I’m not sure if there are more myths about gardening or weight loss. Since I was actively losing weight at the same time I was writing my book about garden myths, both were front and center over the summer of 2013. One of the weight loss myths I learned years ago was that we should “Eat like a king at breakfast, a prince at lunch and a pauper at dinner.” The rational was that if you ate calories at the beginning of your day you’d be more likely to burn them off. This sounds reasonable but it just isn’t true.
Whether you lose or gain weight is a matter of how many calories you take in and how many you burn. Period. This was good news for me because having a large breakfast just doesn’t fit in with the way I live. When I was actively losing weight I was eating between 1200 and 1500 calories a day. Now that I’m not trying to lose any more weight I’m up to 1,800 calories each day.
My husband and I sit down to dinner together any night when we’re both home, and I wanted to be able to cook a nice meal and enjoy it with him. That is our “family time.”
So for me it worked to eat between 200 and 250 calories for breakfast and the same for lunch. I could then eat a dinner of between 700 to 1000 calories and still be in my target range. At first I felt hungry during the day, especially around 4 or 5 o’clock when I would finish work. But after two or three weeks I got used to this and I haven’t felt hungry since.
Eating a larger meal at night worked for me because when I’m tired I am more likely to eat more. So it was sensible to plan on an evening meal that would be completely satisfying so I wouldn’t be tempted to snack as the night went on.
It takes a while for both mind and body to get comfortable with a different routine but it is possible to get accustomed to something new. If you’re following this blog because you are trying to lose weight, have faith that you can do it. Give yourself some time, have patience, and stay focused on your goal. And plan a daily routine that works for you!
There is no magic about eating at a particular time of day. It’s a matter of the total calories you take in vs the total you burn.
In case you need reminding: Every person is different so what’s right for one isn’t right for all. If you’re going to go on a reduced calorie diet you should go see your doctor and get an all-clear for your plans. This blog is talking about my experience and in no way should take the place of professional, medical advice.
