Eatting every 3 hours??

teresadutton · May 2012

I have had a nutrionalist tell me that you should eat every 3 hours to keep your metabilism going. Eat 3 meals and 2 snacks and space them every 3 hours. Do you guys agree or not? There are times I would rather save those 150 calories for my next meal rather than a snack.

Princess_Sameen · May 2012

I snack between meals but usually up to 100kcals but it depends on my mood sometimes i don't snack at all.....I think it can help. but still personal preference

beth40n2 · May 2012

Your nutritionalist is right! Snacks can be 100 calories such as nuts, fruits etc.

On days I work, I eat breakfast, pack a snack in my lunch box for morning and afternoon and my lunch. I have everything in my lunch box I need until supper.

I do like to leave a lot of calories for supper, but do stop eating 2 hours before going to bed.

Acg67 · May 2012

Get a new nutritionist cause that is a bunch of bull, holding cals and macros constant there will be no metabolic advantage to increased meal frequency.

Glucocorticoid · May 2012

Your nutritionist is completely wrong and if you search, the topic has been beaten to death on this forum.
Meal frequency is irrelevant to your metabolism. Eat whenever you want.

pullipgirl · May 2012

try it and see if it works for you. I don't think it is necessary

Papillon22 · May 2012

You're gonna hear people for and against this idea.
For me, it works to eat like that because if I skip meals, when I'm hungry I end up making horrible choices and overeating. Other people feel that if they allow themselves to eat snacks, they're putting themselves in danger of overeating at each meal/snack.
I think it's best to figure out what works for you. Good luck!

kazza2cats · May 2012

I snack 3 times a day, always having a munch of something usually low calorie like snack a jacks or fruit, it helps me make it till the next meal.

iKapuniai · May 2012

I totally agree with eating every 3 hours, because I'm typically hungry after 2 hours LOL So it works for me. However, it may not work for everyone. I say do what you feel is right for you and what works out best for you.

ninerbuff · May 2012

Not SCIENTIFICALLY shown to increase metabolism.

A.C.E. Certified Personal/Group Fitness Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 28+ years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

iwantahealthierme13 · May 2012

It works for me.

crisanderson27 · May 2012

Look very carefully at the physique maintained by each man that posted this.

Something to think about there.

I eat 2x a day max (I still get all of my calories and macros in)...almost invariably in the evenings.

*shrug*

raindancer · May 2012

That is exactly what I do. It might not be sound advice but I have lost so it works for me.

Everyday
Breakfast:
2 egg whites
2 Tbs Jimmy Dean turkey sausage crumbles
cooked together
slice of dry 40 calorie 9 grain bread

Snack: piece of fruit or 60 calorie cheese stick

Lunch:
Lean cuisine or smart one meal with a salad

Snack: 90 calorie fiber one brownie

Dinner
??always different but I usually have extra calories.

Mercenary1914 · May 2012

best comment here!

I will add...that I personally eat every 2.5 to 3 hours...I do this to keep from over eating...and because I am hungry all the time..

lacroyx · May 2012

2x a day eater here as well most of the time. there are times I eat just once a day. I work nights. I have erratic sleeping habits. I make sleep a priority. but that's me and that's what works for me. ultimately it comes down to what works best for you.

Mercenary1914 · May 2012

I do this (eat every 3 hours)...and I think my physique is not so shabby

Trail_Addict · May 2012

Meal frequency is purely personal preference. But don't believe that there is a Golden Rule about it. Your body doesn't require evenly spaced meals to lose weight or function properly. "Personal Preference" does not equal Scientific Facts though.

myak623 · May 2012

While these is no metabolic advantage to eating every 3 hours, it does keep some people from overeating at later meals.

I enjoy eating multiple times throughout the day, but I'm not expecting my metabolism to be increased in doing so.

Glucocorticoid · May 2012

That's a completely different issue. Adherence/individual preferences are not what was being asked. She asked if meal frequency impacts metabolism - which is something that has been shown to proven false through various scientific studies.

Articeluvsmemphis · May 2012

i eat when i get hungry, and that's not every 3 hours, sometimes after 1 or 2, maybe 4.......just depends

PayneAS · May 2012

It really depends on your own body. Not everyone does well eating like that. I do though. 3 big meals (300-400 calories each) and 3 smaller snacks (100-200 calories each) during the day. Try it and if you don't like it, switch stuff around until you find what is right for you. May take quite a bit of trial and error but it will be worth it.

verptwerp · May 2012

The thing is ...... what works for one person may not work for another ..... experiment & see for yourself ......

(Personally, I eat like 6 times a day, small meals)

Good luck !

taunto · May 2012

Well, go ask another nutritionist. Get a second opinion.

There are multiple studies done from what I recall, some studies have shown an improvement, others haven't. I personally do feel a big difference in my own metabolism when I eat small portions throughout the day. Other folks on this community who're in much better shape than I am say otherwise.

Just listen to your own body

crisanderson27 · May 2012

I agree completely...my point was it isn't necessary.

Mercenary1914 · May 2012

Did you read my comment.....Take a good look at the first statment..."try it and see if it works for you. I don't think it is necessary"

I also don't think it's necessary....
IT SAYS BEST COMMENT HERE....and I was quoted the whole thing...

I just wanted to add why I personally do it..

Have a nice day

StirFriedGiblets · May 2012

We actually covered this at college last week. You are NOT SUPPOSED TO EAT FREQUENTLY if you are wanting to lose fat because this maintains high insulin levels.

Insulin is used to help convert glucose (sugar) in the blood into glycogen molecules which are stored in other body cells. A continuous high level of insulin, repeatedly, is BAD because it means that FAT CAN'T BE BROKEN DOWN.

The other hormone from this antagonistic pair is glucagon, also secreted by the pancreas, when blood sugar (blood glucose) levels are low. This hormone initiates the break down the glycogen into glucose which is then released by the body cells into the blood, BUT it can't function while insulin is present.

If you constantly eat often then you are not giving your body time to break down the glycogen stored as you have a constant supply glucose and insulin trying to convert glucose in storage molecules. When your body is in short supply of glucose then glucagon causes glycogen (sugar storage molecule) to break down, if these glycogen levels are in short supply then FAT is BURNT as an ALTERNATIVE.

I hope I've explained this in an understandable way. If anyone has any questions about it just ask and I'll try to help answer them, this is not opinion, it is science. You should leave around about 4 hours between each meal

I just copied and pasta-d this from a previous post I wrote. If some other person with a scientific background has been told differently please tell me so I can learn more.

lilojoke · May 2012

If eating more frequently makes it easier to control/reduce calories, it will help you to lose weight/fat.

If eating more frequently makes it harder to control/reduce calories, or makes you eat more, you will gain weight.

If eating less frequently makes it harder for you to control/reduce calories (because you get hungry and binge), it will hurt your efforts to lose weight/fat.

If eating less frequently makes it easier for you to control/reduce calories (for any number of reasons), then that will help your efforts to lose weight/fat

jjblogs · May 2012

It DOES work for me. Give it a shot. Everyone is different...we lose weight in different ways obviously.

Mercenary1914 · May 2012

I agree

verapamil · May 2012

I've recently started eating every 3 hours but mine was more because I think I'm slightly hypoglycemic. After about 3 1/2 hours my hands would be so shaky I could barely work (I work with needles and other sterile things in a clean room-- shaky hands are not helpful). It seems to have helped me lose a little bit so far but I've also upped my calories, started c25k and my "snacks" at work are protein shakes since they're fast and easy. For some people it might not work, but I definately feel better when I'm not listening to my stomach growl.

Edit-- For me it is also helping me learn when I actually am hungry. If I know I just had something 30 minutes ago, then I know the feeling in my stomach is not hunger and it's just my brain craving more (unneeded) food).

misskerouac · May 2012

^This.

I eat every 3 hours (approx) and that way I'm never "Hungry". I don't over eat, I don't stuff my face, I eat what my body needs.

Eatting every 3 hours??

Replies

Categories