Eating 5-6 times a day? Metabolism Boost or not..
fat2fitaddict
Posts: 90 Member
Does this really boost metabolism? I read somewhere that the amount of cals to burn food is the proportionate to the number of cals eaten. MEANING -- If it takes (x) amount of calories to burn 1500 cals of food then its only going to use that specific (x) amount no matter whether you eat that 1500 cals in 6 meals or 1 meal! If that's the case then, why eat 5-6 meals a day? I think I read this on an Intermittent Fasting site!
I really want to find a way to boost my metabolism and speed it up. How can one know if they have a fast or slow metabolism? 31 M 255lbs
I really want to find a way to boost my metabolism and speed it up. How can one know if they have a fast or slow metabolism? 31 M 255lbs
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No, it doesn't change anything. It's more of a mental thing. Most people who eat 5 to 6 smaller meals a day tend to stay more satisfied, and won't be as tempted to binge eat. It's all personal preference...eat when and how often as you want as long as you stay under your calorie limit.0
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Even if it did (which it doesn't), it's not significant enough to worth concerning yourself over.
In all likelihood you don't have a fast or slow metabolism (unless you know of a thyroid condition or other medical issue that may be affecting it). The vast majority of the world population falls within a relatively narrow range.
Boosting or speeding up your metabolism is mostly fad-diet woo-woo bunk.
Focus on consistently maintaining a calorie deficit. Get some exercise. Don't major in the minors.0 -
Not0
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juggernaut1974 wrote: »Even if it did (which it doesn't), it's not significant enough to worth concerning yourself over.
In all likelihood you don't have a fast or slow metabolism (unless you know of a thyroid condition or other medical issue that may be affecting it). The vast majority of the world population falls within a relatively narrow range.
Boosting or speeding up your metabolism is mostly fad-diet woo-woo bunk.
Focus on consistently maintaining a calorie deficit. Get some exercise. Don't major in the minors.
Agreed.0 -
Meal timing/frequency is completely irrelevant. Here's a good read on it, with links to actual studies: http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/820577/meal-frequency-rev-up-that-furnace-lol0
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It helps maintain your blood sugar level which staves off hunger.0
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nevermind.0
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It won't effect your metabolism in any meaningful way. The 6 small meals are usually recommended because it leaves you feeling satisfied. Personally, I prefer to have 2 awesome meals then a bunch of snack that leave me wanting more.
It's all about finding eating habits that work for you.0 -
no such thing as boosting your metabolism.
Find the eating pattern that works best for you.0 -
If you are actually preparing 5-6 meals daily and cleaning dishes for all those as opposed to just one meal, if nothing elese, you'll get a boost from the cooking and cleaning activities.
You can try for yourself one month eating 5-6 meals daily and one month eating just one meal a day, keeping everything constant in both cases (calories in/calories out) and figure out if one way of doing things works better for you0 -
Blood sugar maintenance is best done with macros rather than meal frequency. The last thing you want to do while trying to drop body fat is keep your insulin levels up.0
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The only reason to eat smaller meals is because it doesn't expand your stomach as much as one large meal. An expanded stomach messes with your hungry/full signals and tends to cause overeating/binging. A smaller stomach helps to sustain a feeling of satiation.0
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I am pretty sure if you are actually preparing 5-6 meals daily and cleaning dishes for all those as opposed to just one meal you get a boost from the cooking and cleaning activities
That would be burning more calories through physical activity though.
"Boosting metabolism" tends to be more of the (woo-woo) belief you can significantly raise your BMR (caloric burn your body creates just by daily functions like breathing, heart beating, etc) via various activities or supplements.0 -
bspringer544 wrote: »The only reason to eat smaller meals is because it doesn't expand your stomach as much as one large meal. An expanded stomach messes with your hungry/full signals and tends to cause overeating/binging. A smaller stomach helps to sustain a feeling of satiation.
Your stomach permanently stretching/expanding is also a myth.
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Any time you eat something you metabolic rate goes up because digestion burns calories. But seriously, if calories from digestion were enough to make any meaningful difference how did we get fat?
Drinking cold water boost metabolism. Eating spicy food boosts metabolism. If you drink cold water and eat spicy food 6 times a day you might save enough calories to have an extra kernel of popcorn each week.0 -
juggernaut1974 wrote: »bspringer544 wrote: »The only reason to eat smaller meals is because it doesn't expand your stomach as much as one large meal. An expanded stomach messes with your hungry/full signals and tends to cause overeating/binging. A smaller stomach helps to sustain a feeling of satiation.
Your stomach permanently stretching/expanding is also a myth.
Amazing how pervasive the broscience is. There have been other myths stacked on top of the original myth in this thread alone.0 -
It makes no difference to metabolism of fat loss when calories are kept the same. The only thing it may do is help some people, not all people, comply to their calorie goals. In other words, so people do better eating few bigger meals, and others many smaller meals. That is completely up to personal preference.0
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juggernaut1974 wrote: »bspringer544 wrote: »The only reason to eat smaller meals is because it doesn't expand your stomach as much as one large meal. An expanded stomach messes with your hungry/full signals and tends to cause overeating/binging. A smaller stomach helps to sustain a feeling of satiation.
Your stomach permanently stretching/expanding is also a myth.
Permanently, sure. But is it a myth that it can and will stretch if routinely pushed top it's limits?0 -
rileysowner wrote: »It makes no difference to metabolism of fat loss when calories are kept the same. The only thing it may do is help some people, not all people, comply to their calorie goals. In other words, so people do better eating few bigger meals, and others many smaller meals. That is completely up to personal preference.
Exactly. Some people find that grazing on small meals all day long is better for their satiety. That doesn't work at all for me, I constantly feel hungry and deprived because every tiny meal is just like a tease. I'd rather eat 2-3 larger meals a day and feel full.0 -
Not
Personal choice only0 -
kathryndwulet wrote: »It won't effect your metabolism in any meaningful way. The 6 small meals are usually recommended because it leaves you feeling satisfied. Personally, I prefer to have 2 awesome meals then a bunch of snack that leave me wanting more.
It's all about finding eating habits that work for you.
And the bold is more personal preference. I do much better and feel more satiated with 3 large meals. 6 meals makes me more hungry.
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I'll to the chorus of "Nope, sorry."If you are actually preparing 5-6 meals daily and cleaning dishes for all those as opposed to just one meal, if nothing elese, you'll get a boost from the cooking and cleaning activities.
You can try for yourself one month eating 5-6 meals daily and one month eating just one meal a day, keeping everything constant in both cases (calories in/calories out) and figure out if one way of doing things works better for you
But this is the best "pro" reason I've ever seen. Well played, Madam.0 -
rileysowner wrote: »It makes no difference to metabolism of fat loss when calories are kept the same. The only thing it may do is help some people, not all people, comply to their calorie goals. In other words, so people do better eating few bigger meals, and others many smaller meals. That is completely up to personal preference.
Exactly. Some people find that grazing on small meals all day long is better for their satiety. That doesn't work at all for me, I constantly feel hungry and deprived because every tiny meal is just like a tease. I'd rather eat 2-3 larger meals a day and feel full.
I'm with you there . . . fewer bigger meals.0 -
Uh no.bspringer544 wrote: »The only reason to eat smaller meals is because it doesn't expand your stomach as much as one large meal. An expanded stomach messes with your hungry/full signals and tends to cause overeating/binging. A smaller stomach helps to sustain a feeling of satiation.
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bspringer544 wrote: »The only reason to eat smaller meals is because it doesn't expand your stomach as much as one large meal. An expanded stomach messes with your hungry/full signals and tends to cause overeating/binging. A smaller stomach helps to sustain a feeling of satiation.
Google 'ghrelin' and 'leptin'.0 -
Need2Exerc1se wrote: »juggernaut1974 wrote: »bspringer544 wrote: »The only reason to eat smaller meals is because it doesn't expand your stomach as much as one large meal. An expanded stomach messes with your hungry/full signals and tends to cause overeating/binging. A smaller stomach helps to sustain a feeling of satiation.
Your stomach permanently stretching/expanding is also a myth.
Permanently, sure. But is it a myth that it can and will stretch if routinely pushed top it's limits?
Based on the reading I've done, it has some "give" to it, in that it will temporarily stretch out to accomodate excess food intake if necessary. But it promptly retracts to its normal size as the food is digested.0 -
juggernaut1974 wrote: »Need2Exerc1se wrote: »juggernaut1974 wrote: »bspringer544 wrote: »The only reason to eat smaller meals is because it doesn't expand your stomach as much as one large meal. An expanded stomach messes with your hungry/full signals and tends to cause overeating/binging. A smaller stomach helps to sustain a feeling of satiation.
Your stomach permanently stretching/expanding is also a myth.
Permanently, sure. But is it a myth that it can and will stretch if routinely pushed top it's limits?
Based on the reading I've done, it has some "give" to it, in that it will temporarily stretch out to accomodate excess food intake if necessary. But it promptly retracts to its normal size as the food is digested.
I'm not saying you're wrong, because I don't know, but how is it then that gastric surgery patients can eventually eat more than the few nibbles they can just after surgery?0
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