Does meal timing matter?

ObsessedMonster
ObsessedMonster Posts: 150 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
I usually eat a giant breakfast (700-1000 calories), a small snack for lunch and a light dinner. I'm on maintenance right now and end up eating 1600 calories for the day. Will these giant breakfasts have an effect on my weight? Am I better off eating around 500 calories for each meal? Thanks to anyone who answers.

Replies

  • vvendy_darling
    vvendy_darling Posts: 75
    Meal timing does not matter at all. /thread
  • nomeejerome
    nomeejerome Posts: 2,616 Member
    Meal timing is personal preference.
  • SideSteel
    SideSteel Posts: 11,068 Member
    It matters for gym performance which can have an effect on progress.
    It may matter a very small amount for people who are quite athletic and looking to capture that theoretical 1% of additional progress.

    It does not likely matter for metabolism purposes and trying to manipulate your meal timing in an attempt to create some bonus fat-loss effect is likely an exercise in futility.

    As far as your calorie distribution goes for your diet, I would choose a method that you're most likely to adhere to -- something that allows you to hit your calorie goals and remain somewhat satisfied. So if that means eating huge breakfasts and smaller later meals, then do it. If that means eating small breakfasts and huge dinners, then do that.
  • BarbellApprentice
    BarbellApprentice Posts: 486 Member
    Meal timing does not matter at all. /thread

    Meal timing does matter, but there is no one size fits all. Experiment and see what works best for your goals.
  • tennisdude2004
    tennisdude2004 Posts: 5,609 Member
    It depends on your exercise activity and what macro nutrient percentages you're eating.
  • cwolfman13
    cwolfman13 Posts: 41,865 Member
    In the hierarchy of relevance, it's not all that important to the average Joe/Jane trying to lose weight and get a little fitness on. It is more relevant to individuals with specific training and fitness goals...it is even more relevant to true athletes looking for an edge.

    For the average Joe/Jane, it only really matters for dietary adherence...it is not going to really have any substantial impact on your weight loss or "stoking the metabolism" or whatever.
  • Lld320
    Lld320 Posts: 81
    If you eat all your calories super early, you run the risk of becoming hungry and eating more after you've already eaten too much. So in that sense it matters. I prefer to wait until later in the day to eat most of my calories because if I can get through the first part of my day by the time I leave the gym I could eat pretty much whatever I wanted and still be under my calories. But I don't think it makes a physical difference though I have seen a lot of people be successful with intermittent fasting I think that has more to do with calorie restriction due to reduced eating periods. I think when you eat is important in limiting the amount of self control you have to expense to diet.
  • ShannonMpls
    ShannonMpls Posts: 1,936 Member
    Only insofar as it affects your adherence, satiety, and/or performance.

    Eat when you like.
  • IronPlayground
    IronPlayground Posts: 1,594 Member
    nutrienttimingjpg-large_zps20f0bf33.jpg
  • ALNoog
    ALNoog Posts: 413 Member
    Meal timing does not matter at all. /thread

    Meal timing does matter, but there is no one size fits all. Experiment and see what works best for your goals.


    Yes I agree with this 100%... I have really bad insomnia most nights and so I don't get up til around 10:30 or 11 and eat breakfast 20 minutes later or so... I space my meals to account for that but it seems when I was making myself get up at 7 to eat breakfast and then sleeping a couple more hours I lost more steadily... BUT like stated above.... Weight loss and eating and timing is all what works best for you... Just experiment I until you see what has the best results.

    Ive always seen that little saying though that says eat breakfast like a King, Lunch like a Prince, and dinner like a Pauper.
  • deksgrl
    deksgrl Posts: 7,237 Member
    It doesn't matter for the average person.
    Ive always seen that little saying though that says eat breakfast like a King, Lunch like a Prince, and dinner like a Pauper.

    This could help you eat less overall, if you eat a big breakfast, then you may be less hungry than a person who eats no breakfast or little breakfast and then is starving and overeats at other meals.

Categories