BIGGER lunch

Do any of you try to have your bigger meal(s) earlier in the day and eat lighter at night?  I have always typically eaten less during the morning and daytime and then had my biggest meal at dinner.  I was thinking maybe it would be wiser to have more of a dinner-size meal at lunch-time and then eat a lighter meal at dinner.  Do you think that would aid in the weight-loss effort?  I already try to cut off the eating at least 2 hours before bedtime (usually around 8) and most evenings I eat dinner around 6-6:30.  My theory was that I move around more during the day, and I usually exercise when I get home in the afternoons as well.  Your thoughts?

You know how there are so many different schools of thought on how we should eat to lose weight, it's hard to know what in the world we should do!  Some say space your meals out during the day, some say three meals and two snacks. But I say that if you are going with the three meals a day, it makes perfect sense to eat your larger meals at breakfast and lunch, when you will be able to utilize those calories to give you the energy to get you through your day.  And if you are exercising in the afternoon, make sure you save a snack for after.  I'm always ravenous when I'm done.  It's probably my only legitimate hunger eating!!! Mary

Ive been doing the 3 meals with 2 snacks thing, and I do usually eat one snack between working out and dinner -- although I am usually thirsty rather than hungry.  I am almost always hungry when I get home from work but I think it's really habit rather than true hunger.  I find that if I get into doing something else (including exercising) and get my mind off of it, I find that I really am not all that hungry most of the time and can go ahead and wait for dinner.  Then I can have a snack after dinner and before bedtime! 

I've heard so many things regarding the size of meals and times of day.  Of course, this is just my opinion, but if you're taking in a set amount of calories optimal for your weight loss, I can't see how it makes a difference.  One burns calories even when sleeping.... I think late eating has more to do with how well you might sleep.. and adequate sleep contributes to weight loss.

Personally, I try not to let 5 hours go by without a meal.  By a meal I could be talking 2 deviled egg halves or a serving of turkey.  If I'm hungry at 10:00pm though, I eat something or I won't sleep.  I might get up and grab an ounce of provolone, or a piece of celery w/cream cheese. 

Frankly, I eat according to MY comfort level..  I might want 1 piece of bacon in the morning but end up having a large chicken breast for dinner.  I'm losing fine while being comfy so.. why not?  Of course, you have to do what works best for you.  Lori 310/226/180

 

 

I try to eat about every 3 hours and I don't find that I am hungry, usually.  I find that when I get out of my routine (usually on the weekends when I am busy) I do get hungry -- and the 5 hour mark is about when I DO get pretty hungry.  I definitely agree that getting the sleep in helps tremendously.  That is one thing I have been concentrating on big time.  I heard so many times that it helped with weight loss and the cravings especially and I have found that to be true for me.  My worst time for munchies used to be in the evenings and now I find that it's more in the early afternoons at work.  I am trying to determine exactly why -- trying to eat more protein earlier to see if it helps.  I guess we shall see!  I agree that you have to be comfortable with whatever you do if you are going to do it long term  -- guess I just have to work at figuring out what that's going to be for me and try to maximize my losing power!  I just want it all now!  like anyone! 

Yea.. I KNOW you want it all NOW!  Boy do I know it!  Hmm.. where's Neecee!  LOL  I get REALLY frustrated with myself and even though I'm down quite a bit in a short period of time, I never feel like it's "fast enough".

Patience, grasshopper.. patience (which is a virtue I simply don't have so I'm not going to preach).  Truly, I do understand that folks with little patience in this will have a harder time accepting the losses as something positive.  Everything you are doing right now are steps in the RIGHT direction.... 

 

Logically I know that going DOWN is good and every little thing adds up.....logically....YES! I would not want to be living with me right now -- I always complain when it gets close to Wed. (when I weigh) and I have only lost one pound and I start saying, "when I weigh Wed. I better have lost at least 2 lbs or I'm going to be pissed.....I'm not working this hard for 1 lb!"  LOL

I do feel like I am working so hard at this right now and I have NOT been cheating AT ALL EVER so I feel like it should be showing more than it has, but when I TRY to be logical I know I am doing good.  I'm TRYING to keep that in mind and be patient.  But I find myself constantly doing the math in my head....will I lose it by such and such date?....etc...etc....   drives me nuts! patience is a virtue.....    I don't have any!

My meals are all pretty close in size; but one thing I do, is if I'm craving something "bad" for me, I'll eat it before noon.  Also, Friday lunch is my "eat what I want" (but in moderation).  I don't splurge after about 1pm. 

Lisa

I haven't done the splurging yet -- I am too scared too!  I did my splurging in Nov. and Dec. of last year-- enough to last me all of this year I think!  I seriously am scared to have something "bad" right now while I'm trying to get my new habits to stick.  I'm trying to balance the long-term success thing, with the rigorous new way of eating to get the dang weight off now thing.  I know I can have some of the stuff in moderation (logically) -- I am just afraid if I do I will go overboard and get off track. I think your way of doing it is pretty smart though.  When I get to the point where I can mentally handle it, I think I will probably try to follow some "rules" like you are!

Jenn: I've read/seen if dinner is your heaviest meal, you need to eat 2 or 3 hours before bed.. Its because of blood sugar reasons. -Bud