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Nighttime Eater

Nighttime Eater

Lisa Eirene

About Lisa Eirene Lisa lost 110 pounds through calorie counting and exercise. She swims, bikes, runs, hikes and is enjoying life in Portland, Oregon. Her weight loss story has been featured in First Magazine, Yahoo Health, Woman's Day and Glamour.com.

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16 Comments

  1. Jennifer

    You’re so right! I don’t think it’s an A + B = C equation either. I used to eat more calories at breakfast and lunch than I’m trying to right now because I’ve found that no matter what I eat at those two meals, I want a substantial snack in the afternoon before working out or dinner. I need to save myself 200 calories or so or I’ll over eat. I’m trying to stick to 1,500-1,700 calories a day right now because I’ve hit a plateau and I need to do something to bust out of it. Rearranging how many calories I eat and when is starting to help, I think!

    1. Lisa Eirene

      That’s great, Jennifer! I realized the same thing. I knew I would always eat more in the evening, so why not have a smaller lunch? It works for me most days. My smaller lunch needs to be packed with protein though or it doesn’t fill me up enough.

  2. Candace

    This works for me too. I find it much easier to eat less during the day, savings most of my calories for dinner time. In fact my calorie breakdown is very similar to yours. I have to cook for two males every night, so I’d rather skimp during the day and then enjoy dinner with my family. I’ve tried doing the opposite and it doesn’t agree with me, eating more at breakfast/lunch just upsets my stomach, even if it’s super healthy. My only downfall at night is wanting to have some wine while I cook, that always leads to eating a little more than I’d planned. I need to break that habit.

    1. Lisa Eirene

      I agree, Candace.And wine has that effect on me too…Cooking + drinking + nibbling…….

      When I did the Slow Carb Diet the 30grams of protein for breakfast was hard for me. It was like 3 scrambled eggs with 3 turkey sausage links and half a cup of black beans or something crazy like that. I felt so gross. It was just too much food. I reduced it to 2 eggs and 1 sausage link and 1/4 cup of beans. Not as much protein as the 30g but enough to satisfy me without making me nauseated.

  3. Lisa

    Your description is totally me and why I have such a hard time on diets. When I did Weight Watchers I was so frugal with my points that I wouldn’t be satisfied, and I’m frugal because I’m saving them up for a huge dinner or some dessert.

    I am not a snacker and never have been. I did find that when I was exercising regularly and with more intensity I needed a snack for the energy and felt better when I added a snack.

    It’s easier for me to figure out a formula for breakfast and lunch where I can choose between a few meals that are around the same caloric amount and then have the flexibility to eat what I want for dinner and have a dessert. When I followed that plan I had the most success.

    1. Lisa Eirene

      Have you figured out a way to better fuel yourself throughout the day yet have points left over for a larger dinner and/or dessert? I’m curious!

  4. Deb

    My breakdown of calories is almost exactly like yours- In the first half of the day, I eat a little less then half of my day’s allowance, then have between 800 and 1000 cals for dinner. I’ve tried eating a big meal at the start, and unless I didn’t eat it until 2 or 3 in the afternoon, I just end up eating all day.

    1. Lisa Eirene

      I’m glad you found something that works for you. It took me awhile to figure it all out and find what worked for me.

  5. Jill

    I don’t think eating at night causes weight gain. Let’s say you eat 1,500 a day. If you eat it all in one sitting or break it up over the course of the day it does not change the fact that you have eaten 1,500 that day. I could be wrong- but that is my logic.

    1. Lisa Eirene

      I’m with you on that logic. I tend to agree. I went through phases during my weight loss journey where I ate TOTAL junk BUT I was within my calorie range for the day. I didn’t feel healthy, but I still lost weight….

  6. Jess

    I leave myself more calories for during the day because that is when I am hungry! I have 2 40min breaks and I eat an equal number of calories 200-300 at both of them. So instead of having a small snack and a big lunch I have 2 small lunches. I am a big believer in dessert so I always leave calories for dessert! If ice cream is wrong I don’t wanna be right! Cutting it out never worked, so working it in is the answer for me!

    1. Lisa Eirene

      It sounds like it works well for you, Jess, and I totally agree on dessert! The way I eat my food during the work week is much of the same. I eat snacks throughout the day instead of a big lunch. Eating snacks (an apple, some hummus and carrots, etc) keeps my blood sugar normal and keeps me from grazing on the candy in the office. Most of the time…..

  7. Cheryle

    I’m also a night time eater. I’m in weight loss mode, so I divide my 1400 calorie allotment like this:

    Breakfast: I either skip it entirely or have a tablespoon of organic almond butter. Two – three TB of half-n-half in my coffee.
    50 – 150 calories

    Lunch: usually a huge salad with protein, or some kind of protein with potatoes or rice
    400-500 calories

    On days I work out, I’ll have an apple + cheese or celery + nut butter
    100 calories

    Dinner: usually protein + veg + potatoes or rice
    400-500 calories

    Bedtime snack: always fage 2% greek yogurt with raspberries
    150

    I’ve found that I feel most energized and satisfied when I don’t snack, and when I concentrate the bulk of my calories between noon and 8pm. It’s taken me awhile to get off the “6 small meals a day” thing, but I really do feel more satisfied eating more food less often, if that makes any sense! 🙂

    1. Lisa Eirene

      I like your breakdown a lot. It makes a lot of sense too. If you workout in the afternoon or evening, that’s when you need your calories. I am famished when I come home from the gym. I can’t skip breakfast tho–I am a firm believer in the high protein breakfast. It did wonders for my daytime snacking!

  8. Cheryle

    Yeah, you totally have to just listen to your body. If I eat breakfast, it has to have a lot of protein. Most days though, I’m not hungry so I just wait to eat until I am. I just wish it hadn’t taken me so long to figure all this out! 🙂

    1. Lisa Eirene

      “I just wish it hadn’t taken me so long to figure all this out!” ME TOO!

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