Lately my problem has been "saving" my calories so that I can enjoy dinner with my husband who returns from work at 7-8pm. He's a pharmacist so he doesn't normally work the 9-5.
Because it means a lot to the both of us that we enjoy dinner together, I end up eating too little during the day, and obviously, come dinner time, I am very very hungry.
I don't often binge, but when I do, I end up destroying all my week's hard work!
I've also noticed that when I go over my calories that day, I try to compensate the next day by eating way less than my allowed calories, so that it averages out. (For example, 2000 one day & 1000 another day to average out to 1500 calories per day) ---> I end up in a vicious circle.
Has anyone had this problem? 
Original Post by maryyy:
Lately my problem has been "saving" my calories so that I can enjoy dinner with my husband who returns from work at 7-8pm. He's a pharmacist so he doesn't normally work the 9-5.
Because it means a lot to the both of us that we enjoy dinner together, I end up eating too little during the day, and obviously, come dinner time, I am very very hungry.
I don't often binge, but when I do, I end up destroying all my week's hard work!
I've also noticed that when I go over my calories that day, I try to compensate the next day by eating way less than my allowed calories, so that it averages out. (For example, 2000 one day & 1000 another day to average out to 1500 calories per day) ---> I end up in a vicious circle.
Has anyone had this problem?
I hear ya it can be hard to get into a routine when you are trying to diet. Try and eat smaller meals through out the day. This will keep you from going crazy at dinner time. You don't have to eat a massive amount for dinner, and what you do not eat you can always eat later.
Don't stress your entire day for dinner to get there because if you do when dinner time comes you will tend to over eat.
That was me. For sure....
I would recommend attempting not to do that. It might lead to some days where you really go over your calorie allotment, but don't worry. In the long run, these binge days will gradually die out.
I would recommend not "saving" calories, but rather, try to never get hungry. Eat small things throughout the day, even have an apple right before dinner, something like that, and just eat less for dinner. Just because you eat less, portion-wise, does not mean that you cannot enjoy dinner every bit as much....
Can you cook healthy, lower-cal meals for you and your husband? I cook a lot for my husband and me and he always enjoys it, he just takes a bigger portion than me (and sometimes I make an extra side dish for him). The thing is you are setting yourself up to binge if you save your calories for dinner. Ideally your biggest meal should be breakfast, not dinner. That way you are getting your metabolism going in the morning and it will be faster all day. Dinner should be either small portions or lower-cal, healthy stuff (like spaghetti squash and tomato sauce with chicken and broccoli - that's just an example).
The good thing is you've recognized the pattern you've gotten into, and you know it's not conducive to weight loss. Hopefully changing when/what kinds of food you eat will help stop the binges.
I do eat small meals through out the day in 200 calorie increments, but still find its not enough if I want to be able to eat at least a 400 calorie dinner with my husband and perhaps a 100-200 snack before bedtime.
Are you sure 1500 is the right level for you as a starting point? Assuming 'yes', try to aim for a steady amount each day. Even if you go over to 2000 one day, go back and aim for 1500 again the next day. If you over-compensate by slashing your calorie intake to 1000 cals you really are in a vicious circle, you'll feel miserable and it'll do absolutely nothing to help your weight loss. Remember, it's about finding a pattern that will not only help you lose weight but maintain that loss in the long-term as well.
Go with a 400 cal breakfast and lunch. Build your 200 cal snack in at 4pm - 5pm perhaps rather than having a late snack. Then supper can be 500 cals and that's pretty generous. If you've had a decent supper at 8pm you shouldn't really need a late snack on top. Bump up the amount of vegetables you serve with lunch and supper so that they're more filling.
Original Post by gi-jane:
Are you sure 1500 is the right level for you as a starting point? Assuming 'yes', try to aim for a steady amount each day. Even if you go over to 2000 one day, go back and aim for 1500 again the next day. If you over-compensate by slashing your calorie intake to 1000 cals you really are in a vicious circle, you'll feel miserable and it'll do absolutely nothing to help your weight loss. Remember, it's about finding a pattern that will not only help you lose weight but maintain that loss in the long-term as well.
Go with a 400 cal breakfast and lunch. Build your 200 cal snack in at 4pm - 5pm perhaps rather than having a late snack. Then supper can be 500 cals and that's pretty generous. If you've had a decent supper at 8pm you shouldn't really need a late snack on top. Bump up the amount of vegetables you serve with lunch and supper so that they're more filling.
Your suggestion regarding the earlier snack as opposed to the later one is very smart! Thanks!
