If You Need To Count Calories Per Meal

soummer
soummer Posts: 52 Member
edited February 2016 in Food and Nutrition
You may have been advised, or just know from your own experience, that breakfast should be your biggest meal, dinner/late snack the smallest, but how does that all calculate out? If you are very good with story problems, you make think this a piece of cake, but for the rest of us...

Calories Per Meal Calculator

Replies

  • cwolfman13
    cwolfman13 Posts: 41,865 Member
    Actually, none of that matters in the least...
  • Phrick
    Phrick Posts: 2,765 Member
    cwolfman13 wrote: »
    Actually, none of that matters in the least...

    this. The time you eat matters not. Don't make it more complicated than it has to be, it's really dead simple if you think about it: eat less than you burn, and lose.
  • Cynsonya
    Cynsonya Posts: 668 Member
    cwolfman13 wrote: »
    Actually, none of that matters in the least...

    ^^truth
  • diannethegeek
    diannethegeek Posts: 14,776 Member
    soummer wrote: »
    You know breakfast should be your biggest meal, dinner/late snack the smallest, but how does that all calculate out? If you are very good with story problems, you make think this a piece of cake, but for the rest of us...

    Calories Per Meal Calculator

    Some people feel better or have more energy or concentration if they eat breakfast. But it's not true for everyone and there's no compelling evidence that shows a large breakfast is necessary for health or weight loss. If this calculator works for you, great! But I'd hate to see someone who's struggling feel like they have to stick to this method. Personal preference and what makes you feel best is more important.
  • megablackk1d
    megablackk1d Posts: 67 Member
    Just hit your macros by the end of the day it does not matter when or how much you eat per meal.
  • soummer
    soummer Posts: 52 Member
    Perhaps I should change that a bit to indicate only those who need to follow that guideline should read this. This is something I need to do. I do so much better if i eat better in the morning. And going to sleep on a full tummy gives me all sorts of digestion problems.

    Thank you for your constructive criticism!
  • lillemeddy85
    lillemeddy85 Posts: 19 Member
    cwolfman13 wrote: »
    Actually, none of that matters in the least...

    Well, yes and no. I mean, it helps to eat the bulk of your calories early in the day or post / pre workout. That way you have more energy to expend during the day and your workout, and calories for your recovery after your workout. Not that it matters really for weight loss perhaps, but treating calories as fuel, isn't wrong either.
  • DoNotSpamMe73
    DoNotSpamMe73 Posts: 286 Member
    Screw eating when not hungry. How often you eat is up to what you feel comfortable with and I know I shouldn't be cruel on breakfast it does a lot for many people. Note for most it is important to have a meal at the beginning of the day but in no way the largest meal.
    http://allrecipes.com/recipes/14997/healthy-recipes/low-calorie/200-calorie-main-dishes/chicken/ For poultry eaters here is some low calorie noms. I added it myself.
    Plenty of other stuff of course these are just some mains and there isn't a lot of meals under 200, though there is heaps under 300 so keep your eye out :D!
  • diannethegeek
    diannethegeek Posts: 14,776 Member
    soummer wrote: »
    Perhaps I should change that a bit to indicate only those who need to follow that guideline should read this. This is something I need to do. I do so much better if i eat better in the morning. And going to sleep on a full tummy gives me all sorts of digestion problems.

    Thank you for your constructive criticism!

    Hey, thanks for updating your post and title! I know the idea of breakfast as the most important meal is a pervasive myth that a lot of us have fallen into over the years. And personally I love my breakfast. But it's nice to see you take criticism on board and adjust. We don't see enough of that on these boards. :flowerforyou:
  • soummer
    soummer Posts: 52 Member
    lillemeddy85 wrote: »
    cwolfman13 wrote: »
    Actually, none of that matters in the least...

    Well, yes and no. I mean, it helps to eat the bulk of your calories early in the day or post / pre workout. That way you have more energy to expend during the day and your workout, and calories for your recovery after your workout. Not that it matters really for weight loss perhaps, but treating calories as fuel, isn't wrong either.

    Thank you. It is true that losing weight is a matter of consuming less than you burn off, but there are those of us who need a reliable intake to maintain constant blood sugar levels. Not just diabetics, either. Blood sugar can be too high as well as too low.



  • cwolfman13
    cwolfman13 Posts: 41,865 Member
    edited February 2016
    lillemeddy85 wrote: »
    cwolfman13 wrote: »
    Actually, none of that matters in the least...

    Well, yes and no. I mean, it helps to eat the bulk of your calories early in the day or post / pre workout. That way you have more energy to expend during the day and your workout, and calories for your recovery after your workout. Not that it matters really for weight loss perhaps, but treating calories as fuel, isn't wrong either.

    I eat breakfast...it is never the largest meal of my day...a small snack generally suffices pre and post workout...I crush my workouts without worrying about having X calories at Y meal at Z time...it's all preference. Getting in your calories and nutrition overall for the day is what is important...how one achieves that is really personal preference.

    Someone should tell this guy he's doing it all wrong...

    imgMartin%2BBerkhan%2BEleiko.jpeg

    http://www.leangains.com/
  • soummer
    soummer Posts: 52 Member
    DoNotSpamMe73 wrote: »
    Screw eating when not hungry. How often you eat is up to what you feel comfortable with and I know I shouldn't be cruel on breakfast it does a lot for many people. Note for most it is important to have a meal at the beginning of the day but in no way the largest meal.
    http://allrecipes.com/recipes/14997/healthy-recipes/low-calorie/200-calorie-main-dishes/chicken/ For poultry eaters here is some low calorie noms. I added it myself.
    Plenty of other stuff of course these are just some mains and there isn't a lot of meals under 200, though there is heaps under 300 so keep your eye out :D!

    Actually, I HAVE to eat when not hungry, or else I will over eat WHEN hungry. Thank you for your comments.
  • earlnabby
    earlnabby Posts: 8,171 Member
    soummer wrote: »
    I do so much better if i eat better in the morning. And going to sleep on a full tummy gives me all sorts of digestion problems.

    Those are the reasons why meal timing can be important to individuals. You should eat when and the amount that makes you feel the best. Personally, I do best if I eat most of my food in the evening, both dinner and a bedtime snack. I also eat several meals over the course of the day, including a light breakfast.

    Whatever works for you.
  • donsbetterhlf
    donsbetterhlf Posts: 40 Member


    Phrick wrote: »
    cwolfman13 wrote: »
    Actually, none of that matters in the least...

    this. The time you eat matters not. Don't make it more complicated than it has to be, it's really dead simple if you think about it: eat less than you burn, and lose.

    This
  • Phrick
    Phrick Posts: 2,765 Member
    soummer wrote: »
    DoNotSpamMe73 wrote: »
    Screw eating when not hungry. How often you eat is up to what you feel comfortable with and I know I shouldn't be cruel on breakfast it does a lot for many people. Note for most it is important to have a meal at the beginning of the day but in no way the largest meal.
    http://allrecipes.com/recipes/14997/healthy-recipes/low-calorie/200-calorie-main-dishes/chicken/ For poultry eaters here is some low calorie noms. I added it myself.
    Plenty of other stuff of course these are just some mains and there isn't a lot of meals under 200, though there is heaps under 300 so keep your eye out :D!

    Actually, I HAVE to eat when not hungry, or else I will over eat WHEN hungry. Thank you for your comments.

    nah you just have to clue in to your hunger before it reaches the ravenous, out of control stage. Not that I'm saying that's easy, it can be incredibly difficult. I tend to get so wrapped up in something that I forget everything else until I end up in the ravenous, out of control eating stage, myself. It's taken time but I've learned ways around that, like pre-logging my day, programming break alarms into my phone when I take a moment or two to check in with myself and get my bearings, etc. Pigeonholing yourself into being a special snowflake saying "I have to ignore my body's natural cues" is just something we tell ourselves in case we fail.
  • rileysowner
    rileysowner Posts: 8,327 Member
    lillemeddy85 wrote: »
    cwolfman13 wrote: »
    Actually, none of that matters in the least...

    Well, yes and no. I mean, it helps to eat the bulk of your calories early in the day or post / pre workout. That way you have more energy to expend during the day and your workout, and calories for your recovery after your workout. Not that it matters really for weight loss perhaps, but treating calories as fuel, isn't wrong either.

    It may help you. I may not help others. In terms of fat loss it makes no different when a person eat or how big their meals are. In terms of compliance to their calorie goal, it may help. However, what eating pattern helps one person often will hinder another in staying with their calorie goal.
  • QueenofHearts023
    QueenofHearts023 Posts: 421 Member
    Doesn't really matter to me. As long as I stay within my calories. I occasionally even skip a meal to do that.

    Mostly my breakfast and dinner tend to be the same size. Lunch is my biggest meal. But I don't plan that. It just falls that way.

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