What to eat and when?

christopherpm
christopherpm Posts: 75 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
Having lost 69 pounds already, I'm within 5 of my ideal weight - but now I have hit a plateau. MFP has me on 1250 calories with the goal of 2 pounds per week loss.

I normally eat just under 100 calories for breakfast, between 400 and 500 for lunch, with the remainder at dinner time.

Should I be doing this the other way around, and have a larger breakfast and a smaller dinner?

My thinking is that I am giving my body the calories AFTER I have done my days work etc.

Any advice?

Replies

  • melaniecheeks
    melaniecheeks Posts: 6,349 Member
    It doesn't really matter when you eat what.

    BUT

    If you're within 5 lbs of your goal I wouldn't be aiming for a loss of 2lb a week. Try re-setting it for 1 or even 1/2 lb per week.

    Oh, and well done on your loss so far!
  • AmIhealthyyet
    AmIhealthyyet Posts: 361 Member
    I agree with the previous post about adjust your goal slightly! However you may want to shake things up a little. I think our bodies respond to change by kicking into to overdrive to figure out what is going on!
  • christopherpm
    christopherpm Posts: 75 Member
    I agree with the previous post about adjust your goal slightly! However you may want to shake things up a little. I think our bodies respond to change by kicking into to overdrive to figure out what is going on!

    When you say 'shake things up a little', do you mean with the food or with exercise or both? I was running 3 to 4 times per week, and I've now changed that to a mixture of running, cycling and swimming. However, with food, I haven't done anything. Should I have a few days of eating above the limit and then come back down, or should I try the calorie 'cycling'?

    I'm worried that any changes might jeopardise what I've done so far...
  • christopherpm
    christopherpm Posts: 75 Member
    Oh, and well done on your loss so far!

    Thank you.
  • amy1612
    amy1612 Posts: 1,356 Member
    Eat a better breakfast, and maybe eat more of your calories for breakfast. Maybe also try upping calories to maintenance as prep, may be easier. :)
  • AmIhealthyyet
    AmIhealthyyet Posts: 361 Member
    both! ( I am a certified personal trainer, so not new to me, just dont always follow my own advice) After about 6 work outs of doing the same thing our bodies adapt and it no longer has as good of an effect. so anything you can do different can help. I also suggest any cardio be done on an empty stomach (water is GREAT). Your body will burn fat as fuel as oppsed to the food. And if you havent given your body more then a day or two rest at a time do that too. too many dont give their bodies any break, missing a few days will in turn make your body respond at an all new level. I suggest every 5 weeks or so taking 3-4 days off of exercsie(strething is ok).

    Regarding food! our bodies also adjust to what we are eating as the norm. I reccomend shaking up that 1200 calories per day, one day 800, the next 1400, ect. just average over the course of the week 1200 per day. And if you can cut way back on carbs! I love a combo of Atkins and Paleo, eating that way our bodies uses fat for energy as opposed to the sugar we ate. But that way of eating flips some people out so do what feels right for you. If you have reached a plateua lasting more then two weeks cut way back to 20 grams of carbs for two weeks. your body may feel sluggish around day 2-3 when you run out of sugar to run on but it will totally kick inot gear the weight loss. This is safe! I have one kidney and have been told i am okay following this. good luck, message me anytime with questions!

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