Eat more - Eat less - Eat more frequent?

The_Movie_Chair

I am here since 20 days, and I follow a simple concept. I eat less than before, and I log what I eat, and if I can't log, then I still stick with my "plan." Right now I am not very hungry; I am so motivated and so determined. I overate for years; I have over 100 lbs to lose. I am not going to starve.

Yesterday someone who cares about my success here told me that I should eat more frequent -up to six meals a day. I answered quickly and told her that I believe that's a myth that we have to eat more than three meals. I said, and I quote:

"I am great it works for you, but it wouldn't work for me. I am often stuck in meetings for hours and cannot just sneak out and eat or excuse myself. I hate breakfast and rather have brunch instead. It's about the calorie intake, and if we want, we can have one big meal and nothing else. Research it!

I am determined. There will be days when I will eat more, and there are days when I will eat less. It's going to be a rollercoaster. :-) "

Afterward, I started to have doubts. Was I right or should I force myself to eat more meals?

Is it wrong to do what feels right to me?

cwolfman13

You do not have to eat more meals...it's mythology

AliceDark

There's no meal timing plan that is better than any other one; it all boils down to what works best for you. You should absolutely continue to do what feels best for you. Good luck!

TavistockToad

You're doing fine as you are.

Eat 1 meal, eat 17, doesn't matter. If you hit your calorie goal and are in a deficit, you'll lose weight.

ccrdragon

meal timing, frequency, calorie splits are all individual choices and do not affect weight loss. the only magic formula for weight loss is to eat fewer calories than you burn over a given period of time.

Christine_72

Do what feels right to you. For weight loss calories are all that matter, whether you eat 6 times a day or just once.

kommodevaran

You are doing and thinking right! Don't let others sidetrack you.

happysherri

I've lost weight eating 3 times a day and I've lost weight eating 6-7 times a day. Like everyone else has said - everyone is different. For me 6-7 times a day works, because for some reason I feel hungry, and I have the time and accessibility to do it. Stay focused and push forward

everher

Meal timing or frequency is irrelevant.

For what it's worth, I couldn't seem to lose weight eating so many (six) meals a day. I was always hungry and found it hard to stay under my calories when I had to break my intake into so many meals.

cross2bear

You are absolutely right, and good for you for taking the time to correct your friend's misinformation.

Rowan09

You just have to find what works for you.
People always talk about the importance of snacking on a diet so as not to restrict yourself, but for me personally if snack I can't control myself! So I stick to 3 meals a day no snacks and it's been keeping me on track more than anything else anyone has reccomended.

The_Movie_Chair

Thank you all. Now I feel better when I skip breakfast. Have a great, skinny, healthy and happy weekend.

fruitydelicious

you should do what works for you!! many small meals a day may be necessary for some, but it is an individual decision/need. Should not be a blanket statement for all people. And, yes, some people do well on one meal per day.

I'm a 3 meal per day kind of person, myself. little meals don't fill me up and then I obsess even more than normal about my next meal.

psuLemon

The_Movie_Chair wrote: »

Thank you all. Now I feel better when I skip breakfast. Have a great, skinny, healthy and happy weekend.

You may want to look into interim fasting (16:8) is fairly common. It's dietary approach that puts all of your meals in an 8 hour window and you fast for 16 hours. Often people, especially those who don't like breakfast, find this as a great method to eat large meals in the latter part of the day and increase dietary compliance.

crzycatlady1

TavistockToad wrote: »

You're doing fine as you are.

Eat 1 meal, eat 17, doesn't matter. If you hit your calorie goal and are in a deficit, you'll lose weight.

This

cmriverside

psuLemon wrote: »

The_Movie_Chair wrote: »

Thank you all. Now I feel better when I skip breakfast. Have a great, skinny, healthy and happy weekend.

You may want to look into intermediate fasting (16:8) is fairly common. It's dietary approach that puts all of your meals in an 8 hour window and you fast for 16 hours. Often people, especially those who don't like breakfast, find this as a great method to eat large meals in the latter part of the day and increase dietary compliance.

fixed it for you.

psuLemon

cmriverside wrote: »

psuLemon wrote: »

The_Movie_Chair wrote: »

Thank you all. Now I feel better when I skip breakfast. Have a great, skinny, healthy and happy weekend.

You may want to look into intermediate fasting (16:8) is fairly common. It's dietary approach that puts all of your meals in an 8 hour window and you fast for 16 hours. Often people, especially those who don't like breakfast, find this as a great method to eat large meals in the latter part of the day and increase dietary compliance.

fixed it for you.

It's actually intermittent fasting... interim for short.

serindipte

Without any plans to go IF (intermittent fasting), I find that to be my natural pattern of eating. I rarely eat in the mornings. I eat lunch, dinner and sometimes a snack. If I'm hungry in the morning, then I eat. If not, then I don't.

My mom lost 60+lbs by doing nothing but eating dinner and drinking Cokes. Real Cokes, even. lol Not something I'd recommend, but it goes to show that, in the end, it's all about how many calories you get, not how you get them.

unrelentingminx

I eat 3 meals and 3 snacks (about 150 cals each) per day because I have found that if I get to the stage where I'm belly rumbling hungry, I start craving high calorie, high fat foods. By eating little and often, I don't get to that stage and can stay within my allowance better.

TavistockToad

cmriverside wrote: »

psuLemon wrote: »

The_Movie_Chair wrote: »

Thank you all. Now I feel better when I skip breakfast. Have a great, skinny, healthy and happy weekend.

You may want to look into intermediate fasting (16:8) is fairly common. It's dietary approach that puts all of your meals in an 8 hour window and you fast for 16 hours. Often people, especially those who don't like breakfast, find this as a great method to eat large meals in the latter part of the day and increase dietary compliance.

fixed it for you.

intermittent...

trigden1991

Some days I eat 1 meal, others I eat 6-8. Apart from hunger cues, there is no difference to my body composition.

ThatUserNameIsAllReadyTaken

You are doing just what you need to be doing. Smaller, frequent meals are great for some but not for others. Keep up what you are doing as long as you feel good.

cmriverside

I'm such a dork.

cmriverside

I knew that. I even DO IF. For years.

Brain fart.

TavistockToad

cmriverside wrote: »

I knew that. I even DO IF. For years.

Brain fart.

:laugh: that's your autocorrect!

cmriverside

TavistockToad wrote: »

cmriverside wrote: »

I knew that. I even DO IF. For years.

Brain fart.

:laugh: that's your autocorrect!

oh, yeah!!! THIS ^^

cathipa

Stick to your calorie deficit. Meal timing for weight loss is a myth.

Jules_farmgirl

Agree to do whats right for you. I work in an office, so eating low calorie snacks helps me get through my day and not cave to all the treats that are constantly brought in. But on the weekends? Probably 2-3 meals/day max because I am so busy, I allow myself higher calorie meals while staying at my deficit.

itsthehumidity

Nutrient timing does have its place, but that's advanced territory, and the type of thing that bodybuilders consider. It comes after your calories, macronutrients, and micronutrients are all finely tuned. Someone with a lot of weight to lose need not put effort into this area.

That goes for supplements too. Nutrient timing and supplements help you with the last few percentage points of progress toward an admirable physique.

lemurcat12

The_Movie_Chair wrote: »

I said, and I quote:

"I am great it works for you, but it wouldn't work for me. I am often stuck in meetings for hours and cannot just sneak out and eat or excuse myself. I hate breakfast and rather have brunch instead. It's about the calorie intake, and if we want, we can have one big meal and nothing else. Research it!

I am determined. There will be days when I will eat more, and there are days when I will eat less. It's going to be a rollercoaster. :-) "

Afterward, I started to have doubts. Was I right or should I force myself to eat more meals?

You are right, and sound like me -- trying to fit things like 6 mini meals (ugh) or eating before 7 (or whatever arbitrary time) in my lifestyle would make me miserable. I get home late and don't enjoy trying to plan and fit in lots of little meals and--most of all--feel unsatisfied and even hungrier when I eat little meals all the time vs. a few (usually 3, could be 2) larger meals.

I did this, and even made not snacking or eating outside of my regular breakfast/lunch/dinner times (I do like breakfast -- get up early and am a morning person -- but agree it's not necessary) part of my personal plan, and managed to lose 95 lbs pretty easily doing that so no one can tell me it doesn't work or some other pattern is necessary.

You sound like you know what you are doing. Lots of crazy diet advice people will want to share once they realize you are losing weight, so my advice is nod and smile and stick to your own plan (and watch results -- don't be afraid to modify as you go on, of course).