School and Meal Schedules

AndyPGonzalez

Classes start tomorrow for me and for the first time I'm going into the school year working on my weight. So far I've had success and have lost 6 pounds! (Hopefully my last few days of bad eating hasn't undone that) And want to make my weight loss successful.

Because of my weird schedule, it wasn't unusual for me to eat 2 lunches before dinner. So here is my question on helping me form better habits and a better eating schedule.

On Monday and Wednesday, I have a class at 8:30, chances are, I'm not going to wake up before then to have breakfast. So once I get back to my apartment, I was thinking at having a 9:30 breakfast of eggs (or a breakfast shake on my busier days). I then have class between 11:30-12:45. So a 1pm lunch is doable. The main problem is not overdoing it between 9:30 and 11:30 (which I have been known to do.)

On Tuesday and Thursday it gets tricky. I have to leave home at by noon to get to a class in another campus. From there I have class until 3. So I'm not sure, but would it be doable to have a 11:30 am lunch and a 7pm dinner? That's pretty much the only time my schedule allows unless I want to eat at the fast food places downtown, which is what I'm trying to avoid.

So any thoughts on this? i really need help. If I follow eat when hungry, I'll probably end up eating Chick-fil-A a lot. I need to start planning meals at home, which is something I haven't done in a while.

nicsflyingcircus

Eat whenever works for you. Pre-portion snacks and take them with you if that's what it takes.

This summer I was in class Monday-Tuesday 8am to 11:45 and 12:30-3:30. I don't eat breakfast. So I'd get up in the A.M., make myself coffee in a travel mug, fill my big water container with ice and water and make my lunch/snacks in an insulated lunchbox with an ice pack. Wednesday-Thursday (and some Fridays) I had clinicals 7am-3pm and some of those had no lunch break(if no lunch break, done at 2pm). If no lunch break, I'd drink my coffee in the A.M. and slip a protein bar into my pocket to eat when I caught a free minute, and pack my lunchbox with a snack for afterwards so I didn't hit up the drive through on the way home. If I did get a lunch break, I did the same as class days.

Really, it's all about doing what works for you, and only you can figure that out. Meal timing is largely irrelevant. Figure out when you get hungry, when your weak moments are, and work to accommodate the first and avoid the second.

You can do this.

btc1987

If you think you'll have more free time to plan and prepare meals once school is done, I have some bad news for you...


Take advantage of these gaps in your day to prepare awesome food that you love.

Cc215

Timing of meals doesn't matter.

What matters is you stick to your daily calorie amounts. If one meal a day works for you (it does for some - not me though I would be hangry most days) do that - as long as you are eating enough.

If 6 meals a day works for you. Do this.

The goal is eat as often / few times as you want each day. Stick to the calorie goal. Hit your macros. However you make this work for you is what will work.

I personally go for coffee for breakfast. I rarely eat anything solid before 11am. But if i'm hungry I eat earlier. Lunch at work will be anytime between 11am and 3pm - totally dictated by hunger / how busy my day is. Dinner is usually late - way later then recommended by most (I'm talking 11pm, maybe midnight) - but that's what fits my life.

The truth is a calorie is a calorie when it comes to weightloss. Your body doesn't care whether it's 1am, 11am 3pm or 11pm. It'll do it'd job whenever you eat. If eating around your classes works for you then go with that (sounds totally normal to me). Our life should dictate when we eat - eating on a set schedule every day sounds depressing as hell, and something that is completely uncontainable!

Eta: spelling mistakes

teknosprite

I can relate - I work 8:00 to 4:00pm mon - fri , then go to class mon/we'd night at 6-7:30 , class tues/Thursday from 4:45 to 7:30. So I end up having two dinners essentially. I just eat lunch when and if I can at work, I don't have a break at any specific time and I'm pretty much always on the road or with clients. So I make sure to eat breakfast as late as possible - sometimes I'll prepare it and eat it during our morning meeting at 8:30. Or just have yogurt or something I don't have to make. Then, for the day it's essentially snacks, snacks snacks! I know I get weak around 11:30 so I make sure I snack then. With one larger thing for lunch- maybe a sandwich or something. I keep the snacks light so they don't add up too much. Then I pack something for a light dinner and eat it before class whenever class starts that day. When I get home around 8 I have another light dinner where I will actually cook something up if I'm not too tired. If you want to add me you can see my diary where I have "dinner1" and "dinner 2". Mainly, snacks small and large are what gets me through the day! Maybe we can bounce some ideas off each other. This is my first year going to school and working on my weight too. I've been in school for 3 years and working full time and that's how I gained this weight! It's hard but I'm determined it can be done.

ana3067

i'm on campus all day because I commute. I bring lunch with me in my lunch box, and this year if I need to I'll bring dinner (since I'll be working out after classes). Eat when you have time, just eat within your needs.