Dieting on a Budget

Eating at the appropriate times throughout the day will help us maximize fat burning and keep hunger at bay.

In her book, The Hormone Diet, Dr. Natasha Turner provides a number of easy-to-implement suggestions that can help us stabilize blood sugar balance and boost the hormones that burn fat and control appetite.

• Eat every 4 to 5 hours. It doesn't matter whether you eat 3 meals and a snack or 4 smaller meals.
  

• Eat within 1 hour of rising and never within the 3-hour period before bedtime.

• Stick to eggs or why protein smoothies for breakfast and you will eat less throughout the day. Eat your starchy carbs at lunch, dinner or after your workouts.

• Try cardio first thing in the morning on an empty stomach. If you can manage it, try doing a 30-minute cardio workout first thing in the morning before breakfast. This could help kick-start your metabolism.
  

• Always eat within 45 minutes of finishing your workout.

• Never do your weight training on an empty stomach. You will need energy from your foods to perform optimally.

• Eat the protein on your plate first to help speed the signal to the brain that you are full.

• If you have alcohol or wine, do so after your meal to enhance the hormones involved in appetite control and digestion.