I am currious if anyone has weird eating times that they find work better than "normal" eating times??
I have a fairly big breakfast. Then I get peckish around 10:30, so I have a snack (about 150 cals). The last two days I have then had a second snack around 1 or so (1/2C LF cottage cheese and a fruit) Then off to the gym from 2 to 3. Then lunch after the gym. So I am not eating lunch until 3 or so. BUT then, I am not going home STARVING like I am if I have lunch at noon and then a little snack after the gym. Then, I am able to eat a sensable dinner and my evening snack without feeling like I am starving myself.
I work second shift so my eating times may be a little different.
I do a small breakfast (protein shake after my workout) around 9am and then a large lunch around 11:30 or so. Then I have a snack at about 4 and dinner around 8.
When I eat depends on what day it is, because I have different school/work schedules everyday, but some days I'll eat breakfast around 10-11, lunch at 4, snack at 7, dinner at 10. Other days it's breakfast at 8, lunch at 1, snack at 4, dinner at 7-8.
I eat around my class schedule, so one semester that might mean eating lunch at 4 and the next semester it means eating dinner at 8 or 9. I have to be flexible about that stuff
My work shifts always start at 5 am so my breakfast is around 4:30am. Then I have a snack around 9am and lunch at 11am. I go home at 2pm and have another small snack around that time. Dinner for me is usually around 6ish.
Of course, this whole routine changes on my days off
I'm not super hungry in the morning and I'm not an early riser so I don't eat breakfast until 9:30 or 10. I usually have a snack at 12, then I eat lunch at 2. Snack at 4, dinner at 6ish. A snack around 8.
Haha, people who see my posts pop up are probably tired of reading my spheel about this.
I tried the 5-6 mini meals for about six weeks which was mental torture for me. I was food obsessed, never hungry but never satisfied, always watching the clock for my next little meal. I even tried three solid squares, breakfast lunch and dinner, everyday. That was a little better, but I don't like eating in the morning and I love eating in the evening. AND, I like eating a lot of food at one time, even if that means not eating at all for several hours. I literally feel ill if I eat in the morning, I have no desire to eat anything until at least noonish, and I love to eat in the evenings and go to bed feeling full. Once I threw all the typical diet advice in the garbage and started listening to myself, I found a plan that I feel happy to maintain for the rest of forever.
I eat nothing in the morning, drink exactly one cup of coffee with less than 1/4 cup of skim milk and a sweet n' low packet after my walk right after I wake up, and that's it.
I eat "lunch" which is usually a huge bowl of oatmeal with either pure pumpkin or yogurt mixed in (about 300 cal) at around 1-3pm.
I prefer to eat dinner as late as I can. Usually around 7pm. This is a big dinner, and generally "normal" food. As in not what one would consider diet food. A big plate of whatever I made for my fiance and I. Sometimes as much as 750-800 calories.
After dinner, I snack my way up to my calorie limit for the day. I stay between 1300-1800/day and almost always have at least 300 cal of snacks after dinner. I love munching while watching a show or movie in the evenings and I've had to arrange my eating schedule so that I can do so guilt free.
I eat 3 solid meals a day, no snacking. It's just what works well for me. I usually eat breakfast at 7:30, lunch at 1:00-2:00, then dinner often isn't until 7:00 or so once I get home from work and walk my dog. It usually leaves about 5 hours in between eating, but as long as I keep thing balanced, I don't get hungry.
mkendrick - I can't do the "mini" meals either. I've tried, I feel like I am constantly preparing food, eating food, or cleaning up, but yet I never felt full and satisfied. I am better with 3 substantial meals with long breaks in between.
Last edited by WildThings; 11-12-2010 at 07:48 PM.
On a day when I'm in school I get up at 6 and then head into school without eating but I take breakfast with me and eat it at about 9 just before my classes start. Then I finish at 1, get back home at about half 3 and have lunch, then eat dinner at about 7-8.
It works best for me to have dinner as late as I can because I like to be in bed, even if I'm still awake and just browsing the internet, when I get hungry because even being hungry won't get me out of bed and downstairs (in the dark!) to the kitchen. If I eat early then I'm hungry before I go to bed and that's when I usually end up snacking and going over my calories for the day.
Well, my meal times are unusual because I'm on an unusual schedule in general. I eat breakfast at 3-5 PM, lunch at 12-3 AM, and dinner at approximately 4-5 AM. Snacks in between every meal. It works just fine for me, I just need to adjust meal spacing for the hours I'm awake. (I do occasionally get on a bit of a more "normal" daylight schedule, but I don't prefer it.)
Oh good! I am glad to see everyone with all different times! I thought I was nuts switching my lunch to 3 - 4 in the afternoon. It was 4 today. Then I just ate dinner at 8pm. I am having a drink (hot cider + brandy) then off to bed. The late lunch thing has been working out SUPER well. I used to be SO HUNGRY in the evenings, which didn't help... I would come home from work, be busy with my son, get him to bed and just start eating and eating... Now I am just starting to get hungry when I am able to sit and relax and enjoy my dinner.
Yeah... I don't do mini meals, either. And for the same reasons that mkendrick gives. Its like I am never starving, but never really satisfied. I have to feel satiated at least a couple times a day. ESPECIALLY with working out. I like to feel like my body is getting the fuel it needs.
I am really feelin' good (maybe the brandy?) but the last few days a few more things clicked into place and I feel like I am a couple steps closer to normal eating habits and a healthy weight. I even stopped at the grocery store today, passed by candy and such with out a thought... and headed to the veggies!! I was excited! They had a good price on asparagus! And I FINALLY found jicama. Then I came home and made some "kale chips".
Lunch at 3 instead of Noon
It works just fine for me, I just need to adjust meal spacing for the hours I'm awake. (I do occasionally get on a bit of a more "normal" daylight schedule, but I don't prefer it.) 
