How to divide calories

Options
neveradullmoment
neveradullmoment Posts: 90
in Health and Weight Loss
I have heard that you should consume most of your calories well before dinner. I work really hard to stay with in the amount of calories that I should have. It is easier for me to have smaller meals during the day with fewer calories and have more of my calories with dinner. Is this a no-no? Should I consume more calories during the day and a smaller amount with dinner?

Karen

Replies

  • MinnieInMaine
    MinnieInMaine Posts: 6,400 Member
    Options
    I've eaten the same way since I started my weight loss journey last year and it hasn't held me back at all. Some folks will tell you that you need to eat so many meals per day and so often and so much at each meal but I think it's no different than the "don't eat after 8pm" myth... Our bodies all work differently and we all lead very different lives so I say do whatever works for you and don't believe the hype.

    For me, it makes sense to leave most of my calories for dinner because that's the one meal I eat with hubby and he's not on the diet bandwagon at the moment. I'm the cook and do tweak our meals and my portions to make them lighter but if we're having something really yummy, I know I'm going to want to eat more. It's just how I am and how my life works. Again, if's never held me back from losing so why not?
  • ZachyABaby
    ZachyABaby Posts: 235
    Options
    it's a myth. eat whenever.
  • lockef
    lockef Posts: 466
    Options
    it's a myth. eat whenever.

    Word.

    The only thing that matters is WHAT you eat, not WHEN you eat.
  • mrmanmeat
    mrmanmeat Posts: 1,968 Member
    Options
    I have heard that you should consume most of your calories well before dinner. I work really hard to stay with in the amount of calories that I should have. It is easier for me to have smaller meals during the day with fewer calories and have more of my calories with dinner. Is this a no-no? Should I consume more calories during the day and a smaller amount with dinner?

    Karen

    Breakfast and lunch should be the majority. Ideally you'll want to keep your dinner under 500 cals, maybe even 300 if possible.
  • bethdris
    bethdris Posts: 1,090 Member
    Options
    I don't really try to divide my cals to use most before dinner. Dinner is most people's biggest meal. I know it is here. As far as I can tell, it hasn't hurt me to have a bigger dinner most nights.
  • channa007
    channa007 Posts: 419 Member
    Options
    Yes I've also heard it's a myth. It's what you eat not when you eat it or how many meals it takes you to eat the daily total.
  • meeperoon
    meeperoon Posts: 270 Member
    Options
    The only thing I would say with eating more at your evening meal is that it has to last you till the next morning, that's why it's traditionally the bigger meal. The cals and energy will take through without being hungry half way through the night! X
  • Dijon360
    Dijon360 Posts: 19
    Options
    As others have said. Do what works for you. I don't think its a good idea to have a 2000 calorie dinner after fasting all day, but a reasonably sized dinner helps you get through the night without midnight snacking on junk food!

    I find that evenly spreading the calories helps me make sensible choices. i.e. a mid-morning snack helps me avoid eating everything in sight at lunchtime, or a late-afternoon snack helps me control serving sizes at night.
  • Matttdvg
    Matttdvg Posts: 133 Member
    Options
    The theory that eating most of your calories early in the day is based on the fallacy that eating a lot early gives your metabolism a boost. In reality, changes to your metabolism don't happen that quickly. Changes to your metabolism happen very slowly and you won't see any changes to your metabolism by eating the majority of your calories early in the day. It takes days for even small changes in your metabolism to occur. The idea that eating a lot early on in the day gives your metabolism a boost for the rest of the day is totally incorrect.

    That doesn't mean that eating more of your calories earlier definitely won't be beneficial. Eating more earlier in the day often fills you up and can help to prevent snacking later on. It works for some people, it doesn't for others. If you're struggling to lose weight, give it a go. Trying it out can't do any harm. But if you're losing weight, just stick with what you're doing. If your diet works, there is no need to change it. If it ain't broke don't fix it.
  • lockef
    lockef Posts: 466
    Options
    I don't think its a good idea to have a 2000 calorie dinner after fasting all day...

    Actually, there is evidence that IF (Intermittent fasting) helps to induce growth hormones, but we'll leave that for another discussion.

Categories