Eating 5-6 small meals a day...Who else does this?

jofjltncb6

Wow so many posts to this thread, first let me just say everything depends on your personal goals and what you want to achieve. I am on a strict meal plan of increased proteins, complex carbs and veggies. I eat 6 times a day. I also workout 6 days a week but I am trying to build muscle right now. Eating throughout the day will give you more energy and help support your metabolism. But remember its not always when you eat it's what you eat. GOOD LUCK!!!

(So many posts??? We're on page two. You should venture into the forums more often.)

In what way will eating more often "help support your metabolism"?

And what do you mean by "not always when you eat it's what you eat"? If you mean how *much* you eat, then yeah, totally agree.

pankdrogger

I do! Even if I stuff myself, I tend to get hungry (or at least peckish) again in a couple hours, so since I moved out on my own, I've been picking at several smaller meals a day. If my schedule permits, I'll have breakfast around 6-7, brunch around 9-10, lunch around 12-1, a snack whenever I feel like it, and dinner around 5-7. After that, I try not to eat though, but it's easier later in the day because I'm not moving or doing as much once I get home. It's easier on me to space out meals in smaller portions than it is to eat regular sized meals several hours apart, because that just makes me full and lethargic, and it doesn't satiate me until the next major meal.

BillRicks1

I do. I try to eat every 2 1/2 to three hours but stay within my macros.

kbrister85

Hope your having a wonderful day!

kbrister85

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40DayFit

I do! [snip]

Total derail to say...love the Woot shirt!

Akraz

Its been scientifically proven that eating 5-6 times a day opposed to regular 3 meals means absolutely nothing and does **** all. Enjoy your small insignificant meals!

PrettyPearl88

Today I began eating 6 small meals per day. A new friend told me yesterday she lost over 100 lbs. eating 5-6 small meals per day.

I have always starved myself to lose weight. I am excited about this, although I've heard of people doing this, but I never actually had someone to break it down to me like she did.

I've broken down my calories for each meal for now, ensuring breakfast and mid-way of my shift is a bit more calories.

You can only lose weight by eating at a deficit, but how you spread out your allotted calories throughout day can make it easier or harder to feel satisfied eating at that deficit (and therefore keep it up and lose weight). Different methods work better for different people. And sometimes different methods work better on just different days.

Personally, I typically distribute my allotted calories/day into 5-6 small meals/day. That *USUALLY* works for me because I never get the point where I'm so hungry that I can't control myself anymore. But some days, I mix things up. Some days, if I'm feeling less hungry during the daytime, I won't eat much and I won't have any snacks but then I'll eat a large dinner. Other days, I might have a large brunch, one small snack in the afternoon, and then another large meal at dinnertime. I just go with what my body feels like that day. But on most days, 5-6 small meals works really well! I'd recommend that, but just don't be super strict about it! Listen to what your body is telling you!

AlongCame_Molly

I prefer to eat frequently as I tend to get hangry, so frequent meals help to prevent that.

Point of order: Your friend lost weight by maintaining a deficit, not because of meal frequency or timing.

Absolutely this.

If it keeps you from getting too hungry and overeating at your next meal, by all means take advantage of that. But don't be fooled into thinking that the singular act of eating more frequently will make you lose weight faster/more efficiently than 3 meals a day.

geebusuk

I used to.

Then I found it really doesn't matter when you eat your food for the most part.

Now I follow a vaguely 'lean gains' style approach of an 8 hour eating window - normally 1-9pm or so.
I eat when I want. I do make sure I've had food before a workout and enough protein floating around after too - usually have a biggish meal after a workout.

PrettyPearl88

I used to.

Then I found it really doesn't matter when you eat your food for the most part.

Now I follow a vaguely 'lean gains' style approach of an 8 hour eating window - normally 1-9pm or so.
I eat when I want. I do make sure I've had food before a workout and enough protein floating around after too - usually have a biggish meal after a workout.

That's not true for everyone. It matters for some people. For some people, timing their meals makes a BIG difference.

I'm glad that you figured out what works for you though. I always enjoy hearing when people figure out what works best for them!

HawkeyeTy

I eat 2

FoxyLifter

I am hypoglycemic and I have found that 6 meals suits me best. Also, I cannot exercise on an empty stomach. I either perform poorly or say "eff this!" and skip it altogether.

fast_eddie_72

I used to.

Then I found it really doesn't matter when you eat your food for the most part.

Now I follow a vaguely 'lean gains' style approach of an 8 hour eating window - normally 1-9pm or so.
I eat when I want. I do make sure I've had food before a workout and enough protein floating around after too - usually have a biggish meal after a workout.

That's not true for everyone. It matters for some people. For some people, timing their meals makes a BIG difference.

I'm glad that you figured out what works for you though. I always enjoy hearing when people figure out what works best for them!

It really is all about what works for you. As far as losing weight is concerned, I don't think it matters when you eat. But it sure matters to you if you get hungry! It's also interesting to note that, often, when people say it doesn't matter, they follow up with "As long as it's in a specific window of time and I get my protein after my work out and..."

40DayFit

Its been scientifically proven that eating 5-6 times a day opposed to regular 3 meals means absolutely nothing and does **** all. Enjoy your small insignificant meals!

Boy, posting this must have been empowering for you.

QuietBloom

Champion snacker here. I hardly ever eat a 'meal' unless it's dinner. I just try to hit my calorie goal and macros. To heck with all the rest!

QuietBloom

Its been scientifically proven that eating 5-6 times a day opposed to regular 3 meals means absolutely nothing and does **** all. Enjoy your small insignificant meals!

:noway:

QuietBloom

I used to.

Then I found it really doesn't matter when you eat your food for the most part.

Now I follow a vaguely 'lean gains' style approach of an 8 hour eating window - normally 1-9pm or so.
I eat when I want. I do make sure I've had food before a workout and enough protein floating around after too - usually have a biggish meal after a workout.

That's not true for everyone. It matters for some people. For some people, timing their meals makes a BIG difference.

I'm glad that you figured out what works for you though. I always enjoy hearing when people figure out what works best for them!

nvmnd

leew88

Maybe not 5-6 but however many I need to get me through the day, from the moment I wake up to the moment I sleep. I eat every 2-3 hours

dlionsmane

I prefer to eat frequently as I tend to get hangry, so frequent meals help to prevent that.

Point of order: Your friend lost weight by maintaining a deficit, not because of meal frequency or timing.

^^This