Eating Strategies...

CynJemison
CynJemison Posts: 4 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
Hello all!

I've been told by different people (one fitness trainer, one chiropractor, a class instructor, and one person that owns a juice bar) that it isn't necessary to eat 3-6 times a day.

They said that you should really eat either in the middle of the day or for dinner, and that your other "meals" should be shakes containing protein. Protein as in added protein (nut butters, egg whites, etc. - not necessarily protein powder).

Has anyone else heard this?

I can't imagine that it's unhealthy if your shakes contain fruit, vegetables, and protein...

I suppose my real question is - what's more accurate? Eating multiple times a day to "fuel the machine", or eating once allowing your body to digest solids completely and drinking your other nutrients?

This is of course as it pertains to weight loss and maintenance.

I'd love any insight.

Thx!

Replies

  • amoffatt
    amoffatt Posts: 674 Member
    Interesting... I'm curious too. I heard morning was the best so you dont feel as hungary all day and evening was a smaller meal.
  • TavistockToad
    TavistockToad Posts: 35,719 Member
    Have 1 meal or 10, doesn't matter, do whatever works for you.... As long as you're in a deficit you'll lose weight.
  • Phoenix_Warrior
    Phoenix_Warrior Posts: 1,633 Member
    As it pertains to weight loss, a calorie deficit is all you need. For sustainability and adherence to your diet, do what makes YOU feel best and not simply based on what people claim will work. For me, I feel best eating three large meals and maybe a snack somewhere in there. Time of day? Whenever. It's usually in between baby naps and 3 year old play times ;)
  • CynJemison
    CynJemison Posts: 4 Member
    I've heard morning is best as well. To give your body fuel for the entire day and all that jazz.

    With so many theories and so many "experts" it's so difficult to decipher what's accurate and what's not!!
  • jonnythan
    jonnythan Posts: 10,161 Member
    Anyone who tells you how many times or when you "should" eat does not know what they are talking about and you should summarily ignore them forever.
  • jonnythan
    jonnythan Posts: 10,161 Member
    I've heard morning is best as well. To give your body fuel for the entire day and all that jazz.

    With so many theories and so many "experts" it's so difficult to decipher what's accurate and what's not!!

    With regards to meal timing, the ONLY thing that matters is personal preference. Eat whenever makes you happiest. There is no advantage to eating in the morning, or in the evening, or every 2 hours, or once a day. A lot of very successful people eat literally one meal a day. A lot of very successful people eat literally 10 meals a day. Forget about it; it's irrelevant.
  • CynJemison
    CynJemison Posts: 4 Member
    As it pertains to weight loss, a calorie deficit is all you need. For sustainability and adherence to your diet, do what makes YOU feel best and not simply based on what people claim will work. For me, I feel best eating three large meals and maybe a snack somewhere in there. Time of day? Whenever. It's usually in between baby naps and 3 year old play times ;)

    I think my issue is finding the balance between a deficit and actual exercise. In the early part of last year, I lost lots of inches and barely (literally barely) any weight. I was doing a lot of strength training with minimal cardio, and eating 4x/day at around 1300 calories.

    Later in the year, I started doing a lot of cardio and I controlled my caloric intake more with MyFitnessPal and paid less attention to time of day and frequency, and more attention to eating 1200 calories at minimum in general.

    After that, I lost 20lbs in about 3 months.

    So I was really asking about this drink/eat theory because it's interesting to me. I like to confuse my system just as you should confuse your muscles by switching up your habits.

    I'm preparing for the plateau I guess you can say lol
  • CynJemison
    CynJemison Posts: 4 Member
    I've heard morning is best as well. To give your body fuel for the entire day and all that jazz.

    With so many theories and so many "experts" it's so difficult to decipher what's accurate and what's not!!

    With regards to meal timing, the ONLY thing that matters is personal preference. Eat whenever makes you happiest. There is no advantage to eating in the morning, or in the evening, or every 2 hours, or once a day. A lot of very successful people eat literally one meal a day. A lot of very successful people eat literally 10 meals a day. Forget about it; it's irrelevant.

    Thanks for this!
  • csalazar89
    csalazar89 Posts: 8 Member
    I usually recommend eating when you feel hunger (not boredom or many other reasons why we tend to eat :P ). Try to make the healthiest choice possible, eat slowly and chew thoroughly, and stop as soon as you feel satisfied. I don't think what time or how often you eat is as important as being in tune with your body's signals. This is probably one of the reasons I don't struggle much with weight. I do however struggle with muscle mass as I am not a huge fan of meat, so I use myfitnesspal to make sure I am getting a good ratio of carbs/fat/protein especially on workout days.

    My husband was raised where eating was like a race and everyone ate everything in sight. Whenever I eat with his family, everyone is done with dinner in like 5 minutes, and I'm the one with at least half of my food left. I have stressed this method of eating to my husband as he has struggled with his weight and he does eat noticeably less food when he takes tries to pace his eating with mine, since he is giving his body time to actually become satiated.

    One thing I hear is important though is to eat within an hour or two of strength training, but that could be what they call 'broscience' for all I know ;) I tend to not feel very hungry after a workout, but I always try to have at least a light snack afterward if I lift heavy.
  • mydeloo78
    mydeloo78 Posts: 328 Member
    As it pertains to weight loss, a calorie deficit is all you need. For sustainability and adherence to your diet, do what makes YOU feel best and not simply based on what people claim will work. For me, I feel best eating three large meals and maybe a snack somewhere in there. Time of day? Whenever. It's usually in between baby naps and 3 year old play times ;)

    I think my issue is finding the balance between a deficit and actual exercise. In the early part of last year, I lost lots of inches and barely (literally barely) any weight. I was doing a lot of strength training with minimal cardio, and eating 4x/day at around 1300 calories.

    Later in the year, I started doing a lot of cardio and I controlled my caloric intake more with MyFitnessPal and paid less attention to time of day and frequency, and more attention to eating 1200 calories at minimum in general.

    After that, I lost 20lbs in about 3 months.

    So I was really asking about this drink/eat theory because it's interesting to me. I like to confuse my system just as you should confuse your muscles by switching up your habits.

    I'm preparing for the plateau I guess you can say lol

    Would you rather have a lower number on the scale (that noone but you knows) or lose inches and get smaller where everyone can see? I'd rather be smaller personally!

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