I work at a restaurant and get one break during my shift (1-close). I get up around 9 and have breakfast, but am not usually ready for lunch until I get to work. I get my "lunch" break at 3:00. I was just wondering if I can combine lunch and dinner for calorie and fat intake, otherwise I will end up eating late at night right before bed. Is it the total amount eaten in the day or spreading out the meals throughout the day that counts? or both?

craddock7210,                                                                                                                 The problem may be that if you combine your meals that you will be getting too many fat grams at that meal. The booklet and the websight both say that you can not save up fat grams for a splurge and I am sure that it applies to combining meals, too. You see, if you get more than your regular allowed fat grams with one ALLI pill, you will most likely suffer from the ole dreaded "TREATMENT EFFECTS". Besides, the part about eating late at night, I do not believe anymore. I have had to retrain myself and the way that I think since I started ALLI and there are a lot of "Diet myths" out there that I had accumulated in my memory bank that are just that "Myth". I understanmding that we loose weight by eating less caolries and fat then we need to maintain our current body weight and add activity. If you are up that late at night, than I would consider that time part of your day.                                                                                 Hope this helps,                                                                                                             Linda

It is both, and what rickybourroughs says is true. There's no saving up for a splurge, having one meal a day, etc. Part of the goal of the Alli Program is to help people learn healthy lifestyle patterns that will not only help people to lose weight, but to MAINTAIN it once goal weight is reached. In addition, many people are overweight to begin with because they eat erratically: too much at one time; not enoungh at another; skipping meals, etc. You can switch meals you you have dinner at YOUR lunch time and then a ligher meal when you finish (with a snack in-between!). The bottom line is that a regular pattern of eating is important to successful weight loss. I hope this helps. Pat Baird, MA, RD, registered dietitian

 Thank you for your advice! I just want to get this started on the right foot!

I'm glad it helped, and I'm sure you want to get off on the right foot.  Sometimes that's a little tricky when jobs, school, family obligations make it a challenge.  It may take a little more on your part to figure a way out, but most people generally can do that -- and be very successful!  :)

Good luck!

Pat