How many times a day do you eat?

wake at 7:00, breakfast 7:30
morning snack 10:30 (small snack)
lunch 12:30
afternoon snack 3:30 (small snack)
dinner 6:00
workout 7:30
post workout smoothie 9:00
bed 11:00

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About 4... No real regular time span between them though... I don't really believe our bodies will suddenly go catabolic if we don't consume anything more than 3 hours from the previous meal...

Obvious example would be some people/bodybuilders who use intermittent fasting... They eat all their calories in a short period and don't eat for like 16 hours and still build muscle - really just debunks that myth... :bigsmile:

4-6 times a day. I find myself eating 6 times a day since I've started Insanity but some days it may just be 4 or 5.

5-6 times.
Morning around 830AM - meal
Lunch around 1230pm - meal
2-4pm -snack
7pm dinner - meal
930pm - snack

I eat 3 times a day. I have gotten into eating vegetables with my meals that way I can cut my carb intake.
breakfast
lunch
dinner
I had to try out different meal routines before I fnally got to where I felt comfortable. If I feel the need I snack in between my meals, I also drink plenty of water in between meals as well. Everyone is different try things out and see what works for you.

5 times a day for me.

7am - Breakfast
10am - AM Snack
1pm - Lunch
4pm - PM Snack
70m - Dinner

weekdays: standard breakfast, lunch and dinner. depending on how big my meals are, i might have 0-2 snacks during the day. Plus 1 brotein shake.


weekends: really depends on what is going on, i'm much more likely to just get the calories in when suitable and don't follow a set routine. If I work out early, then I will just go straight to the gym and eat after.

Generally speaking I probably consume ~ 40% of my calories later in the day.

I eat 4-5 meals a day. Some days I eat breakfast, normally a slim fast shake or eggs and bacon. Then I have lunch it varies a lot. Then a snack normally a carb and protein then dinner which always has a protein, carb and veggie then another snack normally protein. I eat when I am hungry or if I know I need to such as low cals or macros. I eat a very balanced and yummy food selection although I am burnt out on fruit and veggies all the time and trying to widen my food scope:)

About 4... No real regular time span between them though... I don't really believe our bodies will suddenly go catabolic if we don't consume anything more than 3 hours from the previous meal...

Obvious example would be some people/bodybuilders who use intermittent fasting... They eat all their calories in a short period and don't eat for like 16 hours and still build muscle - really just debunks that myth... :bigsmile:

My knowledge of bodybuilding is near nil, so I was hoping you can give us your take on this:

"Here's something fun to try: Go up to the biggest, most shredded, most muscular dude you know, and say nothing to him but "catabolic." Then proceed to watch him run and hide in the corner, frantically trying to mix up a protein shake and down it in as little time as possible. There, see? No need to be afraid of bigger guys anymore. OK, so maybe I'm exaggerating a bit, but to any sort of fitness pro, catabolic can be a scary word."

The War Against Catabolism
http://foodguru802.blogspot.com/2012/03/war-against-catabolism.html

six small meals a day works well for many people, because it stops them from feeling hungry and wanting to have unplanned snacks, and makes sticking to their eating plan easier.

True and it's also easier to stay within your daily calorie limit.

Really? Hmm...if I eat a breakfast (say someone at work brings in bagels, or I go out with my family for a weekend breakfast), I'm ravenous all day. I can easily go over my calories by 1000cal or more (and I eat 3000cal or more a day as it is) and still feel hungry at bedtime.

However, if I don't eat until the afternoon, I feel comfortable all day, and get to eat a couple of VERY satisfying meals after work when I can enjoy them.

The point here is that meal timing is irrelevant for weight loss (many studies are beginning to recommend short term...i.e. around 24hrs...fasting for improving virtially every measurable health marker, by the way). Your body isn't drained of ANYTHING after you sleep. Most often THERE IS STILL FOOD IN YOUR STOMACH. How the hell will you be drained of nutrients if you're still digesting dinner?

Seriously people, think this stuff through.

Oh, and for the record...hunger...for the majority in todays 1st world society, is a matter of boredom and habit...and not much else.

You're a fan of Berkhan aren't you?

six small meals a day works well for many people, because it stops them from feeling hungry and wanting to have unplanned snacks, and makes sticking to their eating plan easier.

Hunger or withdrawal (or boredom or stress)?

"Our hypothesis is that a diet containing an abundance of processed food and low in micronutrient-rich plant foods can create physical symptoms of withdrawal when digestion ceases in between meals. Our contention is that during the catabolic phase of the digestion and refeeding cycle, when digestive activities cease, these withdrawal symptoms, misperceived as "hunger", develop from a diet that is inadequate or poor in micronutrients. We call these symptoms "toxic hunger". It is our clinical experience that such withdrawal symptoms drive overeating behavior and are a major factor leading to obesity."

Changing perceptions of hunger on a high nutrient density diet
http://www.nutritionj.com/content/9/1/51

3 meals (usually 200-400 calorie range per) and anywhere from 3-5 snack types in between. I love eating.

Same here.

I have heard it should be every 4 hours, 3 meal plus 2 snacks. It really depends what your lifestyle is ect. I am trying to eat healthier in general and I will be eventually doing Body building Bikini division, when I am ready. So eating habits are very different especially with Sports as well (When I used to Box I ate VERY strict).

For myself, now. I have either a Protein shake (workout days) for breakfast or Turkey Bacon and a fruit or egg- Something small (non workout days).

Lunch is a Salad and Protein or Veggies and Protein.

and then Supper is a lot of protein. and maybe some more Veggies. Again, this is just me. I don't advise you to. I limit my Carb intake (that are not in Veggies or Fruit). I don't really do snacks. I eat a lot of Protein b/c that is what I am used to. And I feel super wrong when I eat a meal without protein in it.

I think (not 100% sure, just that I have heard) If you eat small meals throughout the day, that is is easier to lose/ maintain weight.

Once