3 squares vs 6 mini....

ergumm

Hi! I am just curious about what everyone else does, and why. I do 3 large meals a day with little or no snacks. I am tired ALL the time! I drink my protein shake, and then sit down and fall asleep! What can I do to increase my energy???

I have thought about switching to 6 mini meals a day, but I'm not sure what I would eat for those meals! I'm afraid I would go over my calories. I don't eat lettuce, so having a light salad is out!

I would appreciate everyone's input! How do you do your meals and why? Also, If you do 6 mini, what do you eat!? Thanks :-)

aimforhealthy

Are you watching your potassium and iron intakes? I wasn't, and I was exhausted all the time too. Turned out I was slightly anemic. Just a thought!

Forest777

I've been tired lately too. I realized I have spring allergies and a slight nasal drip. Nothing too horrible, but I think the allergies are making me feel fatigued too. Not sure where you live, but just a thought!

As far as meals, I eat 6 minis. Or I think 3 snacks and 3 medium meals. For snacks, lately I've been loving Greek yogurt or Fiber One English Muffins.

eric_sg61

I would rather have 3 large meals that I can fill up on than be hungry all day with 6 minis.

ergumm

Are you watching your potassium and iron intakes? I wasn't, and I was exhausted all the time too. Turned out I was slightly anemic. Just a thought!

Thank you! I don't know why I didn't think of that! I have been anemic off and on my whole life! I just don't ever remember being this tired all the time!

whitecapwendy

I eat 4 meals at between 300 and 400 calories each. You can eat a lot of food if you choose the food carefully. I eat a lot of fruits and veggies, whole grains and drink a lot of water. I try to stay away from refined sugars and flours and find that I am satisfied and have plenty of energy, but never have that bloated, overfull feeling. Little by little I am learning the difference between hunger and appetite. When my tummy starts hurting, I know I am hungry and eat. But I find if I am eating at regular intervals I do not get hungry. If I am hungry before bed, I will have a handful of nuts (carefully measured out on my food scale of course). Occasionally (once a week or every two weeks), I will allow myself a treat meal to keep cravings and binges at bay. If I find myself craving ae dessert or goodie someone brings in to work, I will let myself have a small piece if my calorie balance allows or if I am close to my goal, I will have a taste (one bite or a small piece broken off), my co-workers are really supportive of my efforts and will usually share a small piece of their goodie or let me break off a piece of some of the leftover.

This works best for me and am looking at it as a lifelong change of lifestyle. I have a long way to go, but since January 4 I have lost 39.4 pounds with this eating style, lots of water and regular exercise.

Juliste

Several reasons you could be tired: ck for low Vitamin B12 levels (animal protein) ; levels lower as we age. Your adrenals could be fatigued, you are not supporting your increased exercise with proper nutrition, not enough sleep, hormonal, etc...., numerous reasons. I have been doing Intermittent Fasting 16/8; 2 meals per day plus one extra when I train. Right now this works for me.

fairfatandfabulous

I like 3 large meals or else I wounld be snacking away all day. I think you should try a multi vitamin. I get tired if I havent eaten enough protien a good steak on the bbq usually does the trick.

lizgordon286

I usually eat 3 larger meals each day. Sometimes I have a snack in the afternoon and a small snack after dinner. Works for me!

JDBLY11

I would rather have 3 large meals that I can fill up on than be hungry all day with 6 minis.

So would I. I can't stand being hungry all day. I don't think I have the self-control to do many small meals.

I do think it is good to do 6 small meals if you can do it though. One of my sisters is very thin and she stays that way by having small meals frequently. When I was pregnant I thought it would have been easier and I would have been less sick if I would have been able to eat 6 small meals a day. Eating too much at a meal seems to make you more sick because of the extra food left in your stomach.

KarenJanine

When I'm at work being sat at the desk all day makes me want to snack so I tend to have 6 smaller meals that I've pre-planned rather than be tempted to hit the biscuits. On the weekends when I'm out and about I'm more likely to have 3 main meals. It's just a case of what suits you best. How many meals you have will not have any bearing on weight loss / metabolism, etc.

I have tendency towards anaemia so I take iron replacement and a B12 supplement which keeps things stable.

Vailara

Are you eating enough calories overall?

I mainly eat three meals a day, but use any "spare" calories for a snack at the end of the day. I have a very small breakfast, so getting to the mid-day meal is often the hardest, then a bigger mid-day meal, then a bigger evening meal. That's what fits in with work, etc. At the weekends when I can choose my mealtimes, I might have a bigger sort of brunch meal to replace breakfast and lunch, late morning, then another evening meal, so just two meals plus whatever is left over for an evening snack.

ergumm

Are you eating enough calories overall?

I mainly eat three meals a day, but use any "spare" calories for a snack at the end of the day. I have a very small breakfast, so getting to the mid-day meal is often the hardest, then a bigger mid-day meal, then a bigger evening meal. That's what fits in with work, etc. At the weekends when I can choose my mealtimes, I might have a bigger sort of brunch meal to replace breakfast and lunch, late morning, then another evening meal, so just two meals plus whatever is left over for an evening snack.

I think I'm eating enough calories. I'm usually under my 1200 cal. goal. I try not to eat any of my exercise calories. I would say my diet is high protein...very low carb. I usually just have a protein shake for breakfast and then 2 meals. Now I am trying not to eat after 6 p.m., but I might have to change that to 8 p.m., because I hate eating before my husband even gets home from work, even though I cook him something different than I eat. It's hard to sit and keep him company when I'm done eating for the day. Especially if I have fixed him fried potatoes :-)

ergumm

I like 3 large meals or else I wounld be snacking away all day. I think you should try a multi vitamin. I get tired if I havent eaten enough protien a good steak on the bbq usually does the trick.

I do take centrum specialist energy vitamin. I start my day with a protein shake and I eat a lot of eggs. In fact, I go over on my protein a lot in my diary. Maybe I will try taking something with added iron and see if that gets me to stop feeling so tired. If that doesn't work...next step would a check up I suppose.

Thanks to all of you for your thoughts on the subject!

Hrl1993

I do something in between...I have a good sized breakfast, lunch, or dinner, but I also leave room for a nice afternoon snack and dessert (I have to have dessert......darn you sweet tooth).

I think it keeps me from being TOO hungry at the next meal and overeating then. But of course that doesn't work for everyone.

Like a PP said, Greek yogurt is awesome for a snack. Cottage cheese is too I also make a lot of chicken breast at the beginning of the week, so I can grab one of those for a snack, too. I like to make sure my snacks have lots of protein to satisfy me.

bestmeicanbe84

Are you eating enough calories overall?

I mainly eat three meals a day, but use any "spare" calories for a snack at the end of the day. I have a very small breakfast, so getting to the mid-day meal is often the hardest, then a bigger mid-day meal, then a bigger evening meal. That's what fits in with work, etc. At the weekends when I can choose my mealtimes, I might have a bigger sort of brunch meal to replace breakfast and lunch, late morning, then another evening meal, so just two meals plus whatever is left over for an evening snack.

I think I'm eating enough calories. I'm usually under my 1200 cal. goal. I try not to eat any of my exercise calories. I would say my diet is high protein...very low carb. I usually just have a protein shake for breakfast and then 2 meals. Now I am trying not to eat after 6 p.m., but I might have to change that to 8 p.m., because I hate eating before my husband even gets home from work, even though I cook him something different than I eat. It's hard to sit and keep him company when I'm done eating for the day. Especially if I have fixed him fried potatoes :-)

So you aren't meeting the 1200 calorie minimum and you don't eat any exercise calories back? No wonder you're so tired. I can't imagine living off so few calories. I would suggest eating your exercise cals back and making sure to net 1200.

Vailara

Are you eating enough calories overall?

I mainly eat three meals a day, but use any "spare" calories for a snack at the end of the day. I have a very small breakfast, so getting to the mid-day meal is often the hardest, then a bigger mid-day meal, then a bigger evening meal. That's what fits in with work, etc. At the weekends when I can choose my mealtimes, I might have a bigger sort of brunch meal to replace breakfast and lunch, late morning, then another evening meal, so just two meals plus whatever is left over for an evening snack.

I think I'm eating enough calories. I'm usually under my 1200 cal. goal. I try not to eat any of my exercise calories. I would say my diet is high protein...very low carb. I usually just have a protein shake for breakfast and then 2 meals. Now I am trying not to eat after 6 p.m., but I might have to change that to 8 p.m., because I hate eating before my husband even gets home from work, even though I cook him something different than I eat. It's hard to sit and keep him company when I'm done eating for the day. Especially if I have fixed him fried potatoes :-)

If I was you, I'd start off by eating more and see how that affects your tiredness. If you have MFP set at 2lb loss, drop it to 1lb or 1/2 lb AND eat back exercise calories, and see if that makes a difference. Alteternatively you could try something like http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/937712-in-place-of-a-road-map-ver-3-0 . I find it easier that way. Either way, you probably just want to eat at a smaller deficit, closer to the calories you would need to maintain. That should give you enough for more normal sized meals, and hopefully more energy!

However, it's probably worth getting a medical check-up because there might be something else happening, such as thyroid issues.

ergumm

Are you eating enough calories overall?

I mainly eat three meals a day, but use any "spare" calories for a snack at the end of the day. I have a very small breakfast, so getting to the mid-day meal is often the hardest, then a bigger mid-day meal, then a bigger evening meal. That's what fits in with work, etc. At the weekends when I can choose my mealtimes, I might have a bigger sort of brunch meal to replace breakfast and lunch, late morning, then another evening meal, so just two meals plus whatever is left over for an evening snack.

I think I'm eating enough calories. I'm usually under my 1200 cal. goal. I try not to eat any of my exercise calories. I would say my diet is high protein...very low carb. I usually just have a protein shake for breakfast and then 2 meals. Now I am trying not to eat after 6 p.m., but I might have to change that to 8 p.m., because I hate eating before my husband even gets home from work, even though I cook him something different than I eat. It's hard to sit and keep him company when I'm done eating for the day. Especially if I have fixed him fried potatoes :-)

If I was you, I'd start off by eating more and see how that affects your tiredness. If you have MFP set at 2lb loss, drop it to 1lb or 1/2 lb AND eat back exercise calories, and see if that makes a difference. Alteternatively you could try something like http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/937712-in-place-of-a-road-map-ver-3-0 . I find it easier that way. Either way, you probably just want to eat at a smaller deficit, closer to the calories you would need to maintain. That should give you enough for more normal sized meals, and hopefully more energy!

However, it's probably worth getting a medical check-up because there might be something else happening, such as thyroid issues.

I always thought that to lose weight you had to burn more calories than you take in, that is why I don't eat my exercise calories. I might try adding a small snack in between meals and see if that helps. I will check out the link you posted.

Thanks for all the suggestions ;-)