Eating one meal a day is healthy way to lose fat?
kge3638
Posts: 4 Member
My friend told me about eating one meal a day.
one black coffee for breakfirst and lunch.
At dinner I can eat anything I want.
more than 3l water a day.
one hour jogging-burns 300kcal.
cuz of black coffee I can stand on before dinner.
And it works! also my firend lose fat quite a lot.
But.. Not sure it's healthy way to lose fat.
What's your opinion?
one black coffee for breakfirst and lunch.
At dinner I can eat anything I want.
more than 3l water a day.
one hour jogging-burns 300kcal.
cuz of black coffee I can stand on before dinner.
And it works! also my firend lose fat quite a lot.
But.. Not sure it's healthy way to lose fat.
What's your opinion?
0
Replies
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As long as you feel okay, don't have any medical issues eating this way, and are able to hit your calorie and nutrition goals in one meal, then it sounds fine.1
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So long as that one meal contains enough calories to meet your entire daily goal, sure. But I suspect that your friend's meal does not. What would your one meal consist on?2
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Timing of meals is just as important as macros and calories for losing fat.
Eating 1 meal a day might work for some people but it definitely is not optimal.
I have recently started eating a small meal every 2 hours or so (keeping my food choices, macros and calories the same) and have started losing fat much more quickly than before.1 -
Timing of meals is just as important as macros and calories for losing fat.
Eating 1 meal a day might work for some people but it definitely is not optimal.
I have recently started eating a small meal every 2 hours or so (keeping my food choices, macros and calories the same) and have started losing fat much more quickly than before.
I have to disagree. Timing of meals has almost negligible importance compared to calories.
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goldthistime wrote: »Timing of meals is just as important as macros and calories for losing fat.
Eating 1 meal a day might work for some people but it definitely is not optimal.
I have recently started eating a small meal every 2 hours or so (keeping my food choices, macros and calories the same) and have started losing fat much more quickly than before.
I have to disagree. Timing of meals has almost negligible importance compared to calories.
That is true in sedentary individuals.
Consider: Eating modulates insulin/leptin/ghrelin secretion and, subsequently, resistance. So does exercise (along with other anabolic and/or catabolic chemical pathways. Most notably glycolysis, protein coupling/uncoupling, satellite cell activation and the M-Tor pathway). So, eating in such a way that the two can have a synergistic effect can increase fat loss and increase muscle mass gain greater than if they those modulating effects conflict with one another.
OP mentioned exercise in her post so I gave an appropriate answer for someone who is exercising.1 -
Generally posts that start with, "my friend said" or , "I saw on Dr. Oz" or "I read this website that said".... Are going to set false expectations.
Is it possible to only eat one healthy meal in a day and get all the adequate calories, macro and micro nutrients you need? Yes.
Is it necessary to do this in order to lose weight? No.
All that is required for weight loss is a calorie deficit. You can achieve this eating one meal, three meals, or 6 meals a day.
I would be a miserable, jittery, grouch if I drank nothing but black coffee and water all day till time to eat dinner. I certainly wouldn't be able to jog for an hour with nothing in my stomach. This sounds totally excessive and unnecessary to me.7 -
Not unless that meal has about 1,400 calories. Please do not listen to your friend. In fact, send her here so we can help her also.
1 -
Timing of meals is just as important as macros and calories for losing fat.
Eating 1 meal a day might work for some people but it definitely is not optimal.
I have recently started eating a small meal every 2 hours or so (keeping my food choices, macros and calories the same) and have started losing fat much more quickly than before.
I tried that for about a week once. I found myself feeling absolutely stuffed by the middle of the day. Do you find that you feel more full this way?0 -
no , it is not.You will gain it back as soon as you start eating more than one meal.
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I used to eat twice a day & ate pretty well, no junk food, soda,bread,pasta but i never lost weight till i started eating several times a day. It slowed my metabolism and my best friend eats once a day & is over weight. I started loosing when i started eating several times a day. It's not good for you to eat once a day Also you have to eat in a way you can live with after you lose weight or you'll gain it back after you reach your goal & go back to "normal" eating.1
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I am practically eating all my calories within 4 - 6 hrs, in evening. My breakfast is normally just a cup of tea. I don't eat anything after 5 or 6 pm than. I find it is more manageable for myself. I CAN NOT... just CAN NOT eat a small meal. I am feeling better, body gets used to of not eating day time, and i don't feel hunger during day time at all, and I'm consistently loosing weight over time with the average of 1.5 lbs a week.0
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goldthistime wrote: »Timing of meals is just as important as macros and calories for losing fat.
Eating 1 meal a day might work for some people but it definitely is not optimal.
I have recently started eating a small meal every 2 hours or so (keeping my food choices, macros and calories the same) and have started losing fat much more quickly than before.
I have to disagree. Timing of meals has almost negligible importance compared to calories.
That is true in sedentary individuals.
Consider: Eating modulates insulin/leptin/ghrelin secretion and, subsequently, resistance. So does exercise (along with other anabolic and/or catabolic chemical pathways. Most notably glycolysis, protein coupling/uncoupling, satellite cell activation and the M-Tor pathway). So, eating in such a way that the two can have a synergistic effect can increase fat loss and increase muscle mass gain greater than if they those modulating effects conflict with one another.
OP mentioned exercise in her post so I gave an appropriate answer for someone who is exercising.
With respect to the hunger hormones, if you are able to stick to your calorie goals, in effect, they don't matter. The hunger hormones affect adherence, which is no small thing, but given that the OPs CI is less than CO, she'll lose weight.
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You can't eat anything you want just because you're only having one meal a day. You still have to track and be in a calorie deficit to lose weight.
It's easily possible to end up in a calorie surplus from just one meal, especially when you believe "I can have anything I want".
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Alatariel75 wrote: »So long as that one meal contains enough calories to meet your entire daily goal, sure. But I suspect that your friend's meal does not. What would your one meal consist on?
Literally what i want. Last night was steak and strawberry cheese cake and the day before, white pizza and tomato pasta.
When I eat dinner, feel sooooo happy cuz i don't care calories and can eat anything.
Also lost 2.2lbs in 3days.
But wonder it's healthy to keep this meal or not.0 -
Very unhealthy- your body needs fuel to strive! Don't take your health for granted and restrict yourself of food.0
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Alatariel75 wrote: »So long as that one meal contains enough calories to meet your entire daily goal, sure. But I suspect that your friend's meal does not. What would your one meal consist on?
Literally what i want. Last night was steak and strawberry cheese cake and the day before, white pizza and tomato pasta.
When I eat dinner, feel sooooo happy cuz i don't care calories and can eat anything.
Also lost 2.2lbs in 3days.
But wonder it's healthy to keep this meal or not.
That is not healthy at allThatUserNameIsAllReadyTaken wrote: »Timing of meals is just as important as macros and calories for losing fat.
Eating 1 meal a day might work for some people but it definitely is not optimal.
I have recently started eating a small meal every 2 hours or so (keeping my food choices, macros and calories the same) and have started losing fat much more quickly than before.
I tried that for about a week once. I found myself feeling absolutely stuffed by the middle of the day. Do you find that you feel more full this way?
I do. After around 14:00 I really do not want to eat at all but I choke it down.0 -
goldthistime wrote: »goldthistime wrote: »Timing of meals is just as important as macros and calories for losing fat.
Eating 1 meal a day might work for some people but it definitely is not optimal.
I have recently started eating a small meal every 2 hours or so (keeping my food choices, macros and calories the same) and have started losing fat much more quickly than before.
I have to disagree. Timing of meals has almost negligible importance compared to calories.
That is true in sedentary individuals.
Consider: Eating modulates insulin/leptin/ghrelin secretion and, subsequently, resistance. So does exercise (along with other anabolic and/or catabolic chemical pathways. Most notably glycolysis, protein coupling/uncoupling, satellite cell activation and the M-Tor pathway). So, eating in such a way that the two can have a synergistic effect can increase fat loss and increase muscle mass gain greater than if they those modulating effects conflict with one another.
OP mentioned exercise in her post so I gave an appropriate answer for someone who is exercising.
With respect to the hunger hormones, if you are able to stick to your calorie goals, in effect, they don't matter. The hunger hormones affect adherence, which is no small thing, but given that the OPs CI is less than CO, she'll lose weight.
That is patently false. These hormones, particularly insulin, are anabolic hormones. Insulin is even more anabolic than most anabolic/androgenic steroids! And thus plays a huge role in nutrient partitioning. Also, selective upregulation of membrane insulin receptors can largely determine if nutrients are used for repairing muscle tissue or if they are stored as fat.0 -
Alatariel75 wrote: »So long as that one meal contains enough calories to meet your entire daily goal, sure. But I suspect that your friend's meal does not. What would your one meal consist on?
Literally what i want. Last night was steak and strawberry cheese cake and the day before, white pizza and tomato pasta.
When I eat dinner, feel sooooo happy cuz i don't care calories and can eat anything.
Also lost 2.2lbs in 3days.
But wonder it's healthy to keep this meal or not.
It doesn't sound sustainable at all. Are you doing this simply because you think it will help you lose weight? Are you trying to get a balance of nutrients in your one meal/day? Protein, carbs and fat as well as micronutrients?2 -
goldthistime wrote: »goldthistime wrote: »Timing of meals is just as important as macros and calories for losing fat.
Eating 1 meal a day might work for some people but it definitely is not optimal.
I have recently started eating a small meal every 2 hours or so (keeping my food choices, macros and calories the same) and have started losing fat much more quickly than before.
I have to disagree. Timing of meals has almost negligible importance compared to calories.
That is true in sedentary individuals.
Consider: Eating modulates insulin/leptin/ghrelin secretion and, subsequently, resistance. So does exercise (along with other anabolic and/or catabolic chemical pathways. Most notably glycolysis, protein coupling/uncoupling, satellite cell activation and the M-Tor pathway). So, eating in such a way that the two can have a synergistic effect can increase fat loss and increase muscle mass gain greater than if they those modulating effects conflict with one another.
OP mentioned exercise in her post so I gave an appropriate answer for someone who is exercising.
With respect to the hunger hormones, if you are able to stick to your calorie goals, in effect, they don't matter. The hunger hormones affect adherence, which is no small thing, but given that the OPs CI is less than CO, she'll lose weight.
That is patently false. These hormones, particularly insulin, are anabolic hormones. Insulin is even more anabolic than most anabolic/androgenic steroids! And thus plays a huge role in nutrient partitioning. Also, selective upregulation of membrane insulin receptors can largely determine if nutrients are used for repairing muscle tissue or if they are stored as fat.
Are you suggesting that she will lose more LBM than fat by eating one meal a day?
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So much taken out of context in this discussion. There is an IF protocol that is basically one large meal per day. I believe it's the warrior diet. As long as you are getting adequate calories in that meal, it is perfectly fine, if it suits you. I follow the 16:8 IF protocol and eat 2x per day, because it's simple and effective. I eat this whether I need to lose, gain or maintain. Different eating patterns work for different people and IF has gained a lot of popularity because it works for a lot of people. Although people follow it and are just fine, the old thinking of eating 5-6 or more small meals a day has long since been tossed into the bro-science files.7
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goldthistime wrote: »goldthistime wrote: »goldthistime wrote: »Timing of meals is just as important as macros and calories for losing fat.
Eating 1 meal a day might work for some people but it definitely is not optimal.
I have recently started eating a small meal every 2 hours or so (keeping my food choices, macros and calories the same) and have started losing fat much more quickly than before.
I have to disagree. Timing of meals has almost negligible importance compared to calories.
That is true in sedentary individuals.
Consider: Eating modulates insulin/leptin/ghrelin secretion and, subsequently, resistance. So does exercise (along with other anabolic and/or catabolic chemical pathways. Most notably glycolysis, protein coupling/uncoupling, satellite cell activation and the M-Tor pathway). So, eating in such a way that the two can have a synergistic effect can increase fat loss and increase muscle mass gain greater than if they those modulating effects conflict with one another.
OP mentioned exercise in her post so I gave an appropriate answer for someone who is exercising.
With respect to the hunger hormones, if you are able to stick to your calorie goals, in effect, they don't matter. The hunger hormones affect adherence, which is no small thing, but given that the OPs CI is less than CO, she'll lose weight.
That is patently false. These hormones, particularly insulin, are anabolic hormones. Insulin is even more anabolic than most anabolic/androgenic steroids! And thus plays a huge role in nutrient partitioning. Also, selective upregulation of membrane insulin receptors can largely determine if nutrients are used for repairing muscle tissue or if they are stored as fat.
Are you suggesting that she will lose more LBM than fat by eating one meal a day?
In theory, yes.
In the real world, that is highly dependent on the level of muscular adaptation one already has. When I began losing fat, I was a 360lb powerlifter with an elite total, so losing lbm was a big concern. If someone doesn't have a high level of hypertrophy this is less of a concern unless they intend on building a significant amount of muscle.0 -
So much taken out of context in this discussion. There is an IF protocol that is basically one large meal per day. I believe it's the warrior diet. As long as you are getting adequate calories in that meal, it is perfectly fine, if it suits you. I follow the 16:8 IF protocol and eat 2x per day, because it's simple and effective. I eat this whether I need to lose, gain or maintain. Different eating patterns work for different people and IF has gained a lot of popularity because it works for a lot of people. Although people follow it and are just fine, the old thinking of eating 5-6 or more small meals a day has long since been tossed into the bro-science files.
While I certainly agree there are IF methods that are very successful for people who enjoy eating within a certain window, they require planning in order to get adequate calories and nutrition in that amount of time. OP doesn't sound as though she's referring to a methodical, well thought out approach to eating, rather, something she heard about from someone who heard about it on Pinterest and a way to get to eat steak and cheesecake and still lose weight.
IF can be healthy, satiating and sustainable if done correctly.
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dumping a large meal in your system is a bad idea. your telling your body, well heres your allowed food for the day.... body will say oh ok dont know when ill get more so im going to store this.
I would encourage your to eat smaller meals 5 times a day, this way your keeping your body fueled all day and its constantly processing.
But thats just my pov.0 -
Three questions:
1. What is your one meal?
2. When are you eating it?
3. How big is it?
Generally speaking, you're better off eating smaller meals throughout the day vs. one large one. Sooner or later you're going to put your body into starvation mode where it's going to hang onto every calorie from the last meal, not knowing when it'll be replenished next. That's easy to do when you only eat once a day.0 -
dumping a large meal in your system is a bad idea. your telling your body, well heres your allowed food for the day.... body will say oh ok dont know when ill get more so im going to store this.
I would encourage your to eat smaller meals 5 times a day, this way your keeping your body fueled all day and its constantly processing.
But thats just my pov.
This is rooted in the starvation mode myth. It is not true.2 -
Raptor2763 wrote: »Three questions:
1. What is your one meal?
2. When are you eating it?
3. How big is it?
Generally speaking, you're better off eating smaller meals throughout the day vs. one large one. Sooner or later you're going to put your body into starvation mode where it's going to hang onto every calorie from the last meal, not knowing when it'll be replenished next. That's easy to do when you only eat once a day.
NOPE.
Starvation mode is not a thing.1 -
To the OP, I agree with the others here, this doesn't sound sustainable, which is more important than you might think.
As to the argument that meal timing is more important than calories, I would use that same phrase "patently false". Let's take it to an obvious extreme. If I eat at a 7000 calorie a week deficit, eating meals only once a day, I can expect to lose fairly close to the expected 2lbs a week. If I eat at a 3500 calorie deficit, no matter how frequently I eat my meals, I am not going to lose 2lbs a week.
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So you are going to go through an entire day of activity and wait until the end to put fuel in the tank? You might lose weight, but what a miserable way to do it.1
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http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19943985/
Increased meal frequency does not promote greater weight loss in subjects who were prescribed an 8-week equi-energetic energy-restricted diet.
This is a 2010 study that compares 3 meals a day with 3 meals and 3 snacks, with the conclusion that it made no significant difference. It doesn't address one meal a day, but I have to run and don't have time to review other studies for applicability.0 -
It's not un healthy as long as you're getting adequate nutrition. It can be unpleasant for some because of hunger, but if you can tolerate it, then I think it's fine. It's just another way to create a calorie deficit2
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