How often do you eat?
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Kathy_Noring
Posts: 143 Member
How do you space your meals/calories? Are you in losing or maintenance phase?
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Replies
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Gaining fase.
Eating 3 to 6 meals per day (depending on how time allows me to).
Always eating breakfast, diner and lunch (biggest meals).
Morning snack, afternoon snack and evening snack are optional (small meals).0 -
I've lost a little over 100 pounds and have about 30 more to lose. I am still in a calorie deficit. I have never eaten a specified number of meals or eaten them at any specified time. I simply stay within my calorie deficit for the day. It's worked well so far.0
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I eat 4 times a day. I space my meals between 4 to 6 hours. I try not to go beyond 6 hours but sometimes like at work I have no control of when I can eat. I am losing. It will be the same when I maintain except I will eat 3 meals and 2 snacks.0
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While I generally don't have any strict routine as long as I'm within my calorie goal, I generally eat 4 times per day. Breakfast, Lunch, mid afternoon snack, and dinner. I try to leave at least 500 caloires for dinner (consume 1,300 to 1,500 per day) and I try not to eat within 2 hours before bed. I'm still losing weight. I'm down to the last 10 pounds though.0
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Losing.
I typically try to eat every couple of hours. Over the summer, when I worked, it was easier eating 200-300 calorie meals every 2-3 hours (and I'd actually feel hungry every couple of hours). With my school schedule, I unfortunately sometimes go closer to 6 hours without eating (not recommended! Your blood sugar crashes and you eat everything in sight.).
Either way, I tend to feel groggy if I eat more than about 500 (well-rounded) calories in one sitting.
As long as you're hitting your calorie goal, it's convenient for you, and actually eating decent food, go for it.0 -
maintaining, twice a day during the week every 15 hours and then 9 hours0
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I eat 2-3x per day - usually 3, but will sometimes do 2 if I eat a later lunch. This works for me in losing and maintenance. I always sleep terribly if I eat even remotely close to bedtime, so I tend to do a longer 'fast' each night - often eating dinner around 4 pm and not eating again until breakfast.0
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I am losing - I basically eat when I am hungry - at work more frequently at home not as frequently - I think it's because when I work I take a lunch so it's basically all portioned out for the day and at home if I want a big lunch I will have it so my calorie intake is higher on the weekend for my basic 3 meals than it would be at work (with the exception of breakfast that's pretty much a standard 200-300 cals)0
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In Maintenance currently but my eating is the same now as it was in the beginning. I eat 3 main meals a day and in between I have 3 snacks, i do not believe in meal frequency when it comes to weight loss though, if you have the calories eat them when you can work them in, my set up is just what works best for me but may not for other.... Best of Luck0
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I loosely structure my meals around workouts, however, I generally do not eat much, if anything, in the morning (other than my lattes) so I have more calories in the evening. I am a bit more structured when trying to lose weight than bulking or maintaining.0
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Eat when you're hungry, lol. Stop complicating it.0
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It depends on the day.
I will have a normal breakfast of around 200 calories, then if I am hungry about half 10-11 I will have a piece of fruit, and then a small lunch between 12.30-2pm. I like the keep a lot of my calories for when I get home to have a good hearty meal, because I find this works better for me. If I am under my calories then, I can have a snack/treat on something
usually nuts, or a glass of milk, some crisps etc.
I hate the thought of not having calories at the end of the day and being really hungry so this works for me.
Mostly though, I notice when I am getting hungry, so I eat.0 -
I'm losing. I eat breakfast , lunch and dinner with snacks in between and before bed. I don't think it matters when you eat. Just that you keep your calories under your goal each day.0
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Im on maintenance currently.
I do 16:8 fasting though, so I eat my first meal at 1PM, a snack at 4PM, dinner at 7PM, a small snack at 8:50 as my window closes at 9PM.
This works for me personally to stop binging -- but when I was losing I was eating every 2 - 3 hours throughout the day.
It doesnt matter when you eat as long as it works for you0 -
Im on maintenance currently.
I do 16:8 fasting though, so I eat my first meal at 1PM, a snack at 4PM, dinner at 7PM, a small snack at 8:50 as my window closes at 9PM.
This works for me personally to stop binging -- but when I was losing I was eating every 2 - 3 hours throughout the day.
It doesnt matter when you eat as long as it works for you
Well said. I use "IF" as well. It ultimately comes down to (you) putting in the effort and dedication. Results will come with patience.0 -
Im on maintenance currently.
I do 16:8 fasting though, so I eat my first meal at 1PM, a snack at 4PM, dinner at 7PM, a small snack at 8:50 as my window closes at 9PM.
This works for me personally to stop binging -- but when I was losing I was eating every 2 - 3 hours throughout the day.
It doesnt matter when you eat as long as it works for you
Interesting! I will look into this.0 -
Currently cutting on sub 1800 calories with no regard to meal timing or frequency.0
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I have been playing around with my mealtimes and snacking to see what works well for me to keep me feeling satisfied and not getting so hungry I binge. I tried one week of eating three larger meals and two small snacks. This seems to make me feel the most satisfied. I like to feel sated after a meal; not stuffed, but satisfied, no more rumbling tummy. Last week I tried eating 6x/day, and a pretty even distribution of calories. I felt hungry most of the time. It's like I never ate quite enough to feel satisfied. This coming week (I weigh in tomorrow), I am going to try three 400ish-calorie meals and two 150-calorie snacks, I think. See what that shakes up. I am going to try to eat lunch later, so that the afternoon and evening don't feel so long!
One thing I did last week that really worked out nicely is planned and pre-logged all of my meals and snacks. It makes it easier to stay on track.0 -
I'm in maintenance. I've done all kinds of meal arrangements-- it doesn't matter for weight loss as long as you're in a calorie deficit. Arrange them in the way that gives you the best performance and allows you to stick to your calorie goal.
For example, I love to snack at night. So I just leave myself extra calories for that purpose. I also know that I can't perform my workouts properly if I don't eat breakfast.
Others are completely different from me. They find it's easier to stick to their calorie goal when they eat most of their calories early in the day. Or for others they only eat during a narrow window (intermittent fasting).
You should do whatever makes you feel the best.0 -
I have never eaten a specified number of meals or eaten them at any specified time. I simply stay within my calorie deficit for the day. It's worked well so far.
I'm the same way. I am in the losing phase, and I eat when I'm hungry, as long as it still fits within my day.0
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