Three meals or six small

PositiveAngel

What is the best way to lose weight having 3 meals with no snacks or dividing them into 6 meals?

_MG_

The best way is probably what works for you.

For me, I find eating 4-5 times a day is better than 3 times. I stay full and that keeps me from wanting to snack.

_Zardoz_

It doesn't matter. It's the overall calories not meal timing that make you lose weight. So what ever works for you

MozzarellaSheep

I personally like to eat smaller meals more frequently. Otherwise I find myself twice as hungry and more likely to binge on junk food.

CodeMonkey78

What is the best way to lose weight having 3 meals with no snacks or dividing them into 6 meals?

It is indifferent as long as you have a daily caloric deficit. Personally, I prefer smaller portions more often to help prevent overeating in the long term. But, to each their own -- just try to be consistent on whichever system works best for you as long as you can sustain it over the long run.

Good luck!

scottkissinger

Eating 4-7 smaller meals instead of 3 large meals a day tend to keep the hunger pangs away a little better. If you're on a low-carb diet, then it really doesn't matter either way. But, I would think if you're still eating a lot of carbs (150 grams plus), then 3 meals is going to cause your blood sugar to spike and then plummet after the meal. When your blood sugar plummets, then the hunger pangs are going to kick in and you'll tend to find yourself eating more than you should. But, different strokes for different folks.....for some people 3 squares a day works. For others, several small meals work. Experiment and find what works best for you in your daily life.

David_AUS

This is really a personal thing. Do what abates cravings for you - for me more frequent small meals is fine if I want to maintain weight but if I am on a mission to lose weight then it does not work for me. You are the best judge for yourself but do what works for you - as fatdoob says it is the overall calorie deficit that you are looking for.

cwolfman13

It doesn't matter...weigh control be it losing, maintaining, or gaining is all about energy consumption, not so much the timing of that consumption. Do whatever is going to result in the best dietary adherence.

fushigi1988

Some people do better with 3 big meals, I prefer multiple smaller meals, or my blood sugar will crash too much.

Sharonmdenham

I tend to eat 3 main meals a day and 2 snacks. I do this to keep my body burning calories for most of the day. My snacks are usually 100 calories or less but filling. My main meals I try to keep between 35-50 carbs. Your metabolism is what dictates how fast you burn the calories. If you ate all your calories at two meals, lunch and dinner let's say, your body will burn those slower because it has to save the energy (food you ate) until tomorrows lunch. If your body gets more meals and snacks from the same amount of food it does not try to conserve its energy (the food you eat) but goes ahead and keeps on burning energy. I hope this make a little sense to you because it took me a little bit to figure it out years ago. I just chose not to make good choice in the food I put into my body, but now I'm more than willing and it is working for me. Down 22 pounds since 01/02/14.

Amandawith3kids

i do 3 meals, and a snack if i get hungry before dinner. i eat lunch around noon, and dinner at 6, so its a long stretch, but other than that i dont snack. i have a hard time not binging if i'm in the kitchen all day. plus every time i go to the kitchen, a short person follows me and wants to eat too. i also dislike cleaning the kitchen, so i'd rather only have to clean it 3 times instead of 4.

MarKayDee

I eat kinda whenever it tickles me. On days I work I usually eat only twice a day, breakfast and dinner with something like a coffee or a fruit juice (okay never juice almost always a coffee) for lunch. On days when I'm off or out running around having fun I usually eat more throughout the day, a sandwich here, some fruit there, mostly snacking throughout the day with something like chicken and veggies for dinner.

rocknlotsofrolls

like others say, it's all about how many calories per day, not when you eat them. Me personally, I tried to do the 6 smaller meals thing, but it felt like I was eating finger foods waiting for the main course. I do better eating 2 meals a day, lunch and dinner, and I lost 30 pds in 3 months because I was not going over my calorie limit. Good Luck!

kbmnurse

Mine varies. During the week 5-6 smaller meals. Weekends depending on what we are doing 2-3 meals including several Coors lights!

KatherinesRiver

I eat about five small meals.:drinker:

RllyGudTweetr

It doesn't matter. It's the overall calories not meal timing that make you lose weight. So what ever works for you

This. Meal timing is all but irrelevant for weight loss/management in the vast majority of people without a preexisting medical condition that dictates otherwise.

MickeyBoo

I used to eat 6 hours a day like clockwork and lost weight, now I eat 4-5 times a day and am still losing weight. So I don't think it matters, it's all In Vs Out.

Biggest difference for me though is that last time I trained my system to be expecting food every 2.5hrs and I could tell the time by how hungry I was LOL now I actually just wait for my system to point it out on its own.

970Mikaela1

What you can adhere to is the best way. For ME it is a lunch and a huge dinner.

RaspberryKeytoneBoondoggle

The most effective way to lose weight and for that loss to be sustainable is to time your meals the way you prefer.
I used to have a trainer who told me that I had to eat breakfast because I had been fasting for twelve hours already. Yet I know very muscular successful people who skip breakfast because this is their preference. Figure out how much you need to eat, then time it however you wish.

Sarauk2sf

As others have said - the 'best' way is the way that allows you to better adhere (as well as what is best for energy for gym performance).

CyberEd312

As others have said - the 'best' way is the way that allows you to better adhere (as well as what is best for energy for gym performance).

Agreed, personal preference is more important and what works best for you....

rileysowner

Eating 4-7 smaller meals instead of 3 large meals a day tend to keep the hunger pangs away a little better. If you're on a low-carb diet, then it really doesn't matter either way.

That is only true for some people. When I eat a bunch of small "meals", which in my book are not meals at all, I am always hungry. When I eat 2-3 large meals I am very satisfied and not hungry between them. Also, whether low-carb or not, meal frequency makes no difference in terms of weight loss if the calories a kept the same.

To the original poster, do what will make you more likely to stick to your calorie goals. If that is eating 3 meals a day, do it. If it is 6 meals, do it. Just realize it is not the meal frequency that makes any difference, it is the overall daily calorie deficit.

JoJo__Fit

It doesn't matter, I have 6 becuase I'm always hungry but I'm working on 3 big ones

rileysowner

I tend to eat 3 main meals a day and 2 snacks. I do this to keep my body burning calories for most of the day.

Regardless of eating your body burns calories all day. If it didn't you would be dead. If by this you mean that is keeps your metabolism going fast, that has been shown to be false. Meal frequency has no effect on total daily metabolic rate.

If you ate all your calories at two meals, lunch and dinner let's say, your body will burn those slower because it has to save the energy (food you ate) until tomorrows lunch. If your body gets more meals and snacks from the same amount of food it does not try to conserve its energy (the food you eat) but goes ahead and keeps on burning energy.

I think you are misunderstanding how our bodies work. Your body simply does not handle food that way. It does not try to conserve energy in any way like you described it.

When it comes down to it, meal frequency has no effect on metabolism, or weight loss assuming calories are kept the same. The only value it has is in compliance to one's calorie goals. So if your 3 meals and 2 snacks works for you, great, but realize it is the calorie restriction that is causing the weight loss, not the meal timing.

FoxyLifter

It depends. I like to eat 5-6 small meals during the week. Sometimes on the weekend, I prefer to have a big breakfast and dinner with a very light lunch. It's a personal choice. Meal timing has no effect on weight loss.

rachrach7595

Whatever works for you.

I don't eat breakfast. I rarely snack, if I do its mid afternoon between lunch and dinner.
I eat big lunches and dinners.

I used to get the munchies late at night but I have started going to bed early so that took care of that.

I don't think it really makes a difference and I have read here more of the same.

soozey1

I think the saying goes eat like a king for breakfast, prince for lunch and a pauper for dinner.
But I find three lager meals and three small snacks is good for me. Stops me getting hungry and it is much easier to stick to a plan when you are not hungry.

JeffBrown3

I honestly only eat two to three meals a day.. And have lost 23 pounds in the past month. So I don't really think it matters how many meals, more so calories in general. I do believe that having smaller more frequent meals makes your metabolism run more efficiently.

Nicolee_2014

Whatever works for you will be best

rondaj05

Some people do better with 3 big meals, I prefer multiple smaller meals, or my blood sugar will crash too much.

^ This is me also! I don't think it matters how or when you choose to eat. Do what works best for you and your lifestyle.

CkepiJinx

I eat three smallish meals most days and have snacks all day. I am a snacker, I have always been a snacker I just snack smarter now. There is no one right way, you need to eat however works for you.