Popular press tells us to eat many small meals throughout the day to achieve optimal lean to fat ratio. The theory is that constantly eating revs up the metabolism and triggers fat loss. After many of my patients reported that they had tried this approach and gained weight, I decided to do some research of my own to determine whether this recommendation was supported by sound science.
The Myth
And what I discovered in studying the biochemistry of hunger, blood sugar balance and fat loss is that the theory of small frequent meals for blood sugar balance and weight release couldn’t be further from the truth.
Soon after your “eager to be thinner” client begins to eat, her pancreas secretes insulin in order to move the blood glucose generated by the meal into the cells to be converted to energy.
As soon as insulin secretion begins, fat burning slows down. The more insulin in her blood, the less fat burning that occurs. The more carbohydrates consumed, the more insulin gets secreted. Insulin inhibits the secretion of growth hormone. Growth hormone is secreted after exercise and can stay elevated for up to 90 minutes. If your client eats within less than 90 minutes of exercise, the fat burning, lean building growth hormones are thwarted.
If your client eats small meals throughout the day, insulin is maintained at an elevated state for hours on end. Just as it comes back to baseline about 2 1/2 – 3 hours after a meal, guess what? If she’s doing the popular “eat every 2-3 hours thing”, insulin will rise again, growth hormone is inhibited and fat burning continues to be impossible.
So what to do instead?
Stay tuned for next week’s article on meal spacing and intermittent fasting for optimal fat burning and blood sugar balance. Research supports the incredible benefit attained from proper meal spacing and timing.
Would you like to become a Certified Insulin Resistance Coach? Stay tuned for an announcement at the end of the week. Get on the early notice list and download my popular webinar “Client Assessment Tools That Make Your Clients Call You a Miracle Worker and Refer All Their Friends” It’s my gift to you.
Stay tuned for our big announcement and an invitation to attend a free webinar where I reveal insulin resistance secrets your doctor never told you.
Register NOW and you’ll be on the early bird notice list for my Insulin Resistance Solution Practitioner Training and be eligible for early bird bonuses. I will be sharing a whole lot more in my 5-week course, the Insulin Resistance Practitioner Training, which begins August 14, 2013.
Stay tuned for our big announcement and an invitation to attend a free webinar where I reveal insulin resistance secrets your doctor never told you.
Stay tuned for part 2 next week!
With love and appreciation,
Dr. Ritamarie Loscalzo
What additional questions do you have about assessing insulin resistance for your clients? Comment below!
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