OMAD=One Meal A Day

I've been practicing intermittent fasting for several years. I usually eat 2 meals a day, plus a snack. I eat my first meal around 11am-12noon and finish eating each day by 8pm at the latest. OMAD--or One Meal A Day--is basically another version of intermittent fasting. Each day, you restrict your eating to only a single meal. There are many benefits to fasting, including lowering blood sugar levels, lowering insulin levels, increasing mental alertness and cognitive function, improved sleep, and weight loss. And the longer you fast (up to certain point, of course!) the more benefits you reap.

But is OMAD going too far? Is this really doable?

YES! My husband and my daughter are both employing this version of intermittent fasting.

Who does this work for?

OMAD can work well for those who are obese. If you have a lot of weight to lose, this could be a great plan for you. OMAD also works well for those who are extremely busy, have very little time for cooking, eating, and cleaning up. OMAD is probably not a good idea for those who have eating disorders, are pregnant, nursing, or those who are still growing.

As I discussed recently in my blog titled "Simplify Your Weight Loss," calorie restriction often creates increased hunger and decreased metabolism. Fasting is the opposite. In a nutshell, this is why fasting often works better than cutting calories and just eating smaller meals.

Benefits of OMAD:

1) Saves you money. You are only buying enough food for one meal each day. If you normally eat 2-3 meals per day, you might be slashing your grocery bill by half or more!

2) Saves you time. Spend 1/2 to 1/3 the time you might usually spend preparing your meals, and cleaning up after meals.

3) Enjoy your food more. When you have only one meal per day to prepare, you can spend a little extra time creating something special. You can afford to splurge a little on ingredients you might not normally buy.

4) Worry less about calories. When you eat only one meal per day, it is extremely unlikely you will consume anywhere near the number of calories as in 2-3 meals. Of course, it is not recommended that you gorge yourself. But you can relax about how many calories you're taking in. On the other hand, it's important to eat high quality foods that contain plenty of nutrients. It is more challenging to get all your macro and micro-nutrients from just one meal. Superfoods are the way to go!

Interested in giving OMAD a try? Looking for support on your weight loss journey? I am available for weight loss coaching, personal training, and support. Leave me a message!