I'm the kind of person that likes to save the best for last. I'll get all the unpleasant stuff out of the way first and then enjoy the good stuff. Get all my work or studying done early, then relax or finish the food I don't like first, and then savor the part I do enjoy. Stuff like that. Well I'm finding that same mentality is carrying over to my calorie counting also. I am tempted to eat skimpy breakfasts and lunches so I can have a lot to eat later in the day. I don't usually do that, this my usual schedule with a pretty common breakdown of calories:
And I make sure to eat fiber and protein with each meal and snack. My dinners and evening snacks are almost always just fiber and protein such as chicken and veggies stir fry or something. Most of my carbs are eaten earlier in the day. So my day is planned out to avoid hunger, and generally, I'm not truly "hungry" but when dinner time comes around, I always wish I had more calories to play with.
I know that mini meals and eating every few hours is better for blood sugar levels and to keep the metabolism going, but I think I'd be a happier person if I ate 100cal for breakfast, 100 cal for lunch (like granola bars or soup or something) and then got to have a "binge" in the evening. Sure, I'd be hungry, but like I said, I'd rather put the unpleasant stuff behind me (being hungry) and then get to stuff myself later.
Yesterday, I kind of had to do this. I had a bunch of unexpected stuff to do so I didn't have any packed meals or snacks. I had eaten a 300 cal bowl of oatmeal in the morning, was out of the house and busy all day, got home at dinner time and had 1000 calories left, I had a field day! I still ate nutritious food and stayed on plan, I just ate the foods that I had planned for the whole day in a much shorter time span. I realize this isn't the healthy way to do it, but I like it so much better, haha.
I appreciate you bringing this up. And I think your thoughts are right on target. I remember discussing this issue on 3FC before and I think the consensus is that whatever works for a person is fine.
I think if a person is not diabetic or hypoglycemic, blood sugar should be fine, no matter when you eat. I've read books on medical biochemistry and the body is well equipped to deal with fasts (even weeks of starvation) and fluctuations in fuel.
For me, I prefer to eat at night and I don't like breakfast. So, I eat two substantial meals- lunch and dinner. I skip snacks, except for a glass of milk at night. On weekends, I might only have one meal and a snack, but that's because I sleep until noon and not hungry until 4. The cool part of not snacking is I can eat high calorie meals that "regular" people eat like burgers, fries, pizza, etc (in moderation).
My problem with calorie hoarding is it can give me an excuse to binge at night. I have dealt with that by having lunch as my big meal of the day. Psychologically, I think of dinner as the "lighter" meal so I don't go overboard as much. I probably should mention that I like to have a beer, cocktail, or glass of wine when I go out. I think I use my calorie deficit for that sometimes, but I know it has no nutritional value.
As for boosting my metabolism, I use exercise to deal with that. I try to move around at least a bit during the day (hard b/c I have a desk job) and then exercise after work.
I do it ALL the time. I'm just really not very hungry in the mornings. I might have a yogurt, but mostly just water. I do have a pretty decent lunch (about 400-500 cals) and then I have dinner- at about 1000- 1200 cals (My goal is 1800 a day) and maybe a skinny cow ice cream in the evening. I don't really like to snack, I know it's supposed to be good for you, but I hate eating when I'm not hungry. Also, if I have that many calories left over, I can usually eat whatever I want. (within reason)
For me, I prefer to eat at night and I don't like breakfast. So, I eat two substantial meals- lunch and dinner. I skip snacks, except for a glass of milk at night. On weekends, I might only have one meal and a snack, but that's because I sleep until noon and not hungry until 4. The cool part of not snacking is I can eat high calorie meals that "regular" people eat like burgers, fries, pizza, etc (in moderation).
Ha! We were basicly posting at the same time and said the same thing!
Yay, I thought I'd have everyone telling me to stick to my schedule, haha.
I also thought I should mention, I eat mostly "whole" foods, not processed foods. So my volume of food is actually pretty high. 100 calories of broccoli is a lot more to eat than a 100 calorie snack pack. So I really am eating quite a bit.
The mini-meals throughout the day isn't really working for me, it seems like. I'm never satisfied after I eat. Sure, I get to eat every 2 or 3 hours, but I'd rather have my food spaced out much further and have just two big fill-me-up meals and maybe a small snack/breakfast.
I also rev my metabolism throughout the day with exercise. I work out first thing in the morning and for a shorter period in the afternoon. Sometimes I go for an extra walk in the evening.
So good, I feel better about letting go of the mini meal thing.
You know you can always try it and switchback if you need to. Seems like the most important thing is to do what you can sustain. Me: I can't eat breakfast first thing, gotta wait about 1 1/2 hours, then I am most interested in eating lunch, could skip dinner altogether or just have skim milk and protein powder drink and be happy. Gotta family to feed so not so much flexibility on the dinner thing although I don't always eat what they eat.
I also like to save most of my calories for the end of the day. In the mornings, usually 100-150 calories for breakfast is plenty (usually yogurt & toast), lunch is a 300 calorie-ish frozen dinner, I usually have a small snack in the afternoon around 100 calories, and then dinner I let myself have 800-1000 calories, depending on whether I've worked out that day. I've experimented with other ratios, but the evening is when I like to eat most; if I eat a large satisfying dinner I am full and less likely to snack myself into trouble (which was my former MO).
I think you should go with what works for you, I have friends that do basically the opposite of my plan where they eat a large breakfast and then the rest of their meals are smaller, it works just fine for them. Calories in versus calories out, right? It all evens out over time.
I swear, I think I am the only one left on earth that loves breakfast! I'd rather eat breakfast and lunch over dinner. lol.
When I saw hoarding calories, I thought that it was about saving up for special occasions, like hoarding over a week's period or something like that. I fluctuate from day to day and watch my average for the month. It gives me a better picture of my calorie intake than just a meal or a day. Whatever works is always best!
You know, I think I like dinner so much because I am a social eater. I like to take my time and talk and laugh... and at breakfast and lunch I really don't get as much of a chance to do that. I love breakfast with my hubby on the weekends because it's fun and social. So I think that's my deal. Also, after a long afternoon at work, eating a yummy, filling meal makes me feel good.
You know, I think I like dinner so much because I am a social eater. I like to take my time and talk and laugh... and at breakfast and lunch I really don't get as much of a chance to do that. I love breakfast with my hubby on the weekends because it's fun and social. So I think that's my deal. Also, after a long afternoon at work, eating a yummy, filling meal makes me feel good.
Yep, same with me. I live by myself, but I like to enjoy the eating experience. That means, relaxing with a big filling meal or going out with friends and not worrying about having a tiny 300 cal portion...all that stuff. For me, the meal that I eat to enjoy is dinner. Breakfast and lunch and snacks between are just shoveling something down because it's time to eat. I'd rather enjoy most of my calories, thus, eating at dinner and me-time during the evening.
This is day one of my calorie-hoarding experiment, haha. I had a 125 cal breakfast (tortilla with two scrambled egg whites and a tbsp of salsa rolled up) and a 150 cal lunch (tuna on a sandwich thin and a small salad). I'm not hungry and I don't feel deprived, but I'll definitely be ready for dinner. And I have soooo many calories left to enjoy, haha!
I swear, I think I am the only one left on earth that loves breakfast! I'd rather eat breakfast and lunch over dinner. lol.
When I saw hoarding calories, I thought that it was about saving up for special occasions, like hoarding over a week's period or something like that. I fluctuate from day to day and watch my average for the month. It gives me a better picture of my calorie intake than just a meal or a day. Whatever works is always best!
There's at least two of us who want their calories in the morning hours! When I used to work in an office (I work from home now), if I packed my lunch, I'd always end up eating it by 10 am and have to go out for lunch too! That was after eating breakfast before I left for the office.
Last edited by caryesings; 04-15-2010 at 01:42 PM.
I've done this so many times on the weekends. In day to day life it doesn't work for me (but, I have slight blood sugar issues) and instead have three meals...no snacks *gasp*. For the longest time I MADE myself eat snacks, I was never hungry but was always told its the only way to do it properly. Guess what! Its not. Whatever works for you! I know a naturally thin type person who only eats twice a day, obviously its not slowing her metabolism down and making her fat as she's like 120lbs!
I think as long as it works for you then that is fine. Where I worry is that it's kind of a binge mentality. I don't know if you have binging issues, but I do and so that is a red flag to me. I know that if I were to practice that type of eating it may work in the begining but later on down the line it would snow ball into full on binging. But again if this is what works for you the go for it, just keep it within reason.
I used to do it all the time. Would eat hardly anything all day then eat a big dinner. I have been really trying to even it out. It's nice not feeling like I am starving all the time now - but I find lots of days I end up eating more then I want to because I eat too much at dinner.
I do still do it though sometimes! But my body has gotten used to more food throughout the day so I end up pretty hungry sometimes.
I totally do this. I posted a thread about it a couple weeks back. I treat my calories like currency, and I 'spend' them where I get my most satisfaction, where my cravings are, and when I am likely to want to snack -- which is in the evening.
I typically eat lightly during the day and 'save' the bulk of my calories for the evening (between 5-9pm). It works great for me, and I don't feel too hungry because I am typically very busy during the day and graze very lightly so as not to have a crash or binge.
So for example I may have 200 calories for breakfast, high protein like a 2 egg and cheese omelet
100 calories for a morning snack, raw veggies and dip or an apple or something
Then, maybe a 400 calorie lunch, again high protein and bulky, like a HUGE salad, which keeps me full until the evening.
Then when my family has dinner I may have a 200 calorie portion or another salad or something....
Then when "snacking hours" come along (lol) I have like 600-800 more calories -- but remember I am a lot larger than the OP so I have a calorie allowance of 1600-1800 a day and am still losing well.
For me, this works because those are the times I am notorious for binging or going off plan. So, I can plan it so I have a measured amount of snacks, or even a dessert or something. It helps me feel like I am not on a "diet".
Hoarding calories?
