How to Lose Weight by Eating One Meal a Day

Let's discuss a controversial but very effective plan to lose excess body fat. The model is a type of intermittent fasting known as eating one meal a day.

Eat one meal meal a day and your excess bodyfat will vanish. You are thinking, "And I'll lose muscle mass, too." No, you won't. In fact, you will probably gain muscle mass. Certainly, if you do the appropriate workouts, you will lose excess bodyfat and gain muscle at the same time. No worries if you don't exercise. You will still lose bodyfat and will not lose an inordinate amount of muscle tissue. This idea flies in the face of conventional wisdom (unproved theories) that says you cannot lose fat and gain muscle at the same time. Isn't it about time for the truth?

Did you know that the six-meals-a-day pattern has never been proven to increase metabolism? Nor do six meals a day keep your metabolism from slowing. My opinion is that six meals a day is a ridiculous notion. Many people who have tried minimeals are never satisfied on such small amounts. Some people experience hypoglycemia with this eating pattern as their blood sugars spikes up and down repeatedly. Fasting hypoglycemia is not uncommon as meals are very small. You also have to count calories and carefully plan every meal. I don't know about you, but I'd prefer to leave the dieting mentality in the dust. Pray tell, who has the time or inclination to eat six times a day other than a bodybuilder?

Ori Hofmekler, creator of the The Warrior Diet book and Warrior Diet website, details why and how eating one main meal per day is actually anabolic (muscle-building). In truth, Hofmekler's model is not exactly one meal a day. It's closer to a few minimeals (when hungry, not according to the clock) plus a large meal at night. The idea is undereating during the day and overeating at night. Some people following this lifestyle have a protein shake for breakfast and another protein shake for lunch. Some people substitute an apple or a carrot on one or several of their hunger-satisfying quests. When truly hungry, it doesn't take much to satisfy one during the day.

Hofmekler has given several fascinating and informative interviews. One worthwhile read is with Ironman magazine. In this interview, Ori delves into 10 diet fallacies, including the mistaken notion that breakfast is the most important meal of the day and the myth that eating at night will make you fat. You may read the interview here: http://www.ironmanmagazine.com/index.cfm?page=article&pID=1414.

Mike Mahler of Bodybuilding.com also interviewed Ori and wrote the article, Interview with a Modern-Day Warrior: Ori Hofmekler. I think you will enjoy reading this article as well. Mahler has been following The Warrior Diet lifestyle himself for several years. This interview is on a more personal level and I found it refreshing.

If you want more on Hofmekler, there are several youtube videos and quite a few links. You can find them by using your favorite search engine.

If you'd like to read 100's of anecdotal (as well as few scientific) posts, visit Rusty Moore's Fitness Blackbook website. I love his blogs and what people have to say: http://fitnessblackbook.com/dieting_for_fat_loss/lose-body-fat-by-eating-just-one-meal-per-day/ There is one gal who lost 120 pounds eating one meal a day. There are many people who have naturally followed this lifestyle for years. Many of the posters at this site eat only one meal a day without snacks by the way. Rusty has written several related articles, one debunking the logic of 6 meals a day. Rusty Moore is quite ripped himself.

Don't let rules scare you away from this lifestyle. Eating one meal a day does not have to complicated. Simply eat what you like in one meal when it is convenient for you. If you feel nauseous or dizzy during the day, have a little something. A good transition is to have a protein shake for breakfast and lunch, and eat a normal meal for dinner. Next, cut out the protein shake at lunch. Expect several weeks for your body to adapt, especially if you go to one meal a day only. On the otherhand, you might feel great continuing with one or two shakes. Slim-Fast makes a low-carb shake that is very tasty. The shake is 20 grams of protein and 190 calories. Wal-Mart and Sam's Club carry the low-carb Slim-Fast shake. I also like the Body Fortress Whey Protein that Wal-Mart carries. It comes in strawberry, vanilla and chocolate.

Have you ever noticed that many of the people doling out advice are overweight themselves? Maybe morbidly so. I'm sure many of them have good intentions. I guarantee you they have "dieted," but deprivation just doesn't work over the long-term. They are walking, living proof that diets don't work. Who would you rather take advice from, an overweight dietician or someone who's ripped like Ori Hofmekler and Rusty Black?