[khep]

Sometimes I have meals really close together, like lunch and a snack, or dinner right after lunch, etc. A big factor in this is wanting to get in my minimum amount of calories before it gets too late, and I've been busy lately-- I'll have to take off for school, forget to eat beforehand, and not get home until 5pm. Or I'll have something small for breakfast and crunch lunch and dinner in together to make sure to get in the calories I need so I don't burn out, but I don't want to eat and go directly to sleep. Sometimes I'll plan around it and eat the majority of my intake in the mid-day if I know I could get tied up later, then have an apple later if I feel I need something.

Is this okay to do, or is there a real downside to this? I don't want to screw up my progress for bad meal timing, I'm just still working things out. I don't feel deprived or anything, I'm just wondering if it's healthy?

[rockinrobin]

I'm sorry, I can't get an exact feel for just what and when you are actually eating.

So, all I will say is this. The most important thing is to stay within your calorie allotment. Timing is not as important as how MUCH you are eating. Is there anyway for you to eat a light snack between breakfast an lunch?

I personally like to eat smaller meals, more frequently throughout the day. It helps keep me on plan. I eat every 2 1/2 hours or so, so that I am never hungry and it keeps my metabolisim moving and my sugar levels at a good place. I do have a very light snack in the evenings, about 60 calories worth.

The only other thing is, some people find they get heartburn or indigestion if they go to bed on too full of a stomach. So eating your larger meal during the mid day is a great idea.

[zenor77]

If you are really busy it helps to plan, plan, and plan some more. I get my breakfast and lunch ready the night before, so that no thought is required in the morning.

Just to lose weight, calories are more important than when you are eating, but you want to feel good and have energy too. I'd try to eat throughout the day. I eat every 2-3 hours (medium sized meals + snacks.)

[Glory87]

There was a study recently that demonstrated it doesn't really matter what time of day calories are consumed, but the total number of calories consumed. If not being able to eat later is causing hardship, maybe reconsider that aspect.

Here is a link to the study:

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases...0202080832.htm

From my own experience, while I was losing weight, I frequently worked late and didn't get home until 8:00 pm most nights. I ate a big dinner (dinner is usually always my biggest meal) and went to bed around midnight. Eating a big dinner late at night didn't seem to affect my 75 lb weight loss and it doesn't affect my maintenance.

If you're not eating before bed because of digestion/sleep issues, disregard!