Is when you eat as important as what you eat?
They say, "Timing is everything."
When it comes to eating food that will make you leaner and stronger, this old saying is the key to the new-you.
So many people (perhaps you?) are caught up in "what" they are eating. Pizza is 'bad'. Oatmeal is 'good'.
Well...yes and no.
I'm going to reveal one of my biggest secrets to getting and staying lean in this newsletter. You'll need to access my book for the whole story, however --
That secret is this: there are no forbidden foods...only forbidden times to eat them.
Granted, there are "rules" to any good nutrition program. No one is silly enough to believe they can eat popcorn and candy as their primary foodstuff and be healthy.
We're beyond that, right?
Would you believe that the majority of the calories ingested in the United States is liquid soda?
So, maybe we're not beyond that. But I am going to assume YOU are beyond it.
You are ready for the Lean Lifestyle found in Fit Over 40.
I know that because you're reading this newsletter. Just do more than read it. Apply this lifestyle secret, starting today.
Tip One: Carbs In The Morning
Here's what I've discovered: I can eat more carbs in the morning. That isn't exactly breaking news...but some of you may not know about it.
Take a serving of carbs about the size of the palm of your hand. Mix that with protein of equal size.
If you want a superior meal, toss in a handful of veggies.
Presto: the ideal breakfast.
If you were to eat this same meal later in the day, you may find yourself more sluggish. I know my bodyfat doesn't want to budge if I eat carbs at night.
But I 'do' eat at night. It's a myth that you should not eat at night at all. Here is where "what" is more important than "when"...but that's another newsletter.
Or, just read my book -- Fit Over 40
Tip Two: Carbs After Workouts
The best time to consume starchy carbs is within 45 minutes of a weight or resistance workout.
Cardio workouts are good too if you have your intensity high enough. But when it comes to carbs post-workout, weight training RULES.
You'll find that carbs tend to be used more as fuel and a recovery aid when you eat them post-workout. That means they're less likely to cause blood sugar problems or fat-storage.
Tip Three: More Veggies As The Clock Ticks
If you want to really lean out, increase your vegetable intake and decrease your starch intake every meal past 3:00pm.
More veggies, less starch. Cut the starch out at the last meal...or if you're like me, the last two meals.
The timing of eating veggies in the evening is ideal to help your body detox and restore alkalinity while you sleep.
This can make for greater fat-burning.
Tip Four: When To Eat Junk-Food
You can use junk-food as fuel as well. I do not recommend this but in one or two meals during the week, but unless you're trying to hit single-digit bodyfat it can actually help you get leaner.
Deplete all your carbs except for 50 grams of veggies for 1-2 days. Eat plenty of lean protein and healthy fats. Work out hard at least one of these two days.
Then on the third day have a free meal before 3:00pm. Eat whatever you want...just be SURE to drink a lot of water, and to consume a salad with the meal.
The salad is important!
So, a salad and a burger, or pizza, or whatever. It will be okay. You should enjoy your meals, and these foods are a part of the spectrum of tasty foods.
They should just be the smallest part of the spectrum. The rest should be tasty and healthy foods like I cover in Fit Over 40
If you really want to make your junk-food meal almost "good for you", consume it 45 minutes after a heavy weight workout.
The carbs and sugars will be used for repair and glycogen restoration, and the calories are less damaging given the fact you just trained with weights.
If you're going to eat these foods, this is the
best time to do it.
It's also a little reward once or twice a week (no more) for eating clean and working hard.
Living like this, I maintain 10% bodyfat or less year-round. Occasionally I'll have three "off-meals" in a week if I'm really low-carbing it and hitting the weights really hard.
When I'm working for lower bodyfat, I'll cut this back to only one off-meal per week, if that.
This is hardly a sacrifice, as my daily menu is full of tasty, healthy food. Plus I have my lean waistline -- and trust me, I would NOT if I ate junk-food meals every day.
If you're ready to have your cake and eat it too, learn the "when" of eating as well as the "what".
Your waistline will thank you.
Sincerely,
Jon Benson
Creator, Fit Over 40
P.S. Here's a funny personal story.
I really enjoy burgers. Hey, I'm human. Plus I grew up in Texas. We Texans tend to love moo-meat. (That's red meat.)
The best burger I've ever had was after a really hard leg workout and after 3 days on low carbs. My body soaked that burger up like a sponge.
I was even hungry in a few hours. It was like I never ate "junk-food" at all.
The best part was I woke up leaner! This is because my metabolism needed a shot in the arm. The burger gave it to me.
You don't have to use burgers, but you need to use this principle of Calorie Timing to get lean and more muscular.
Read more about it in my book -- Fit Over 40
It's the best way to eat for life.
