Does Anyone Else Stockpile Calories For Dinner??

24

Replies

  • darrensurrey
    darrensurrey Posts: 3,942 Member
    I eat 50% after 7pm (7pm being my dinner time). I'll save a little for post-dinner snacking.
  • iowachapman
    iowachapman Posts: 38 Member
    I figure most will use their calories in areas where they prefer their best meal. Some might like breakfast or lunch more. Personally I do try to do the same, I like having that last meal of the day to be a good one, and look forward to having something good. However if you feel the need to eat something earlier do have something, just keep it light and ajust a bit during dinner.

    Like today I know I am going out for dinner later, so I will probably only have a very small snack between now and early dinner. I am also headed out to the Y to burn up some more calories.
  • twelfty
    twelfty Posts: 576 Member
    i'm trying to gain weight, my worst downfall was skipping breakfast, not feeling hungry for lunch and just having a big dinner, some times having 1000 calories per day depending on what i had for dinner, i would say it's a good way to go, for losing weight it worked too good for me! lol

    edit: too build on that point breakfast is massively important for gaining weight, if i eat breakfast i find for whatever reason (my guess is it stretches my stomach) i feel hungry bang on if not before each subsequent meal time, and usually i'll be able to munch a sort of 4th meal/ big snack a few hours after dinner, it's costing me a fortune though! lol
  • cmacphee3
    cmacphee3 Posts: 278 Member
    I do that. I either have a small or no breakfast (considering doing full on IF and just kind of adjusting to it), a smallish lunch, then a huge dinner. I do it mostly because the most common reason for me to go over my calories is eating a large supper or something after supper. I have found whether or not I've had a large breakfast and lunch, I will always end up eating a large supper, so it is better to save my calories for when I know I will eat a lot.

    I also find my willpower to not snack and eat properly is much higher before supper, so I make the best of my mental and physical habits.

    Edited to add: I also really prefer working out on an empty stomach (or just coffee) than if I've had any food.
  • UsedToBeHusky
    UsedToBeHusky Posts: 15,228 Member
    First off, give yourself a break and reassess your calories. 1200 calories is not a lot and you could probably eat more and still lose weight. Secondly, you can save all your calories for dinner if you wants. Some people do this all the time. The method is known as intermittent fasting.
  • katylynnsays
    katylynnsays Posts: 2 Member
    Sometimes I do because it is much easier to control my calorie intake during the day when I am at work with pre-made (homemade) lunches and snacks then to control my eating when I am eating with my husband and sons (who aren't much interested in a salad or veggies except along side their steak or pasta).
  • Wowat50
    Wowat50 Posts: 16
    I think it's what ever works best for you. I tend to get hungry in the evening so if I eat a larger meal in the evening and not too early in the evening, it tides me over until morning. I eat smaller throughout the day. I try to get some cardio in during my lunch hour so by the time I change get 30 minutes in shower and change back, I only have time for a protien shake or bar. Also a big meal at lunch makes me sleepy and less productive at work. I will snack on fruit and nuts or raw veggies throughout the day.
  • amytag
    amytag Posts: 206 Member
    Yes! This is basically my MO. The reasoning for me is this: breakfast and lunch, I am eating solo during the day, but I cook dinner for my husband and kids, who do like to have some carbs :-) So if the fam is craving pasta it doesn't ruin my day. I am on a 1350 diet, and eat back exercise calories, so often I even have room for a modest sweet treat at night (Fiber One brownie, fruit and whipped cream, etc).
  • anitarmcmanus
    anitarmcmanus Posts: 2 Member
    I absolutely do this. I fill in what I'm having for dinner, then I know how many calories I can have during the day. I still usually end up with 150-200 calories left over so I don't feel too guilty doing it this way.
  • karenethurston
    karenethurston Posts: 3 Member
    I do this. I try to save at least 600 or 700 calories for dinner. It's when my family gathers for a meal and when I spend the most time preparing a meal, so I like having extra calories at that time. I did try to do a large breakfast, medium lunch, small dinner, but it didn't work. Then I tried average breakfast, big lunch, medium dinner. That didn't work either, and actually left me feeling very sluggish the rest of workday, even when my lunch was clean and healthy. Bigger dinners work for me. And if I see that I have fewer than 600 calories for dinner, I'll go get in a quick workout to "earn" more calories. :-)
  • dsjohndrow
    dsjohndrow Posts: 1,820 Member
    I do. I am not even hungry in the morning, so I eat a small breakfast (300 cals). I do a late lunch (300 cals) and I have dinner as early as I can. It works for me.
  • amandapye78
    amandapye78 Posts: 820 Member
    I do, dont have time for much lunch during the day so usually just have a shake and I'm not a breakfast person so usually just coffee and a shake, Dinner is when I want to eat
  • jrowens3224
    jrowens3224 Posts: 31 Member
    I do! I cook dinner for my family and they are most certainly NOT on a diet like me so keeping my calories low during the day helps insure that I can enjoy dinner with them instead of having to cook them a great meal and then watch them eat it as I prepare myself something less awesome.

    This is for me too. Cooking for a picky three year old is hard enough. His favorites include spaghetti and quesadillas. So I try to keep my calories during the day lower so I can eat what I've cooked. I just try to pay attention to portion sizes, and not adding things like sour cream to my quesadillas or parmesan to my spaghetti.
  • Fffrick
    Fffrick Posts: 9 Member
    IMHO, bad idea for two reasons. First, you should eat consistently several times (5-6) per day - Small portions every 2-3 hrs.this way you stay neither full or hungry and are burning all that you need and you are not tempted to binge knowing that your next meal is just around the corner. Second, you are consuming a bunch of calories close to the time when you will need them the least (sleeping). If it works for you, great, but I would opt to not go feast or famine yo-yoing like that.
  • karenethurston
    karenethurston Posts: 3 Member
    Yes! This is basically my MO. The reasoning for me is this: breakfast and lunch, I am eating solo during the day, but I cook dinner for my husband and kids, who do like to have some carbs :-) So if the fam is craving pasta it doesn't ruin my day. I am on a 1350 diet, and eat back exercise calories, so often I even have room for a modest sweet treat at night (Fiber One brownie, fruit and whipped cream, etc).
    Same here and for the very same reasons! :-)
  • annicins
    annicins Posts: 45
    I spread my calories out pretty evenly during the day otherwise I get hungry. But I don't really think it matters what time of the day you eat what.
  • Liz12mae
    Liz12mae Posts: 57 Member
    i tend to do this for sure... pretty much every day... lol
  • alasin1derland
    alasin1derland Posts: 575 Member
    yup
  • tapdance66
    tapdance66 Posts: 29
    Not intentionally, but I pretty much eat the same (or similar) amounts during the day at work, so I find that I have most of my calories at night.
    Hasn't messed with my metabolism at all and helps me to get a good night's sleep with a fuller belly. :)
  • TheRightWeigh
    TheRightWeigh Posts: 249 Member
    I do this a lot...mostly by default. There are times when I plan for it though....like if I know i'm going to be eating out or know of something I want for dinner that I want to fit into my calorie goal...I hope nothing's wrong with it LOL
  • Copaiba
    Copaiba Posts: 75 Member
    I do. I eat little stuff all day to keep the hunger at bay, and then I eat a big dinner and it's awesome.
    The irony of this poster's profile name? Hmmm?
  • felice03
    felice03 Posts: 2,644 Member
    I very, very rarely eat breakfast *GASP*

    I have a large lunch and dinner...and snackies when I want.

    Some people will say it is "wrong" but I guess my 60+ pound loss tells them to stick it.
  • amalato
    amalato Posts: 3
    I have found that I can't do that, if so, I will gorge myself at dinner time. The best way for me is that I make lunch my biggest meal of the day. It kind of does matter when you eat, unless you plan on working out really well before you eat all those calories. By working out before hand, you jump start your metabolism and it burns your calories better. Try not to work out after dinner, or all you will be burning off is dinner, not to mention the energy boost you get will have you bouncing off the walls all night. I hope this helps.
  • Candicejoy1988
    Candicejoy1988 Posts: 14 Member
    I eat a good breakfast, maybe a salad or fruit for lunch and a big dinner mainly because i cook supper for husband and it's a full sit down meal... but so far along with my exercise it has been working for me :)
  • anitarmcmanus
    anitarmcmanus Posts: 2 Member
    I absolutely do the same thing.
  • Copaiba
    Copaiba Posts: 75 Member
    I do. I eat little stuff all day to keep the hunger at bay, and then I eat a big dinner and it's awesome.
    The irony of this poster's profile name? Hmmm?
    Her name is "SoDarnHungry"
  • alainacdean
    alainacdean Posts: 3
    I am in a nutrition class right now and we just discussed this very topic. Basically, your metabolism adjusts to your timing. I am the same way....I'm not a big breakfast or lunch eater. So I'll have something small at both of those meals, an afternoon snack and then a bigger dinner.
  • Nike13
    Nike13 Posts: 122 Member
    I do that too, my husband cooks a lot and he doesn't really cook 'light'. I tried converting him to whole grain pasta but that so wasn't going to happen. Now I just eat lighter through the day with snacks+light lunch and have a smaller portion for dinner so it's not too bad.

    Unless he cooks pasta...his pasta is my Achilles heel...
  • kendaQ
    kendaQ Posts: 14
    You are not alone! I eat a mini breakfast and lunch everyday and save at least 600 cal for dinner and after dinner snack. I am also consuming 1200 cal a day until I lose the weight.
    I may do a bagel and cream chesse for breakfast, Lunch a bowl of soup, and Dinner is the best meal of the day! Nothing wrong with this at all if it works for you.
  • CLD79
    CLD79 Posts: 53 Member
    I tried this yesterday and it didn't go so well. I ended up eating 2x my allowed calories for the day when the night was done. Guess who is heading to the gym today? :) MEEEE!!

    I have realized I do best eating a moderate to heavy breakfast, then a small lunch (usually because I am still full from breakfast), then a moderate dinner with a snack thrown in somewhere.

    When I save calories I end up looking like one of those zombies out for blood only with food. Seriously, I think I ate a half of a PAPA JOHN'S pizza by myself plus breadsticks. Not pretty. :)

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