Can drinking water substitute for eating small meals?

Your metabolism will run all day. How can it not run?

But anyway, surely eating a quick snack (or 'small meal' if you like) like a banana, is just as easy as consuming a bottle of water.

Your metabolism only stops if you die. Don't worry about eating meals purely on the premise of metabolism. Focus on daily intake and plan your meals when it is best for you. Eat meals high in protein and fat to help keep you feeling satiated. Drinking water is fine but I think it's a poor mindset to think of it as a meal replacement.

I'm trying to boost my metabolism. A lot of the sites say I should eat 4-6 small meals a day, but I'm in school and am often busy afterwards, so this makes eating small meals difficult. I was wondering, If I drink water (or maybe something with a few calories- like adding Mio or something) when I'm not able to eat, would that keep my metabolism running all day?

Figure out what works best for you - I find protein stays with me longer so I try to always have protein for breakfast.

Find some snacks that you can toss in your bag so if you do get the "growlies" you have something that will help you get through to your next meal. Fruit and nuts would be easy "to go" foods that won't spoil throughout the day. Also keep a protein bar or two handy in case there are extended periods between your meals or in case you end up missing a meal because of your schedule. Also try and keep some foods premade at home so when you are just popping in between your activities you can grab a quick bite.

Water is good but it's not meant to replace food.

Understandably it's difficult to plan 6 mini meals throughout the day when you are in school and busy after school.

edit - I just wanted to add that you should be meeting your daily goal(s). Your body needs fuel especially when you are busy and active throughout the day.

i'm not trying to be rude, but no. water is not a substitute for intake of precious fat, protein and carbs.
the best way to keep your metabolism up is to make sure you don't lose lean muscle mass.
not eating often leads to losing lean muscle mass.
:flowerforyou:

Op, if your goal is to lose weight just eat at a calorie deficit. This is the most effective and efficient way to lose weight. If drinking water helps you accomplish this then go at it!!! Eating six small meals a day or every two hours or whatever does not make a drastic difference in your metabolism. There are people who only eat one or two big meals a day who are very successful at losing weight and I would bet that their metabolism is t much different from mine. (I eat about five times a day at least because I'm just a grazer)

Your metabolism only stops if you die. Don't worry about eating meals purely on the premise of metabolism. Focus on daily intake and plan your meals when it is best for you. Eat meals high in protein and fat to help keep you feeling satiated. Drinking water is fine but I think it's a poor mindset to think of it as a meal replacement.

This.

Don't make it more complicated than it has to be.

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/819925-the-basics-don-t-complicate-it

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/820577-meal-frequency-rev-up-that-furnace-lol

How old are you?

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Oh dear. :noway:

Ummm, let's start with the eating 4-6 small meals a day bit. Not necessary. You can eat 10 meals or 1 meal, it doesn't matter a lick. Just establish a SAFE caloric deficit and you'll lose weight.

Also, water is not a substitute for a meal, ever. Water has plenty of great qualities being that it's absolutely required on the cellular level for bodily function, it helps keep water retention down, it can help you feel "fuller" at meals, etc but there's really nothing you can do to water other than make a protein shake that would even come close to being a "meal replacement".

Ok whether gain or lose weight is dependant on total calories in against what you burn in a day. Whether the calories you eat are in 2 meals or 6 meals is not important. Consuming the balance of nutrients and required energy for weight gain or loss is your target - water had no calories so cannot count as a meal but there is no law to say you have to eat at 10am, 12 pm, 2pm either. Water should be consumed through your day but you do not have to stick to eating at set times. There are many mythconceptions.

No, just no..

I think this might be the new fad of mfp posts.

How many calories are you eating daily?

(Perhaps the best way to keep your metabolism running is to eat more/enough food.)

How old are you?

I'm wondering as well. The question and the "97" in the username are... suspicious.