Hello - and please Help? :)

[Leah1]

Hi Everyone!

My name is Leah, and it is very nice to see so much support I am from London.

I have read the Atkins book and I am very much looking forward to starting on this journey tommorow. I am very disclipined and have EVERY intention to follow the plan. I don't see the point otherwise!

I had a couple of questions, and I was really hoping someone could help?

I work 9-5 in an office job but 3-4 times a week I go to the gym. If I was to do the 3 meals a day, this wouldn't work because I'd be doing this:

9am Breakfast
13.00 Lunch

then from 18.00 I am in the gym and I don't get home till 20.30 to start cooking dinner. I am wary of the 6 hour rule.

So, what I thought was that I could do the 4-5 meal plan. My questions are these:

1) Can I literally take my 3 big meals and cut them down into 4-5 smaller meals? So, like if I did the 3 meal plan and I had 3 eggs and 2 strips of bacon for breakfast on the other plan, I could have 1.5 eggs and 1 strip of bacon for breakfast and then the same at say 11am? Then at 12 have half a steak and then at at 16.00 have a snack and another half a steak at say 18.00? and so on? That way I could perhaps have a cheese and egg omlette after training for dinner as I haven't then broken the 6 hour rule?

2) Snacks: In the book it says eat them when you are not hungry. How does this work, and how many should I have? What if I fill full at lot?

3) If you have the 4-5 meals, is it OK to snack inbetween?

I am training to be a personal trainer this year (just started) and so I would REALLY appreciate the help because I need to be in the gym at these times for practical exams.

Thank you VERY much in advance.

Leah x

[LateNiteDiner]

Re: Hello - and please Help?

Hi Leah (my daughter's name too)! Welcome to the boards.

On Atkins, you eat when you are hungry, or every 6 hours. I think they have to include the "every 6 hours" thing because once you've been on plan for awhile, you'll find you're rarely hungry.

With that said, I'm certain there is a mixed bag of people here: those who eat at structured meal times, and those who "graze" throughout the day. I see no problem in you altering the eating times to fit your schedule. If you wanted to stick to three meals a day, you could always eat a hard-boiled egg (or other snack) an hour or so before leaving for the gym to cover the 6-hour rule, leaving your other meals as is. Your choice.

Best of luck on your new WOE (way of eating) and on your becoming a physical trainer. It may not be long before we are asking you the questions on fitness.

[Leah1]

Re: Hello - and please Help?

Hi

Thanks for your answer.... anytime I'll give you some fitness advice

I think I figured that the best way to do this is to monitor my calories between 1500-1800 a day, make 65% of that fat, 30% protein and 5% carbs....?

I am also using a site to monitor calorie intake etc....

So, you don't need to eat a full meal to cover the 6 hours then....that would make life a lot easier

Leah xx

Hi Leah (my daughter's name too)! Welcome to the boards.

On Atkins, you eat when you are hungry, or every 6 hours. I think they have to include the "every 6 hours" thing because once you've been on plan for awhile, you'll find you're rarely hungry.

With that said, I'm certain there is a mixed bag of people here: those who eat at structured meal times, and those who "graze" throughout the day. I see no problem in you altering the eating times to fit your schedule. If you wanted to stick to three meals a day, you could always eat a hard-boiled egg (or other snack) an hour or so before leaving for the gym to cover the 6-hour rule, leaving your other meals as is. Your choice.

Best of luck on your new WOE (way of eating) and on your becoming a physical trainer. It may not be long before we are asking you the questions on fitness.

[Peytonn]

Re: Hello - and please Help?

I think the 6 hour thing is because since the appetite is under control, you might forget to eat.. but if you wait longer than 6 hours to put some food in your mouth.. it can cause the metabolism to begin to slow down.. (I believe I read that somewhere).. and that's not good.. we dont' want a slower metabolism..

[Georgiana]

Re: Hello - and please Help?

Welcome to ADBB!

Snacks: In the book it says eat them when you are not hungry.

Where in the book does it say this?

[liv]

Re: Hello - and please Help?

A fitness trainer that is so cool.
I cut my breakfast in two because of exercise as I exercise in the morning. So just a small snack early then run or whatever and then the rest of meal.