a day. That’s a different story.) For the person who wants to lose weight or tone up and exercises for an hour, a day then eats whatever they want? Most of those people will gain weight.

So, we’re back to nutrition again. There are so many ways to lose weight and keep it off. High fibre, low calorie, low processed foods and lots of whole foods, low sugar, etc. etc. The trick is losing weight then keeping it off. A lot of diets are successful, but then fail because as soon as people eat what they have been missing the weight comes right back.

There’s another option. It will be more effective when combined with a high fibre, low fat, whole food diet where half of your diet comes from vegetable sources of course, but for now, try circadian rhythm eating. Studies have shown that if people consume the same foods as they are consuming now, but consume those foods in an 8-12 hour window before 6-7p.m., then don’t eat after 6-7p.m. then fast for a minimum of 12 hours they will lose weight. Apparently we metabolize foods differently later into the evening. Studies have also shown that people who eat at night tend to gravitate toward foods that are higher in fat.

So for those of you who aren’t interested in consuming more high fibre foods, for those who are convinced that they can eat exactly the same way they are eating right now and lose weight? Well, maybe you can? Maybe you can eat the way you are eating now and lose a few pounds if you don’t eat after 7 p.m. then not again until between 7 a.m. and 10 a.m. or even noon…For those of you with any current health issues, don’t try this without your doctor’s consent, but who knows? Maybe. Just maybe you can have your cake and eat it too.