Psst . . . listen up! Want flat abs and some sexy muscles? 
Then you have to consider becoming a Meal Freak.

Meal Freaks obtain leanness and tone from muscle, they’re fairly
conscious of how often they ingest nutrients to build muscle
and burn fat. Fasting, or going too long without food,
forces the body to store fat. Your body thinks it is
starving and hangs on to body fat for survival in
preparation of the fast. This is our built in computer that
allowed us to survive the elements as cavemen.

Meal Freaks know that it is important to consume a small
balanced meal every two to three hours. Digesting food
requires energy which generates internal heat and
therefore stimulates your bodies’ metabolism. The nutrients
are constantly supplying your muscles with amino acids
from protein for building, and glycogen from carbohydrates
for energy. The added benefit is a steady blood sugar level
that burns fat.

Overeating produces high insulin levels which create low
blood sugar that in turn forces the body to store fat. This
makes you weak, irritable, sleepy and overweight. Ever notice
how you just want to snooze after your plate of pasta for lunch
or that enormous holiday dinner? Overeating stretches the
stomach, which means that your tummy is not going to be
flat, not to mention that you’ll want to eat more food.

The most important meal of the day? B-R-E-A-K-F-A-S-T! 
With 7-8 hours of sleep behind you, you then break a “fast”
when you eat breakfast. Remember, fasting slows the
metabolism. Instead of taking some fat burner magic pill,
eat breakfast as the better alternative. Try a small bowl of
oatmeal and some egg whites, protein shake or low fat/sugar
smoothie.

With breakfast out of the way, you can concentrate on the
other 5-6 meals for the day, of which 2-3 of these need to
be consumed with solid food that consist of a protein
source, a vegetable and a carbohydrate in small portions. 
You can insert a mid day and bedtime snack of easily
digested foods like cottage cheese, fruit or vegetables. Use
meal replacement shakes occasionally yet remember this:  the
body leans itself better when a whole food protein is used
versus a manufactured protein that is found in your protein
shakes.  Just make sure the shakes have a good quality
protein source, like whey or egg protein and some
carbohydrates for steady blood sugar and energy. Watch your
labels for excessive fat and sugar content.

Some of you are saying, “I can’t possibly eat all of that in
one day!”  Most of you are getting more calories and food
from your lunch and dinner alone. Once you have started
stoking the fat burning machine, you’ll start to feel hungry
every two to three hours. It takes being a clock watcher
and a little planning at first but soon your body will start to
take on a leaner appearance and you’ll be looking forward
to your next meal or snack.
 
Eating more meals allows you to ingest a greater variety of
foods, which will lead to better health and longetivity.
When we eat the same foods over and over we can develop
allergies or sensitivities to these foods. When this happens
the immune system is compromised and the body doesn’t fight
off infections. It also makes fat burning difficult.

Know your downfalls and plan your meals so that you don’t fall
victim to hunger. This is the biggest advantage of to eating
more often. Let yourself get hungry and all your efforts go
right out the window. Plan your mini meals and snacks the
night before or the next morning. Be prepared and once this
is done often enough it will become a healthy habit.  

Catherine “Cat” Zidell is a 50 year old, nationally recognized
personal fitness trainer, health & nutrition coach and figure
competitor.  Her company, NSHAPE, is based in Dallas Texas,
yet Cat touches many people coast to coast through her virtual
fitness and coaching classes and live seminars. For more 
information on Cat & NSHAPE, contact her at: 
mailto:cat@nshapeonline.com  or visit her at: 
http://www.nshapeonline.com