Does meal frequency really not matter?

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Replies

  • kefryar
    kefryar Posts: 77 Member
    Oh wow. I've read about IF and I know that It's supposed to be good for you, but I can't help but think that only eating once every 24 hours can't possibly be the most healthy thing to do-are you able to eat 1200 calories in one sitting? If not, I have no idea how you're getting all of the nutrients you need. How do you have the energy to work out?
    Not saying you're wrong, but I just can't imagine how you can do it. Willpower or not, I wouldn't be able to move.
  • rileysowner
    rileysowner Posts: 8,331 Member
    In terms of weight loss, assuming other factors like calories are consistent, meal timing is irrelevant. It comes down to personal preference. In terms of other metrics, fasting has benefits beyond weight loss which should not surprise us since the abundance of food we have now is a relatively new thing. In the past people would often go fairly long periods with little or no food followed by having food in abundance. If intermittent fasting works for a person and they get their calories in for the week, no problem, they should do it. If 6 meals a day works for a person's personal preference, they can do that, and it calories are the same over the week it will result in the same weight loss.
  • TestingFun01
    TestingFun01 Posts: 89 Member
    Good luck with your own fasting efforts. I dabbled with 16/8 on and off, but I just don't like going without a morning meal that long, and what works best for me is a typical day where I get to break my nightly fast by 9/ 10am, and stop eating by 7/ 8pm, so I usually observe a 14/10 thing by accident :)

    My morning meal is coffee. =P And my lunch is tea. I do notice my digestion is a lot better when I fast. My first two times was horrible. I had like the stomach cramps and I even had a case of diarrhea. But now it's...dare I say...normal. After that situation up there^^ I'm now regular, where I've always been very constipated.

    Sorry if it's too much info...but you did mention of a study you know of that suggests it =P...Although as you say humans adapt...but I'm hoping that I don't adapt in that regard. I've never had such a happy tummy before. I always had some sort of problem.
  • earlnabby
    earlnabby Posts: 8,171 Member
    Timing and quantity of meals has no bearing on weight loss. It is an individual thing based on what makes you feel the best. I have to eat several smaller meals during the day because of a hiatal hernia. My body is used to it and I rarely feel hungry.
  • Veil5577
    Veil5577 Posts: 868 Member
    I eat only one meal a day five days a week. I find I'm less hungry that way and I have more energy, and I have stopped eating all the junk food I used to gobble when I binged. And I don't binge anymore. It's been a great change for me and I have lost weight. It's not for everybody but I have had no ill effects from doing it.
  • TestingFun01
    TestingFun01 Posts: 89 Member
    Oh wow. I've read about IF and I know that It's supposed to be good for you, but I can't help but think that only eating once every 24 hours can't possibly be the most healthy thing to do-are you able to eat 1200 calories in one sitting? If not, I have no idea how you're getting all of the nutrients you need. How do you have the energy to work out?
    Not saying you're wrong, but I just can't imagine how you can do it. Willpower or not, I wouldn't be able to move.

    Actually fasting gives me a lot of energy. If you look at some of the studies they suggest that while fasting, your brain releases...uh...something (I don't remember what they are called) to keep you alert so you can continue to search for food. This was the case with our ancestors.

    Even though I don't have to gather or hunt my food (I own a fridge..lol) fasting definitely makes me more alert. It sometimes even makes sleeping difficult for me. And yes I still meet all my nutrients. I like to eat a lot... =P
  • socalkay
    socalkay Posts: 746 Member
    I don't have any researched information on fasting but I've noticed you frequently mention low blood pressure, dizziness and, yesterday, foggy brains (or something to that effect). If low blood pressure with accompanying dizziness and fuzzy thinking is an ongoing issue for you I, first and foremost, hope you are talking with your doctor about it. I also hope you can up your water intake - you mentioned yesterday that you only had 4 glasses of water.

    Finally, I did some quick checks online (so I'm not claiming this with any authority - that's your doctor's job) but three different medical sites stated that diet for those with hypotension should be multiple small meals throughout the day.
  • nicsflyingcircus
    nicsflyingcircus Posts: 2,861 Member
    Or you could look at what other people do;

    http://www.simplyshredded.com/michelle-lewin.html

    Meal 1: Oatmeal with Big Blend from Betancourt Nutrition
    Meal 2: Ham with Swedish Crackers (Wasa)
    Meal 3: Chicken Breast with Brown Rice
    Meal 4: Pork Chops with Salad
    Meal 5: Beef with Asparagus & Spinach
    Meal 6: Salmon with Broccoli
    Meal 7: Casein Protein Shake (Before bed)

    This is great, if you have the time for it. Something like that almost -requires- that all you do is meal prep and eat.
  • TestingFun01
    TestingFun01 Posts: 89 Member
    I don't have any researched information on fasting but I've noticed you frequently mention low blood pressure, dizziness and, yesterday, foggy brains (or something to that effect). If low blood pressure with accompanying dizziness and fuzzy thinking is an ongoing issue for you I, first and foremost, hope you are talking with your doctor about it. I also hope you can up your water intake - you mentioned yesterday that you only had 4 glasses of water.

    Finally, I did some quick checks online (so I'm not claiming this with any authority - that's your doctor's job) but three different medical sites stated that diet for those with hypotension should be multiple small meals throughout the day.

    Hi kay! Yes my doctor said all I had to do was eat less sweet things and more salty things. I don't usually drink so little water, I've been a bit busy yesterday and I don't fancy drinking fluid in the afternoon. (I get up a million times in the middle of the night if I do) I usually do drink enough, which is why I don't bother logging water anymore.

    :flowerforyou:
  • WalkingAlong
    WalkingAlong Posts: 4,926 Member
    Like I said, I didn't say they don't have the willpower. But when you look at women who fast here, a lot of them do a window version instead of doing a 24hr. There are also a few studies suggesting it's harder for some of them (and perhaps bad for their fertility) to do long periods of fasting when compared to men.
    I'm a woman here who fasts longer than you, if it helps. :smile:

    I've read several books on fasting and have never run across the idea that it's harder for women or bad for their health or fertility.

    Meal frequency matters for compliance and other things but not really weight loss. Consider your car. Does it get better gas mileage if you fill it up daily vs. waiting til it's empty? No, it's an energy issue with gas and with calories. Unless your frequency of gas stops affects your driving, it doesn't matter. Same with eating frequency.

    But are you going to keep bumping this thread asking for cat gifs like one of your last threads? :tongue:
  • TestingFun01
    TestingFun01 Posts: 89 Member
    Like I said, I didn't say they don't have the willpower. But when you look at women who fast here, a lot of them do a window version instead of doing a 24hr. There are also a few studies suggesting it's harder for some of them (and perhaps bad for their fertility) to do long periods of fasting when compared to men.
    I'm a woman here who fasts longer than you, if it helps. :smile:

    I've read several books on fasting and have never run across the idea that it's harder for women or bad for their health or fertility.

    Meal frequency matters for compliance and other things but not really weight loss. Consider your car. Does it get better gas mileage if you fill it up daily vs. waiting til it's empty? No, it's an energy issue with gas and with calories. Unless your frequency of gas stops affects your driving, it doesn't matter. Same with eating frequency.

    But are you going to keep bumping this thread asking for cat gifs like one of your last threads? :tongue:

    KUDOS TO YOU for fasting longer than me! ;)

    And no, I was just answering the questions. Not intentionally bumping.

    But whomever wants to throw in a kitty gif is welcome Lol. :bigsmile:

    Edit : I wish I could give the links to the studies. I believe one was conducted on mice and the others by observing participants where the women were more likely to binge eat when fasting for longer periods.
  • lorib642
    lorib642 Posts: 1,942 Member
    If you eat smaller meals throughout the day does it help keep your blood sugar more stable if you have issues with keeping it in control? I am being told different things, that I should snack or that it doesn't matter. The calories would be the same total.
  • icrushit
    icrushit Posts: 773 Member
    My morning meal is coffee. =P

    Yeah, I actually have a small 'keto' coffee every morning before breakfast, in which I add 1/2 tsp butter and 1 1/2 tsp of coconut to a cup of coffee, before giving it a little whiz up with an immersion/ stick blender, and could easily see how with enough fat in my morning coffee that I could make it through to lunchtime without any food, lol. I'm sure that's not what you meant though :)

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