If you’re trying to lose weight for your next figure competition, you have probably been inundated with advice from personal trainers, fellow competitors – you name it. But, while you still may be deliberating about the best time to work in your weekly cardio, there is one basic tenet of weight loss that is especially important for fitness training prep: Don’t sabotage yourself. If you go against your body’s natural rhythms, for example, you’re only going to make things harder for yourself as you work to slim down.
One of the easiest ways to actually pack on pounds is to load up on calories when your metabolism isn’t running at full steam. Most people know that late-night feeding sessions aren’t a good idea, but, even so, they may still find themselves sneaking a snack in the wee hours of the morning.
However, a new study from the medical experts at the University of Pennsylvania has revealed just how damaging it can be to stray from typical eating times. According to ScienceDaily, researchers from UPenn altered the “clock genes” in the fat cells of lab mice, that that the animals would eat at unnatural hours – in this case, during the day. They discovered that the mice that went against their typical dietary habits quickly became obese, even though they didn’t actually consume more food than mice that ate when they were inherently inclined to.
So, when it comes to figure competition diets and workout regimens, be sure to take advantage of your body’s natural rhythms rather than going against them. Every calorie counts when you’re gearing up for your event, so time your meals to ensure that all the energy goes toward your gym session.