How many meals do you eat each day?

FitFabFlirty92

I've heard eating 5-6 small meals a day is better for your metabolism than eating 3 large meals, but I'm so used to my 3 meals a day that I rarely follow this advice. The meals aren't huge, the portions are much smaller than my meals were before I started losing weight. And I eat small snacks in the afternoon and evening, but I wouldn't call them meals. What do you guys do?

JesterMFP

It doesn't really matter how many meals you eat a day, not for your metabolism. If eating 3 large meals suits you, then that's probably the right way to do it for you. Meal timing won't affect your weight loss. Some people like to do lots of little meals, some like to do only one or two large meals a day.

I usually eat a medium lunch, large dinner, and after-dinner snacks until I go to bed, or the same, but with a small breakfast as well. It depends what my day looks like, and how hungry I am in the morning.

Bobbie_89

I eat 3 main meals a day with at least 2 small snacks. My snacks aren't big, there just small enough to hold me over till my next meal comes around. It's better to eat small meals through out the day. If you just eat 3 main meals and exercise alot your body will go into starvation mode cause your not filling your body back up.

WendyTerry420

I eat three meals. I often have a small snack in between meals, then dessert after dinner. But my main calories come from breakfast, lunch, and dinner, just like "normal" folks.

VelociMama

Meal frequency and timing has no effect on your metabolic rate. I lost a lot of my weight eating only 2-3 meals per day.

Good writeup on of this here, and his primary literature sources are cited at the bottom of the article if you want to look up the actual studies done to prove this:

http://www.leangains.com/2010/10/top-ten-fasting-myths-debunked.html

neverstray

I think eating more meals is not about metabolism, it's more about trying to never actually getting hungry. When you get hungry, you will eat wall paper off a wall. The idea is to eat enough to feel full around 6 times a day and never really feel hungry. So, you tend to eat less all day.

I eat 3 meals a day and 2 or 3 small snacks in between.

iAMsmiling

I pretty much eat 1 meal a day. Starts when I get up, ends when I go to sleep.

FitFabFlirty92

I eat 3 main meals a day with at least 2 small snacks. My snacks aren't big, there just small enough to hold me over till my next meal comes around. It's better to eat small meals through out the day. If you just eat 3 main meals and exercise alot your body will go into starvation mode cause your not filling your body back up.

Oh, don't worry, I eat back at least half of my exercise calories, usually all of them. On those days I do one of two things -- either I make one of those 3 meals bigger and more calorie dense than usual, or I add an extra snack or protein shake to make up for what I've burned off.

amann1976

i basically eat every 3 hours or so when i get hungry and that equates to about 5-6 meals a day... it is only 12:15 and i am about to eat for the third time today...

katiefridley

I eat 3, with a few snacks in between. Your metabolism doesn't fluctuate just because you haven't eaten in a few hours.

xTattooedDollx

I eat meals/snacks every 4 hours.

mabelbabel1

Breakfast, lunch and dinner but i'll have something inbetween if I am hungry.

CoderGal

I eat anywhere from 1 gigantic meal a day to 10 snacks a day depending on my schedule. Meal frequency has nothing to do with the weight I lost. I still eat like this and intake about the same amount of calories and maintain the same weight.

Sarauk2sf

It doesn't really matter how many meals you eat a day, not for your metabolism. If eating 3 large meals suits you, then that's probably the right way to do it for you. Meal timing won't affect your weight loss. Some people like to do lots of little meals, some like to do only one or two large meals a day.

I usually eat a medium lunch, large dinner, and after-dinner snacks until I go to bed, or the same, but with a small breakfast as well. It depends what my day looks like, and how hungry I am in the morning.

First answer = correct answer re metabolism.

And I am the same with my meals.

dreilingda

A small snack at 9am, a mid size lunch, and a large dinner. I like to save the calories for dinner. Oh, and it's almost always within an hour or so of going to bed. Do what makes you happy and just stay within your goals.

mag2906

I've heard eating 5-6 small meals a day is better for your metabolism than eating 3 large meals, but I'm so used to my 3 meals a day that I rarely follow this advice. The meals aren't huge, the portions are much smaller than my meals were before I started losing weight. And I eat small snacks in the afternoon and evening, but I wouldn't call them meals. What do you guys do?

I eat 3 meals and no snacks in between them. I go for 1400-1500 calories a day and aim at 500 cal. deficit.
Between lunch and supper there is about 6 hr break, and between supper and breakfast about 12 hr.
I feel so much better eating like this and weight loss seems to be easier to achieve. I also have very little or no cravings with this method.

Now, this is what works for me. Everybody's different and I'm not saying this method is the best.
I've been struggling with me being overweight for more than 20 years (I'm 36 now), been through many diets, learned the true meaning of yo-yo. I can say now that eating pattern mentioned above is the best for me. Took me 20 years!

love4fitnesslove4food_wechange

Hard to say--maybe 2-3 actual meals and graze non-stop between meals I guess.

Medwayguy

Topic: How many meals do you eat each day?

Between six to eight : BLD + a snack between them all + one before and one straight after gym or home workout and perhaps a cheeky treat along the way

NormalSaneFLGuy

16. I portion my calories so I eat an even amount every hour of the day.

Take that metabolism!

Wonderob

I eat 6 or 7 small meals/snacks. Suits me although I'm well aware that it isn't beneficial to metabolism

jeme3

Three meals, two to three snacks a day works well for me.

Depending on my schedule, I may skip snacks or save calories for a big meal.

I find I am less likely to be RAVENOUS at meal time if I eat a snack between meals and I am better able to stay on target calorie-wise.

Be_EmbracE

6-7 meals a day estimation of spreading out what I require tru out around every 2-4hrs apart and protein shake after workout

Tommy_Moore

Small breakfast, medium lunch, and a large dinner, and maybe a snickers on occasion.

Rachaelluvszipped

Depending on your body...how much you train it, is going to determine how much & how numerous you eat throughout the day...I eat all day at times, running into each other, but I also train hard

etoiles_argentees

4,5..... ?
I eat every few hours.

ToughTulip

between 2-4 most days

capnwo85

2-3, thats it.

Who has time to plan that 6-7 times a day crappola, really?

mem50

I have three "normal" meals and at least 3 snacks. For me it is to control my low blood sugar. Plus I found that knowing I get a snack kept me on the "diet" much better then just eating three times a day.