WHEN you deny your body a consistent amount of glucose and nutrients, your body goes into starvation mode. This induces your brain to immediately send a signal to your body to store fat around your waist to survive. This in turn slows down your metabolic rate to reduce the number of calories being burned.
When this happens, you will not be able to lose weight. Instead, the opposite effect takes place, and you’ll begin to gain weight, especially around your waistline. If you continuously skip meals, the fat storing process starts to shift to other parts of your body.
Besides having to deal with weight gain, skipping meals results in less glucose being sent to your brain, meaning you have less energy, causing you to feel tired and sluggish.
We are all too familiar with the phrase: ‘A hungry man is an angry man’. Hunger leads to mood swings. There is enough research and evidence to prove that a significant change in glucose levels can impact your mood. After all, ‘hangry’ is hardly a made-up term. Continuous mood swings can often lead to other psychological problems, such as anxiety and stress.
When you experience stress, your body releases a hormone called cortisol. Popularly known as the ‘stress hormone’, cortisol causes your insulin levels to rise. This makes you crave for sugary and fatty foods, hence why they are called ‘comfort food’. Although these foods have a calming effect, it does result in weight gain and if left unchecked, will lead to abdominal obesity.
Abdominal fat is the worst-of-the-worst because it is a major contributor to cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, fatty liver, and depression. Remember that ‘Waist Size Matters’ and in this case, big is really bad.
Skipping meals eventually makes you very angry and very hungry. Chances are, you will end up ploughing through a huge meal or resort to binge eating; both of which will wreak havoc on your digestive process.
A long-term habit of skipping meals will also put you at a higher risk of developing an eating disorder, such as anorexia or bulimia.
Instead of skipping meals, choose to indulge in healthy eating habits. Consume smaller portions at a slower pace so you don’t overeat. Plan your meals to include wholesome foods and pack your meals if you have a busy schedule. Trust me, you will be able to lose weight by effectively having all your meals every day. – The Vibes, July 28, 2021
