Many people have the idea that the body is less active at night and therefore is unable to burn off the calories taken-in during the evening. This seems to make sense. However, research has shown that it doesn't matter what time you eat but what you eat that counts.
Our bodies don't stop burning calories just because we want to sleep. So if your lifestyle is such that by eating later it means you will stick to a healthy eating plan, the go for it?
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What does it take to make you realise you are overweight. With one man it was the time he found he couldn't suddenly fit into his diving suit. Having been a scuba diver for many years Tom found one day that his wetsuit was too tight and that he couldn't breathe properly. It takes something like this to jolt us into realising that it's time we did something.
Tom's first job was to get help from his friends in the local café by asking them not to serve him any fired food, even if he asked for it. They did just that and that started the ball rolling. Next he cut out chocolate and looked seriously at the amount and type of food he was eating.
Then with a couple of friends Tom joined a local gym. Gritting his teeth and doing 3 or 4 sessions per week he quickly lost 2 stone. Thinking that was enough he gave up and quickly returned to his old bad habits, though not in the quantities he'd been eating before. Staying at around 13.5 stone Tom felt quite happy.
Sometime later however Tom was shocked to see himself in a video and realised he was still too fat. Feeling annoyed with himself for having wasted time by not carrying on with eating regime and exercise programme he was determined to lose more weight. Eating low-fat soup in the evening and cutting out all fat he took up exercising again. The 10-minute bike workout was extended to 30 minutes and so within 2 months he was down to 11.5 stone.
Tom says he will stick with the exercise programme but not become obsessed by it. He entertains quite a lot but still keeps a close eye on his weight. If necessary he goes back to the diet. He misses his fry-ups but thinks it's a small price to pay for how he feels now the weight has gone.
And Tom's tips for other fat burners?
Take a long look at yourself in the mirror and ask yourself if you are really happy with what you see. Think about your long-term health and set yourself a target. If you have a lot to lose don't go for the whole target but take it in stages and make each level achievable. Smaller targets will help keep you motivated and in say 3/6 months you can set another target. Award yourself once you reach a target level but don't go over the top.
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