Breaking Up My Calorie Allotment, Is 1/2 on 1 Meal Okay?

meocuenca
meocuenca Posts: 6
in Food and Nutrition
so, my breakfast typically eats up almost 1/2 my daily calorie allotment (without exercise) && i'm thinking that is OKAY; simply because i NEED the calories to get through my workouts without feeling sick. then I have a "snack" type lunch and a modest dinner. Is that a good way to eat or am i looking at it wrong??? Thanks!!!

Replies

  • AnvilHead
    AnvilHead Posts: 18,343 Member
    It doesn't matter one bit as long as it makes you feel good, powers your workouts and makes it easy to adhere to your diet. All that matters at the end of the day is hitting your calories and macros - when you take them in is irrelevant.
  • janeite1990
    janeite1990 Posts: 671 Member
    Doesn't matter. Do what works for you!
  • doggiesnot
    doggiesnot Posts: 334 Member
    Can't see your diary, but here are some generalized guidelines.

    I'd say, change what you're eating. If you're eating half your caloric intake on one meal, you're probably eating the wrong things. You want to strive for 5-6 small meals, with the earliest meals being the largest, and smallest meals at the end of the day. Also, make sure your calorie goal is not too low. You want to at least eat your BMR even without working out, and then even more when you work out. Without knowing your size, age, etc. I will say that if you're not at 1200-1400 calories on days you don't workout, then it's too low.
  • AnvilHead
    AnvilHead Posts: 18,343 Member
    Can't see your diary, but here are some generalized guidelines.

    I'd say, change what you're eating. If you're eating half your caloric intake on one meal, you're probably eating the wrong things. You want to strive for 5-6 small meals, with the earliest meals being the largest, and smallest meals at the end of the day....
    No.

    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/820577-meal-frequency-rev-up-that-furnace-lol
  • meocuenca
    meocuenca Posts: 6
    Thank you everyone for the input so far, please keep it coming. I have never really "dieted" or even watched what I ate though I was very active as a young adult and was always in decent shape. Finally having my 6th child after 35 the weight not only stayed put it increased.

    I will be looking into all the suggestions. One Question, one person said they can't see my food dairy, didn't know it could be shared. I'll look into my settings, might help get individualized responses.

    Thanks Again!

    -Meo :smile:
  • meocuenca
    meocuenca Posts: 6
    Okay, i found the diary privacy setting, anybody that is interested - the key to see it is 200.

    Thanks!

    ps. i haven't filled out this AM yet but it is the same as yesterday. :smile:

    Thank you everyone for the input so far, please keep it coming. I have never really "dieted" or even watched what I ate though I was very active as a young adult and was always in decent shape. Finally having my 6th child after 35 the weight not only stayed put it increased.

    I will be looking into all the suggestions. One Question, one person said they can't see my food dairy, didn't know it could be shared. I'll look into my settings, might help get individualized responses.

    Thanks Again!

    -Meo :smile:
  • meocuenca
    meocuenca Posts: 6
    Thanks!
  • Iron_Feline
    Iron_Feline Posts: 10,750 Member
    Hi hon

    Just looked quickly but you should be eating back at least some of your exercise calories. I personally follow this :

    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/654536-in-place-of-a-road-map-2-0-revised-7-2-12

    It doesn't work for everyone - but most people don't need to be on as low as 1200 cals to lose weight they can eat more and still do it :happy:

    As for eating half you cals at brekkie - if that's what works for you then great - but if you are still hungry in the evening then you need a rethink. more veggies etc - I like (when I have time) 3 scrambled eggs with loads of veg (peppers, onions etc) on a slice of toast it comes to about 400 cals and is very filling.

    My diary is open if you want a peek (but please ignore the terrible weekend (it was fun though).

    The only thing I really would say to do is that if you make a change stick to it for 6 weeks before deciding if it works for you as it takes a while for your body to sort itself out. So if you do up your cals, or change your eating habits give your body time to adjust.

    Good luck though :drinker:
  • BarackMeLikeAHurricane
    BarackMeLikeAHurricane Posts: 3,400 Member
    Eat more of your calories at whatever time of day you find yourself the hungriest. If you're hungry in the morning, eat most of your calories then.
  • gpizzy
    gpizzy Posts: 171
    If doing it this way keeps you within your caloric limit - and it feels right - it's right! Everyone is different.
  • doggiesnot
    doggiesnot Posts: 334 Member
    Can't see your diary, but here are some generalized guidelines.

    I'd say, change what you're eating. If you're eating half your caloric intake on one meal, you're probably eating the wrong things. You want to strive for 5-6 small meals, with the earliest meals being the largest, and smallest meals at the end of the day....
    No.

    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/820577-meal-frequency-rev-up-that-furnace-lol

    Thanks!

    I will look into that and do some trial-and-error to see which works best for me. (3 meals vs. 6 meals) :)
  • meocuenca
    meocuenca Posts: 6
    yes, thank you everyone for your time to add your thoughts; all well received!

    funny on the 1200 calorie intake, that's about what it gave me && i thought i was gonna DIE! i did terrible the first three days (jus' last week) but i think i'm getting better with each day. and getting the extra calorie allotment from exercising makes me feel better even though i don't use much of them.

    i have to admit, last night i went to the gym && was hungry before i went to bed. i think i will have a small snack before any nighttime work outs to see if that helps, all else seems to be doing okay so far.

    anyone else, please feel free to add on.

    :smile: Meo
  • bellaa_x0
    bellaa_x0 Posts: 1,062 Member
    typically its recommended to eat every 2-4 hours.. however you should push more of your calories to the beginning of the day so that you have enough fuel to power through the day and have the end of your day consist of a lighter number of calories.
  • KenosFeoh
    KenosFeoh Posts: 1,837 Member
    I hope it's o.k. because I eat more than half of my daily calories after 2 PM. I'm not very interested in eating early in the day.
  • Athijade
    Athijade Posts: 3,300 Member
    typically its recommended to eat every 2-4 hours.. however you should push more of your calories to the beginning of the day so that you have enough fuel to power through the day and have the end of your day consist of a lighter number of calories.

    Why?

    Meal timing, size, and frequency have no impact on weight loss or metabolic rate.
  • NCchar130
    NCchar130 Posts: 955 Member
    I agree with the above, it doesn't matter when you eat. Lots of people have given me the advice over the years not to eat past 6 pm or whatever. I can see that, actually, if you get heartburn or acid reflux but I don't. So, I do kind of the opposite of the OP and eat most of my calories at night, because that's my preferred time to eat. Of course, my coworkers accuse me of starving myself based on my tiny breakfast and lunch, but whatever. :wink:
  • meocuenca
    meocuenca Posts: 6
    Thank you everyone for the replies, so far, eating more in the morning is working out for me :)
  • RobynLB
    RobynLB Posts: 617 Member
    I eat about 900 calories in the am. That's when I am hungry. Then I eat a small lunch, a few snacks, and a small dinner. I'm stupid busy throughout the day, and I work out after school or work. so I don't eat "dinner" until around 9-- not really feeling a big meal right before bed. Whatever timing works for you is fine.

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