Back in the office

[shade_42]

I feel like I'm doing research again, which is nice. I don't get to do that as often as I like anymore. There always seems to be a conference on the horizon. I have a lot of fun at conferences, but talks need content and that means research. Trying to squeeze out results between writing abstracts, writing the talks themselves, and actually going

Comments

[hoppibadge]

Definitely go with the grazing. The worst thing you can do for your brain is this feast and famine approach. If you keep nibbling on things throughout the day, you'll have the energy you need and probably won't overeat.

Add more nuts, seeds and legumes to your diet. Dried fruit if you need it. Pasta and rice are fine for breakfast or lunch to give you quick energy for cycling, but there's not much point to it before bed. You want protein at night, not starch. If it's late, it should be something easily digestible.

I agree with blue's note about eating more dark leafy greens. But I'd boost the nuts and legumes up if those are going to be a main source of protein for you.

Your meals should always be balanced. Don't eat a carb only breakfast, for example, as you'll just be hungry sooner.

For timing - you should be having breakfast between 6:30 and 8. Lunch should be around 11-11:30 and snack around 3. Or snack at 11 and eat a light lunch a bit later and another small snack around 4 with dinner around 6-7. These are the ideal (and bedtime is supposed to be around 10:30-11 under that logic). Most of us don't live that way.

Got to run. Nice to hear your news.

Best :)

[shade_42]

Your early to bed early to rise grazing plan made me giggle, the only way I'll ever be in bed before 11:00 is if I skip school.

What did you mean be easily digestible at night?

[hoppibadge]

Hi - was just cleaning up my email and hadn't seen your reply before this.

Yes, the early to bed thing is totally unrealistic sometimes. I laughed myself while writing it.

As for the easily digestible before bed... Ideally you want protein for rebuilding tissue. You don't need a dose of carbs before bed - after all, unless you're planning on getting in some good sleepwalking, you don't need a blast of energy stores to help you sleep.

Yoghurt is a good pre-bedtime snack, or I sometimes have a tofu that is unsweetened but nevertheless called dessert tofu.

If you're only eating a meal before you go to bed, then scrambled eggs or an omelette are a good option. Add some spinach or some other dark, leafy green if you can. It's great for vitamins.

Whether you're sleeping early or not, do graze. You'd get further on a handful of nuts and some dessert tofu or yoghurt than on a bowl of cheerios.

In other news, I am mourning the theft of my brand new bike. I join the thousands of Montrealers who will be trying to convince merchants to let me bring my bike into their establishment with me, since no amount of locks, security cameras, or passers-by seem to make a difference to Montreal bike thieves.

Hope you're well. :)