To eat or not to eat?

Amanda82691

even when your not hungry do you still make yourself eat something to ensure that your not going too long without fueling your body?? I try to eat every 2.5 to 3 hours either a healthy meal or small healthy snack to help keep my metabolism going, and sometimes I eat eventhough I am not hungry and I'm wondering what are all of your methods when it comes to not being hungry?

LittleMissDover

Your metabolism doesn't stop if you don't eat every few hours, you could eat all your calories in one sitting if you wanted.

As long as you're eating a healthy calorie amount then eat when you like.

Amanda82691

Your metabolism doesn't stop if you don't eat every few hours, you could eat all your calories in one sitting if you wanted.

As long as you're eating a healthy calorie amount then eat when you like.

I understand that it doesn't "stop" if I don't eat lol, your metabolism never really stops anyways. I just like to help ensure my metabolism is keeping a steady pace. I have done some research and have also seen and know of many, many success stories of men and women who use the same methods of eating 5 to 6 small meals/snacks every 3 hours ish. It has been working wonders for me so far.

Cranktastic

Your metabolism doesn't stop if you don't eat every few hours, you could eat all your calories in one sitting if you wanted.

As long as you're eating a healthy calorie amount then eat when you like.

exactly.

Amanda82691

Your metabolism doesn't stop if you don't eat every few hours, you could eat all your calories in one sitting if you wanted.

As long as you're eating a healthy calorie amount then eat when you like.

exactly.

Well duh, you'd be very foolish to think your metabolism ever stops. lol

leilaphoenix

Your metabolism doesn't stop if you don't eat every few hours, you could eat all your calories in one sitting if you wanted.

As long as you're eating a healthy calorie amount then eat when you like.

exactly.

Agreed.

Cranktastic

Your metabolism doesn't stop if you don't eat every few hours, you could eat all your calories in one sitting if you wanted.

As long as you're eating a healthy calorie amount then eat when you like.

I understand that it doesn't "stop" if I don't eat lol, your metabolism never really stops anyways. I just like to help ensure my metabolism is keeping a steady pace. I have done some research and have also seen and know of many, many success stories of men and women who use the same methods of eating 5 to 6 small meals/snacks every 3 hours ish. It has been working wonders for me so far.

if it works for you great, but it doesnt keep your metabolism at a steady pace.... i actually prefer to eat my calories later in the day because I enjoy more at once and like to eat at night.

darrensurrey

Having learnt the hard way that 1200 calories a day is going to end up with me moving further from my goal, I always eat stuff. I managed to easily eat double that before so why the hell would I have a problem now?

MemphisKitten

I had trouble when I first started doing the 3 hour thing, but now I'm always hungry. Now I wonder if forcing myself to eat every few hours has backfired. I do consume a fair amount of sugar though, so it could be that as well. . .

SweetCheekszx0

:drinker: I've heard eating small meals a day actually only increases it by 10% .. Um they can keep thier ten percent ill eat when I'm hungry and have 800 cals in one sitting if I'd like thank u evry much

Unknown

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smilesalot1969

No i eat when im hungry as long as i know i am genuinely hungry. I cant live a regimented lifestyle of having to eat at certain times like i used to it drove me nuts. now i eat when i want to

leilaphoenix

When you eat really doesn't matter. Some people report eating small frequent meals works for them but this is due to them eating less calories (overall) and is nothing to do with one's metabolism. If you waited and ate all your mini meals in one go at 11pm, it would have the same effect.

mustgetmuscles1

Your metabolism doesn't stop if you don't eat every few hours, you could eat all your calories in one sitting if you wanted.

As long as you're eating a healthy calorie amount then eat when you like.

I understand that it doesn't "stop" if I don't eat lol, your metabolism never really stops anyways. I just like to help ensure my metabolism is keeping a steady pace. I have done some research and have also seen and know of many, many success stories of men and women who use the same methods of eating 5 to 6 small meals/snacks every 3 hours ish. It has been working wonders for me so far.

Its works because it does not matter. Just as many people have success with 3 meals per day or eat all your meals in a 4 hour window. The fact is that is it does not really matter so just do whatever is convenient for you. Even if there is some small difference in efficiency missing one meal wont make a bit of difference.

Cranktastic

I had trouble when I first started doing the 3 hour thing, but now I'm always hungry. Now I wonder if forcing myself to eat every few hours has backfired. I do consume a fair amount of sugar though, so it could be that as well. . .

to me eating a small amount every 2 to 3 hours is like foreplay without the BANG.

I like the BANG
I like to eat more at once

just personal preference.

Amanda82691

I had trouble when I first started doing the 3 hour thing, but now I'm always hungry. Now I wonder if forcing myself to eat every few hours has backfired. I do consume a fair amount of sugar though, so it could be that as well. . .

True, it might not always work for everyone but thats why we aren't all the same lol. Its all about finding what works for you.

lewcompton

I find myself with less hunger pangs and less afternoon lulls if I eat six meals per day... Keeps my blood sugar even and keeps me from getting the stomach growling at me... To each there own... Find what works for you but a steady flow of lower calories keeps me from ravenous raids on the fridge at all hours and keeps me able to work in the afternoon. I make sure to include healthy fat, protein and carbs at each meal and it keeps me going.

rhonda4444

The best way is to only eat when you are hungry and stop when you feel full. But full is not, "I think I ate so much my stomach will burst and I will die." Sadly, that has been my idea of full many times! It is difficult to do though but I say keep trying. This I say to myself!!

Lesa_Sass

I do not force myself to eat every few hours but I do force myself to eat enough calories for the day. I have learned the hard way as well, that if I under eat one day, I will stay famished all day long the next. I also can tell a difference in the way I look if I have not eaten enough.

A spoon fulls of some type of nut butter, sunflower being my new favorite, always does the trick.

And I will also say, it has been my experience that if I do eat something every 3 hours or so, it does make a difference in my metabolism. So things that may work for some may not work for others and vice versa. I have also experienced starvation mode in the past, so remember sharing your experience, not your opinion is what matters the most.

Dave198lbs

. It has been working wonders for me so far.

this is the only reason to continue doing it then

Amanda82691

Your metabolism doesn't stop if you don't eat every few hours, you could eat all your calories in one sitting if you wanted.

As long as you're eating a healthy calorie amount then eat when you like.

I understand that it doesn't "stop" if I don't eat lol, your metabolism never really stops anyways. I just like to help ensure my metabolism is keeping a steady pace. I have done some research and have also seen and know of many, many success stories of men and women who use the same methods of eating 5 to 6 small meals/snacks every 3 hours ish. It has been working wonders for me so far.

if it works for you great, but it doesnt keep your metabolism at a steady pace.... i actually prefer to eat my calories later in the day because I enjoy more at once and like to eat at night.

well you can't say that it doesn't if your not a doctor or have great proof. lol. Just like I can't say that it actually does. According to the research I've done I feel well enough to trust the theories on it and it works great for me. Helps me stay feeling full, and energized. I get what you mean about liking to eat more calories at once. I usually only feel the need to eat a large amount of calories at once if I let myself get super hungry which by eating every 3ish hours I don't have time to. I don't like eating most of my calories later in my day because later in the day is more of laid back restful period, my body won't be as active so why fuel it so much if its not as active as say six hours ago. lol.

Amanda82691

I find myself with less hunger pangs and less afternoon lulls if I eat six meals per day... Keeps my blood sugar even and keeps me from getting the stomach growling at me... To each there own... Find what works for you but a steady flow of lower calories keeps me from ravenous raids on the fridge at all hours and keeps me able to work in the afternoon. I make sure to include healthy fat, protein and carbs at each meal and it keeps me going.

Great!!! This is what a lot of research I read on it states as well. Helps keeps everything steady and no spikes in things such as blood sugar. Great job!!

Amanda82691

It seems to me you asked and answered your own question. If its worked wonders for you, what's the question.

Just asking for others opinions is all lol. Not that I would change it if its obviously working for me. Just seeing what everyone else does. lol No harm in that.

davyrockhit214

If I have extra calories after an exercise I will eat if I haven't hit 1200 regardless of my hunger, try to make it a good choice though because yeah I could have a candy bar but that is not the point. Uh oh, now I want a candy bar... sorry got distracted, where were we.

Amanda82691

If I have extra calories after an exercise I will eat if I haven't hit 1200 regardless of my hunger, try to make it a good choice though because yeah I could have a candy bar but that is not the point. Uh oh, now I want a candy bar... sorry got distracted, where were we.

Great! Healthy is always the way to go that comes regret free

EvanKeel

You'd get the same overall thermic effect from food by eating 3 larger meals per day as you would eating 6 smaller meals per day.

Much of the success people experience eating smaller meals is the result of feeling sated along with monitoring what one eats. So, it's fine to do it. It works for a lot of people, but there's no real metabolic advantage to doing so.

It was a very popular notion in the 90s because seems to resonate with a lot of people, and also because there's a grain of truth to it, but barring personal preferences there's no real advantage to eating smaller meals. That's not to discount personal preferences. Do what you can sustain, and all.

lewcompton

If I have extra calories after an exercise I will eat if I haven't hit 1200 regardless of my hunger, try to make it a good choice though because yeah I could have a candy bar but that is not the point. Uh oh, now I want a candy bar... sorry got distracted, where were we.

I was in the middle of my candy bar... were you saying something? JK... Find it easy to stay under eating clean, lean and often... Don't know about others but boy does it work for me... Use to do three meals per day... Was always ravenous and could consume way more food and enormous amounts of calories... Now I never give myself the chance to get hungry.

jofjltncb6

I find myself with less hunger pangs and less afternoon lulls if I eat six meals per day... Keeps my blood sugar even and keeps me from getting the stomach growling at me... To each there own... Find what works for you but a steady flow of lower calories keeps me from ravenous raids on the fridge at all hours and keeps me able to work in the afternoon. I make sure to include healthy fat, protein and carbs at each meal and it keeps me going.

Great!!! This is what a lot of research I read on it states as well. Helps keeps everything steady and no spikes in things such as blood sugar. Great job!!

Sounds to me like you already had the "right" answer in mind when you asked your question. That's the only explanation I can think of for dismissing all of the comments that said your reasoning wasn't supported by science, and latching on to this one that met your preconceived notion of how your metabolism works.

Oh, and your preconceived notion is wrong, by the way....(IMHO)

Siege_Tank

Your metabolism doesn't stop if you don't eat every few hours, you could eat all your calories in one sitting if you wanted.

As long as you're eating a healthy calorie amount then eat when you like.

^this.

davyrockhit214

You'd get the same overall thermic effect from food by eating 3 larger meals per day as you would eating 6 smaller meals per day.

Much of the success people experience eating smaller meals is the result of feeling sated along with monitoring what one eats. So, it's fine to do it. It works for a lot of people, but there's no real metabolic advantage to doing so.

It was a very popular notion in the 90s because seems to resonate with a lot of people, and also because there's a grain of truth to it, but barring personal preferences there's no real advantage to eating smaller meals. That's not to discount personal preferences. Do what you can sustain, and all.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ I like this answer because it seems appropriate and used the word "resonate" .... love. that. word!

_JR_

Your metabolism doesn't stop if you don't eat every few hours, you could eat all your calories in one sitting if you wanted.

As long as you're eating a healthy calorie amount then eat when you like.

exactly.

Well duh, .....

Strong argument. :noway: :laugh: