[FreeSpirit]

I'm usually up at around 3:45 every morning so that I can be at work by 4:45. I get off of work at 1:15 and I don't get to bed until about 9.

My problem is that I'm up for so long that I don't know where to place my meals to keep me full all day. My husband gets home around 5 so I cook dinner and eat with him after that.

Any suggestions on how I can spread it out?

[JayEll]

Wow, what a schedule! Do you take a nap during the day? Sounds like you've got a sleep deficit going... But, back to your question--do you feel like eating when you get up at that hour? I probably wouldn't--but I'd try to eat something anyway--a snack, say 200 cals. worth. For example, a single-serving yogurt, or a slice of toast with peanut butter.

You probably have a "lunch break" at work sometime in the morning. I'd have more at that point--more like a breakfast, say 300-400 cals. Do you have to take your "lunch"?

Then I'd plan to eat a "real" lunch right after you get off work. Another 400 cals. You can break up the afternoon with another snack, say, around 3:30 or so. Dinner with your husband at 5.

Would that be workable? It goes like: snack, breakfast, lunch, snack, dinner. You could add a small snack after dinner, or just eat more dinner.

Good luck!

Jay

[Get n healthy]

Sounds like your schedule is one of those that needs 5-6 small meals a day instead of 3 regular meals. I dont know what times for you to eat, but i would aim for every 3-4 hours or so. My hats off to you for living on that little sleep, i just could not do that for very long...maybe when i was a spring chickie, but i cant imagine it now that i am in my mid 30's.

You have done a great job on your weight loss, very inspirational.

[mandalinn82]

You definitely need to do some experimenting to see how this can work for you.

If you wanted a more typical Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner/2 snacks, Jay's might work really well. If you were flexible enough to go to a 5-6 mini-meal structure, that might work too! My meal structure evolved over time as I realized when I was hungry and when I was less so.

[DebbieLN]

Great suggestions all!!!

I think you need to look at your schedule from an individual point. For instance, you always hear... don't eat after 8pm. I'm assuming that's for the masses of people that go to bed by 11pm. For me, I don't go to bed untill after 2am. And i'm quite active at night after 9pm (housework, etc and i do my night time workout at 12am) So i take a look at when i'm up in the am and when i go to sleep and work out when i eat from there. Look at when you can eat breakfast and dinner, then adjust either a lunch and or 3 snacks in between.

Jay's suggestion sounds great. And it looks like you've been doing wonderful do far!!!!! Great job!