By: Alexa Naccarato
Are you struggling to lose those last five pounds, or just can’t seem to get the results you’ve been wanting to see for the last couple of weeks? You could be eating all the right foods and exercising regularly, but sometimes, our bodies need a little extra kick. The answer? Some mental motivation at dinnertime. Try finishing your dinner with the feeling of satisfaction, rather than feeling overly stuffed. If your goal is weight loss, the last thing you want to do is finish a hard day of eating well and exercising by stuffing your face with food- even if it’s all we feel like doing.
Nighttime can be the most difficult time when it comes to sticking to our healthy diet. At night, we generally feel relaxed: we’re enjoying a yummy dinner, we’re with family or friends, the day’s work is finished, and we’re enjoying some down time. This time can feel like a celebration for some people, which can result in consuming more food and dessert, and sometimes, our goals can be pushed to the side. When we feel tired, we get more cravings, and our willpower decreases. Our motivation to reaching our goals during this time is definitely a challenge, but it’s important to push through and keep your goals in mind 24/7. Easier said than done, I know.
Here’s the truth: we don’t need to eat a lot before we go to sleep. Food is energy, and therefore the more you eat, the more your body is working to burn it off. We don’t need an excessive amount of calories before bed, because our body’s main focus at night is repairing and recovery, not digestion. This means that a light dinner is all we need, and we should be feeling light and content when going to sleep, not with the feeling of a stretched stomach. This is difficult at first, because when we’re watching Netflix late at night, there’s an urge to munch on snacks, especially when we’re feeling satisfied and could probably eat more. Try this experiment of going to bed feeling on the lighter side, and see how you feel in the morning. It’s definitely challenging at first, but after the first night, you’ll see and feel remarkable results. You might notice that you have slept a lot better, since your body had time to focus on rejuvenating itself as opposed to digesting a heavy dinner. You might wake up with more energy, and you’ll definitely be hungry and will be craving a big breakfast (your most critical meal). In terms of your goals, you’ll wake up with a flatter stomach, as your body already had time to digest your food before bed, and bloating and water retention will be significantly reduced.
Before you overindulge in dinner and dessert tonight, think about whether you’ll be one step closer to your results when you wake up tomorrow morning. Think about if it’s worth it, and decide if it might be best to save your indulgence for a treat later on in the week. When it comes to reaching your body goals, diet is the most important aspect of it all. How you start and end your day make a huge difference in terms of seeing results in your body and your mind. Start your day off on a lighter note by controlling your food intake the night before. One trick that helps me stay focused is remembering this important fact: Everything you do today is for your body tomorrow.