Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince(ss) and dinner like a beggar

lemurcat12 wrote: »

Alatariel75 wrote: »

Hmmm, interesting. I suppose for me the question would be - is potentially better results worth the sheer inconvenience, if what I'm doing already is giving me results I'm happy with? I suppose that's the question for any change in diet regimine. For me, any better weight loss would be quite offset by being unhappy having to eat like that. Plus, "better" weight loss would then put me into the "ehrmagerd, ur losing too fast" category...

Yep, this is the key. I don't think average results--none of which are all the high, iirc--in a study outweigh what personally works for people. For example, I do believe that on average people do better eating breakfast (I personally do), but I don't believe that means that every person does better eating breakfast. Eating 6 mini meals may work for some people, but the thought of it depresses me.

I tend to eat 3 similarly-sized meals unless I just have lots of calories left over, but dinner is generally my largest because I tend to be most likely to eat it with others, to go out, to have time to really cook something, to not be having it while rushing around in the morning or at my desk. I also eat dinner really late. I easily lost 2 lbs/week until my body weight was low enough that that wasn't realistic, and always did better than MFP predicted. So no, I don't think changing my lifestyle in a way that would make me less happy is likely to help with weight loss. Can't see how it would.

Yup, this is also how I feel about the "when should I exercise" question. The answer is "When you'll stick to it". Whatever benefits there may be from working out at a certain time of day, I'm sure that they would be outweighed or negated by the downsides of trying to exercise at a time which didn't suit your lifestyle or made you resent having to do it.

I couldn't do this. I would never want to eat a large meal for breakfast when I've only been up less than an hour. Similarly if I eat dinner at 7pm then I have at least 4 hours before bed so I would never want a small dinner unless I knew I was having a supper a few hours later.
I do agree a good breakfast sets you up so I tend to have oatmeal and blueberries, lunch tends to be a sandwich or similar and main larger meal always at dinner.
I guess however it does depend on your job if it is very physical more food would be needed for breakfast and lunch I would think than a sedentary job.

It is neither pointless or impractical in this sense: Just as eating a big dinner is a lifestyle choice (school and work during the day) Eating a larger breakfast and/or lunch is equally attainable if your lifestyle allows. It is pointless or impractical in this sense: Most people do not have the time to eat this style because of work or school and your goal should be to meet your Macro-nutrient needs and your caloric intake period. How you do it is less important.

I force myself to snack as early as possible. I too, can't eat too much too early. BUT, then I have to eat every 2-3 hours to keep my metabolism out of kryostasys mode! So I basically snack all day long at work, making sure I"m getting a variety of foods and then a decent size dinner around 6. I eat one more small snack before bed if needed, depending on when I worked out. Echoing most others on here, find what works for you and stick to it!!!

That text...

MKEgal wrote: »

Once again, let's add some science to the discussion, instead of relying on opinions & anecdotes.


This study compared eating a small breakfast, medium lunch, and large dinner, [200, 500, 700 cal]
with eating a large breakfast, medium lunch, and small dinner [700, 500, 200 cal].

"The [large breakfast] group showed greater weight loss and waist circumference reduction ... fasting glucose,
insulin [&] triglycerides ... decreased significantly to a greater extent in the [large breakfast] group."

In addition, hunger was less and satiety was greater.
Abstract: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23512957
Full text:
http://genetics.doctorsonly.co.il/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/Jakubowicz-at-al-Obesity-2013-oby20460.pdf

.

"subjects assigned to high caloric intake during breakfast lost significantly more weight than those assigned to
high caloric intake during the dinner"

Abstract: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24467926
Full text: http://www.tradewindsports.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/Nutrient-Timing-and-Obesity-2014.pdf

.

"data suggest that a low-calorie Mediterranean diet with a higher amount of calories in the first part of the day
could establish a greater reduction in fat mass and improved insulin sensitivity than a typical daily diet."

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24809437

.

"Breakfast is associated with lower body weight ..."

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24898236


I've tried to follow this advice, often have close to half my calories for breakfast, sometimes it's
closer to 1/3. And yes, there are days I have a much larger lunch or dinner. But most of the time
most of my calories are for breakfast, a large chunk of what's left is for lunch, and dinner is really
more of a snack.

Welp, I better get started gaining back that 155#. Where's the nearest Tim's?

During the week, I'm in the 'big breakfast makes me hungrier all day' camp. I eat light breakfasts and lunches and look forward to a big dinner. On the weekend, I sometimes skip breakfast at breakfast time to instead have a massive brunch-time meal, then a light dinner later. This is what works best for me, keeps me from bingeing and makes me happiest.

I do pretty much the opposite. Small breakfast (250-350 calories) sometimes no breakfast at all. Lunch in the 350-450 calorie range, then dinner anywhere from 500-900. Any extra calories are for snacks.

Occasionally, we go out for a big brunch type meal and I eat one big meal in place of lunch and breakfast then have a smaller dinner, but I wouldn't want to do that every day.

tedboosalis7 wrote: »

Breakfast is the important meal of the day.

What was the name (or "name") of that anti breakfast guy? I kind of want him back, and I love breakfast.

I believe, even if it's based on myth, that it sets the "tone" for the rest of my day. If you eat eggs in butter, you will find yourself feeling fuller much longer - and that will help reduce calorie intake the rest of the day.

I eat the same whether I eat eggs or not (oatmeal is my usual alternative), so long as I keep the general calories and protein content consistent and don't go too low on fat). I've been experimenting with this. Butter is tasty but has 0 effect on my satiety. Veggies, on the other hand, are important for me.

I often end up eating less if I skip/eat light for breakfast (which is rare), because I do it when I'm busy and have set plans for my other meals that I stick with. If one were eating based on perceived hunger rather than logging or having trouble meeting a calorie goal I can see how it would make a difference, though, IF you are someone who tends to feel hungrier if you don't eat breakfast.

I personally prefer breakfast, but I hate when people generalize about things that are individual.

I recommend experimenting to see what actually works for you, vs. feeling like you need to meet some rule that maybe works on average, but not for everyone.