One meal a day?

Jayj180894

I've been having one meal a day and its working for me! I'm a massive binge eater so cramming all my calories into one meal on an evening really works for me! I'm only having 1450kcal a day so it mainly comes from carbs. In the meal I make sure I have protein, veg and carbs. I take daily vitamins and supplements. I have a protein shake before a workout or work which 220kcal and surpress my appetite threw the day with caffine and lots of water. It's working for me. I also am lead to believe when you are fasting your body uses your fat reserve for energy?? But all I'm getting from people is how unhealthy it is! How eating after 7 o clock on a night puts weight on as you don't burn it off when you sleep. I'm being told that the food will just sit in my stomach and wait till morning. And I'm being told I'll actually gain weight! Also people have said my body will go into starvation mode and hold onto any fat making it even harder to lose!! Is this true

cityruss

Your 'people' are idiots.

Jonathanak6

To be honest it's really just a preference for you, you have to see how your body feels and reacts to one meal a day, I've known some people where this works just fine, as long as you're eating vegetables and other healthy foods and reach your calorie goal everyday I think you should be fine! Feel free to add me if you want I'm always trying to add to my friends list

Mycophilia

I also am lead to believe when you are fasting your body uses your fat reserve for energy??

While it is true your body will metabolize more fat when you're fasted. Total amount of calories metabolized fasted vs fed is negligible so there's no difference in terms of weight loss.

How eating after 7 o clock on a night puts weight on as you don't burn it off when you sleep.

Unless you're dying at night and getting resurrected in the morning, this is complete hogwash.

Also people have said my body will go into starvation mode and hold onto any fat making it even harder to lose!! Is this true

False.

Jayj180894

Thank you guys! I'm enjoying the way I'm eating. I don't feel tired. I don't think about food all day and have something really nice to look forward to when I get home. I know it wouldn't be for everyone but it's for me

ashjongfit

My mom has always been very lean and she has almost always only had one meal a day. Its just what shes always done naturally and I've never even batted an eye at it.

I found a lot of success by eating 2 large meals and a protein coffee drink. Whatever works for you

And no, you can eat right before you go to bed, it will not make you gain weight unless your eating at a calorie surplus.

inertiastrength

you definitely wont go into starvation mode but I'd binge spectacularly if I only ate once a day haha.

toxikon

I tried it but found that after work I'd be so hungry that I'd just want to binge on fast food and junk. I would get into the habit of stopping by Harvey's to get a 1400 calorie meal of a burger and poutine - which obviously is not healthy and lacking in a lot of vitamins and nutrients.

So I settled on splitting my calories between lunch and dinner instead, and it's much easier to eat healthy that way.

I'm glad it's working for you and you're not falling into that trap!

Livgetfit

Jayj180894 wrote: »

I've been having one meal a day and its working for me! I'm a massive binge eater so cramming all my calories into one meal on an evening really works for me! I'm only having 1450kcal a day so it mainly comes from carbs. In the meal I make sure I have protein, veg and carbs. I take daily vitamins and supplements. I have a protein shake before a workout or work which 220kcal and surpress my appetite threw the day with caffine and lots of water. It's working for me. I also am lead to believe when you are fasting your body uses your fat reserve for energy?? But all I'm getting from people is how unhealthy it is! How eating after 7 o clock on a night puts weight on as you don't burn it off when you sleep. I'm being told that the food will just sit in my stomach and wait till morning. And I'm being told I'll actually gain weight! Also people have said my body will go into starvation mode and hold onto any fat making it even harder to lose!! Is this true

Hey just wondering how you are getting on? I am also a binge eater plus I don't eat well unless I am full and prefer large portions. I ate like this years ago for about 12 months & found it suited me very well. I'm giving it a shot now, eating 1200 (5'3 & relatively inactive). For me, this isn't about broscience. I don't believe half the stuff written about the benefits of fasting. It is CICO game & I think this may be a good way for me to manage my deficit without feeling deprived or giving up.

Would love to hear how the last month has been for you.

StaceyO444

It all comes down to calories in vs out. I like to "splurge" once a day usually, so I eat minimally for breakfast and lunch usually.

kokonani

I have started doing this also about 4 days ago. Switched from keto to One meal/day, and Loving it!! I feel so full and satisfied from my huge meal if eating whatever I want! I have always been those people who crave sweets and snacks all day. Now I get it eat it all in one sitting and it's fantastic!. The time doesn't matter, actually alot if people eat this way at night or dinner. Then just go to sleep. I prefer to eat during lunch time. I'm so glad you found something you like! I know how it feels.. I don't know why I didn't try this sooner. I try to fill up on protein and veggies, but I always make sure I have my dessert and sweets as well.

kokonani

mrsnattybulking wrote: »

you definitely wont go into starvation mode but I'd binge spectacularly if I only ate once a day haha.

But that's the whole idea- I feel like I eat so much and binge for my one meal, but when I count the calories, it's less than 1500. It's pretty hard to overeat this way, plus you are so full for the next 23 hours!

timtam163

This is great to know!! I'm glad it's working for you. As long as you aren't feeling deprived, and as long as you pay attention to nutrition (which is just general diet advice) any eating pattern should be fine, especially if it helps you with binge eating struggles. Happy for you!

150poundsofme

And your protein shake is another meal, I believe. So you are actually eating two meals. And also, maybe not talk about your meal plan to your friends. Then no explanation needed.

kokonani

150poundsofme wrote: »

And your protein shake is another meal, I believe. So you are actually eating two meals. And also, maybe not talk about your meal plan to your friends. Then no explanation needed.

I hear you- people immediately assume that fasting is so unhealthy! They think of 'starvation' and make judgements without any knowledge! Hate that!

JAT74

I'm also thinking of doing this, how is everyone getting on? I'm struggling to lose weight and normally eat about 250 cals for breakfast, 500-600 for lunch and a snack for dinner of about 200 calories. At weekends I don't count calories but often end up skipping breakfast and eating lunch/dinner. I've done the OMAD diet before and found it much better for me as I lost hunger pangs and also found I didn't feel tempted to overeat during my only meal (which was lunchtime). The only time it wouldn't work would be if I go out for a meal with friends, but if that was going to happen I'd skip lunch and have dinner as my only meal etc. One thing I've read about this is that if you're training it's recommended to have a protein shake after a workout. The one I use is only 110 calories and I make it with a little skimmed milk which would add another 30 calories so I would be having a drink of 140 calories after training in the morning, nothing until lunchtime and then nothing in the evening either.

In addition, I'll have coffee, green tea and water to drink (no added sweetner). My meals will be healthy with a good balance of protein, carbs and vegetables, though I want to cut down on meat so also want to include one or two meat free days and have more fish etc.

shans34

I've been OMAD since November 2016 and am down 90lbs. Still alive. Still loosing and feeling great.

thebobogrind

@shans34 are you counting calories still? I think after doing OMAD for a while, your stomach shrinks and by the end you longer have to count calories right?

shaunshaikh

The best male gymnast in the world does this. He's going for world title number 7 in the all around.

MoveitlikeManda

So at an asthma check up the nurse questioned me about when/what I eat and my weight so I told her Im counting calories on mfp etc etc. and that I was biking to the gym 5 nights a week
(now you need to know I had lost 32lbs at this point)

she then told me NEVER eat after 6.30pm because everything you eat after that time just turns to fat and that's how you gain weight, because you go to bed and dont burn any of that food off.

I gave her the smile, nod and then left knowing that she has no idea what the hell she is talking about. just the same as my doctor told me "dont worry if the scale is not going down its because for every 1lb of fat I get off it turns in to a lb of muscle"
SAY WHAT!???!! dont get me wrong she is a great doctor but again clearly knows NOTHING about weight loss or muscles or anything related to it. so again I smiled, nodded and left.

so my point is, even people we trust to know whats right are wrong and dont know what they are talking about sometimes.

If eating one big meal works for you, do it. many people do....even me most days lol
its not about how often you eat, how many meals a day, its about CICO

rickiimarieee

As long as you're eating all your calories it shouldn't be a problem. Starvation mode isn't real. Whether it's one meal or 10 small meals it doesn't matter as long as you're within your limit.

cwolfman13

Stop talking to morons...

You burn calories 24/7...millions of years of evolution did not leave us with some arbitrary cut-off time for eating...use your logic and common sense.

I eat dinner every night at 8:30PM...lost 40 Lbs doing that...been maintaining 4.5 years doing that.

Also, if "it's working"...then you have your results...why even worry about it?

belleflop

Sadly A LOT of people have these same reservations, tribal knowledge (or lack thereof) to the max. When someone confronts you about what you are doing and insist you do something else just ask them where they got their advise from. If it's "oh I herd it from a friend who herd it from a friend who has a friend who is a nutritionist", it's probably safe to say they have no clue.

Treece68

If it works for you and you keep withing your calories there is no problem

bkbirge

I do that sometimes, I don't think there's anything wrong with it really if it works for you. For me part of this whole journey is learning proper portion size control too though so if I was keeping old habits at one meal a day I'd still lose weight but then during maintenance I'm not sure I'd have the training to avoid re-gaining. Just something to think about.