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To snack or not to snack that is the question?

rotnkat
rotnkat Posts: 393 Member
edited February 2 in Social Groups
I read in one of my Paleo books that snacking in between meals could be bad for you if you're trying to lose weight. Because by snacking you never really give your body a chance to digest the food properly.

So I tried it and up until now I've been really good about not snacking. But today I feel like I could chew my left arm off just to get some sort of satisfaction (because I'm sure it's very streakie like bacon).

What are your thoughts about snacking in between meals?

Thanks,
Anita

Replies

  • Akimajuktuq
    Akimajuktuq Posts: 3,037 Member
    For me, if I'm hungry between my two meals it means that I didn't eat enough fat during my meal. I find no need to graze now that I am keto Paleo. I don't think a snack is bad, I often have nuts shortly after supper, but as a habit I don't think mini meals are beneficial at all. If one must, I think it should be a nutrient dense food like nuts, avocado, meat with fat, etc, not mindlessly eating a pound of carrots.
  • justaspoonfulofsugar
    justaspoonfulofsugar Posts: 587 Member
    I very rarely snack and try to eat enough during my meals that I don't feel I need to snack.
    I eat a high fat,low carb diet as well and usually run fasted and if doing weight training at home,I am usually fasted for this as well.
    I think your digestion does need a break,fasting works for me but not for everyone
  • AllanMisner
    AllanMisner Posts: 4,140 Member
    Your digestive track is like a river, it flows at a pace necessary to move what it has to move and get the nutrients out of it. When the stomach (reservoir) gets low, it signals the brain to get you eating. All perfectly normal. You're not going to tax your body whether you stuff and stop, or graze.

    That said, eating a huge meal (or drinking a lot of fluids at once) can stretch the stomach and make your mid-section look bigger/bloated (even when haven't just eaten). Taking smaller meals is a trick a lot of bodybuilders use to keep their mid-sections tighter (read some writings by Frank Zane).
  • melaniefave41
    melaniefave41 Posts: 222 Member
    When I feel like snacking it's normally one of two reasons; I'm bored or I'm not getting enough fat. As someone else already mentioned, snacks are fine so long as they don't turn into mini meals, which use to be a terrible habit of mine. I'm not a big fan of snacking, but I also don't like to be hungry.
  • rotnkat
    rotnkat Posts: 393 Member
    Thanks guys!

    I figured I was just bored because I had finished all my work super early and had nothing left to do. I wished I could have went home, but I was the only one at the office yesterday.

    I will say that my digestion has been much better since not snacking between meals. And I have more energy and more focus!!

    So I think I will continue eating this way.

    Thanks,
    Anita
  • mmipanda
    mmipanda Posts: 351 Member
    I'm trying to just do what my body tells me lately. If I'm hungry, I'll snack on fruit. If I'm not hungry, I'll skip lunch or pick at a tiny portion.

    I've noticed that if I have a bad day & overeat, the next day I have hardly any appetite.
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