I occasionally hang out with a group of friends that are notorious for staying up until 5-7AM. I don't really mind, but I'm curious- if we stay up that late, should I eat at my breakfast at the regular time time (8-9AM), go to sleep, get back up at noon and eat my lunch (I eat every 4-4 1/2 hours), then, if we sleep until 4 in the afternoon, eat after I get up again? (We eat dinner around 4-5, sometimes later.)

I'm going to do my best to not participate in the 3am McDonalds runs and the 5am brownies.

Will keeping my regular schedule like that work, or is it pointless to even try? It's only for a few days, but I'll be going over pretty frequently. I'll still be counting calories, but I don't want to use "I stayed up late and slept until 4" as an excuse to eat too much, or to eat crap.

It depends on what you think you could do... in that situation I would say snack when they do, only on something like cucumbers, carrots and tzaziki (spelling?) sauce, instead of mcdonald's or brownies. Count calories by each 24 hr time period... bc if you are staying up that late it's going to be really difficult to drag yourself out of bed and prepare a healthy meal, kwim? I mean if you haven't eaten, are dog tired and then the alarm goes off *time to eat*... well, i'd feel like CRAP and when i feel like crap, i eat crap! lol! So I'd eat whenever they do (3, 4 am) only on better choices and then sleep in!! It's not when you eat, it's WHAT you are eating...

Whenever I have crazy days like that, I usually eat a couple hours before I know I'm going to go to bed, and then just sleep however long I feel like and eat when I wake up later. If I have to wake myself up to eat, I'm generally really cranky and not even that hungry anyway. If you don't stick to your exact schedule you'll be fine, so long as you're not eating crap when you are eating.

I remember those days... now it is a struggle for me to stay up past 10. ~sigh~

I would NEVER wake myself up to eat... I am too in love with sleep.

If you sleep until 4pm, when will you go to bed that night? And are you drinking alcohol?

I would prep great, healthy snacks to have with your friends... maybe even a healthy meal to have when everyone does the 3am McD's run. Then plan what you are going to have the next day when you get up at 4pm. Maybe plan two bigger meals? One at 4pm, one at 8 or so. Make sure to include a lean protein and plenty of veggies. And I would prep it all the day before, so all you have to do is pop food in the oven... or reheat it. Set it up so it is EASY for you to do and you will be less inclined to reach for easy junk food.

I don't drink, and alcohol has too many calories anyway lol. I'm bringing my own food, but it turns out we're having tacos instead of pizza. So I think I can have at least 2 of them. Or one, then one later on in the evening at least. I'm bring a booklet to keep track of my calories, and I'm bringing my own stuff for snacks just in case. I also have to bring a bag of chips for everyone else, because I'd feel bad going over their and eating their food, bringing my own, but not bringing anything for anyone else, too.

I don't know about the next day, we might do it all over again. It depends on what's going on. I guess I'll just have to be careful. They don't have a scale, either, so I'm going to be sort of irritated lol. Hopefully I don't come back home and weigh 171 again...

THAT is good that you don't drink... that is where I can do A LOT of damage. Tacos are great! (skip the sour cream and shredded cheese and you will be golden!)

Tell yourself right now - that no matter what happens this weekend - you will get right back on track and on to your regularly scheduled program on Monday. No. Matter. What. Don't let a weekend of fun turn into crap eating for a week (like I am prone to do!)

And I think, really, the most important part is just having a plan for the weekend... whatever that plan may be.

I agree with a lot of the above.. sleep when you can and let your eating schedule be intuitive.

Will you have access to an oven? If so... I'd make this casserole to warm up and share in place of one of the McDonalds run (although it's really tasy cold, too).
http://find.myrecipes.com/recipes/re...10000000549848

It's super simple, super delicious, and it lets your friends into your new world of healthy eating and feeling better about yourself. It's not all about compromises on your part! I think everyone should know there are are good alternatives to a 3 am fast food run.

I have an insane schedule that often involves being up til the wee hours of the am...and with an added bonus of switching time zones! hehe.

I try to do the following:
- rather than measuring day 1 and day 2 calories at my plan..I think of the zigzagging. If I am going to be up for 19 of 24 hours on day 1, I naturally need more fuel and more food.
- try to schedule my last snack for at least 2 hours before bed
- hydrate extra
- if I do get the luxury of sleeping in, I sleep - we need it!
- as usual, I eat within an hour of waking up. but on the day I may be up less hours I just eat a little bit less to even out the prior day where I ate more
- eating more protein makes sure Im getting good stuff - not empty constant snacks
- bring snacks if you can. almonds, apples, banana, etc.