5-6 meals a day?

I have found that for me personally, I like to eat small meals during the day, since I sit at a desk and it takes the place of getting a bag of chips and unhealthy snacks like I used to- usually have Greek yogurt, fruit, Zone bar, leftover small portion from whatever I made the night before, but I save enough calories to have a 600-700 calorie dinner in the evening. Mostly because I really enjoying cooking something for myself and my husband, but also because I don't feel very satisfied without that one larger meal. Like people on here say, it's a lifestyle change, so I found a method that I can live with in the long term. Try different things and find what works for you

It doesn't make a difference when it comes to weight loss, it's just about what works best for you and your schedule. I work from 4am to 2 or 3pm, usually 6 days a week, so for me eating throughout the day is necessary. I have small snacks/meals throughout my shift and eat a regular dinner when I get home, plus a snack before bed. If I had a more regular schedule I'd probably eat three larger meals a day because I prefer it, but it's about making it sustainable for your lifestyle.

if it works for you, and helps you stay in control of your choices, then do it! I don't think it makes a huge difference unless you have problems with blood sugar levels--then it could definately help you. I think for me, it would lead to eating too much over the course of the day. You have to find your own perfect balance.

Isn't the point of eating more meals supposed to be to amp up your metabolism? It's said that going longer between meals slows your metabolism. That's why I've been eating more often, to boost metabolism.

Isn't the point of eating more meals supposed to be to amp up your metabolism? It's said that going longer between meals slows your metabolism. That's why I've been eating more often, to boost metabolism.

No. That is a myth. Your metabolism only slows after about 72 hours of not eating.

I recently started eating 5 x 300 cal meals per day, rather than the traditional Breakfast / Lunch / dinner...

It works a treat for me!!

I eat my first meal before I leave home, eat 3 meals at work, and then a meal at home in the evening. I have had problems I the past with bingeing, especially before dinner. My 3 meals at work I eat at about 10am, about 1pm, and 4pm. I have found that eating regularly has kept me feeling satisfied - and that 'need' to binge once I get home is gone - I am satisfied enough from my 4pm meal to get home and prepare a meal for the family without wanting to snack. Oh, and I don't ever feel like I'm starving, if I do feel hungry it is because it's time for another meal.

Different things work for different people. I am loving it, it is working well.

I do my best eating 5-7 'small meals' a day. I'd really call them snacks because they need to be <350 calories each for my BMR (lose a # a week) plan. In fact, once I figured out how to do this, I was never ravenous again. for me ravenous = hypoglycemic hangry. I've also noticed that when a homemade smoothie goes above 350 calories I then have an energy crash... so confirmation of <350 calories in each snack/meal, and i'll just consume that smoothie in 2 separate meals.

Trick is you need figure out snacks that work for you in your meal plans. Know in advance what you can snack on. Plus, know how many calories per snack that you can have, divide total calories a day you are allowed by 5 (or 7 in my case), and always stay within that calorie range with each snack. Then as you log food throughout the day, check your nutrition pie chart for proper ratio of protein/fat/carbs.

I keep a small snack baggie everywhere, in my briefcase, suitcase, vehicle, office desk, gym bag.
snack baggie is filled with almonds, sometimes peanuts. almonds are lower fat and peanuts are highest protein nut you will find Almonds give nice energy, while peanuts and whey protein give sustained energy. Frequently i'll keep a snack baggie of dark chocolate pieces (dark is low sugar) and snack on 1-2 TBSP (75-150cals dark chocolate). Dark chocolate was/is used in British and USA military rucksacks food packs as it's a good food source that satisfies appetite for very long times between meals (you just need control yourself, it always surprises me how some folks eat any chocolate like they were drinking beer... chug chug chug).

So on days I had sudden business meetings (they always delay going home), I had my dark chocolate as a snack to keep me energized til I got home. In my suitcase, for those last minute road-warrior trips, I always keep a plastic container filled with 3-5 servings of whey protein. I often bring a container with dry whey protein to the office, add water when I need that power snack.
I also keep a bowl of fresh apples, my favorite kinds, and grab a couple giving a quick wash/dry as I head on way out door. An apple a day is great, turns out the malic acid and pectin in apples break down fats too.

With the nuts, a snack baggie is really two servings, just eat one. if I'm having a ravenous day I can eat the whole thing and that's just fine as i'll focus on balancing out all other nutritional requirements for all remaining meals of the day. Guarantee it's better to eat the whole snack baggie of almonds than the energy crashes or ravenous crashes where i'll grab something really bad for me (too high glucose) or overeat.

yes yes yes! just what Connie said! ... eating small meal-snacks throughout the day really keeps your metabolism high, burning calories faster, and keeping your energy even and high throughout the day. you'll lose fat and your muscle tone will show much more quickly.

I'm 53, and as we age, both our digestion and metabolism slows down radically, along with a bunch of other hormone slowing/stopping. It becomes very important to eat those little snacks to rev the metabolism and improve digestion.

yes yes yes! just what Connie said! ... eating small meal-snacks throughout the day really keeps your metabolism high, burning calories faster, and keeping your energy even and high throughout the day. you'll lose fat and your muscle tone will show much more quickly.

I'm 53, and as we age, both our digestion and metabolism slows down radically, along with a bunch of other hormone slowing/stopping. It becomes very important to eat those little snacks to rev the metabolism and improve digestion.

Eating frequently doesn't boost metabolism.

I'm pretty inconsistent with my eating habits. I blame the shift work. Sometimes I only have time for three meals. I find that if I'm eating regularly, I don't end up bingeing at the end of the day. I was taught, some years ago, by my trainer, that eating regularly is "fuelling the fire" (boosting your metabolismt). But then he changed his mind and started advocating the fasting diet type thing. I don't know the real answer, but I just think that as long as you eat just enough calories (and not 'empty' calories from junk food) and exercise regularly, you can't really go wrong with that. I think its just better to do whatever works for you.