Will 16:8 work for me

[Jaagojaago]

I need to lose 14 kgs.

My career involves vast amounts of brain work and creative intellectual output. Sat at a laptop. I am able to work from home on particularly research heavy days.

I don't get hungry till noon.

This means that the following happens -

I don't eat breakfast
I don't eat anything till... 1 pm arrives and I start feeling a bit hungry.
Then I look around and can't find anything to eat (because I haven't planned my lunches)
So I eat pot noodles.
That tides me over to dinner time by which Time I am HANGRY.
Then we eat our lovely healthy main meal. Skimming world friendly home cooked goodness.
I am HANGRY still because that's not enough.
Then I send DH out to get me a vat of chips or other such and have myself that.

It's wrong at various levels -

1. I'm depriving myself of a balanced diet
2. I'm starving myself till I must eat whatever
3. I'm not getting my fruit and veg count
4. I'm not losing weight.

It is however true that I really only am hungry for about 8 hours a day. There's no way I can eat breakfast at breakfast time.

So is there some way I could use this to my benefit in the 16:8 scheme and then work out what to eat in my normal 8 hour span and still lose the weight?

I think you have answered your own question! In order to make it work you need to plan your lunches. Lots of protein and low carb vegetables. Same for the evening. Log your meals ahead on an app. I'm using MyPlate.

I'm not usually hungry at breakfast time either. As a result, when I've dieted in the past, I've naturally fallen in to a 16:8 pattern (sometimes 17:7 depending on when I eat).

Like you I end up eating unhealthy foods in the evenings. It's been a bit of a comfort thing for me. I'm back on 16:8 now and cutting out the evening scoffs.

For lunches when you are at home, how about something quick like scrambled egg on wholemeal toast, with perhaps some smoked salmon and avocado on top? Big meal that, and would tide you over until dinner.

Then dinner enjoy your healthy family meal, adding extra veg like broccoli to your plate.

You could get extra veg in during the day with a small bowl of soup, as a snack? Or some veg and hummous?

The hardest thing, I've found, is stopping the evening snacking. If you can break the habit of doing that, you'll be well on your way. I'm on about day 3 now of not snacking in the evenings, and so far it's going OK. It's not easy but you can break the cycle!

Good luck!

Absolutely you can do it. With a natural creative flair you will be very good at this especially if you can nurse yourself past the first week or so... Honestly, after about ten days it feels as if you stomach feels like it shrinks and you get less greedy for huge portions. I'm saving loads of money by cutting out the rubbishy stuff.