Following a regular eating schedule....

[Goodgod]

I'm new to the board and to p90x. I just got it and I've gone through the first 4 days. My hat is off to anyone who made it through in one piece, :).

Anyways I read the nutrition book and I've been following it well, but my problem is keeping a regular eating schedule. I currently work an overnight job from 2 to 6, 7 days a week, and 4 days a week I go to college. The going to college severly screws up an actual "eating schedule" for me. I'm able to get in the 3 meals and 2 snacks in each day, but it is interrupted by a 3 hr. nap that I MUST take each day. With my schedule it is imperative that I do that. So basically I'm sleeping twice a day at 3 to 5 hour blocks and most of the time it is right in the middle of my "eating schedule". I know how important it is to not eat 3 hours before going to bed, but that is very hard for me not to do. Also, with me having to sleep in the middle of my "schedule" I don't know if that is hurting me and if so how to fix it.

Any advice?

If there is someone that needs to know my specific schedule don't hesitate to ask.

[Dave]

The "eating before bed" thing is a little overstated in this context. I would not want you eating a big meal and then going to sleep for 8 hours, particularly a carb heavy meal. Taking a nap, because you have to get in the sleep is a different deal. I think that's probably going to be fine. You have to make this work for your lifestyle, so don't worry too much about this one. You should be fine. If you can eat when you wake up, that's probably better. But if you are hungry, you are hungry.

[Goodgod]

Thanx for the response and I'm glad it isn't a big deal. I guess as long as I'm fitting in my 3 meals, 2 snacks, and 6 to 8 glasses of 8oz water then I should be doing good. I'm happy to hear it. Thanx again. :)

[FitRunner]

I think the importance of a regular eating schedule comes mostly from keeping your body relatively evenly fueled - so avoiding first being starving and then horking a 1000 Cal meal and feeling icky. I think most discussions assume that you are awake and work/go to school during business hours and have some latitude to choose when you eat, but you can take the reason behind the advice and apply it to your situation like it sounds like you are.

I've seen people cycle between forgetting to eat and then eating lots of junk food almost in a panic and then feel grossed out. You can't bring it with an empty stomach, but you can't bring it with a stomach full of pizza and wings either. As long as you are listening to your body and making fueling it something you pay attention to periodically during your waking hours, I think you'll be fine.

[Goodgod]

Thanx, for the reply. I'm trying really hard to stick to the meal plan that is set up for me based off of what I'm trying to do and so far it's been good.

I'm definitely focused, so no junk food, pizza, chicken wings, etc. etc. for me. :)

I did read something once and I always wondered if it was true. I read that if you are doing a nutrition program it is good once every 3 weeks or so to eat something bad. Maybe a Big Mac, some ice cream, or whatever guilty pleasure you enjoy. They don't say to go overboard with it, but they say it is a good way to throw your body off. I have always been a bit scepticle about that. Any thoughts? Is that true?

[FitRunner]

Not sure throwing your body off with bad food works the way a recovery week does. I've certainly heard the advice that you shouldn't be so uptight you won't indulge in something yummy but unhealthy once in a while, because if it truly is once in a while it won't hurt you, but I'm sceptical of the throwing off your body thing as well. Sounds like confusing muscle confusion and nutrition to me.

[Sterling]

I'm new to the board and to p90x. I just got it and I've gone through the first 4 days. My hat is off to anyone who made it through in one piece, :).

Anyways I read the nutrition book and I've been following it well, but my problem is keeping a regular eating schedule. I currently work an overnight job from 2 to 6, 7 days a week, and 4 days a week I go to college. The going to college severly screws up an actual "eating schedule" for me. I'm able to get in the 3 meals and 2 snacks in each day, but it is interrupted by a 3 hr. nap that I MUST take each day. With my schedule it is imperative that I do that. So basically I'm sleeping twice a day at 3 to 5 hour blocks and most of the time it is right in the middle of my "eating schedule". I know how important it is to not eat 3 hours before going to bed, but that is very hard for me not to do. Also, with me having to sleep in the middle of my "schedule" I don't know if that is hurting me and if so how to fix it.

Any advice?

If there is someone that needs to know my specific schedule don't hesitate to ask.

I'd employ ntermittent fasting (IF). It's a great lifestyle for a very busy person.

Try this: Eat every 16 hours. If your last meal is at 10 PM, then don't eat again until 2 PM the next day and then use that 2PM-10PM 8-hour eating window to eat. So you'll have a 16-hour fasted window, followed by an 8-hour fed window. It will free you up from feeling like you have to eat all the time. I usually break mine up into 2 meals, but you can do what best fits you. IF is also extremely beneficial in assisting you in losing body fat (if you are also in a calorie deficit) and resetting your horomones by allow your body to rest from food.