Eating the same meals

stephfilako

This was posted from Chalene Johnsons book PUSH. I found this very interesting as I am someone who always tends to change up what Im eating.


1. They Tend to Stick to the Same “Daily Menu”

I’ll go out on a limb and tell you something that approximately zero weight-loss experts are willing to share with you. If you Google “weight loss tips” or “healthy eating habits,” nearly every blog and article you find will suggest that you “eat a variety of healthy foods to prevent boredom.” Undoubtedly, eating a variety of foods may very well be exciting. But my job is to tell you what fit people do, not what they should do or what sounds good to a registered dietitian.

Astrid Boetel is one of many people I’ve interviewed on the subject. At 60-plus years young, she still wears micro shorts and midriff-baring bra tops that reveal her amazingly defined abs. Astrid explained to me, “I basically eat the same thing for most meals. When I go out to dinner or eat with friends, I also try to eat healthy, but I love trying new foods.”

I’ve spent nearly 20 years studying people with exceptional eating habits, and this particular habit was perhaps one of the most telling. The majority tell me they eat virtually the same meals every day, mostly the same breakfast, same lunch, same dinner, and when it comes to snacks and beverages . . . well, you guessed it, very predictable food. To clarify, they did not suggest that they eat exactly the same entree for every meal, but they often chose from three, maybe four things that they like for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. For months on end, mealtime feels something a bit like the film Groundhog Day.

Whether I was speaking to fellow fitness professionals, those who have been trim all their lives, or individuals who had succeeded at taking off 100-plus pounds and keeping it off for years, this one habit always came to bear. For me, it was reassuring. I’m a creature of habit. I too like to have the very same thing for breakfast day after day after day. As I drive home from the gym at 6:30 a.m., I’m delighted to enjoy my first meal of the day. It’s not a chore or a “Oh, I have to eat that again.” Rather, it’s something I quite look forward to.

I have my own theories about this shared habit. First, it allows “careful” eaters to predict their daily calorie allotment without much effort. Second, perhaps the most fit among us are entrenched in habit, including the habit of taste. Third, effortlessly fit folks are in tune with the energy and calorie needs of their bodies. When they find foods that deliver what they need and that they enjoy, why look further? Keep in mind, there’s a fine line between careful eating and disordered eating. The careful eater’s diet is a habit and not a matter of control or obsession.

Interesting!!

Grokette

We tend to do this also. It is simple and takes a lot of guess work out.

We do tend to try new things also when eating out, but at home (where we eat the majority of the time) we usually eat pretty much the same things week in and week out.

fitnessbugg

This is an interesting article. I tend to eat the same things for breakfast and lunch because I can have whatever "I" want. For dinner I have to cook for the family so it ends up changing a bit. Maybe that's why I don't get bored with the other meals. I don't know. I do like the predictability and knowing exactly how many calories without having to figure it out. Thanks for sharing.

runnercheryl

I tend to eat the same meals. Almost always cereal for breakfast (though I do change which one). Sandwiches for lunch, or soup at weekends, and then a choice of four or five evening meals a week (one being my day to switch it out and have something different).

I'm definitely a creature of habit.

ElizabethRoad

How does this compare to the eating habits of non-fit people? Do they tend to eat a wider variety of foods?

steffiejoe

I noticed(from watching you tube) that body builders do this. They prepare their meals for the week. They cook batches of food. Grilled chicken, brown rice and a veggie. They put each meal in separate containers.

I am also a creature of habit . I have the same beakfast -oat bran. Some weeks my lunch for the week will be grilled chicken. I have the same veggie for a few days but change it out after a few days.