I was reading a popular women’s health magazine the other day and saw an article on how you shouldn’t eat after a workout and to wait until you are hungry to eat.  Sometimes I think these magazines give out bad advice on purpose because they want their readers to stay fat because if their readers lose weight then they won’t feel bad about themselves and feel like they need to buy all the stuff that is advertised. Hopefully I’m wrong and this was just well-intended but bad advice. First of all, if you have worked out and I mean worked out not strolled for two miles then your muscles need food for recovery so they can grow. Yes, you want them to grow. You will not end up looking like Hulk Hogan but you will speed up your metabolism which means your body will burn fat quicker or you can eat a little more without gaining weight.  Secondly and more important DON’T wait until you are hungry to eat. I have found this to be one of the biggest mistakes I make because when I’m hungry I eat A LOT more than had I eaten before my hunger set in.  When you are “starving” you want that uncomfortable feeling to go away FAST so there is more of a chance that you will shovel anything and everything in to get the feeling to go away.  I try my best to eat every 2-3 hours BEFORE I get hungry.  Is it a pain?  Depends on how you look at it.  It sure beats having to go buy new bigger pants.  It’s really not that hard if you plan.  There have been days when I have to take the kids to school, run errands, drive to LA for an audition, pick the kids up and then go to Bible study that evening or, in other words, live in my car.  On days like that I’ll pack a lunch bag with chicken (that I pre-cooked over the weekend and then froze), a can of Bumblebee’s Tuna Sensations, raw green beans, an apple or two, a string cheese, a yogurt, a protein bar, and a cucumber.  Then every 2-3 hours I’ll eat a protein and a fruit and/or veggie.   No these are not the most exciting meals but the reality is I can’t drive up to McDonald’s and order a cheeseburger every 2-3 hours and expect to LOSE weight.  I’m not saying you can’t drive up to McDonald’s and order a grilled chicken without mayo or a grilled chicken salad (watch the dressing) because you can.  I just find it more convenient, healthier, less expensive, and LESS TEMPTING to pack all my food.  And most days I only have to pack one or two meals.  My point is PLAN AHEAD a little so you don’t feel like a ravenous beast by the time dinner rolls around and eat a bowl of pasta the size of your head.  Which I’ve done.

xoxo
Jenn