Would you breakfast like a queen, lunch like a princess etc?

[amigababy]

Sorry I can't link, but read in the Times today about a study of a 1400 calorie diet with 2 groups;
One where breakfast was 200 cal; lunch 500; dinner 700.
The other, breakfast 700 cal; lunch 500; dinner 200.

the bigger breakfast group lost 17 lb in 12 weeks, the bigger dinner group lost 7 lb in 12 weeks.

Could you swap your allowance round like this to try and lose weight?
Breakfast is my favourite meal, so I think I could do this. What do you think?

[iklboo]

I'm not a fan of breakfast. It can be 4-5 hours after I get up before I'm hungry / can face food. I could probably eat a bigger lunch than breakfast or tea.

[Pencilsandprams]

I think this is a great idea. In fact yesterday I happened to do just that, coincidentally! I had a mammoth breakfast at around 750kcals, then a smaller lunch and then supper was only 200kcals ish. I felt full all day and because I knew I'd already used up my cals meant there was no temptation to drag out the evening snacking and filling up on junk / sweet stuff. Whereas today I did it the other way around and I felt a lot hungrier all day, despite a pretty good lunch and am now finding myself resisting every urge to raid the 'naughty cupboard'!

I say go for it. There's nothing better than a massive bowl of fruity, yoghurty porridge first thing I reckon! x

[SilkySocksSinkShips]

It makes sense really because most people will burn more calories between breakfast and dinner than between dinner and breakfast.

I'm with iklboo though, takes me hours before I can eat after waking.

[WhoNickedMyName]

I generally eat like this anyway, although breakfast for me is usually around 10.30am, when I start to feel hungry.

[amigababy]

Weekends - no problem; go early-ish for my c25k run; come home to a big veggie cooked breakfast, fruit juice, slice of toast, banana (or whatever, to fit 700)

Week-days; pre-breakfast of cereal or yoghurt and fruit at 7.30 with family, about 250 cals, main breakfast at 9.00, additional 450 (luckily I start work at 9.30 so I could fit this in) maybe take a "sausage" buttie in a wholemeal roll etc. Set me up for the day.

The only problem would be having a tiny meal in the evening with the family and feeling a bit strange comparing to their portions or meal. It would have to be soup or salad I guess, to fit into 200 cals.

My weakness is endless snacking at around 4pm, the mid afternoon slump. It would be good to cut that out.

[amigababy]

xpost mermaid I was just typing and thinking out loud how I could fit in with my lifestyle. DD is older teenage so I don't have any real childcare in a morning, which is easier.

[Joey8]

Yes yes yes definitely!

When I wake up in the morning I can't wait for breakfast. I generally have breakfast around 7.30 / 8 am - later on weekends.

I always have a big bowl of cereal (healthy kind, like kellogs bran flakes, porridge, or weetabix) I always put my cereal in the microwave - I love it lovely and warm. Tastes so much better, I know I'm weird :-/

Sometimes if I'm extra hungry I will have some toast as well (I buy the hovis Nimble bread so they are only small slices)

For example today I had a big bowl of bran flakes and then scrambled egg on toast. I always make time for breakfast, even with the little one.


When it comes to about 11.30 I get a bit peckish so I will have an apple or a smoothie :-)


I have lunch at half 1 which is normally a yogurt and some fruit. I'm normally on the go so don't get a lot of time to have lunch but if I have time I will have a sandwich or some soup.

I have dinner around 7 (not by choice) I would rather have it around 6! But for dinner I always have something light as I'm not a fan of eating late in the evening and thats normally the time I head for a swim. (If and when my other half gets back from work)

I'm not a huge fan of meat so I will fill my plate full of veg and perhaps a bit of chicken.

A lot of information there haha sorry! But yes I find having a big breakfast works really well for me - gives me the energy I need to get me through the morning and with a decent sized lunch - takes me all the way to the evening where I only need something little :-)

It makes sense as you generally burn more energy throughout the day and in the evening well thats the time you sleep, sit and watch TV!

I used to weigh about 4 stone heavier than I am now - so proof that it works! Although everyone has a different diet/body/metabolism of course :-)

[brainwashed]

200 calories at dinner doesn't allow for wine though...

[STIDW]

I changed from having a large meal at teatime and then going to the gym to going to the gym after breakfast and eating the majority of my calories by lunchtime. It didn't seem to make a great deal of difference, I regularly lost 2lbs a week until I got down to about 10st10.

My calorie breakdown is around 250-350 breakfast, snack (or second breakfast after gym!) 200-300, lunch 300-400 and 300-400 dinner.