Fitness expert reveals why your afternoon snack is the most important meal of the day

A fitness and health coach has revealed why an afternoon snack is the most important meal of the day when it comes to a weight-loss diet – detailing how a protein-filled bite can help you to shed pounds in a matter of days. 

Andrea Marcellus, from Los Angeles, California, is known for ‘helping busy people get fit in less time,’ and has given her over 26,000 followers a surprising tip that knocks breakfast down to the second most important meal. 

In a viral video, which has amassed over 185,000 views, the fitness coach detailed why eating an afternoon snack can help in addition to breakfast can help you avoid overeating at dinner time and lose weight within just ‘one week.’ 

Andrea Marcellus , from Los Angeles, California, has revealed that having a protein-filled afternoon snack is the most important meal of the day and can help you shed off some pounds

The fitness expert said you should incorporate an afternoon snack into your diet

Andrea added that things to include in your snacks are ‘nuts and nut butters, avocados, eggs, olives and olive oil, and chia and flax seeds’

‘So the second most important meal if your trying to drop pounds is,’ Andrea said before changing her tune and noting that an afternoon snack is actually the first most important meal. 

‘If you eat an afternoon snack that contains a good quality protein and a beneficial fat, you will save yourself from overeating at dinner time,’ she noted. 

The fitness expert went on to explain that by adding a snack into your diet ‘two to four hours after lunch,’ you won’t be as hungry when dinner time comes around and won’t open the ‘floodgates.’ 

She explained that this strategy will save you from ‘opening the floodgates to food soothing at night.’ 

Andrea noted that this snack will even help ‘reduce your cravings for both sugar and salt.’ 

‘It will reduce your cravings for sugar and salt at night and by not overeating at night all night long, when you don’t really need the energy, you will start to see fat just fall off your body. You will be so happy.

The fitness expert went on to explain that by adding a snack into your diet ‘two to four hours after lunch,’ you won’t be as hungry when dinner time comes around

In the caption of her viral video she explained that while this is a great tip for everyone, it is especially beneficial for those between ’40 and 55 years old’

‘So, make sure to start your day with at least one portion of breakfast, and then you want to make sure you have that afternoon snack. 

‘If you do those two things for just a week you will absolutely 100 per cent notice a difference and the bonus is you will have steadier energy and balanced hormones all day long,’ Andrea explained. 

In the caption of her viral video she explained that while this is a great tip for everyone, it is especially beneficial for those between ’40 and 55 years old.’ 

‘In 30 years of helping people lose weight for good, this is one of my top strategies,’ she said. 

Andrea added that things to include in your snacks are ‘nuts and nut butters, avocados, eggs, olives and olive oil, and chia and flax seeds.’ 

Social media users flooded her comments section with words of praise as they gushed over her fitness tips

Social media users flooded her comments section with words of praise as they gushed over her fitness tips. 

One user said: ‘Yes I love your concept! I need to drop 20 pounds for my wedding.’

‘Thank you for affirming the 4pm snack! Sometimes I worry my lunches aren’t big or satiating enough even though I feel great after eating them,’ one user added. 

‘This makes perfect sense,’ said another user. 

One user said: ‘Wow appreciate the info!’