Smaller meals a good idea?

SmexAppeal

Recently I went through a month long phase where I was getting really hungry. I chalked it up to the weight lifting and figured my muscles were needing more energy. So I upped my calorie intake by only 100. I basically prelog most of my meals and snacks to better plan my day and stay accountable for what I eat.
Now I find myself running into the problem that I'm not hungry enough to eat my snacks. Should I decrease the size of my lunches to better fit in all my planned meals/snacks? These are healthy snacks, not potato chips and m&m's, so they are probably important to keep in my daily calorie intake. I figure if I decrease my lunch and dinner and allow myself these healthy snacks, it would be very good for my metabolism. Eating about 5-6 small meals throughout the day should boost my metabolism and keep me full.
Please provide any information or suggestions!
Thank you

needles85365

What I have always hear is 5-6 smaller meals is better. With my work and life style I can never do it that way. But its what ever works for you. Good luck

SPNLuver83

meh, it doesn't really matter... small meals with snacks.... 3 big meals..... makes no real difference on your metabolism. Do what works best for you.

cassiegal724

I think it is important to eat when you are hungry and not eat when you are not hungry. If you don't eat a snack, then take it off your log. If you have a morning or afternoon snack that you pass on then because you're not hungry, but then you are double hungry after dinner, you might want those snacks then and you will be happy that you didn't spend the calories earlier. I'm not sure of the science behind eating frequent small meals and metabolism, "they" say it's better, but ultimately, if you're not hungry, I don't think it's worth it....

MTBrob

There is debate on weather eating 1 large meal a day eating 50 meals a day or the typical 5 meals a day is goodfor your metabolism ..

Personally most fitness experts I follow seem to continue with the 5 meals day, and if anything it does help curb hunger by putting something in your system ..

If you are not hungry to eat your snacks, don't eat them, change is varied and diet changes can usually take more than a week to see the out come of the change.

I would keep packing your snacks and know that they are there if you need them... I wouldn't worry to much about it personally, if after a week or two, you see a change you do not like in the form of weight gain, less energy etc etc etc.. go back to what was working before... Chances are I doubt you have much to worry about except your grocery bill will thank you for the time being..

allisonmrn

I think it really depends on what works for you. You have to be your own investigator and figure your own formula out. What works for some may not work for you. Try different things afer doing some research, track your foods and your energy levels. Stay consistent and then look back and decide what worked and what didnt. Tweek diet to maximize your performance, mood and energy levels.

hiker359

It seems most satiating to eat frequent small meals throughout the day. I know doing so helps me from getting super hungry and then eating too much when I do eat.

TheDrBuchanan

If you have lost weight since you upped your calories, or if your exercise has been upped to a higher level, it might be time for a re-calculate. If you've lost weight, you might not need those calories anymore.

My professional nutritionist (AASDN certified nutrition specialist) is one of the 'they' who tout the benefits of eating within the first hour after waking, and then continuing with 5-6 small meals per day, specifically every 3-4 hours.

Based on what she has taught me, I would advise you to recalculate your daily calories and then divide those up into your small meals throughout the day - even if that means lunch and dinner are smaller to make room for the snacks.

MrDude_1

its a very personal thing.

for me, two large meals are much better then several smaller snacks all day.. heck, some days I go all day with only a small snack for lunch, then a huge meal at dinner...

for others, they have blood sugar issues trying to do that same thing.


meal timing is irrelevant for metabolism or weight loss.... so whatever is most comfortable for you works best. personally I go with Intermittent Fasting.. but its not for everyone.

fcp1234

I do both, there are days that i eat often , there are days that I dont. I bring sncaks every day, and If Im hungry I eat them and then have a smaller dinner. Im not very nice person when Im hungry, so I try to avoid that. And then there are days that i dont eat my snacks, so I eat bigger dinner. I dont think it matters.

I saw go with the flow. If you're hungry have a snack.

SmexAppeal

Everyone is giving some great advice and I thank you for it. I think I am going to try to have smaller lunch/dinners and do the snacks as well. See where that puts my energy levels and hunger levels.

bcattoes

Whatever keeps you satisfied and within your goals is a good idea. If you do that best with one meal, 3 meals or 5-6 meals is up to you.

akaOtherWise

just so you know, more smaller portion meals throughout the day doesn't speed your metabolism up.

Lina4Lina

I am doing 5 smaller meals per day and I think it helps control my hunger so I like it.

Athijade

Meal timing and frequency have no impact on metabolism or weight loss.

That said, I personally eat a small breakfast, a big lunch, an afternoon snack, a decent sized dinner, and an evening snack. I try to stick to this because if I don't I personally have issues with eating too much at my next meal. I am also someone who has to "plan" things (OCD yay!) so I prelog all of these.

ShaneOSX

Meal timing and frequency have no impact on metabolism or weight loss.