[Scorpio1986]

if I eat really light during the day, and then a big dinner, in order to stay in my calorie range?

This might seem weird, but I feel like if I eat say fruits and veggies until dinner, and then a normal dinner, it's much easier to stay in my ideal calorie range then if I eat meals during the daytime. I feel like if i eat things that are "more substantial" earlier on, it just makes me hungrier than if I just munch on some fruit or veggies until dinner time.

[Thighs Be Gone]

Scorpio, as long as you staying in your target range for calories, it doesn't matter when you consume them. This was heavenly news for me--the clouds parted and the angels sang when I discovere that!

Of course, metabolism is supposed to be a bit faster when you eat periodically throughout the day and what not. But what you describe above pretty well describes my own eating. I eat light during the day and heavier at night usually. I don't eat just fruits and veggies though--I am heavy on the proteins.

[Priscatip]

I agree - I mean, I think Thighs Be Gone (great name) is right about the metabolism for people who eat equal meals every three hours, but that just doesn't fit for me. I do eat breakfast and lunch, and have a snack in the morning, but I do leave about half my calories for dinner. (I eat 1500 cals a day and save about 700 for dinner and a Skinny Cow fudgesicle or two.) If I don't save that much for dinner, I munch all night after my light supper and go overboard.

[Scorpio1986]

Ah well sometimes I will have some oatmeal or an egg and turkey bacon, but I just happened to only eat fruit until I had dinner...which was actually breakfast food .

[Bear]

That sounds like the plan I'm on called the warrior diet. It works really well for me not to eat a lot during the day, and I've lost weight doing it, so I think you would be fine! Especially if this is the way you want to eat, then it means you'll stick with it, which is always important.

[Scorpio1986]

This is good news...Thank you everyone!

[Rosinante]

That's good news! There are always lots of reports that you shouldn't eat the heaviest meal in the evening but I'mon 1500 calories too, and typically save about half of them until evening. Food is still a treat/pleasure for me, and I like to have something to look forward to at the end of the work day.
I drink 1/2pt skimmed milk a day, and, apart from one splash in my breakfast coffee, I save that until the end of the day too, so that I can have a lovely milky coffeey drink in the evening, which feels like an extra treat.

[KforKitty]

I've lost 111lbs this way. I eat only about half my calories between 7am-7pm. Usually in two light meals (breakfast and lunch of around 200 cals each) and two snacks (of around 120 cals each). Then in the evening I make a healthy meal and a low fat 'dessert' of around 700 cals. I'm proof it works and I never feel deprived as there's quite a lot I can do with 700 cals.

Kitty

[kaplods]

As long as you have enough energy during the day on what you're eating and you're controlling your calories and your appetite, it really doesn't matter all that much how you spread them out. The research that found that people who ate most of their calories at night were heavier didn't prove that eating during the day would necessarily be any better. I suspect it just reflected the common pattern some folks have of eating snacks after dinner watching tv. Most folks have more access to food in the evenings because of their work day, and I'm assuming that "free time" has a lot more to do with unrestrained snacking than when it occurs (unless you work in an environment where food is always present).

[Lori Bell]

Count me in the eat at night club. I've lost 150 pounds this way. I consume about 1/2 my calories for the day between 6-8pm. I just have to feel "full" at least once a day. We also sit as a family to eat supper, and I like to enjoys it for as long as possible.

Over the years I've tried a lot of diet plans, and none of them worked (for me), because none of them let me be me. They all told me I was wrong for how I ate, and that I could only lose it if I did it a certain way. I basically had to invent my own plan to succeed.

[inspired by you]

Excellent post! In the beginning I was wondering the same thing, but was afraid to ask because I didn't want someone telling me I was doing it wrong. I finally found something that worked that didn't leave me hungry or craving things that were forbidden, so I just stuck with it. It's finally nice to see I'm not the only one... Yaaaaaa!!!

[krock614]

I do the exact same thing. It has worked well for me. I get all the calories I need and I'm losing weight.

[daydreamer]

I say, if it works for you, then go with it! There is not just ONE correct way of losing weight.

[JulieJ08]

Yeah, I think it's fine for people to eat lots of different ways, as long as it's what truly works for them. And sometimes what works for you changes over time.

[corazonas]

eat when you wanna eat! as long as you don't go off your plan i really think it makes no difference....