Lunch at 11:30, dinner at 7:00!

[marlabe]

It's a long time in between my lunch at 11:30 and my dinner at 7:00. Does anyone have any suggestions? I was thinking of a piece of fruit before work, lunch, "breakfast" at about 4:30 when I get home then dinner. I hate to start making exceptions before I even (re)start the program!

I appreciate any and all help!
Marla

[clarinetgal]

You can institute a 4th mini meal in between lunch and dinner, and just make your dinner a little smaller. As Reinhard says in his book, there's no rule that says you have to eat 3 meals a day, that is just what works for most people.

[Samantha]

It seems like in the book, he said it's important to stick to three meals a day to get your mind into that habit. The point is that thin people don't eat anything inbetween really. He said if you need to eat fruit seperate from your meal (like a few minutes before or after and don't want to put an orange next to your steak) then you can leave an imaginary space where it would fit on your plate. So maybe you could leave room on your lunch plate for that morning fruit, then have 'breakfast' at 4:30 then dinner.

[gratefuldeb67]

I'd suggest a fourth mini meal, like a fruit or salad with some cheese or nuts, at 4:30 or so like you mentioned.. that's a lot of hours in between meals.
No snacking is really a rule to keep from mindlessly non stop grazing randomly.. if you have a regular afternoon meal, that's small, it will probably help your overall progress in both the habit formation and keep you from being so ravenous by dinner that you over do it then.
Good luck!

[Nichole]

It's a long time in between my lunch at 11:30 and my dinner at 7:00. Does anyone have any suggestions? I was thinking of a piece of fruit before work, lunch, "breakfast" at about 4:30 when I get home then dinner. I hate to start making exceptions before I even (re)start the program!

I appreciate any and all help!
Marla

Wow, that's a lot like my schedule. I would say to eat something in between. You'll get a lot of different opinions; do what you feel is right for you!

[marlabe]

This is what I did today...had a banana before work, lunch, cereal and milk (without a banana) when I got home from work, then dinner. It worked pretty well. The only problem was that I didn't just take a plate for dinner...I took a little then a little more. I know it wasn't too much...but we are talking about establishing habits here, right?

Thanks for the help!

[clarinetgal]

It sounds like you're off to a good start, though! Just keep working at it, and the other habits should come in no time.