Crossfit: Making better waitresses since 2005.
Lately I’ve been experimenting with eating one main meal each day.
So I don’t eat all day and then I have one massive feast beginning at 8pm each night.
By the time 8pm rolls around… I’m pretty freakin’ hungry.
So when the clock strikes 8pm…. here’s what happens.
Either:
A) I immediately start stuffing my face with pop-tarts, cookies and a bunch of other unhealthy options.
Or
B) I calmly start cooking a healthy meal based around meat, protein and vegetables. No matter how long it takes to prepare the meal, I am completely relaxed and content.
Option A sounds pretty typical, right? But option B sounds like a proven formula for losing weight.
Luckily, I have a simple trick I use that makes more of my days look like option B.
I use alcohol.
Yup. I’ve found that when the clock strikes 8pm, if I reward myself with a nice glass of red wine or a nice craft beer… it almost instantly “knocks down” the hunger pangs and allows me to calmly and casually prepare a healthy meal without feeling like I’m starving or suffering.
I don’t do this every night (I train at night, so obviously this strategy is only for my “off” days.)
Of course, most fitness experts and personal trainers will tell you to avoid alcohol if you want to lose weight. And in theory, they are correct. But in the real world, I’ve found that alcohol can be a useful tool for achieving your fitness goals.
The keys, of course, are moderation — both with your alcohol consumption and your food consumption. This plan would not work nearly as well if I was eating all day long and then adding alcohol on top of my food intake. It works because the alcohol allows me to restrict my caloric intake without suffering.
A large protein shake consumed right at 8pm would probably work just as well (maybe better). But it’s nice to be able to enjoy something that most fitness gurus consider “off-limits” and still achieve my goals. I get a lot of emails from people who feel that beer or wine is one of things holding them back from getting a great body. Most of them feel they’ll never get achieve their goals until they completely cut-out alcohol.
So the purpose of this post is to show you a way that you can have your beer and your abs too. Want more unconventional fitness tips? Grab my book.
Thank you for wasting 15 minutes of my workday with that eye-candy crossfitter with the keg! 🙂
Ha.
I don’t have time to hit the gym until around 9 pm, and am back home at around 1’ve noticed that if I eat a huge meal afterwards I don’t sleep very well so I tend to drink 5-6 eggs and go to sleep right away in order to get some quality sleep. I don’t eat breakfast except occasionally, but eat lunch and something else around 7-8. Sounds reasonable? I would prefer to work out earlier in the day but there is no time atm, this is somewhat temporarily though.
If it’s working, keeping doing it. I too usually get “stuck” working out at 9pm or later and I agree it can definitely mess with your sleep. Gotta do what you gotta do.
I actually do the same thing, too. My career is so stressful, that I typically have a drink at the end of the night. I am a Registered Nurse and work directly with kids who have cancer in one job and in my other job, as a Forensic Nurse I work with rape victims.
The past month, doing T25, and measuring my food, even taking a drink a few days of the week, and dessert almost every night (usually a banana with peanut butter) and bread, I have lost 5 pounds and can visibly see some contouring. All of these choices remain in balance. But for me, the healthiest thing, the most important aspect that has helped me the most is completing my thoughts at the end of the day. People call this prayer, others will say meditation. Whatever have you, it has kept me feeling satisfied with myself so that I don’t indulge in food, get too deep in work, and escape/run away through working out.
I thought this article was kinda reassuring that you can drink and still be healthy.
Excellent comment, thanks for sharing.
Would you elaborate on “finishing your thoughts”? I get prayer and meditation, but I think there might be something more here.
I think your term was “completing your thoughts”.
I like the one-meal approach. I usually make it to 2 or 3pm. I also like having permission to have my red wine. And using it as an appetite suppressant until my meal is ready. I would have to back it up a little because I have to be up around 7am to take care of my dad, who will be 99 in April! I am 73 (good genetics!) and SO glad to have found your program. I plan to start experimenting with the one-meal plan. Thanks, Matt!