On occasion, I have a crazier than usual (if there is such a thing! :lol: ) schedule with my meals and snacks, and I need some feedback on how to approach these unusual times when they arise. I will preface by saying I'm usually up by 5:30am on work days and that I work in a sometimes [b:477466b718][i:477466b718]extremey[/i:477466b718][/b:477466b718] hectic environment. First example (today): I had breakfast at 6:30am. Upon arriving at work, calculated I would need to have my lunch by 11:30 today (no problem; it's usually flexible). About 10:30 I was starting to get hungry and had a full glass of water. No problem, didn't notice anything until I realized I was getting hungry and it was 12:45. Prepared my lunch and began eating by 1:00pm. Should I just go ahead and have a snack about 10:00 if I believe I will not be able to get a break and my lunch will come longer than 5 hrs from breakfast? Second example (last week): Another hectic day at the office. Had my breakfast about 7:30. All seemed well on the schedule part. Got my lunch and was back at my desk eating about 1:00. However, things went to the potty after the first few bites. Needless to say, I didn't finish my lunch until about 3:30-3:45 (little bites here and there during the afternoon). I went ahead and had a snack about 5pm because I had to grocery shop. By the time I got home and got groceries put away, I had a very late dinner, about 9-9:30pm (and probably only about 1/2 Zone fav) and was in bed about an hour later. Should I not be concerned on days like this because it is not daily or 5 of 7? Some feedback on how to stay Zoned in crazy situations such as these would be greatly appreciated. Thanks! ~~ KC

[color=darkred:cc888c8f02]Hi, The only answer I see to you dilemma is a little self discipline (be sure to eat). It may be helpful to you to keep zoned snacks readily available at work, in the car, etc. for these occasions. [/color:cc888c8f02]

Thanks, Sue. I did think of snacking in between B/L and have done so before. However, that leads me to ask if the timing between L/D, including afternoon snack, is going to be off, is it OK to have 2 snacks in between and a late dinner w/no "before bed" snack? This would not be a planned scenario, but if I see that is how my day is driving, would that be OK?

[quote:38b29d9dc2="KC"]Thanks, Sue. I did think of snacking in between B/L and have done so before. However, that leads me to ask if the timing between L/D, including afternoon snack, is going to be off, is it OK to have 2 snacks in between and a late dinner w/no "before bed" snack? This would not be a planned scenario, but if I see that is how my day is driving, would that be OK?[/quote:38b29d9dc2] [color=darkred:38b29d9dc2]Hi, You can modify the number of blocks in meals and snacks, and also the timing, to suit your needs as long as you follow the basic guidelines and also make sure to eat your required number of blocks daily. The guidelines are: always eat within one hour of wakling, don't eat more then 5 blocks in any meal, don't go longer than 5 hours without a meal or a snack, and have a bedtime snack. While some Zoners eat the typical 3 meals and two snacks a day, others may eat two block meals more frequently. or two block meals adn 1 block frequent snacks, etc. I require 13 blocks a day so I eat a 4 block breakfast, 3 block lunch, and 3 block dinner, with 3 snacks throughout the day. On most days, I have the first block of my breakfast prior to my workout (early AM) then have the other 3 blocks of my breakfast after I workout.[/color:38b29d9dc2]

[quote:73a0791004="Slknorr"][color=darkred:73a0791004]I require 13 blocks a day so I eat a 4 block breakfast, 3 block lunch, and 3 block dinner, with 3 snacks throughout the day. On most days, I have the first block of my breakfast prior to my workout (early AM) then have the other 3 blocks of my breakfast after I workout.[/color:73a0791004][/quote:73a0791004] Sue, Are you just saying you prepare 4 blocks of a food and eat 1/4 of it then workout and then eat the rest? How does this differ from a 1 block snack then workout then 3 block breakfast?

[quote:0185cb5c6c="gofish"][quote:0185cb5c6c="Slknorr"][color=darkred:0185cb5c6c]I require 13 blocks a day so I eat a 4 block breakfast, 3 block lunch, and 3 block dinner, with 3 snacks throughout the day. On most days, I have the first block of my breakfast prior to my workout (early AM) then have the other 3 blocks of my breakfast after I workout.[/color:0185cb5c6c][/quote:0185cb5c6c] Sue, Are you just saying you prepare 4 blocks of a food and eat 1/4 of it then workout and then eat the rest? How does this differ from a 1 block snack then workout then 3 block breakfast?[/quote:0185cb5c6c] [color=darkred:0185cb5c6c] Hi, No, I don't prepare an entire breakfast and eat a 1/4 of it pre-workout. I usually have a Zoned muffin or 1/2 cup of yogurt for one block of my regular 4 block breakfast, so I have that prior to my workout on the days I workout first thing after waking. I just happen to think or it as a part of my breakfast. [/color:0185cb5c6c]

Thanks for the clarification and additional info re: workouts and timing. I needed that as well.

[quote:0651538e7f="KC"]Thanks for the clarification and additional info re: workouts and timing. I needed that as well.[/quote:0651538e7f] [color=darkred:0651538e7f]You're welcome![/color:0651538e7f] :D

[quote:588bddc4b2="Slknorr"][color=darkred:588bddc4b2] Hi, No, I don't prepare an entire breakfast and eat a 1/4 of it pre-workout. I usually have a Zoned muffin or 1/2 cup of yogurt for one block of my regular 4 block breakfast, so I have that prior to my workout on the days I workout first thing after waking. I just happen to think or it as a part of my breakfast. [/color:588bddc4b2][/quote:588bddc4b2] Thanks Sue, now I get it. A rose by any other name... :wink:

[quote:738839cf8b="gofish"][quote:738839cf8b="Slknorr"][color=darkred:738839cf8b] Hi, No, I don't prepare an entire breakfast and eat a 1/4 of it pre-workout. I usually have a Zoned muffin or 1/2 cup of yogurt for one block of my regular 4 block breakfast, so I have that prior to my workout on the days I workout first thing after waking. I just happen to think or it as a part of my breakfast. [/color:738839cf8b][/quote:738839cf8b] Thanks Sue, now I get it. A rose by any other name... :wink:[/quote:738839cf8b] [color=darkred:738839cf8b]Yep![/color:738839cf8b] 8)