Hibernation Diet

Hibernation Diet was developed by the British pharmacist Mike McInnes and his nutritionist son Stuart after their long research into fat-burning mechanism of the body.

• Simply stated, it is about losing weight while you sleep. If you eat one or two spoons of honey before bed at night, fructose and glucose in honey can keep your blood sugar levels balanced, release stress hormones, help you sleep much better and speed up the fat burning metabolism at the same time by fueling your liver and activating the fat burning hormones.

• Your body has stored energy in the form of fat, but it needs to be shown how to use it. Hibernation diet allows your body to use your fat stores for energy so you can lose weight and be slimmer. This diet aims to get your fat burning system and sugar production working as it should be, to help you use what you make efficiently and then to use stored fat as well.

• It also works with the principle that good sleep and weight loss are related. Your body repairs itself and you are able to burn fat while you sleep so when you don’t get enough sleep you wake up still tired, a little edgy and you may also find yourself craving for sweets and junk foods. This is not so uncommon, many of us have experienced it!

• Without the extra fructose in honey, your body spends most of its energy stabilizing blood sugar levels instead. Fructose lowers the glycemic index value of glucose, preventing a quick rise in blood sugar, stabilizing the levels and maintaning a regular supply of energy to your brain.

• This diet encourages a balanced diet that is free of unhealthy processed foods and physical activity- regular resistance training with light weights rather than cardio as well as taking honey at night.

Honey:

There is no doubt that honey is good for you as it contains antioxidants as well as amino acids such as tryptophan- sort of a sleeping aid, B vitamins and minerals such as calcium, iron, magnesium, zinc and manganese but there is just not enough scientific study to back up claims that honey will help you lose weight.

A Balanced Diet:

Honey is not seen as the miracle cure in this diet but something to help you get proper rest and burn fat better while you are asleep. You still have to eat well and provide your body with the right kind of energy from healthy foods- fruits and vegetables, whole grains, fish, lean chicken and turkey while keeping your portion sizes and calories under control. You need to make good food choices and eat much less of junk foods.

Exercise – Resistance Training:

This diet recommends resistance training with light hand weights two to three times a week which you can easily do at home. You don’t need to do rigorous cardio exercises but, for instance, yoga may help as some forms of yoga include resistance training. Please keep in mind that consistency is the key with your exercise regime.

Does Hibernation Diet Work?

Yes it usually does but I am personally not convinced whether it is honey or simply eating well and exercising are doing the trick in the hibernation diet. Still though, it is heaps better than many fad diets out there. Honey is good for you, you are encouraged to have a balanced diet, exercise regularly and sleep well.

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