I’m having trouble writing down my calories in my food journal. I need to keep track of my intake or it gets way out of control. And if I look and see I have calories left to use, I feel inclined to use them. This simply lends to most of my eating falling in the evening, not good.

So, what I’m thinking is breaking the day up into 3 sections and only allowing 500 calories per section. This way I will use my “extra” calories where they are needed and have a good breakfast and not “save” calories for a larger dinner or afternoon snack.

I’ve been doing this the last couple of days, and I feel more balanced. And if i want that splurge, I just have to keep it to under my 500 calorie limit in that section of the day.

My day is broke up like this
Section 1: breakfast, morning snack
Section 2: lunch, afternoon snack
Section 3: supper, evening snack

I don’t always have a morning or an evening snack.

What do you guys think? Does it make sense, or am I just better off sticking with my journal?

Bree

Bree, I say try it for a week or two and see if it works for you. I don’t think there is a right or a wrong answer. Most of us have a harder time eating earlier in the day, and want to limit our evening intake, so maybe you’re on to something. Without doing it that way, at one point I just made myself sure I was having an adequate breakfast with protein, and made lunch my biggest meal, so I guess it works out that way.

Way cool!!! Never thought of it like that, but I think it’ll help. I might try it too to make sure I eat more off a breakfast and less of a dinner.

Bree, I believe your on to something here.  The suspense is killing me, so please let us know how this new plan is working for you?

It is working, it not only takes the place of my counting calories, but it simplifies the whole math process so its easier to know if I’m on track with my eating that day. I’m liking it.

Bree

Thank you Bree for the update!  Your idea sounds very doable and time saving! What will I do with my extra time

Something I’ve noticed about doing it like this, I’m not having that famished feeling, and it’s sometimes difficult to eat enough for breakfast. Today I had to add a morning snack!

Bree

You crack me up, Suzzy!

I’ve been doing something similar for the past few months. I’ve split up my total calories over 5 meals that I eat every 3 hours. Works great in the 12-hour diet that Scott advocates. I find that I’m never famished during the day, especially late at night or first thing in the morning. It also keeps the blood sugar nice and even. The only problem I had is when we ate out and guessing the calories and/or portion sizes. I got around that by only eating half the meal and not eating out late at night, either its lunch or an early evening meal, and maybe skip the next meal or only eat ~100 calories depending on my hunger level.

- Dale

Hi, Dale! I’m very honored that you broke your silence on my thread!

This system is still working very well for me. Dale is so right about the sustained level of lack of hunger. That’s the best part.

Bree