“Nutrition is a Science and Your Body is a Science Experiment” Part 3

19 Mar “Nutrition is a Science and Your Body is a Science Experiment” Part 3

It’s a new week in our, “Nutrition is a Science and Your Body is a Science Experiment” series. How did your Week 2 experiment go?! Share with your coach or email us because we would love to hear about your experience incorporating daily movement and physical activity. 

Our Lab Report for Week 3 is below, but just like the weeks prior, we encourage you to make this experiment personal by completing the report for yourself.

Week 3 Lab Report

Title of Experiment

If I committed to consistent start and end times for eating and sleeping…

Purpose

Using the circadian rhythm process as a guide, I will explore the benefits and downsides of determining daily start and end times for eating and sleeping.

Hypothesis

I think creating a structure that includes timeframes around food and sleep habits will help me find the best rhythm and routine for my body.

Materials and Method

Set alarms to fuel my body from 7am – 7pm and a bedtime of 10pm with a get out of bed time at 6am. 

Data and Observations

• I liked the times I originally set and did not feel the need to try other timeframes out.
• Having a bedtime allows me to prioritize rest by managing my time better to get to bed on time.
• Knowing when my window of eating ends encourages me to think through my dinners, so I’m not eating so late.
• I have switched to drinking caffeine-free herbal tea after dinner when I watch a show.
• Getting 8 hours of sleep several days in a row helps me feel well-rested and more motivated to get things done, likely because I have more energy.
• I eat breakfast most days, but even when I skip, I’m mindful of the timeframe I have to eat/drink the amount of daily energy my body needs.
• It’s harder to keep my timeframes on the weekend, but I feel like if I’m at least staying within my rhythm 5 days per week, I’m treating my body well.

Conclusion

It seems that bedtime is not just for children as it has been a very beneficial habit. Similarly, I find myself more motivated to plan and face less spur of the moment decisions when it comes to my food because of the structure of a window for eating. I know that events or activities may mean that I need to be flexible with my timeframes, but for the most part, I think holding to these times is a healthy thing for me.

RECIPES FOR THE WEEK

By Victoria Emmitt RD