I’m sure by now you’ve heard that eating every 2-3 hours helps keep your metabolism burning strong. On the other hand, I bet you’ve heard someone say that’s a myth.

You may have even seen some scientific studies saying there’s no proof eating more frequently helps with your metabolism, or fat loss.

And if there is no “proof” then why do so many people keep you to eat every 2-3 hours? Why is there even a debate over the issue?

Well, here’s something interesting that might change the way you think about meal frequency.

If you are on a diet, and you are eating less calories than you’re used to, then you’re probably going to have periods of time throughout the day where your blood sugar is low.

And making decisions that involve willpower, like avoiding certain foods, and making yourself eat specific foods, require enough mental effort to drive your blood sugar down further. This process is called “Ego Depletion.”

When your blood sugar is low, your self-control is typically impaired. That means, if you need willpower to stick with your diet, and your blood sugar is low, then there’s a good chance you’ll “cheat” on your diet. Or you will be fighting much harder to stay on track, and probably feeling miserable. (Using willpower constantly is tough work.)

To me, this means that eating every 2-3 hours is probably not as much about burning fat, or keeping your metabolism fired up. It’s probably more about keeping your blood sugar up, and fortifying your ability to use willpower.

When you have more willpower, you make better decisions. And better decisions lead to better results, in diet and life.

For more info on ego depletion here’s a Wiki on it: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ego_depletion