How Often Should I Be Eating?
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JustMimi215 wrote: »GiveMeCoffee wrote: »Don't worry about specific times to eat, focus on your calorie goal. If you like eating breakfast and having snacks do that. If you like to eat 1-2 larger meals that's okay too. Find what works best for you, and keeps you heading towards your goal.
For me, I eat my first meal around 1 pm, and a bigger dinner a couple hours later, it works for me. Don't over think this or make it more difficult that it has to be.
Thanks i appreciate how blunt you were and yes i do tend to over think it. Plus since im at 1800 calories i thought maybe i needed to start in the morning and have 6 meals...I am new to this and i dont know what the heck i am doing....But i am learning, thats why im here on MFP
You're welcome. I understand the over thinking I did my share of it when I was starting out. But honestly keep it simple works the best.
Just starting out focus on staying within your calorie goals. Try different eating patterns to find what best works for you. Good luck to you!0 -
While I agree that you should eat primarily as it fits your lifestyle, you also should be observant of things like spiking your blood sugar level. It is advised that you eat smaller meals throughout the day to keep glucose and insulin levels at a constant, rather than letting your blood sugar levels get low, and then eating a huge meal and putting your body under the strain of processing it all. The glycemic index helps support this balance, and this practice is one of the first things taught to new diabetics.0
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When you are truly hungry. This could be between 1 & 10x a day. I prefer eating twice a day, maybe a 3rd for a snack.0
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AngryViking1970 wrote: »FitnessFreak_69 wrote: »The goal is to loose weight so you want to keep your metabolism up. You should be eating healthy foods about every three to four hours, and they should be small meals. 100 or 200 calorie meals at max. When you eat more frequently it helps you burn that unwanted fat. Also make breakfast the biggest meal of the day. That way you have all day to burn off that first meal. Plus you need to "break the fast" or else your body will go into starvation mode and you will end up gaining weight. You should also eat the most carbs during breakfast and the least carbs before bed. Good luck to you!
ISSA Personal Fitness Trainer
The bro-science is strong with this one.
This might be the most MFP bingo squares in one post in the history of MFP...
I actually LOL'd at this.
So did I. There was so much wrong with that post I didn't know where to start.0 -
There isn't one right answer to this...well I guess there kind of is. Eat when you are actually hungry. One of the biggest things a lot of people need to learn when trying to lose weight is when they are actually hungry vs. just think they are hungry. Being bored is one of the easiest things to mistake hunger for...you think about some type of food and have to have it (craving).
The rule I've always heard is when that craving hits, find something to take your mind off it for 15 minutes...go for a walk, pick up a book...tv isn't usually the best choice as that tends to be a mindless eating trigger for most. If you are still hungry after 15 minutes than you are actually hungry and should eat something. I find this really works. If you have a snack and still feel hungry, wait another 15 mintes again...usually your brain just hasn't recieved the signal yet that you aren't hungry anymore, so give it some time.
Another important thing (as I think someone mentioned above too) is not getting too full or too hungry. When you are FAMISHED you will likely over do it, so don't make a habit of waiting to eat when you find you are actually hungry. Then, eat slowly so your mind can catch up to your stomach and you don't over eat. Weight watchers uses a balloon to explain this...you don't ever want to be the deflated balloon and you don't ever want to be the balloon pumped to the point of popping...you want to be the comfortable ballon :-)
For the record I have breakfast, a mid-morning snack, sometimes another, lunch, an afternoon snack, sometimes another, dinner, a late night snack, sometimes another. Haha. You get the idea. I'm a big snacker. You have to do what feels right to you and learn how to recognize it. Good luck!0 -
michelleelainehaynes wrote: »While I agree that you should eat primarily as it fits your lifestyle, you also should be observant of things like spiking your blood sugar level. It is advised that you eat smaller meals throughout the day to keep glucose and insulin levels at a constant, rather than letting your blood sugar levels get low, and then eating a huge meal and putting your body under the strain of processing it all. The glycemic index helps support this balance, and this practice is one of the first things taught to new diabetics.
While this may be applicable to diabetics, in a non-diabetic person, the level of blood sugar does not fluctuate much at all.
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michelleelainehaynes wrote: »While I agree that you should eat primarily as it fits your lifestyle, you also should be observant of things like spiking your blood sugar level. It is advised that you eat smaller meals throughout the day to keep glucose and insulin levels at a constant, rather than letting your blood sugar levels get low, and then eating a huge meal and putting your body under the strain of processing it all. The glycemic index helps support this balance, and this practice is one of the first things taught to new diabetics.
Right, but since not everyone has problems with their blood sugar levels this goes back to personal preference and eating as it best fits your lifestyle (including any medical needs or conditions). Many people are able to skip meals without seeing the same kind of blood sugar highs and lows that you're talking about here.
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Well, diabetics have to eat by the clock. Others don't. So a diabetic or a hypoglycemic will have 5-6 meals a day (three meals two snacks), but I've seen MFP'ers who make do with one large meal and an evening snack.
The National Weight Control registry has found that long-term weight loss is associated with those who do not skip breakfast, amongst other things.
Don't let yourself get too hungry; learn to pay attention to your body's signals. If you don't want to add calories try drinking a glass of water first. I am most likely to be derailed right after work so I never skip my afternoon snack. I don't want to be rifling the pantry while sampling dinner and trampling over all my best-laid plans for the day.0 -
Well, diabetics have to eat by the clock. Others don't. So a diabetic or a hypoglycemic will have 5-6 meals a day (three meals two snacks), but I've seen MFP'ers who make do with one large meal and an evening snack.
The National Weight Control registry has found that long-term weight loss is associated with those who do not skip breakfast, amongst other things.
Don't let yourself get too hungry; learn to pay attention to your body's signals. If you don't want to add calories try drinking a glass of water first. I am most likely to be derailed right after work so I never skip my afternoon snack. I don't want to be rifling the pantry while sampling dinner and trampling over all my best-laid plans for the day.
How is this measured? Who are they surveying?
I only ask because I rarely eat breakfast and it hasn't negatively impacted my weight loss.0 -
Its going to be trial and error for yo, which is one good reason why you record what you eat. Find the eating patterns and times that suit you and adjust the calories you expend. Some people prefer small meals/snacking others like 3 meals and others can do with 2 meals. You also need to think about adjusting what you eat especially if you find yourself feeling hungry.0
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_dracarys_ wrote: »Well, diabetics have to eat by the clock. Others don't. So a diabetic or a hypoglycemic will have 5-6 meals a day (three meals two snacks), but I've seen MFP'ers who make do with one large meal and an evening snack.
The National Weight Control registry has found that long-term weight loss is associated with those who do not skip breakfast, amongst other things.
Don't let yourself get too hungry; learn to pay attention to your body's signals. If you don't want to add calories try drinking a glass of water first. I am most likely to be derailed right after work so I never skip my afternoon snack. I don't want to be rifling the pantry while sampling dinner and trampling over all my best-laid plans for the day.
How is this measured? Who are they surveying?
I only ask because I rarely eat breakfast and it hasn't negatively impacted my weight loss.
Anyone that's lost over 30 lbs and maintained for a year can request to join, after that they send questionnaires out.
I'll stick with not eating breakfast it's worked pretty damn well0 -
Any time you want and as often as you want. The main consideration is that you're (on average) eating an appropriate amount of calories for your goals and that you're meeting your nutritional needs.0
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FitnessFreak_69 wrote: »The goal is to loose weight so you want to keep your metabolism up. You should be eating healthy foods about every three to four hours, and they should be small meals. 100 or 200 calorie meals at max. When you eat more frequently it helps you burn that unwanted fat. Also make breakfast the biggest meal of the day. That way you have all day to burn off that first meal. Plus you need to "break the fast" or else your body will go into starvation mode and you will end up gaining weight. You should also eat the most carbs during breakfast and the least carbs before bed. Good luck to you!
ISSA Personal Fitness Trainer
[yoovieblink.gif]0 -
Well, diabetics have to eat by the clock. Others don't. So a diabetic or a hypoglycemic will have 5-6 meals a day (three meals two snacks), but I've seen MFP'ers who make do with one large meal and an evening snack.
The National Weight Control registry has found that long-term weight loss is associated with those who do not skip breakfast, amongst other things.
Don't let yourself get too hungry; learn to pay attention to your body's signals. If you don't want to add calories try drinking a glass of water first. I am most likely to be derailed right after work so I never skip my afternoon snack. I don't want to be rifling the pantry while sampling dinner and trampling over all my best-laid plans for the day.
Associated with. It's even more strongly associated with people who eat at an appropriate caloric deficit over a sufficient period of time.
Speaking of the supposed necessity of breakfast, where is @Steve098 when you need him?0 -
FitnessFreak_69 wrote: »The goal is to loose weight so you want to keep your metabolism up. You should be eating healthy foods about every three to four hours, and they should be small meals. 100 or 200 calorie meals at max. When you eat more frequently it helps you burn that unwanted fat. Also make breakfast the biggest meal of the day. That way you have all day to burn off that first meal. Plus you need to "break the fast" or else your body will go into starvation mode and you will end up gaining weight. You should also eat the most carbs during breakfast and the least carbs before bed. Good luck to you!
ISSA Personal Fitness Trainer
If this was true, many of us would be in serious trouble.0 -
Eat whenever you are hungry. Personally, I eat three meals and 1 snack. You can check out my diary if you want.
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jofjltncb6 wrote: »Well, diabetics have to eat by the clock. Others don't. So a diabetic or a hypoglycemic will have 5-6 meals a day (three meals two snacks), but I've seen MFP'ers who make do with one large meal and an evening snack.
The National Weight Control registry has found that long-term weight loss is associated with those who do not skip breakfast, amongst other things.
Don't let yourself get too hungry; learn to pay attention to your body's signals. If you don't want to add calories try drinking a glass of water first. I am most likely to be derailed right after work so I never skip my afternoon snack. I don't want to be rifling the pantry while sampling dinner and trampling over all my best-laid plans for the day.
Associated with. It's even more strongly associated with people who eat at an appropriate caloric deficit over a sufficient period of time.
Speaking of the supposed necessity of breakfast, where is @Steve098 when you need him?
I wonder whether getting exercise is also associated with eating breakfast.
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FitnessFreak_69 wrote: »The goal is to loose weight so you want to keep your metabolism up. You should be eating healthy foods about every three to four hours, and they should be small meals. 100 or 200 calorie meals at max. When you eat more frequently it helps you burn that unwanted fat. Also make breakfast the biggest meal of the day. That way you have all day to burn off that first meal. Plus you need to "break the fast" or else your body will go into starvation mode and you will end up gaining weight. You should also eat the most carbs during breakfast and the least carbs before bed. Good luck to you!
ISSA Personal Fitness Trainer
Nope, you have to eat every hour on the hour if you want it bad enough. The human body can totally gain weight while starving because no one has ever died of starvation since the body makes a constant fuel supply out of absolutely nothing at all #srs #notsrs0 -
I think what is considered the "best" schedule is 3 meals with a snack between breakfast/lunch and another snack between lunch/dinner. I've tried this and basically hated it. I think it works for people who have the willpower to schedule meals like that. I don't have it. I have found personally that what works best for me (on a hunger level where I feel satisfied) is 2 larger meals. I skip breakfast because I don't see a point in eating when I'm not hungry. I'm currently starting again (long story - life happens) but when I lost weight before I found that it didn't matter when I ate as long as I stayed within the calorie limit. It takes a bit to figure out what schedule will work best for you. Try different things and see what you like best.0
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http://www.nwcr.ws/
From their site:- Registry members have lost an average of 66 lbs and kept it off for 5.5 years
- 98% of Registry participants report that they modified their food intake in some way to lose weight. [There you go! Eating at a deficit]
- 94% increased their physical activity, with the most frequently reported form of activity being walking
- 78% eat breakfast every day.
- 75% weigh themselves at least once a week.
- 62% watch less than 10 hours of TV per week.
P.S. This registry currently has over 10,000 members.0 -
jofjltncb6 wrote: »Well, diabetics have to eat by the clock. Others don't. So a diabetic or a hypoglycemic will have 5-6 meals a day (three meals two snacks), but I've seen MFP'ers who make do with one large meal and an evening snack.
The National Weight Control registry has found that long-term weight loss is associated with those who do not skip breakfast, amongst other things.
Don't let yourself get too hungry; learn to pay attention to your body's signals. If you don't want to add calories try drinking a glass of water first. I am most likely to be derailed right after work so I never skip my afternoon snack. I don't want to be rifling the pantry while sampling dinner and trampling over all my best-laid plans for the day.
Associated with. It's even more strongly associated with people who eat at an appropriate caloric deficit over a sufficient period of time.
Speaking of the supposed necessity of breakfast, where is @Steve098 when you need him?
I wonder whether getting exercise is also associated with eating breakfast.
You mean people who are cognizant of their behavior and its impact on overall health and do generally known to be healthy things (like maintain a healthy body weight) may also be inclined to eat breakfast because they have been told that it is beneficial for their health? Pshaw. Like that would ever happen.
Besides, you're just supposed to overlook these highly correlated confounding variables and accept the premise of the theory. Of course, since you can't demonstrate statistical significance when adjusted, you have to use really weak words like "associated" and not even "correlated" (and certainly not "caused").0 -
FitnessFreak_69 wrote: »The goal is to loose weight so you want to keep your metabolism up. You should be eating healthy foods about every three to four hours, and they should be small meals. 100 or 200 calorie meals at max. When you eat more frequently it helps you burn that unwanted fat. Also make breakfast the biggest meal of the day. That way you have all day to burn off that first meal. Plus you need to "break the fast" or else your body will go into starvation mode and you will end up gaining weight. You should also eat the most carbs during breakfast and the least carbs before bed. Good luck to you!
ISSA Personal Fitness Trainer
Nope, you have to eat every hour on the hour if you want it bad enough. The human body can totally gain weight while starving because no one has ever died of starvation since the body makes a constant fuel supply out of absolutely nothing at all #srs #notsrs
Did you see this guy's abs? That's how you *know* what he says is true.
If I eat every half hour, will I make even more progress/be even more healthy? Please say "yes." I'm setting 24 daily alarms right now. My metabolism is going to be through the roof, bruh!0 -
http://www.nwcr.ws/
From their site:- Registry members have lost an average of 66 lbs and kept it off for 5.5 years
- 98% of Registry participants report that they modified their food intake in some way to lose weight. [There you go! Eating at a deficit]
- 94% increased their physical activity, with the most frequently reported form of activity being walking
- 78% eat breakfast every day.
- 75% weigh themselves at least once a week.
- 62% watch less than 10 hours of TV per week.
P.S. This registry currently has over 10,000 members.
The registry has over 10,000 members but if you actually read past their poorly summed up bullets. I bolded the ever so strong may be a factor. This is all from your website.
Long-term weight loss and breakfast in subjects in the National Weight Control Registry
OBJECTIVE:
To examine breakfast consumption in subjects maintaining a weight loss in the National Weight Control Registry (NWCR).
RESEARCH METHODS AND PROCEDURES:
A cross-sectional study in which 2959 subjects in the NWCR completed demographic and weight history questionnaires as well as questions about their current breakfast consumption. All subjects had maintained a weight loss of at least 13.6 kg (30 lb) for at least 1 year; on average these subjects had lost 32 kg and kept it off for 6 years.
RESULTS:
A large proportion of NWCR subjects (2313 or 78%) reported regularly eating breakfast every day of the week. Only 114 subjects (4%) reported never eating breakfast. There was no difference in reported energy intake between breakfast eaters and non-eaters, but breakfast eaters reported slightly more physical activity than non-breakfast eaters (p = 0.05).
DISCUSSION:
Eating breakfast is a characteristic common to successful weight loss maintainers and may be a factor in their success.0 -
FitnessFreak_69 wrote: »The goal is to loose weight so you want to keep your metabolism up. You should be eating healthy foods about every three to four hours, and they should be small meals. 100 or 200 calorie meals at max. When you eat more frequently it helps you burn that unwanted fat. Also make breakfast the biggest meal of the day. That way you have all day to burn off that first meal. Plus you need to "break the fast" or else your body will go into starvation mode and you will end up gaining weight. You should also eat the most carbs during breakfast and the least carbs before bed. Good luck to you!
ISSA Personal Fitness Trainer
Everything in this post is inaccurate.
Time to send that certification back. lol.0 -
jofjltncb6 wrote: »
I agree too, in certain cases. Personal example, I've been suffering from some mild altitude sickness on my last couple climbs. I still need to eat, and in general I can't really stomach more than about 1k calories per day due to the symptoms. I still have to force it though or bad things could occur.0 -
jofjltncb6 wrote: »
You mean people who are cognizant of their behavior and its impact on overall health and do generally known to be healthy things (like maintain a healthy body weight) may also be inclined to eat breakfast because they have been told that it is beneficial for their health? Pshaw. Like that would ever happen.
Besides, you're just supposed to overlook these highly correlated confounding variables and accept the premise of the theory. Of course, since you can't demonstrate statistical significance when adjusted, you have to use really weak words like "associated" and not even "correlated" (and certainly not "caused").
Here are some other things I suspect are "associated" with eating breakfast:
Having a job
Setting an alarm clock
Buying eggs
Having east-facing bedroom windows
Using websites which promote breakfast as a weight loss tool
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.... vodka.jofjltncb6 wrote: »
You mean people who are cognizant of their behavior and its impact on overall health and do generally known to be healthy things (like maintain a healthy body weight) may also be inclined to eat breakfast because they have been told that it is beneficial for their health? Pshaw. Like that would ever happen.
Besides, you're just supposed to overlook these highly correlated confounding variables and accept the premise of the theory. Of course, since you can't demonstrate statistical significance when adjusted, you have to use really weak words like "associated" and not even "correlated" (and certainly not "caused").
Here are some other things I suspect are "associated" with eating breakfast:
Having a job
Setting an alarm clock
Buying eggs
Having east-facing bedroom windows
Using websites which promote breakfast as a weight loss tool
champagne.
oranges.
bacon.
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I used to do 5 small meals, but yanno i just like having bigger meals. So I have full on breakfast, lunch and dinner with no snacks, and small meal/dessert whatever at night before bed so my tummy isnt growly.
If am feasting I might just eat one or two meals the whole day. 0
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