Dietary Mystery

A little over a month ago, I made a few small changes to my diet, but got big and unexpected results. Times for meals have remained the same: Breakfast at 6, Lunch anywhere between 11:30 and 1 (depending on my work schedule)... Snack at 2 only if lunch was before 12. Dinner between 5:30 and 6pm.

1) I'm eating a bigger breakfast. Every day. Without fail. I used to have a cup of coffee or two and a donut or piece of toast. NOW I have two slices of whole-grain bread* (I buy a loaf of high-fiber oat or multi-grain variety) with Smart Balance Omega Spread and sometimes Jelly, with either two slices of microwave bacon or a hard-boiled egg.

2) I have a banana during my 2pm snack. In mid-July I found myself actually craving the ywllow fruit during the daytime. A couple of people suggested my potassium level was low, so I began monitoring that and decided to add a "banana a day" to my regular diet. *Check the nutrition info on the bakery items you purchase. There are a couple of brands that are way high up when it comes to sodium. You should keep your body's potassium intake close to or above your soium intake.

3) I add Benefiber at dinner if I reckon that breakfast and / or lunch didn't supply enough fiber.

4) The only thing I eat after 7pm might be an Ice Cream Cone. (Usually twice a week!)

5) I drink more water: 2 or 3 8 oz. glasses in the evening

Now here's where things get interesting: following this regimen since the last week of July, I've been eating more food everyday but I have lost 8 pounds! Also (I think the fiber has something to do with this) I sleep soundly thru the entire night and wake up totally refreshed at 5:30am. I still drink coffee regularly, including a cup with my evening meal.

And how do you explain this: my tummy paunch has shrunk considerably and it's almost feel as if there is "power" emananting from my gut (solar plexus) area. I seem to have more energy and endurance and as well. Whatever I've done here, I believe I accidentally stumbled on "the right mix" for me!