Two Small, One Big Meals?

scubateve

Hey forum,

I really enjoy having big meals but realize I need to keep my calories down overall. I was wondering if there is any disadvantage to doing a small breakfast and dinner with a large lunch in between?

I'm talking 250-300 calories for both breakfast and dinner and around 900-1200 for Lunch. I generally work out an hour or so after lunch or right before dinner. My daily goal is 1500 net calories and I'm burning nearly 600 calories a day.

I guess my question is... does it matter when and in what proportion you eat your calories? Will it throw off the metabolism and how my body burns calories, water, fat, etc.? I've heard a good approach is to eat small meals throughout the day, but I have come to terms with the fact I will never be able to eat like that.

Thanks for your help. PS looking to lose around 25-30 lbs. overall

-Steve

brandiuntz

There's no one way to have your meals. So, give your idea a try because it might be the best method for you.

I eat 3 meals a day. Breakfast tends to be my lightest and dinner my heaviest, because that what works for me.

scubateve

Thanks!

milaxx

I think that's fine. I try to have most of my calories between breakfast and lunch as well. Perhaps not as large as yours, but my reasons aren't to have more food, I just don't want to get stuck as the end of the day with a munch of calories to eat and i don;t mind having a light dinner.

bcattoes

I eat very little for breakfast most days and just snack throughout the day so that I can have a big dinner with wine (often more than 1000 calories). It didn't keep me from reaching my goal or even continuing to slowly lose beyond my goal.

scubateve

I think that's fine. I try to have most of my calories between breakfast and lunch as well. Perhaps not as large as yours, but my reasons aren't to have more food, I just don't want to get stuck as the end of the day with a munch of calories to eat and i don;t mind having a light dinner.

Interesting. That brings up another question. What if i come to the end of the day and have a ton of calories/fat/carbs/etc. left to consume according to my daily requirements? Is it important that I consume those calories? Is there any drawback to leaving them out (slowing metabolism, etc.) or by eating to a point of discomfort simply to fulfill those categories?

zukekitty

I'm interested in hearing people's thoughts on that too. I hate to gorge myself to keep up with what I'm burning in my workouts, especially at the end of the day.

MJStory

Everyone's metabolism is different! I have to eat several small meals & snacks during the day, & at night. Try what you think is best for now, & take notes on your daily food page, as you go, to use for later reference. You may find that you need to tweak it a little here & there, or even do a major overhaul of your day's food / exercise plan. If you do a rigorous workout, you need those calories to keep you going, so plan ahead & put them in a time slot during the day as additional food during a meal, or as an additional snack (you can designate more than one snack during the day, and you can remove it from your day's diet if you feel that you don't need it all). That way, you're ready to move forward. I'm limited in what exercise I can due because I'm disabled, but I plan ahead. Maybe you need only part of those extra calories, but you definitely don't want to find yourself spent for the day because you needed to eat those calories, and you weren't prepared. What I'm saying is try, take notes, learn how your body responds. We're all different!

I hope this helps!