To wonder if my dodgy mealtimes are going to impact my weight loss?

[sharkirasharkira]

I have recently for roughly the 1000th time started trying to eat more healthily and exercise in order to lose weight, tone up, etc etc. I have about 3 - 3 1/2 stone to lose to be where I want to be.

The trouble is, I am limited in time as to when its convenient for me to eat and exercise.

Currently I'm trying the following routine:

Wake up when DP leaves for work around 7/7:30am

Do some light exercise/yoga maybe have a lie in if I'm really tired

Eat breakfast 8:30/9am

Get to work around 10am

Work until roughly 2/3pm (possible later if I'm really busy)

Go to the gym until about 4pm

Eat lunch

Work from 5 until 9/10pm (again, possibly later if I'm busy)

Get home and eat dinner around 10:30/11pm

Go to bed around midnight.

(Obviously on my days off I can do whatever).
I've always heard that you shouldn't eat really late at night and that it will cause you to put on weight but in reality, when else will I have the time to eat? Or will it not make a difference? Is there a better schedule I could do?

If I eat before I start work in the evening (before 5pm) I'm starving again by the time I finish. I can't eat lunch directly before exercising either or I feel sick. I also can't eat at work. I really don't want to go to the gym first thing in the morning and I'm too exhausted after work so realistically my breaktimes are the only time I can squeeze it in.

Aibu to think this schedule will work?

maybe have your bigger meal at lunchtime? But I've been eating between 8pm/9pm lately to fit in my exercise too and I've still been losing, sticking to not eating crap is most important

The only thing that impacts weight loss is a calorie deficit. I.e. if you consume fewer calories than you burn in a day, you WILL lose weight. You need a deficit of about 3,500 calories to lose 1lb of fat (likewise, a surplus of 3,500 to gain 1lb of fat).
When you eat those calories has absolutely no bearing on weight loss. Focus on eating the right foods in sensible quantities, and being consistent and I guarantee you will get results.

Hope this helps

Well that's what I thought Napping but I see it repeated so often - 'don't eat after 6pm or it will turn to fat as you won't burn it off' etc etc. I guess it's just one of those food myths?

I would eat at 5pm and then if you are hungry again make sure you have a high protein snack ready like some chicken to graze on, or an apple and peanut butter. I've started seeing a personal trainer and he told me he felt I actually wasn't eating enough because I stuck to my 3 meals a day. Little and often he says.

They are food myths. It doesn't mattet when we eat.

Make your exercise count. Are you doing HIIT?

I would get weights and lift the heaviest weight that you can for as long as you can, even if its only a few minutes. You don't have to exercise for more than 45 minutes a day, spread out, for it to be effective.

I watch all the latest sport science programs. They are really interesting and disprove all of the old myths.

Calorie deficit is what it is about. It doesn’t matter what time you eat them.
I am a nurse so Work very long days 7-21.30 or nights so always eating at odd times but I have lost close to 15 stone now. It’s about what I eat and how much. Time has nothing to do with it.

Can you adjust your working hours at all? Seems an odd schedule.

Mini, I have to be at work for 5 so the absolute latest I could eat would be 4pm which seems very early to have dinner Sometimes I have to work straight through so I don't have time to eat or exercise in my break!

Sadly not Charlotte, I work split shifts - just the nature of the job unfortunately, I can't change the working hours.