Tips to curb your hunger and help your metabolism

just NO

I definitely think it is all about trial and error as we all come in different shapes and sizes, with different genetics and different metabolisms aswell as lifestyle.

I tried the eating regularly (but small and healthy) diet and put on alot of weight. I also tried cutting out fats and lowering calories and they were hard to maintain. I find what works for me best is cutting out starchy foods (bread,pasta,potatoes,rice), drinking lots of water and doing regular exercise. Since I cut back on carbs and increased protein I have shed half a stone in two weeks and I am still eating enough to be healthy and exercising regularly. I still have carbs but less insulin spiking carbs.

This diet really isn't for everyone as you may need the carb intake if you are doing loads of exercise. I just find this works because I have a rather sedentary job and only manage to do exercise outside of working hours. I'd recommend it if you are similar.

Wow. Just wow. The amount of high horses people get on in this forum would be sufficient to supply both Tesco and BK for the next decade.

RAFL!

People get shirty when it's presented as a scientific way to lose weight. The reality is that there is a lot of very strong science that backs the pure Calories In < Calories Out approach, regardless of meal size and timing.

However, the science isn't the be all and end all of the subject. In my opinion the value of looking at meal size and frequency is behavioral. It's a way to achieve a target caloric deficit/surplus within the framework of your lifestyle. If multiple small meals allows someone to reach their calorie goals, then it's the right thing for them. Forget the metabolic kickstart BS bro-science explanation of why it works. It doesn't matter why it works. And if it doesn't work for you, just don't do it.

The small, high frequency meal practice should just be a tool in the toolbox to reach calorie goals. If you are struggling to build a caloric deficit in your lifestyle, try it. It might work for you. It might not. But it's worth a try, just like any other approach. I tried it, and kept missing meals because of my work schedule, and by the time dinner came around I found myself idly wondering if my wife would taste better roasted or fried. Just not the approach for me and my life-style.

So in short, everyone is right. Can we stop fighting now?

I don't know why everyone jumped down this girl's throat. Eating a large breakfast and snacks every few hours doesn't sound absurd or anything, and I've heard similar ideas touted before - not so much for weight loss, but for people with blood sugar issues and athletes. I eat this way. Partly because I train really hard, and I do a lot of cardio, and my blood sugar does drop off quickly, so eating frequently does help. Also eating a larger meal once a day with enough time for it to fully digest before your main workout helps resupply your glycogen (or so the running magazines would have be believe). Again, this is beneficial for people whose training is sufficient to fully deplete their glycogen (i.e. over an hour of intense cardio training).

But that's precisely the problem. There is a subset of people for whom this works. But like every other diet tip out there, it's being presented as blanket advice for everyone, and bolstered by anecdotal evidence and bro-science.

I'm sure that had OP lead the post with "If you are having difficulty reaching your calorie goals, or you find that your blood sugar runs low in the day, try the following approach", and had skipped the bro-science, there wouldn't have been such a reaction.

Many people are here because they are sick of prescribed restrictive diets, and have realized the reality that if it's all about eating less than you burn. Period. They don't like being told what to do, and they don't like seeing 'their' forum used to further disseminate myths dressed as universal truth.

FIRST. This is the healthier way to help your metabolism. I have plenty of friends who are part of collegiate athletics who follow this routine during their "off" season.

I think all of your tips are good as tips. But they are not necesary and not necessarily healthier. Other than drinking plenty of water, they are simply tips and tricks that work for some people.

Finding an eating pattern that keeps you on track and happy is the best tip. That will not be the same for everyone.

*facepalm* :noway: No, just no.

This!

I don't know why everyone jumped down this girl's throat. Eating a large breakfast and snacks every few hours doesn't sound absurd or anything, and I've heard similar ideas touted before - not so much for weight loss, but for people with blood sugar issues and athletes. I eat this way. Partly because I train really hard, and I do a lot of cardio, and my blood sugar does drop off quickly, so eating frequently does help. Also eating a larger meal once a day with enough time for it to fully digest before your main workout helps resupply your glycogen (or so the running magazines would have be believe). Again, this is beneficial for people whose training is sufficient to fully deplete their glycogen (i.e. over an hour of intense cardio training).

Those are very specific circumstances and/or personal preferences. There were incorrect facts in the OP also.

I''ll never understand why some new posters come on first thing and put up lists of myth and broscience like this and think it's helpful and get all defensive when it's criticized. Do people like the OP really think we are all just looking for then to arrive and enlighten us all? Never have seen one of these g o well.

Damn why is everybody so snappy?

The OP is just posting some TIPS that might be of use to some and not so much for others! Thank you!

Agreed. And I actually do the tips she's posted. The smaller "meals" are really snacks and keep your blood sugar (and all the hormones that go with that) in check. I agree with the original poster.

:laugh: When have you ever seen an athlete eat slowly? Bahahaha!

I''ll never understand why some new posters come on first thing and put up lists of myth and broscience like this and think it's helpful and get all defensive when it's criticized. Do people like the OP really think we are all just looking for then to arrive and enlighten us all? Never have seen one of these g o well.

Hahahahahahahaha! Love it! Those fake 'enlighten' moments are also what keeps the diet industry going.

OP, I know you mean well, but this is just not true (well, the coffee part is fine)

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

I was actually going to post this link, too. Lots of good information here.

Truth is, almost everyone you ask will tell you that they believe eating many small meals a day and always eating breakfast are two surefire ways to "kickstart" their metabolism. I personally felt liberated when I found out that neither of these theories hold up scientifically. What truly matters is 'calories in versus calories out', unless the previous two theories help you adhere to your plan - in which case, by all means, anything to make it easier for you to succeed.

Keep it as simple as possible.

I don't blame people for repeating the above two theories as fact because it is literally repeated EVERYWHERE in every women's health article, talk show, and by every 'personal trainer' at every gym I've ever come across. There was a lot of "magic debunking" I had to wade through when I first started on MFP, too, but I was glad to dispel the magic and learn how simple it could be.

*Edited to add, I was also extremely appreciative of anyone who, no matter how many times (I later realized) they had to repeat it, was willing to offer information in an honest and patient way. It's the only reason I'm not still chasing my tail worrying about meal timing/carbs/fat and/or trying out new & fabulous diet pills. People took the time to say why these things don't work and I learned.