The EASIEST way to improve your metabolic health AND beat night time cravings
This is one of my all-time favorite longevity tips!
It’ll also:
Reduce your blood sugar, cholesterol, cortisol and long-term disease risk
Reduce your inflammation, stress and give you steadier energy all day
And yes, help you lose weight too!
Here it is:
Eat the bulk of your food earlier in the day and not at night.
In practical terms, this means:
✅ Stop skipping breakfast and waiting til you’re starving to eat!
✅ Stop eating tiny amounts of food /only salads / light snacks during the day. Eat normal portions (including all the macros) during the day and you won’t get those crazy, horrible cravings later in the day, I promise! You WILL get insane cravings for more food later in the day if you undereat all day.
✅ Stop food / caloric drinks within 3 hours of bedtime.
I’m raising this whole discussion partly because it encompasses one of the biggest metabolic mistakes I see ALL. THE. TIME…even among very well-informed people.
And it all stems from the well-meaning trend of intermittent fasting…and studies done largely in male college students in their 20s.
People often think the best way to extend their fasting window is to skip breakfast…
And sure, skipping breakfast tends to be the easiest way for most people to extend their fasting window, but it’s certainly NOT the healthiest way to do it.
Skipping breakfast all the time slows our metabolic rate, and over time, can really wreak havoc on our metabolism and circadian rhythm.
One of my classic, easy breakfasts: back bacon, fried eggs and avocado on whole grain organic sourdough + side salad w EVOO and vinegar.
Why?
Because from a biochemical standpoint, we evolved to eat during the day when we’re moving around, thinking, doing stuff, burning up those calories and using up precious nutrients…
We evolved to stop eating later in the day, when we slow down and our bodies move towards rest mode. Our metabolism - including digestion and insulin secretion - naturally and intentionally slow down.
So, shifting the bulk of our caloric intake to the latter half of the day - or heaven forbid the evening - is WAY out of alignment with our natural rhythms.
I hate seeing this and I hate that influencers are misleading people - especially women, especially in midlife - into thinking this is a great strategy for health. It’s terrible.
And there's ton of great data to support this idea (ie. the work of the fabulous Dr Satchin Panda).
In fact, many experts - including Drs Peter Attia, Rhonda Patrick, Stacey Sims, Stephanie Estima, Andrew Huberman and many others - agree that WHEN you eat is JUST as important as WHAT you eat. (More on that in another post.)
Now please don’t get me wrong - I LOVE intermittent fasting, but we generally aren’t doing a great job of it…
We really need to shift the eating window / caloric intake earlier in the day and start the fasting period earlier in the evening.
These are the kinds of fundamental things we need to know to pilot our humans bodies into long and healthy futures...but which sometimes go against cultural norms or the latest trends.
(And it's exactly the kind of thing I teach in the Better Beyond 40 Formula. Simple. Easy. Sane. Profoundly impactful.)
For more helpful tips on this topic, fuelling your body appropriately and meal timing for a healthy metabolism, tune into this short new YouTube video I just made for you, dear reader. Please give it a like if you find it useful.
And if you’re going, “ugh, I can’t eat breakfast, I’m never hungry”, well, I speak to that in the video too.
I hope this helps you sink into FULL enjoyment of a lovely breakfast and an earliertomorrow…and most days. 🙂
Thanks always for your attention. ❤️
If you want to learn how to support your metabolism, health, hormones and lose weight permanently in your 40s and beyond, my program, The Better Beyond 40 Formula can help you. 💃🏼
This blog and my social media are also for you - they’re all about education and empowerment.
You’re not alone in this rollercoaster ride of hormonal changes. 🎢
