Saturday, November 14, 2015

Don't Skip Meals!

1. You should be eating every 2-4 hours, including a leucine rich source of protein to optimize muscle protein synthesis (MPS). Some studies show the overlap where MPS peaks can differ between individuals so you should use this time frame as a fail safe. Missing a meal will in this instance mean you are more likely to be susceptible to catabolism. The margins can be smaller with some individuals over others, but my mindset is to get the OPTIMAL results!
 
2. Energy output is absolutely crucial for TWO key reasons: 1) If you skip a meal then your blood sugar levels will inevitably begin to decline which will leave you lower on energy. This is NOT good when trying to sustain performance. 2) The onset of hunger is likely to make you crave sugary foods to quash that feeling which isn't what you need when your trying to adhere to a diet plan. 
 
3. If you miss meals you might think just adding the calories later in the day is fine so you've "hit your daily targets." You're going to have two major issues with this though! Firstly, the hormonal response will be different and it might well be a NEGATIVE at certain times of the day. For instance, if you "made your calories up" in your pre-workout meal you could potentially go into that workout feeling very lethargic. The second point is digestion. Do you think your gut will cope with 3000 calories across a day the same if it gets it in one or two meals or 6? Of course not! Just eat 1500 calories in one meal and see how your stomach feels!! Heavy, uncomfortable, you feel like s*** and lethargic. 

To avoid skipping meals you should always have a plan b option. Something easy like a shake, dry cooked meat and rice cakes along with nuts.

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