A few big meals instead of lots of small meals?

Kolaghan

I'm weird but I've noticed that I prefer eating a few HUGE meals instead of a lot of small ones. For some reason eating tiny portions just makes me feel more hungry and not satisfied. But eating like 2 or 3 really big meals leaves me feeling just fine. Is this still healthy / will this still help me lose weight? I know that ideally you would keep eating small meals throughout the day to keep your metabolism going, but as long as I'm hitting my calorie goal with 2 or 3 bigger meals, will I still lose SOMETHING? Thanks!

Ready2Rock206

As long as you're at a calorie deficit you'll lose weight. Do what works for you. I don't like a bunch of mini meals either - makes me always hungry too!

dlkfox

Eat how you like. There's no reason to break your calories down into small meals if you don't want to. It's all about CICO (calories in calories out) not the timing of those calories.

PaulaWallaDingDong

You could eat just one meal if you wanted. Eating small meals throughout the day works for some people, but the idea that it "keeps your metabolism going" and is "the way to lose weight" is nonsense. Your metabolism is always going, and overall calorie consumption is what matters for weight. Eat whatever way keeps you satisfied. Welcome to MyFitnessPal.

RedheadedPrincess14

I've actualy read that it's better for digestion. I only eat twice a day and I've lost a lot of weight this way

livingleanlivingclean

Your metabolism doesn't stop - if it did, you'd be dead.

Meal timing is pretty irrelevant for most of the population, you just need to focus on your total calories (daily, or even weekly) for weight loss.

I also feel hungry on multiple mini meals. I eat 2-3 meals a day, most of my calories after about 730pm, and don't usually eat at "breakfast" time. It's what works for me!

dragon_girl26

I'm wired to eat breakfast, lunch, and dinner, too. I've attempted the mini meal idea, and it was a no go for me. Since I've lost 80 lbs doing it my way, and never read any good, non woo based evidence why multiple smaller meals are supposedly "better", I'll just stick with what works for me.

displaced1

We are all different. I usually do better with a feast once or twice a day than moderation all day long. If I'm not hungry for breakfast, I skip it. If I'm not hungry for dinner, I'm fine with that. If I want to eat a two hour leisurely lunch with all my calories, that's ok too.

missh1967

If this is your preference and it keeps you on track and in a calorie deficit, then it is absolutely perfect. Sustainability is key to losing and then maintaining weight.

paperpudding

RedheadedPrincess14 wrote: »

I've actualy read that it's better for digestion. I only eat twice a day and I've lost a lot of weight this way

For SOME people, those who have issues like reflux, it may be better for them to eat small meals more frequently, rather than a couple of large meals per day.

But for most people: do whatever works for you and from a weight loss point of view is irelevant.

Ironandwine69

Yep, like everyone else has said do what's best for you. I don't like small meals or snacks, especially when trying to lose weight, it feels like I'm teasing myself. I eat all my calories within a 6 hours window, one or two meals a day.

TavistockToad

One meal or 72 makes no difference as long as you're hitting your calorie and macro goals.

lost4words_ox

I'm like this too. I work evenings. I wake up around 10 and have a 200-300 calorie snack before I leave for work at 2, then around 6-7pm at work I eat pretty much all my calories minus the 100-200 I save for a snack when I get home at midnight. It works for me. I feel less hungry this way and am better able to stick to my goals. I'm down 97lbs so far so I'm not too worried it's hurting my health.

beatyfamily1

I can't speak for everyone because everyone is different. I was able to lose a lot of weight eating a few big meals until I got closer to a healthy weight range. That's when I hit a brick wall. My weight would not budge. I tried eating a little less, I tried exercising more, I even tried the ketogenic diet for a while because I thought maybe I was eating too many carbs. I lost about 5 pounds with the ketogenic diet but again hit a brick wall. Then the only thing I changed was how often I was eating. Keep in mind I was still within my calories. I was finally able to get past that plateau and weight became easier to lose. My whole problem was my blood sugar, which can be managed by eating several small meals. I'm not diabetic, but I realized I could have been insulin resistant. Now I have at least 4 meals a day. I will have 5 depending on if I still have room for those calories. Any drinks that have a fair amount of calories in it, I will count as a seperate meal. If you hit a brick wall like I did, try eating several small meals. I was surprised how well it worked.

Kolaghan

beatyfamily1 wrote: »

(I hope the blank quote is like a tag) XD
First of all congratulations on your amazing journey; I'm so glad that you found what works for you.
To be honest, I started this thread because I have been having so much trouble losing weight even by eating less than usual, and I was wondering if it could have been because of the meal frequency. So it's really helpful that you've done both!
I wouldn't call myself healthy weight, but I'm probably in that range at least. Since I just started counting calories with this app yesterday, I'm going to try the few big meal things with calorie counting for a little while longer, but now that I know that the problem could potentially be meal frequency, I'll try that as well if this doesn't work for a little while.
Thank you so much!!

Grimmerick

I fast until 12 or 1pm Mon-Fri usually. I eat a smallish lunch and regular Dinner and snack if I feel like it after dinner. I am a night eater so conserving my calories until the last part of the day has helped me.

jetherrart

I've lost about 100 lbs so far using a modifiedKeto approach to meals and eating my larger meal about midday and one to two very small meals or snacks per day. I kept gaining weight even though I was not eating enough calories when I ate low fat, but although I do not eat high fat (gallbladder removal makes this impossible unless I stay in the house), I watch my carbs and almost no sugars(some is unavoidable). If I eat about 1000 calories a day and 80-100 carbs I weigh the same. If I eat about 1000 calories a day and eat < 50 carbs I lose weight. If I eat about 1000 calories a day and > 100 carbs I gain weight. Exercise is about the same. I can't say what would work for your body, only what worked for me.

mmapags

As others have stated, there is no metabolic advantage for nutrient timing either way. Eat the way you prefer and helps you to stay on plan calorie wise and gives best exercise performance.

beatyfamily1

Kolaghan wrote: »

beatyfamily1 wrote: »

(I hope the blank quote is like a tag) XD
First of all congratulations on your amazing journey; I'm so glad that you found what works for you.
To be honest, I started this thread because I have been having so much trouble losing weight even by eating less than usual, and I was wondering if it could have been because of the meal frequency. So it's really helpful that you've done both!
I wouldn't call myself healthy weight, but I'm probably in that range at least. Since I just started counting calories with this app yesterday, I'm going to try the few big meal things with calorie counting for a little while longer, but now that I know that the problem could potentially be meal frequency, I'll try that as well if this doesn't work for a little while.
Thank you so much!!

If you do try the meal frequency thing, make sure each meal is close to equal proportions. Take your total allotted calories and divide by how many meals you plan on having. Try to stay close to that number. Good luck!

caryll4

I think for me it works better if I keep my breakfast low calorie, I like cream of wheat with almond milk a little sweetener. Last 2 mornings I had pancakes 3 small frozen with syrup, which added to 420 calories, and I went up almost 2 lbs. so back to 3 meals and a few snacks whithin my calories with exercise, low calories for morning. We will see what happens in a couple days

BarneyRubbleMD

beatyfamily1 wrote: »

I can't speak for everyone because everyone is different. I was able to lose a lot of weight eating a few big meals until I got closer to a healthy weight range. That's when I hit a brick wall. My weight would not budge. I tried eating a little less, I tried exercising more, I even tried the ketogenic diet for a while because I thought maybe I was eating too many carbs. I lost about 5 pounds with the ketogenic diet but again hit a brick wall. Then the only thing I changed was how often I was eating. Keep in mind I was still within my calories. I was finally able to get past that plateau and weight became easier to lose. My whole problem was my blood sugar, which can be managed by eating several small meals. I'm not diabetic, but I realized I could have been insulin resistant. Now I have at least 4 meals a day. I will have 5 depending on if I still have room for those calories. Any drinks that have a fair amount of calories in it, I will count as a seperate meal. If you hit a brick wall like I did, try eating several small meals. I was surprised how well it worked.

This is exactly what I figured out that I have to do to lose weight (& I am diabetic)--my blood sugars were just getting too high after the two meals I was having and taking too long to come back down to normal, which just kept me feeling hungry instead of satisfied. Now with eating 4 meals a day (for me, that's eating every 3 hours between 9am and 6pm), I'm rarely much hungry at the start of my meals & my blood sugars are far more stable now and my weight is dropping nicely!

nowine4me

Highly individual and irrelevant if you're in a deficit regardless. That being said, I started combining my meals and snacks into 3 larger daily meals of 600 cals each, and am much less likely to binge and am much more satisfied after each meal. I rarely have the urge to snack between meals, but keep apples on hand just in case.