When it comes to designing a successful weight loss program, many people will plan out their exact meals at the exact time of the day they will have them.
This can be good and bad, depending on the particular individual and how well they handle their diet.
Here’s why.
Why Clock-Watching is Good for Fat Loss
When it comes to fat loss, it’s a very good thing to have plan. When you know exactly what you are going to be eating and when, you basically make weight loss a science.
When everything is this regimented, it then becomes very easy to spot why you might not be losing weight and start making changes so you are.
Having everything planned out like this – and watching the clock so you know when to eat, can also help to control hunger levels and give you a sense of being in control.
Since feeling out of control is something that will set many dieters off on a binge, this control-issue is a big one for many people.
For both of these reasons, watching the clock so you know when to eat can be a beneficial thing.
Why Watching the Clock is a Bad Thing
Now, the big reason why watching the clock is a very bad is because it can actually classically condition you to feeling hungry.
For instance, many people won’t feel hungry at all, but after looking at the clock and seeing it’s almost noon, they instantly feel the need to eat – because it’s lunchtime.
While you don’t want to go hours on end without eating, unless you are going to plan out a daily calorie intake and stick with it, it’s better to in touch with the body’s natural signals of hungry.
When you let your body guide your eating patterns rather than the clock, you will stand a better chance of eating the right amount of calories you need.
So, to sum up, clock watching is good if you are planning out a diet and know exactly what your daily calorie intake will be.
Clock watching is bad if you choose not to calorie count since eating when not really hungry could very well put you over your daily total requirements and prevent weight loss.
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