5/12 Foodie Friday

Duane did the WOD for the Festivus Games and won his division! 
Today's Foodie Friday blog is another guest post from Heather McDonnell of Whole and Nourished Nutrition. She is giving another talk on the Psychology of Eating, Monday, May 22nd at 6:30pm. We hope to see you there!
When We Eat Matters
by Heather McDonnell
As many of you know, there is more to a healthy diet than what we are eating.  Of  course, food quality, macro-nutrient balance, and food grown with integrity are all important. A few weeks ago I wrote about how we eat and the detrimental effects of fast, stressed eating on digestion and metabolism. When we eat matters just as much.
When you eat is a concept of bio-circadian nutrition. Altering when you eat can help with mood, energy, fatigue, and weight loss.  When are the bulk of your calories coming in? Are you eating a small or non-existent breakfast? Skipping meals? Eating a large and late dinner?
Did you know that your body temperature and metabolic rate start to increase first thing in the morning, and eating breakfast works to stoke your digestive fire? Metabolism continues to increase until its peak at "high noon", between 12-1:30, when your digestive system is at its absolute strongest, full of blood, oxygen, and enzymes. Ideally you would consume your largest meal when your body is most ready to digest and assimilate it! 
Ever experience the "afternoon lull?" This is your body's natural rest cycle, when it is meant to be digesting your largest meal! Many reach for coffee or sugar between 2-5pm, though this fatigue is simply your body asking you to "rest and digest."  Many cultures take several hours out of middle of their day to enjoy their big meal and rest (siesta!)
Between 5-8pm body temperature and metabolism rise again, before slowing down around 9-10pm, and cooling even further between 1-5am, the least efficient time to metabolize food.
Use eating rhythm as an experiment. Everyone is different, and its worth knowing what works for you as an individual.  Working with eating rhythm can help regulate your appetite naturally.  It may take time to accustom to a new eating rhythm, but if you're skipping meals, add them back in. How do you feel after eating a sufficient breakfast? Can you try eating a larger lunch, when your digestive system is burning its strongest? Try eating dinner at least 3 hours before bed, and see how you feel and sleep. If you have no choice but to eat a late or rich dinner, try a substantial later afternoon snack to keep yourself from sitting down at 9pm absolutely starving! Experiment and find what works for you.
Heather McDonnell is a Health Coach and Whole Foods Cook. Her meal delivery service offers the busy and health-conscious go-getters of Bozeman a variety of delicious food to enjoy at home, at work and outside. www.wholeandnourished.com
Today's Workout 
Gymnastics Pressing Progressions
then,