Glad to hear you say that John. I just can't eat first thing in the morning. Not since I was pregnant 42 years ago. Throwing up every morning kinda messes with your head. I often just have yogurt early then have a brunch style meal. My belly is much happier that way. I then have a decent lunch and try to eat a smaller dinner. That's way I hope to eat once I get the rest of my weight off.

Does that sound reasonable?

You may want to check with your coach and request some additional info on phase 3 - I believe there is a metabolic reason behind why the Phase 3 "big" meal is only meant to be eaten for breakfast.

Scorbett, if that's the case then I am really screwed! It would mean eating at 5:30 in the morning then for me. That's so NOT going to happen. I know I need to change what I eat and that I can handle. But I'm at work for 14 hours a day. We own our own business. Dinner is always around 8 pm since we never get home much earlier than 7:30. I'm not complaining, but what could your body do at 7 am that it couldn't do later?

Just confused is all. I'll make it all work somehow. Bring it on! 15 pounds to go before I will reach goal so I will have time to figure it out. That's why I love you guys. It helps to have all of you around to bounce things off of, listen to our griping and to keep us in line! Thanks!!!!!!

Eating that much early in the morning was a huge issue for me too. I am so not a morning person and eating that much first thing along with my long commute to work just didn't work for me so I went back to my beloved spinach protein shake pretty quickly.

By the way healthyAngie; you look amazing!

My two cents...
The reasoning with the big breakfast is because we are at our metabolic peak in the mornings as we have been fasting for a number of hours while we sleep. We need the carbs at that point and it is when our bodies are (supposedly) most capable of utilizing them.
This said... When you're not a big breakfast eater- and even for those who are- when you come out of phase 1/2 and into a ton of food in the morning it is jarring for the body. If you're having trouble stomaching all that food my suggestion would be a shake that encapsulates all the requirements. Whey protein powder, fruit of choice, yogurt a bit of nut butter. You're still getting all the nutrients but saving your body on the digestion aspect. Also if you're getting 'backed up' do try upping the fat as this definitely helps... And hopefully if you're not so full from breakfast you'll be able to stomach a salad to help up fiber.
Good luck & great job- you look beautiful!

There is a lot of research out there on this topic and it makes virtually no difference. I actually haven't eaten any breakfast for over two years. I rarely eat before 2:00 PM.

While it is true that you're most insulin sensative for the first meal of the day in the context of a hypocaloric diet it makes no difference.

Great idea capricious! A smoothie or a shake isnt too daunting. Personally, I love the big breakfast. I wake up @ 5:30, eat breakfast, and I can make it to lunch without needing a snack. You might think about eating potato, sweet potato, or even rice for your breakfast carbs.

Yeah - I already did. They want to spike the insulin only 1 time a day during this phase. I understand that. I have been doing the carbs early and then slowly trying to get the rest in spaced out to lunch.

I never thought of this! Good idea! And thank you

So today I will NOT be eating anything wheat or gluten for a test. I've been messing around with Coconut flour and made some pancakes out of it. Lots of protein, low carbs, no wheat , no gluten. I also did a full fat greek yogurt. So we'll see ...

Anybody else doing the whole coconut flour thing?

The issue is that once you are in phase 3 you are moving OUT of a hypocaloric diet. So it actually makes a bit more sense in light of early morning insulin sensitivity as you are moving towards maintenance, to eat the bulk of your calories early in the day when your body can react to them more efficiently.

Angie,
I hope that going gluten-free helps you! I haven't used coconut flour yet, but I have some. I just haven't gotten around to using it in anything. I've just been too busy to experiment with different flours, sugars, etc., but I'll get there!

I didn't know I was sensative to wheat before IP because I felt fat and bloated all the time. After being on IP for 6 months and feeling normal and non-gassy for so long it didn't take me long to figure out what caused all my problems before IP. "Wheat Belly- Lose the Wheat, Lose the Weight" by Dr. Davis is an excellent book for helping explain why wheat can cause belly bloat!!! I just read it last week and since I've taken wheat out of my diet again (I am in maintenance) I feel wonderful. I am also having to watch the Yogurt, even Greek Yogurt. It causes me some trouble too. I will be trying the non gluten flours soon. I need to find them.

I did find some interesting (and pretty good) pancake recipes so let me know if you want one.

I used it on turkey and that was good too!

Maybe try a fiber supplement as well to help with the "backed up" thing.