When do you eat the majority of your calories?

Ral263
Ral263 Posts: 318 Member
edited October 2024 in Health and Weight Loss
I do a very heavy workout in the early morning (get up at 5:30, do about 40 min lift, run 8 miles, then 2 mile cooldown on the elliptical), so I HAVE to have a huge breakfast for recovery. I find this is usually when I have the majority of my carbohydrates for the day as well. My meals tend to get smaller as the day goes on-- I can't stand to go to bed on a full stomach.

I thought it was interesting that a lot of my friends can barely stomach breakfast, yet usually eat a huge/late dinner. I'm sure it has to do with the fact that I work out in the AM and go to bed before midnight on most nights (pretty atypical for most college students).

So, I'm curious-- when do you eat the majority of your calories, and do you suppose it aligns with your workout habits, and provides better results?

Replies

  • Sidesteal
    Sidesteal Posts: 5,510 Member
    Between post workout and bed. Due to being a relatively new parents (7 month old) my gym time fluctuates, but a typical day would be for me to have about 100 calories (coffee creamer, can't drink it black) in the AM. Then around 5 or 6pm I'll go nuts and cram in anywhere from 1500 to 2200 calories between 5 and 9pm.

    Depending on my evening schedule I may have a 400-600 calorie meal pre workout but it depends on my agenda/schedule after I lift. Some nights I work or bowl shortly after lifting, which would compress my feed window TOO much.
  • mamitosami
    mamitosami Posts: 531 Member
    I work out at 9am so I eat a pretty small breakfast before and then I drink a big shake afterward. I eat the majority of my calories at the end of the day because that's when my resolve is the weakest!

    (BTW--Your profile picture is beautiful!)
  • deucesarewild1
    deucesarewild1 Posts: 36 Member
    I eat most of my calories at night - sometimes just 50-100 of them, depending on how difficult my work day is. I have a very physical job. Sometimes I work out after work, again depends on the work day.

    I have at the absolute most 400 calories from 5:30a til dinner around 6, 7, 8p and I finish my work and/or work out at around 4.

    I tried going back to my regular schedule of breakfast/lunch/dinner and snacks and I just felt so heavy and groggy and "blah". No more mid-day slump for me!
  • Ral263
    Ral263 Posts: 318 Member
    I work out at 9am so I eat a pretty small breakfast before and then I drink a big shake afterward. I eat the majority of my calories at the end of the day because that's when my resolve is the weakest!

    (BTW--Your profile picture is beautiful!)

    Why thank you! 8 more lbs til I'm back at that weight :). I'm also contemplating going back to my natural blonde once I hit my goal...it's been black for so long now!
  • missy5277
    missy5277 Posts: 88 Member
    I dont like breakfast either but i eat a gogurt on the way to the gym at 5a then do at least 45 min of cardio, normally i burn around 500calories then I tell myself to eat again around 9ish, i dont feel hungry i just know i have to eat, i eat lunch around 1p, and then the big food intake of the day is definately dinner.
  • tiedye
    tiedye Posts: 331 Member
    I get hungry at night, so I save my calories for nighttime. Small breakfast and lunch, big dinner and evening snack. I'd probably lose more if I switched that around but I can't stand going to bed hungry.
  • Celinya
    Celinya Posts: 18
    I get hungry at night, so I save my calories for nighttime. Small breakfast and lunch, big dinner and evening snack. I'd probably lose more if I switched that around but I can't stand going to bed hungry.

    This is how I am too. I have wondered if I would lose more if I switched, but then I end up overeating at night.
  • it_be_asin
    it_be_asin Posts: 562 Member
    I work out in the morning, but I still need most of my calories at night - if I eat 450 calories before midday, that's a lot for me, and I have days I only eat 300 calories before midday. However, dinner is a minimum of 550 calories, and it has been known to go over 800 calories, especially if I have supper afterwards.
  • sammiisme
    sammiisme Posts: 1
    wait you eat 400 calories a DAY?
  • kantone999
    kantone999 Posts: 174
    Morning--for me there's no faster way to gain weight than to eat at night. I can have the same number of calories and roughly the same amount of fat but if I eat in the morning it seems to burn off better. When I stopped eating a meal after 7:30, the weight really started to come off. I did get hungry at night at first but it's more habit than hunger. If I did something I could get completely absorbed in, I didn't feel hungry anymore.
  • deucesarewild1
    deucesarewild1 Posts: 36 Member
    wait you eat 400 calories a DAY?

    ...until dinner(s)
  • Raf702
    Raf702 Posts: 196 Member
    I taper my meals down by the time it's dinner which around 7pm. But honestly it doesn't matter when I consume most my calories. As long as my calorie consumption is within my daily allowance or within my calorie deficit.
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