On average how many times per day do you guys eat?

deedee1271

I was told that I should eat about 6 times a day, but that is really hard for me. They say it is what will keep your metabolism at an appropriate level. I forget to eat about every two to three hours. Any suggestions? When I do eat, I try to make sure that I have a protein, slow and fast carb, but that is really the only thing I have down. The snacks are what I forget and sometimes it is hard to get that breakfast in because when I wake up I start work and forget until about 10 or so that I have not had breakfast. I am not accustomed to eating breakfast because when I was younger it made me sick. Breakfast is such a sweet meal and I am not really into sugary things.

melissafaith24

3 meals a day and a couple snacks midafternoon

tobnrn

How often & what time you eat is irrelevant. Just get your calories in for the day. Doesn't matter if you do it in 1 meal or 20 meals.

Espressocycle

6, usually a protein bar for breakfast (9:30), then a small lunch (12:30), then some fruit (3:00), then some protein (5:00), then dinner (7-8ish), then late night snack (11:00)

LeenaRuns

I eat all day long. Because I'm hungry,. It's 10:00 am here and I've already had 820 calories. LOL

gatorginger

I eat breakfast at 6

piece of fruit about 10:30

Lunch at 12

granola bar around 3:00

evening snacks/meal around 6

steve1686

it doesn't matter how many times per day you eat. Alll that matters is calories/macros

1a1a

Somewhere between 4 and 7 (that's including sweet treats and coffees and stuff).

BAMFMeredith

I eat about 6 times a day, I just schedule it out....but I'm confused about this whole breakfast being a sugary meal thing. Why does it have to be sweet? I eat eggs and turkey bacon for breakfast half of the time, which is definitely not sweet...

You don't HAVE to eat 6 times a day. Plenty of people don't, and their metabolisms are just fine. If you'd rather eat 3 square meals and you're getting the appropriate calories/macros, then don't sweat the whole 6 meals a day thing. I'm a grazer/snacker, so eating small meals several times a day just works better for me and keeps me from being hungry between meals.

justbecause2014

Depends on the day. Long school days I eat about 6 times a day. Work days I eat 2 meals and whatever I can sneak in at work!

meghan6867

6 times. Breakfast, snack, lunch, snack, dinner, snack... in that order.

rml_16

There is no one size fits all.

I usually skip breakfast, but if I'm particularly hungry I have a chai latte or a slice of peanut butter toast, then lunch, dinner and a fruit smoothie at the end of the evening.

zachatta

2 times

jfrog123

Breakfast doesn't have to be sweet. Somedays I have oatmeal or yogurt (sweet), but most days I have a Light English muffin with egg whites, lean ham, cheese, and mustard. You can have whatever you want for breakfast!

yo_andi

3 meals a day and a few snacks if I need it.

thoeting

It depends on my workout schedule. but on a big workout day, I'll eat three meals and four snacks. On a small day, three meals and two snacks

For instance....today I taught a spin class at 5:30 AM. I've already had close to 800 calories from a meal and two snacks, and it's only 10:00 AM..

Since I have two more classes coming up, I would imagine it'll be a three meal/four snack kind of day.

erickirb

I typically eat 3 meals and 4 snacks/day. Not for weight loss reasons, but I find this way I am never overly hungry and my energy levels stay pretty consistent throughout the day.

ChitownFoodie

Hmmmmm.....Let's see

4:30am - Breakfast
8:00am - Snack
10:30am - Snack
12:30pm - Lunch
2:30pm - Snack
5:30pm - Snack
8:00pm - Dinner


I guess I eat 7 times a day. :happy:

RunHardBeStrong

Do what works for you. Eating several times a day does nothing for your metabolism but for some it keeps them full and from binging later on. It takes around 72 hours of NO food for metabolism to begin to slow. I tried the 6 x's a day thing and I hated it. All I thought about was food and consistently went over my calorie allowance. Now I eat 2 or 3 meals and sometimes a snack with in an 8 hour window. I do much better this way, I'm not as stressed about it, have more energy, no cravings or binges and stay with in my calorie allowances. Do what makes you feel best. Good luck!

kevinremer

8

6am - Snack (before morning workout)
8am - Breakfast
10am - Snack
12pm - Lunch
2pm - Snack
4pm - Snack
6pm - Dinner
8:30 pm - Snack (after evening workout)

palmerig88

I don't think it's the frequency of eating that will affect your metabolism as much as making sure you eat as much food as you should in an entire day/week/etc, under-eating in general would do damage. Forgetting to eat just means you are only eating when you are hungry which makes sense. I don't eat much when I'm not hungry because at some point in the day I will be very hungry so that is when I want to use my calories. If I am really hungry early in the day I know how to prepare myself a lower calorie dinner or snack at night. If I didn't eat much during the day it's easy to have a higher calorie dinner and maybe some ice cream or whatever. I don't think it matters what time you eat, just that you EAT.