Dilemma - when to eat?

SnicciFit

It doesnt matter getting 1500 calories in one meal for the day, or 10 150 calorie meals for the day. Just as long as as you hit your goal in the day

I'm not so sure about this. I'm not on the "eat several small meals a day" bandwagon, but our bodies are way more complex than calories in/calories out. I would think that eating 1500 calories in one meal would effect your hormones differently than eating say 3 or 6 meals a day totaling 1500 calories. Your hormones have a LOT to do with your weight & general health. And that's not even getting into the quality of those 1500 calories...

TR0berts

The reason you're not hungry in the morning is because you don't eat in the morning. This means that you are spreading calories over too small a portion of the day and your body spends the nighttime breaking down food when it should spend that time repairing you. The best thing to do is to start small and teach yourself to eat breakfast. I used to be just like you and would never eat breakfast. Sometimes I still don't because I don't feel hungry.

However, you need to recognize that "listening to your body" like some other posters have said to do can actually cause you detriment. Your eating "switch" is currently not functioning the way it is supposed to. You need to train it to function at the maximum level for your body and your nutritional needs. You need to eat approximately every 2-4 hours starting with first thing in the morning and going from there.

This is not just about metabolism. It is also about making sure that your body has enough energy and fuel to keep you alive and healthy.

Everything about this post? No. Just, no.

bajoyba

I've never been a breakfast person. Whether I wake up at 6am or 10am, I'm typically not hungry for the first few hours of the day. Sometimes I even prefer to do my workout before I eat anything. When I do eat my "breakfast", it usually consists of a protein shake, and perhaps another light snack, depending on the day. I simply feel better and more energized eating this way, and eating larger portions of food earlier in the day tends to make me feel lethargic.
I think that as long as you're meeting your calorie and nutritional requirements for the day, it doesn't really matter whether you eat breakfast or not. I've literally eaten this way for at least 10 years. I gained weight because I wasn't paying attention to what (or how much) I was feeding my body. And now that I've started paying attention, I've been able to lose weight without a problem, even considering my lack of a traditional breakfast.

SideSteel

If you function fine without breakfast, and your total intake of calories and nutrients are in-check by end of day, then I'd continue skipping breakfast. It's not going to matter in terms of weight loss or body composition to any significant degree. It definitely matters for preferential and performance metrics but that's addressed with the bolded part.

taso42

Eat when you want. Hit your numbers. End of story.

This is not a dilemma at all. So stop worrying about it.

supermodelchic

I am on a 5 meal plan right now, and it keeps your metabolism fired up, helping to burn fat ect.. At 1st it was hard to eat the extra calories and fiting in a meal at 7pm, but once I got use to it, I am getting hungry in between meals. You'll have to find what works best for you..

niftyafterfifty

Breakfast is highly overrated. It only slightly (very slightly) elevates your metabolism. There is new research that shows skipping breakfast actually increases weight loss. If there is a 12 - 16 hour fast between your fast meal of the day and the first meal of the next day (Intermittent fasting), your body will burn stored fat during that time.

MissKitty9

I agree that you should listen to yourself, but from the original post it actually sounds like...you're never hungry? So that's not good.

SideSteel

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/820577-meal-frequency-rev-up-that-furnace-lol

KansasCowgirl

I agree that you should listen to yourself, but from the original post it actually sounds like...you're never hungry? So that's not good.

No, I get hungry if I wait long enough. But if I try to eat 3 meals plus snacks I don't get hungry, don't enjoy what I'm putting in my face, and tend to just grab something "because so-and-so trainer said I have to", and it often isn't a nutritious snack.

Pumpkinguy13

Just remember that "nutritionists" and "Personal Trainers" jobs rely on people being unfamiliar with how the body functions. The diet industry is a billion dollar industry. It is in their best interest if there is a lot of misinformation out there. The more complex the better.

If it was as simple as just hitting calories, hitting macros, and doing some cardio and heavy strength training..why there would not be much of a need for a complex diet industry would there?

Mustang_Susie

Just remember that "nutritionists" and "Personal Trainers" jobs rely on people being unfamiliar with how the body functions. The diet industry is a billion dollar industry. It is in their best interest if there is a lot of misinformation out there. The more complex the better.

If it was as simple as just hitting calories, hitting macros, and doing some cardio and heavy strength training..why there would not be much of a need for a complex diet industry would there?

Registered Dieticians have their Bachelor's Degree.
They have a comprehensive understanding of nutrition and metabolism.
They can tell you how best to eat to meet your goals without compromising essential bodily functions.
I would encourage you to consult with an RD who has facts rather than uneducated opinions.

SideSteel

If it was as simple as just hitting calories, hitting macros, and doing some cardio and heavy strength training..why there would not be much of a need for a complex diet industry would there?

Yes there would. Because saying something and doing something are two different things.

I guarantee you that it is as simple as hitting your calories and macros and getting off the couch.

It is simple but it is not easy.

taso42

Just remember that "nutritionists" and "Personal Trainers" jobs rely on people being unfamiliar with how the body functions. The diet industry is a billion dollar industry. It is in their best interest if there is a lot of misinformation out there. The more complex the better.

If it was as simple as just hitting calories, hitting macros, and doing some cardio and heavy strength training..why there would not be much of a need for a complex diet industry would there?

Your 2 paragraphs seem to be at odds with each other.

flobotz2503

The reason you're not hungry in the morning is because you don't eat in the morning. This means that you are spreading calories over too small a portion of the day and your body spends the nighttime breaking down food when it should spend that time repairing you. The best thing to do is to start small and teach yourself to eat breakfast. I used to be just like you and would never eat breakfast. Sometimes I still don't because I don't feel hungry.

However, you need to recognize that "listening to your body" like some other posters have said to do can actually cause you detriment. Your eating "switch" is currently not functioning the way it is supposed to. You need to train it to function at the maximum level for your body and your nutritional needs. You need to eat approximately every 2-4 hours starting with first thing in the morning and going from there.

This is not just about metabolism. It is also about making sure that your body has enough energy and fuel to keep you alive and healthy.

this makes sense to me..I usually hate eating first thing in the morning, but since I've started forcing myself to eat in the am I've noticed that I have more energy throughout the day. I'm also not eating dinner as late as I used to when i would just eat lunch and then dinner.

cowgirlupkelly

There is new research that shows skipping breakfast actually increases weight loss. If there is a 12 - 16 hour fast between your fast meal of the day and the first meal of the next day (Intermittent fasting), your body will burn stored fat during that time.

Can you post or direct me to these 'new' studies.

One thing I want to say is many people feel they are hungrier throughout the day if they eat breakfast when they've not been eating it before. That happened to me too but then I adjusted. I know I feel physically better and mentally better and over all throughout the day eat less. But do what feels proper for you.

SJVZEE

You are correct. Eat when you're hungry - don't eat, if you're not.

Of course, the caveat to that is to make sure you eat enough - but there is no reason to eat at any specific time or any specific number of feedings, provided you get the proper nutrients and are able to maintain physical and mental health.

This is spot on

JoRocka

24 hrs in a day.

XXXX calories to consume for the day.

Eat them all at once- spread them out split it half.. doesn't matter.

eat XXXX calories in that 24 hr day.

Call it good.