Timing my eating

[mtbc]

For some years now, on most days I follow the 16:8 diet: I fast for sixteen hours and eat within the remaining eight, in practice often within only five or so. Others will choose differently for themselves and of course that is fine with me. In keeping an eye on research I have been intrigued to see hints that when one eats may matter considerably.

I typically eat a little before leaving work then more after I work out at home. However, for example, in section 2.5 of Dietary modifications for weight loss and weight loss maintenance^* M. Yannakoulia et al. suggest the possibility that, an early day chronotype in energy intake and especially allocation of a significant amount of daily energy intake at breakfast may beneficially impact weight loss. My current practice hardly takes advantage of this though I am somewhat constrained: I need to drive to work quite early in the morning to park near my office and I want to eat with my family.

Last year we heard of The Big Breakfast Study: Chrono‐nutrition influence on energy expenditure and bodyweight^† in which L. C. Ruddick-Collins et al. describe careful plans to understand how and why morning vs. evening distribution of energy intake, affects energy balance. They noted back then how, early evidence supports morning‐loaded energy distribution as a beneficial strategy for weight control, but I have yet to notice any final summary; maybe it is all still ongoing.

Given enough evidence I should consider changing my habits. Eating more earlier may overcome my issue of being unproductive before my evening meal on days that, probably relatedly, I feel both hungry and not like doing anything useful.

^*Metabolism: Clinical and Experimental 92 (2019) 153-162
^†Nutrition Bulletin 43(2) (2018) 174-183

Comments

[wpadmirer]

If I don't eat breakfast, I'm useless. But I can get by eating much less than most people. Apparently I have the metabolism of a gopher tortoise and don't burn up calories very quickly.

Since I'm not working with people who snack all the time (grin), I've lost 12 pounds. So clearly I eating to be social. I don't seem to crave it when I'm NOT with people who snack all the time.