Weight Loss Plan for Women Over 40 - Does Meal Frequency Matter?

For a woman who is over 40 and is looking for an effective weight loss plan for women over, depending on where you look, you'll find conflicting advice when it comes to dieting. Some dieting experts advocate three meals with a very small snack. Others advise breaking up those calories into six small, evenly spaced meals. Who do you believe when each method has convincing arguments and evidence? After all, you want to follow the best advice so you can lose weight quickly but in a safe way.

Although the six small meals a day advocates claim eating this way revs up the metabolism, one study showed that it is really the total number of calories, not the number of meals that counts. However, there are some other health benefits from consuming more frequent, smaller meals.

The study took two groups of overweight people and had them eat a low calorie diet. One group ate three meals each day, while the other group ate six. At the end of the study, both groups lost an equal amount of weight. The researchers even looked at specific hormones that turn on and off the feeling of hunger and found no difference between the groups. The only factor they found that altered metabolism was exercise.

But, of course, there are other studies that support eating smaller, more frequent meals for weight loss. If you have any problems with blood sugar control, some researchers believe that the more frequent meals may keep blood sugar levels more stable. Since obesity is a major risk factor for developing Type 2 diabetes, this may be an important consideration.

A common sense approach might be to eat when your level of hunger tells you to eat. It may actually take a little time to get in tune with your body's hunger signals. Most people eat when they want to, not really when they need to. So, start paying attention to what your body is telling you. It really may not matter how often you eat; what counts is what you eat. Carefully watching calories is a must for successful weight loss and must be part of a weight loss plan for women over 40. The pounds will not peel off if you just spread out the same excess calories over six meals. You have to cut calories to drop the excess weight.

By eating well and exercising, you will be able to drop that stubborn fat and get into that coveted dress!

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