This has always been my strategy in the past because I refuse to be hungry in the night, but recently I realized it’s a bit of an eating trigger for me (sweet then salty, rinse and repeat) so stopped after dinner snacking. But interestingly, last night I had almonds and 72% dark chocolate after dinner (well after). I was starving. So I guess I was just really hungry yesterday. The weekend was unusual in that I stuck to my calories and weekends are always good for workouts and long cardio (snowy hikes).
Today I bumped my calories just a bit - still ravenous - and will reduce again when I’m back at my desk tomorrow.
Not sure this is answering the mail for you or @unicornsandrainbows , but my middle of the night protein shake has honestly been a boon here. I have no “going to be hungry” anxiety, because I know that I have a meal waiting for me IN the night. And I sleep REAL well with a belly fully of vanilla Metabolic Drive after waking up to pee.
The only thing that sucks is if I wake up a second time in the middle of the night and already had my snack, haha.
I fall a little on both ends. I don’t really care for lunch, so I just don’t eat it. I’ll have a light breakfast and my bigger meal is dinner. That way I’m not going to bed hungry, but I also don’t feel like I have to blow my pants out at dinner and be stuffed because I’m still going to eat breakfast in the morning.
I’ll do a shakes in the middle of the day, if I’m not lifting, or in the morning if I am (and breakfast shifts late enough you could call it lunch, but I still don’t).
I’m not working with enough calories for that. The piece of chicken worked well, though. I’ve been buying cut up rotisserie chicken, which I don’t like well enough to make a meal, but having the box of chicken strips in the fridge to grab as I pass has been a godsend. I’m guessing 2-3 pieces would be an ounce, and just a bite or two calms the gnawing feeling. Along with a drink of water, the single piece worked the other night.
I have had them in the evening along with some grapes or blueberries when I didn’t think I could make it to morning.
I started a protein shake before bed around the beginning of the year and it’s helping me sleep through without cravings and helping my weight to not fluctuate as much too. Before Disney trip I was up about 1.5lb of muscle on the year. With not working out (thigh we did get a ton of walking in) during the trip and getting sick out there (still recovering) I haven’t stepped in a gym in a week and my appetite has been way off too. I’ve probably dropped that 1.5lb straight back off. I have meds and did an IV drip yesterday and will probably do some more IM Shots today at my clinic to boost immune system further, so I’m on the mend but don’t want to stress my body by working out and diverting resources away from fighting off whatever sickness I picked up at disney
I was excited to see this pic, as we started at about the same place and have tracked pretty closely since. I have to imagine my back is looking leaner, too. It’s exciting!
I’m really bad at checking in here outside of updating my log, but it seems like you guys are doing awesome and are keeping the positive energy flowing I love to see that! Stay focused on your goals and remember that food is fuel, not just a vehicle to fun. Abs are cooler than 5 minutes of pleasure!
CL. Really? (I wanted to say “bitch, please” but am being polite.)
Your “before” is well beyond what I would ever hope for in an “after.” That said, I get it, it sucks to be torn away by life, particularly if it’s not for happy reasons (e.g. you inherited a castle in France and the travel back and forth is messing with your gainz). Still, you’re exceptional even when you’re distracted from it. Also an inspiration, and not just for your lifts.
Just repost your “before” at the end, and we’ll all be like “damn, looking strong!”
Y’all are way ahead of me. I am dragging up last place! I have a lot of irons in the fire right now.
