The 2 Most Important Hours for Weight Loss

You may be surprised to learn that the two most important hours of a successful weight loss plan can be the two hours before you go to bed. In order to get on the fast track to a healthier life, a leaner body, and more satisfying eating experiences, a great new habit to develop is to stop eating at least two hours before bedtime. Here's why you should develop this beneficial habit.



Isn't a calorie a calorie?

If all calories are created equal, why does it make a difference what time of day you eat them? Bob Greene, exercise physiologist and certified personal trainer specializing in fitness, metabolism, and weight loss, observes that it's true that whether you eat a cup of low-fat vanilla yogurt at 11 AM or 11 PM, it's still going to have about 200 calories. But he adds, "When you eat that yogurt in the morning, your metabolism speeds up a bit, maximizing the rate at which your body burns calories. At night though, your body has already shifted into low gear in preparation for sleep, so you're not going to get much of a metabolic boost from late-night eating!" Read this for "8 Foods to Boost Your Metabolism."



Change a little, lose a lot

Making a lot of small changes over a period of time can add up to big weight loss. Nobody gains a lot of weight overnight. It happens over time. Think of all the minor things that, over time, become significant factors in weight gain—for example, that extra piece of bread and butter, parking close to the store rather than a little farther away so you have to walk more, two spoons of sugar in your coffee, skipping a workout, snacking while you watch TV. The good news is that you can do something about each and every one of them. And if you find yourself eating right before you go to bed, you can start turning back the clock fifteen minutes at a time until you are eating no later than two hours before bedtime.



Reach your weight loss goals faster

Weight loss studies have shown that something as simple as just having an eating cut-off time has helped people reach their weight loss goals. In some cases, it has been this change alone that has made the difference between success and failure.



Three more reasons not to go to bed on a full stomach

Digestion takes a rest. When you are sleeping, your digestion shuts down. It's best for your body to speed food through your system.



Energy boost. When we eat earlier in the day, we get energy to walk, run, and live. And we get energy to get through those Beachbody videos like Power 90® and Hip Hop Abs™ Dance Party Series. But when you eat at the end of the day, your body is winding down and doesn't need as much food or fuel, which means the energy doesn't get used and is stored in the body as fat.



Thinking thin. When you eat earlier in the day, in addition to the calories you burn while working, moving, and living, you may have the opportunity to work out. But after 9 PM, it's hard to have the energy to do a lot of moving or exercising. The calories don't change in the evening—our behavior changes. So eating later puts you in danger of piling on more pounds and making it harder to lose them.



Why a little hunger is a good thing

When your body tells you it wants food, it's saying, "Feed me or I'll go into your fat stores and feed myself." Actually, that's great. That's what you want to hear! If you go to bed wanting a snack, you are on your way to a healthier eating pattern that will have you meeting your weight loss goals. (Click here for more advice on getting better sleep.) You will wake up in the morning hungry for breakfast and this will help you stick to a three-meal-a-day healthy eating plan.

surgery day!

Today was a cold icy day and i drove to topeka to have my surgery.  A tooth was removed last friday and the roots were not able to come out.  So they knocked me out and cut them out.  I am so glad its done but now a little sore.  My cheek bone hurts!.  Can't really eat but managed to get some down.  I am ready to be back to normal. 

The weather is  so bad that they called me here at home and told me that all civilians were getting the day off .  I am happy about that.  I could use another day at home!  We got movies and my blanket.  Perfect night.  Just wish i felt better.

Get your ticket today!!!

Did some work here at home with BB.  Had 6 emails waiting on me so that always makes me feel good and my friend Leslie bought her ticket for summit!!!!  So excited to get to meet her in person.  And at summit makes it even better.  Looking forward to it!!!!

Can't wait to party with all our friends new and old and see how they are doing.  Another costume party maybe?  Dancing at the last night party with Tony, Chalene, and Shaun T.  It was a great time last year and this year will be even better.  Just another reason to go shopping.  Love it!!!!  The superworkout was killer last year and can only imagine what this year will be.  Plus the Vanilla Shakeology???  Maybe, just Maybe!!!!!  I am hoping so.. I can't wait for it!!!   Just think of all the options, strawberry, pineapple, blueberry, blackberry, stawberry/bananna, oh the options.  I hope they tell us it will be available.  They just teased us last year!!!!! 

Nothing else to exciting.  Just another Monday!!!!