f you are on a diet, the goal is to eat a lot less than before. Most people would immediately think about skipping meals to cut down on calorie intake. However, this is a bad idea. Throughout the day your body constantly needs energy. Whether it’s the start, middle, or the end of the day hunger sets in. The idea behind not eating an entire meal is to shed a few pounds. Moreover, people do not think about the side effects it has.
If you don’t give the body nutrients its needs, you could cause long-term damage. The body starts to feel exhausted and anger sets in which is a very predictable psychological response. Long pauses between meals can cause an irregular eating pattern. In the long run, your appetite might be completely altered altogether. Keeping a healthy eating habit is vital for a healthy sustainable lifestyle.
Skipping Meals Could Ruin Your Diet Plan
Following a structured diet plan is an excellent way to achieve your health goals. It also allows you to improve your daily routine. For example, if you were eating processed foods the diet might force a shift towards organic sources. However, all these efforts might be a complete waste if you are skipping meals.
Firstly, the amount of food we should eat after a certain period is predefined. Changing it will result in results coming slowly or even not at all. By making this mistake you will blame the strategy for not working.
This is not true because most diet plans work by dividing macronutrients to be eaten at specific moments in the day. A quick solution to this problem would be to eat everything at once. That would expand the appetite further and lead to overeating.
You May End Up Gaining Weight
Your weight loss plan may not work if you start skipping meals. One of the main reasons is starving yourself for long periods leads to overeating. Our appetites expand to accommodate more food. Not eating regularly will lead to eating more at a certain time. For example, not eating lunch will force you to eat a lot more for dinner.
However, controlling our appetite is possible. But, that only applies when we crave snacks and other comfort foods. All of this combined causes weight gain. Even if you are following a strict plan it may not work. Start by going through whatever the structure is. Forcing the body into starving itself leads to more harm than good. A lack of nutritional value over time causes irreversible damage.
Skipping Meals May Weakens Your Bones
Our bones require a complex blend of vitamins and minerals. If your diet doesn’t have enough of these nutrients it could lead to bone decay. This is especially true when skipping meals. For example, not getting enough calcium and vitamin D is a warning sign. Vitamin D is needed to absorb calcium.
Search sources of food that are rich in both these nutrients. Moreover, protein is another vital macronutrient that is crucial in developing healthy bones. Irregular eating patterns and an unhealthy lifestyle leave us with little chance to recover. Getting on a properly structured daily routine and eating more nutritionally dense foods regularly.
An Unhealthy Calorie Deficit
People looking to lose weight often hear about creating a calorie deficit. You indeed need to eat a lot less than what is required. However, it should be done sustainably. For example, reduced calorie intake means you have to take smaller meals more frequently. Furthermore, skipping meals and eating nutrient-deficient food is the perfect recipe for a disaster.
A healthy lifestyle needs consistency and sometimes professional advice can help. Get a dietary expert to craft a routine that fits you. Doing it yourself has the potential of errors.
It May Disturbs Your Digestion
A prolonged duration in which the stomach remains empty is not healthy for digestion. A lack of food forces digestion to slow down and burn fewer calories. Suppose someone doesn’t drink enough water during this time they may develop constipation. Plus an empty stomach also produces gassy symptoms that cause severe abdominal pain.
It is better to eat smaller portions frequently rather than skipping meals altogether. Furthermore, add nutrient-dense foods to yours. Especially the ones that boost digestion and keep your stomach healthy. For example, fiber-rich foods are the best option for keeping a healthy digestion.
Your Metabolism Slows Down
Not eating regularly enough leads to a slowed metabolism. This is because the body wants to save as much energy as it can. A slowed metabolism has a whole host of problems. For example, a sudden diet change may lead to metabolism problems. A slow metabolic rate may also cause weight gain.
The body is not burning enough calories because it wants to save energy. If we do not improve our eating schedule this condition may become hard to control. Over time we may lose our appetite and develop a dangerous nutrient deficiency. Consult a medical professional if you facing any problems related to this.
Skipping Important Meals Such as Breakfast
Breakfast is the most important meal of the day and skipping it will reduce your energy levels. We need a good start to the day and it comes from having a high-calorie breakfast full of nutritional value. Moreover, our diet plan for the first meal should include a balance of macronutrients. Protein, fat, and carbs should be taken in a controlled manner throughout the day.
They help us not feel hungry all the time and may even prevent overeating. When we wake up the body is depleted and immediately wants something to eat. Starving yourself at this point is not a good idea.
Most people mess up their routine from the very start and then it carries over throughout the day. So, it is better to start from the very top and work our way down.
Skipping Meals Can Have Long Term Consequences
Our diet plan is designed to give us vital nutritional value. Any prolonged deficiency may lead to permanent damage to our health and well-being. For example, bone decay is a direct result of calcium and vitamin D deficiency. Prolonged starvation will eventually cause overeating and weight gain.
Moreover, certain meals are more important than others, especially breakfast. Fatigue and constant headaches are common side effects of skipping meals. Consult a dietitian regarding what you can and cannot do when it comes to achieving a healthy lifestyle.
