5'11" 47M, lost 168lbs (366 to 198) in the three years leading up to the pandemic. During that time I experimented with all kinds of fasting schedules, but what worked best for me (felt easy, got results) was a big, healthy meal around 1pm, then a snack around 6:30pm. At the time my girlfriend and I both mostly worked at night.
Since March of 2020 I've gained back 58lbs. I work from home now, and my girlfriend (who loves to cook, and really wants us to eat at the same time) no longer works nights. Basically, I have to have dinner. She's cool with doing an early dinner (around 5pm).
I've tried just shifting my preferred schedule to start with that 5pm dinner, but I've found it difficult. So hungry by 5pm (physically and *psychologically*) that I tend to eat way too much. Also tried sticking to my old schedule and just not eating much dinner, but my brain can't handle eating a small portion when my gf is eating a normal portion (feeling "deprived" usually triggers my urge to eat too much).
Has anybody had luck shifting their first meal from afternoon to evening? Or any ideas for other schedules/tricks to try?
Answer
Split calories more evenly between first meal and second. Also helps to go high protein.
HOWEVER, if you were that overweight (366 pounds) then your girlfriend needs to understand she’s living with an addict, this is a life and death situation, and should be supportive of whatever decisions you need to make to keep the weight off. Addictions that cause you to become 366 pounds are extremely serious, and not something to play with or minimize just because you want to share one meal a day. Do what’s best for you first man. 366 pounds is no joke, that’s life and death.