How to eat well, easily

Written By Harry James Pointon on .

Personal Trainer Harry Pointon talks about how to make eating well easier.

It is not what we eat, but what we digest, that controls how hungry we are, how much energy we have and how much food we eat on a daily basis. In the fast paced world we live in its all too easy to just get a quick snack and wolf it down while on a conference call or responding to a mountain of emails.

If you want to feel at your most energetic, satisfied from the food you eat and control your calorie intake easily, just like responding to your emails or going to sleep it helps if your solely focused on the job at hand.

Your body works very differently when your at work responding to a high pressure / stressful environment to when you are relaxed. Keeping it simple the body is either in rest and digest mode or flight or fight mode. Choosing to eat when you are not relaxed is choosing to eat when you can not optimally digest your food. This results in not feeling satisfied still hungry, consuming more calories than you need and probably going to the toilet irregularly.

Here are my top tips on how to eat well, easily fitting it around a busy lifestyle.

First be honest with yourself, what times of the day can you actually sit down feeling relaxed and eat. If this is just two times per day I would recommend eating only 2 times a day, if its only once i would advise readdressing your priority list, as thats a bit worrying isn’t it?

Second cook yourself at home or be around someone else at home who is cooking. Being present during the cooking process allows your digest system and its digestive juices to get its self ready for breaking down the meal you have optimally.

Third only buy good ingredients, if in the house you only have fresh proper food (non processed) ingredients you can make meals that are far more nutritious, energising and satisfying and will control your calorie intake more easily.

Fourth if you really are a really busy individual and cooking everyday is not realistic, the next best alternative is to cook in bulk at home and always take something with you. I don’t think this is ideal but due to the nature we live our lives now, for many its going to be essential. So cook your meals say on a sunday afternoon and on a wednesday for the next 3 days. Don’t think this means it needs to be chicken and broccoli in a plastic tupawear. Even when losing body fat, the meals you have should be enjoyable, otherwise the results will be short lived. Try home-made stews, soups, minces, casseroles, salads etc.

Fifth is very important for busy working professionals who are usually burning the candle at both ends. Realise that insufficient sleep will tell your body to consume unnecessary calories to try and make up for lost energy from insufficient sleep. Get enough sleep and you will feel satisfied with less food and also gain less body fat.

Sixth and last point, stop drinking too much caffeine and ensure you are properly hydrated. Caffeine in large quantities can aid dehydration if drinking insufficient water. Being dehydrated will increase cortisol levels and this can increase belly fat accumulation. Aiming for 1 litre for every 25kgs you weigh is a good starting point with more advised on days when exercising intensely. Feeling hungry and thirsty feels the same, if your properly hydrated you will feel less hungry and eat less.

Try the points above and make your life easier and probably more enjoyable.