Maintainers - how many meals a day?

bbell1985

2 meals, a largish-dessert, and snacks.

swim777

HappyGrape wrote: »

I go between 3 and 5, but mostly 4. I wonder long term maintainers - what do you prefer? 3 bigger meals? 3 meals plus 1 or two snacks? what and why do you prefer this


I do best with two light meals, a heavier dinner, and two snacks. I'm not really hungry in the am and even at lunch, but it snowballs at night, if I skip meals. I have an ice coffee mid afternoon (100 calories), and a fiber one bar or peanut butter on a sandwich thin after dinner. If I do eat heavy on Sunday, or we are going out, I may skip breakfast because I can do that a day and manage. If I do it three days, I start feeling deprived. Just something I'm learning to ward off the restrict/ binge cycle.

jrwms714

Depends on what you call a meal. If you include snacks, probably 5. Mostly I eat 3 a day ... but they are small. Breakfast: egg and banana before the gym. Lunch: FF yogurt with some kind of fruit and 2T of almonds. Dinner: fish or some protein (I don't eat meat or chicken), veggie or salad, some kind of healthy carb. Throughout the day, I fill in with a treat of some kind, and usually some Skinny Pop (totally addicted to that), a handful of unsalted nuts, etc. I have a very small appetite and often don't eat all my gym cals back.

edwilts

I eat 3 meals - typically around 7am, noon, and 6pm. I eat fruit or some sort of snack at 9-10am, 3pm, and around 8pm and get to bed around 10 or 10:30. It's going to be different for everybody. Meals are around 400-450 calories for breakfast, around 500 for lunch, and 600 for supper. Snacks tend to be in the 100-150 range.

This works for my schedule and lifestyle and what it's been for most of my life. Many other people eat at different times and sizes and find it works for them. I don't think that there is a "right" answer here.

erica_today

Usually 3 meals maybe a snack if I feel like it but I just eat when I'm hungry.

nvpixie

For maintaining, I eat 2 to 3 meals and possibly a snack.
Breakfast is the meal I either skip or eat low cal. I like big lunches and medium sized dinners so I often do IF to keep my calories in check.

88olds

3 meals. 2-3 snacks

raleighgirl09

edwilts wrote: »

I eat 3 meals - typically around 7am, noon, and 6pm. I eat fruit or some sort of snack at 9-10am, 3pm, and around 8pm and get to bed around 10 or 10:30. It's going to be different for everybody. Meals are around 400-450 calories for breakfast, around 500 for lunch, and 600 for supper. Snacks tend to be in the 100-150 range.

This works for my schedule and lifestyle and what it's been for most of my life. Many other people eat at different times and sizes and find it works for them. I don't think that there is a "right" answer here.

Could not agree more - it is highly individual.