How often do you eat?

johnnakrob

Hello,

I have been try to eat every 2 to 3 hours through out the day. I am wondering if anyone else does this? I eat 6 small meals a day and find I do not ever get hungry eating this way.

Thanks for opinions.
Johnna

strong_curves

About 4 times a day. For me, having 3 meals and a snack with dinner being the biggest meal of the day works for me. I just couldn't imagine lugging about 4 additional meals during the work day on a 2-3 hour eating schedule.

seltzermint555

Nope I am the opposite. I think there are many different approaches to this, and barring a medical reason for one way vs. another, it's fine to do whatever works for you!

I eat 3 meals per day, no snacks. I eat 7 am, noon, and 5 or 6 pm. I feel satisfied and full this way and never feel hungry at other times. I have noticed if I snack even occasionally around 3 pm I start to "expect" food at that time and think I'm hungry in the afternoon when I suspect I'm just a bit tired/bored...but when I don't, I never even think about snacking, and I'm ready for dinner after I go home from work.

diannethegeek

Usually 3 meals and two snacks, but it really depends on the day for me. I try to eat throughout the day to avoid the hangries, but it won't matter for weight loss. Eat as often as you need to to feel your best.

Danimri84

I eat when I'm hungry. I can't eat in the morning. It upsets my stomach and I am generally not hungry then. Occasionally I'll have some yogurt and cheese around 10:30.
I usually eat lunch around noon, a snack around 3:00, dinner around 5:45 and sometimes a post workout snack in the evening.

Need2Exerc1se

My meals aren't evenly spaced. I typically eat around 2:00 p.m. and 8:30 - 9:00 pm, stopping around 10 p.m.

The first meal is usually around noon(ish) on the weekends.

ald783

6-7 times a day so it breaks down to roughly every 2-3 hours, which a bigger break between breakfast and my first morning snack, and between my afternoon snack and dinner

My 3 main meals are quite a bit more substantial than my snacks, especially dinner which is by far the biggest meal. I hate feeling so regimented with my meals and snack times, but I seem to do better eating frequently.

arditarose

6 times if I'm working out, 5 if not.

kbmnurse

Count me in. Smalls meals about 6 daily.

GsKiki

I eat 3 main meals, and 2 - 3 snacks inbetween.

whooRAWRowlbear

I generally eat 3 meals and 2 snacks during the week at lunch. It helps me from being hungry between meals, breaks up the day, and gives me a boost of energy when I could potentially crash. My snacks also allow me to sat higher calorie treats without over-indulging, like cheeses.

lemurcat12

Usually 3 times a day.

yesimpson

About 4-5 times a day. Although I'm hungriest early in the day so a big breakfast or lunch would hold me over for a while, but the schedule doesn't really allow it.

SweetestLibby

3 meals and 3 snacks...I don't particular need the snacks but I like snacking.

Lounmoun

Every 3-5 hours from wake time to sleep time. 3 meals and 1-2 snacks.

getfitbrandi

I typically eat every 2-3 hours. I eat 5-6 times a day between snacks and meals.

johnnakrob

Thanks all for the replies.

I do it mainly to keep my metabolism going. I can not say I really eat 6 meals it is more like three meals and three snacks. I need to improve the quality of my snacks though.

I love eating pecans and walnuts for snacks but they are kind of high in calories, carbs and fats (I made my own trail mix). So I may have to rethink the trail mix thing and take a different approach. Maybe 3 nuts and an apple or banana.

speeno

yeah, six times a day for me too

Need2Exerc1se

johnnakrob wrote: »

Thanks all for the replies.

I do it mainly to keep my metabolism going. I can not say I really eat 6 meals it is more like three meals and three snacks. I need to improve the quality of my snacks though.

I love eating pecans and walnuts for snacks but they are kind of high in calories, carbs and fats (I made my own trail mix). So I may have to rethink the trail mix thing and take a different approach. Maybe 3 nuts and an apple or banana.

If you need to eat every 2-3 hrs to keep your metabolism going what happens to it at night?

johnnakrob

Good question, I have always wondered about that myself. It does bring up an interesting point. Maybe I need to rethink all the snacks.

melonaulait

I tend to eat 4-6 times a day, sometimes only 3. I don't have specific meal times but I try to have breakfast after 9 and dinner after 6, just to meet my goals easier...

Lourdesong

I'm more of a nibbler, eating many small "meals" and snacks. I do a lot of home cooking too, but still prefer eating small portion of whatever I made and then having another small portion several hours later, as opposed to eating a larger portion in one sitting.

I did try for about a week to switch my eating pattern to a more structured 3 meals a day and no between-meal snacking pattern, since there are quite a few successful people who are advocates of eating that way around here. But restricting myself to 3 meals (eating only 3 times a day and balancing my calories this way) was very difficult for me.

Since the new year I decided to try out something like 18:6 fasting. Which for me basically amounts to eating my breakfast protein bar about 4 hours later than I would normally and stopping eating about 2 hours earlier than I would normally, or to put it another way, shortening the window where I nibble all day by roughly 6 hours. I'm finding this fairly simple to do, it adds a bit of structure that I definitely lacked, and I'm enjoying getting in more calories in a shorter window while still being able to keep the flexibility of my nibbling pattern of eating. What's difficult is waiting for the eating window to begin again by delaying breakfast, which is kind of ironic given that the difficulty is not due to being hungry, it's due to simply liking to eat a little something right away after waking and not doing so is jarring.

*Meal timing and meal frequency are more about preference and strategies that can help with dietary adherence, whatever way a person goes is not really a means to manipulate one's metabolism.

VintageFeline

Depends on the day and what's in the fridge in all honesty! I am not a planner. So some days it will be three meals, some days two meals and lots of nibbling, some days maybe just one big meal with a few snacks. Works for me and that's all that matters. Today for example I've had breakfast and lunch and a couple of small snacks. Will have another snack soon before bed.

Bonny132

I eat when I am hungry, sometimes this means 2 meals and some snacks, at other times 3 meals and 2-3 snacks.

mbaker566

i am a grazer. i eat throughout the day. but I also measure it all and try to fit it in my allotment

StacyChrz

It really depends on the kind of day I am having. Usually 3 meals and 2 or 3 snacks but sometimes I'll eat bigger meals and fewer snacks. As long as it fits my goals I'm pretty happy.

johnnakrob

I came from Weight Watchers, where I ate three times a day then dessert. I lost 40 pounds in 7 months doing this.Then I left WW after they changed in November as I was afraid I was not learning to eat healthy for life.

I did a 21 day metabolism make over with Food Lovers. Which is where I got the snack between meals system. Eating this way I am never hungry, lost 2 pounds in 4 weeks, plus I think I have gained muscle. But eating this way I feel I spend more time thinking about food then I did on WW. I do not like thinking about food so much.

I now work out 5 days a week, 40 minutes walking on treadmill and 20 minutes free weights or resistance training. I switch every other day on free weights and resistance training. So eating every 2 to 3 hours makes sure I the fuel I need to do this.

Francl27

When I'm hungry, lol. So anytime from one hour to 6 or more...

ryanbrowning115

johnnakrob wrote: »

Hello,

I have been try to eat every 2 to 3 hours through out the day. I am wondering if anyone else does this? I eat 6 small meals a day and find I do not ever get hungry eating this way.

Thanks for opinions.
Johnna

Perfection!

ilex70

5 to 7 times a day. Depends how hungry I am and/or if I have a big meal.

As far as extra work, most of my meals are pretty darn simple- a Quest bar, string cheese, apple, popcorn, Greek yogurt- easy stuff.

Merrysix

five or six small meals a day, with healthy amount of protein for me -- I can stick to my macros and exercise program when I don't get too hungry, keep my blood sugar even.