The ultimate tip to lose weight while still enjoying your food
Losing weight: for one person a necessity, for another a desire, and for a third an impossible task. The ‘easy’ way might be something like Ozempic, because it takes away your appetite. But what if there’s a more natural and healthier option with just one simple tip?
What doesn’t work
The first thing that might come to mind when it comes to losing weight is counting calories. As soon as you start eating less, you will lose weight. That’s absolutely true, but the problem is controlling your craving for calorie-rich foods. After your third carrot, a little voice in your head tells you that you’re not a rabbit, and after two days of raw vegetables, you start having spontaneous visions of pizza slices, chips, pastries, and candy. Your discipline is truly put to the test… But you still want to lose those excess pounds. So what now?
The ultimate tip to lose weight
If you want to lose weight, start by eating three meals a day. That’s it. But with one rule: there must be at least 4.5 hours, preferably five, between meals in which you don’t eat anything. It looks like this:
- Breakfast 07:00 – 07:30
- Lunch 12:30 – 13:00
- Dinner 18:00 – 19:00
You can shift the times slightly, but stop eating after 19:30.
What can you eat? In principle, anything and as much as you want. Just keep one thing in mind: eat as pure and unprocessed as possible, with as few pesticides as possible. Fresh vegetables, rice, grains, meat, fish, eggs, beans. Whatever you like and what satisfies you. Drink (herbal) tea, coffee, or something else with, during, or just before your meals. Keep it simple and clear.
Still feel like eating between meals? Do this: drink two glasses of water with a pinch of coarse sea salt in one go. Still hungry afterward? Move! That can simply be walking up and down the stairs three times, stretching at your desk, jumping rope—it doesn’t really matter. As long as it’s something that gets you moving and lasts no longer than 5 minutes. This will take your mind off your stomach and get you back to what you were doing.
How can something so simple work?
Maybe you’re surprised by such a simple approach of three meals without snacks, because you usually hear the opposite these days. Yet this is exactly what humanity did up until about the 1950s. And that’s precisely what the body needs when you look at the entire digestive process.
When you chew food, digestion begins. Your saliva contains enzymes to break down your food. In your stomach, acid is produced for the next step. Your pancreas makes sodium bicarbonate to neutralize the stomach acid. Bile is secreted into the intestine, along with many other enzymes. Digestion is a chain reaction triggered by the first bite and ends with eliminating waste through the exit.
This is also called metabolism, and as you can see above, it’s an intensive process that takes a lot of energy. Also, digestion causes damage to the intestinal walls. The metabolic reactions that break down your food into particles small enough to be absorbed into the bloodstream also cause damage.
That damage must be repaired immediately to keep the body functioning well, and your body needs time for that. Specifically, about 4.5 to 5 hours to recover from each meal.
Does this really work?
Yes, it works—provided you stay active. Sitting still, getting bored, and feeling hungry is a bad combination. The well-known afternoon slump is nothing more than an inflammation asking for attention. If you ‘put it out’ with fat, sugar, and/or salt, it will feel satisfying within 10 minutes, but your gut won’t be happy. It has to deal with the inflammation caused by digestion.
Now you may be thinking: five hours without eating, that’s quite long. How can I keep it up? Ultimately, it’s not that hard. Make a commitment to yourself. Be clear, and start now. Within two weeks, you’ll be fully used to this ‘schedule’.
The 45-day challenge
I challenge you to stick with this tip for 45 days and email me afterwards to let me know (and I’m pretty sure you will) that you’ve lost weight—and especially how much. The benefits for you will certainly include:
- More energy
- Clearer
- thinking
- Less preoccupation with food
- Improved bowel movements
Those 45 days weren’t chosen at random. Your intestinal lining and intestinal wall contain many fast-dividing cells and thus have strong regenerative ability. In 45 days, all the cells in your intestines will have renewed themselves. These new cells will be fully adapted to your new eating habit. As a result, your unhealthy cravings for junk food and especially the urge to snack will disappear. Your afternoon slump will be gone, and in the evening you’ll have more energy for a walk or some exercise.
Are you in?
They say food is emotion. So prepare your food with attention, infuse it with positive emotion. And eat mindfully, enjoy it. Eat with friends and loved ones, have fun at the table—it literally and figuratively digests much easier.
I see only benefits, and I hope you do too.
Author: Hayo Bol, Naturopathic Practitioner
References
https://www.hln.be/wetenschap/hoe-gif-van-gilamonster-inspiratie-vormde-voor-de-ontwikkeling-van-afslankmiddel-ozempic~a6de9411/
https://drogespieren.nl/hormonen/ghreline
https://www.goddelijke-recepten.nl/indiase-curry-recepten/zelf-ghee-geklaarde-boter-maken/
