meal vs meals

Angall08
Angall08 Posts: 148 Member
edited November 2024 in Health and Weight Loss
How many of you just eat one big meal a day. I am one of them who do. It's not supposed to be good for your body however.......I'm afraid to do 3 small meals a day for the risk of eating to much or gaining weight.

Which way should I turn too? Any advice?

Replies

  • L1zardQueen
    L1zardQueen Posts: 8,753 Member
    Whatever you want, just be in a deficit.
  • livingleanlivingclean
    livingleanlivingclean Posts: 11,751 Member
    If your meals are planned, why would you eat too much? And if you stick to your calorie goal, why would you gain weight?

    I don't eat many meals, but I struggle with only one.
  • Angall08
    Angall08 Posts: 148 Member
    rileysowner wrote: »
    In and of itself, assuming you get your needed calories and nutrients in all in one meal, there is nothing wrong with it. However, a warning or concern for me in your post is that your are afraid to eat 3 meals a day. Such fear is not a good or healthy thing. Fear of food and fear of eating is not a way to live, or a healthy way to view food.

    You are right. I just don't like the thought at all of gaining wait. I still love food very much and I eat it's just something I don't want to chance. I have gotten really interested in is if you eat frequent small meals the more weight you lose by staying active. Want to try it but I want to hear that it actually works.
  • malibu927
    malibu927 Posts: 17,562 Member
    touchsosoftlyrch wrote: »
    rileysowner wrote: »
    In and of itself, assuming you get your needed calories and nutrients in all in one meal, there is nothing wrong with it. However, a warning or concern for me in your post is that your are afraid to eat 3 meals a day. Such fear is not a good or healthy thing. Fear of food and fear of eating is not a way to live, or a healthy way to view food.

    You are right. I just don't like the thought at all of gaining wait. I still love food very much and I eat it's just something I don't want to chance. I have gotten really interested in is if you eat frequent small meals the more weight you lose by staying active. Want to try it but I want to hear that it actually works.

    It still doesn't matter. You can eat one meal or ten meals, as long as you're in a deficit overall you'll lose weight.
  • Christine_72
    Christine_72 Posts: 16,049 Member
    touchsosoftlyrch wrote: »
    rileysowner wrote: »
    In and of itself, assuming you get your needed calories and nutrients in all in one meal, there is nothing wrong with it. However, a warning or concern for me in your post is that your are afraid to eat 3 meals a day. Such fear is not a good or healthy thing. Fear of food and fear of eating is not a way to live, or a healthy way to view food.

    You are right. I just don't like the thought at all of gaining wait. I still love food very much and I eat it's just something I don't want to chance. I have gotten really interested in is if you eat frequent small meals the more weight you lose by staying active. Want to try it but I want to hear that it actually works.

    It really doesn't matter, as long as you're in a deficit at the end of the day then you'll lose weight either way.

    Personally, I prefer a couple of larger meals than small snacks throughout the day, the latter just leaves me unsatisfied and more prone to overeating.
  • L1zardQueen
    L1zardQueen Posts: 8,753 Member
    CICO
  • RodaRose
    RodaRose Posts: 9,562 Member
    It does not matter what time you eat or how often.
    Here is a group for people who are eating one meal a day (OMAD).
    http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/1411922/starting-omad-introduce-yourself-here/p1
  • PaulaWallaDingDong
    PaulaWallaDingDong Posts: 4,647 Member
    touchsosoftlyrch wrote: »
    rileysowner wrote: »
    In and of itself, assuming you get your needed calories and nutrients in all in one meal, there is nothing wrong with it. However, a warning or concern for me in your post is that your are afraid to eat 3 meals a day. Such fear is not a good or healthy thing. Fear of food and fear of eating is not a way to live, or a healthy way to view food.

    You are right. I just don't like the thought at all of gaining wait. I still love food very much and I eat it's just something I don't want to chance. I have gotten really interested in is if you eat frequent small meals the more weight you lose by staying active. Want to try it but I want to hear that it actually works.

    It may not be the greatest thing to be "afraid" of having more smaller meals in a day, but that doesn't mean you have to, or even necessarily should try it. If you like how you eat now, leave it be. You won't lose more weight with smaller meals. If by "staying active" you're talking about metabolism, it's not going to do anything meaningful. If you have a personal reason to eat differently, there's no harm in giving it a try. What you heard about losing more weight is b.s.
  • hoorayselma
    hoorayselma Posts: 127 Member
    touchsosoftlyrch wrote: »
    How many of you just eat one big meal a day. I am one of them who do. It's not supposed to be good for your body however.......I'm afraid to do 3 small meals a day for the risk of eating to much or gaining weight.

    Which way should I turn too? Any advice?
    OMG THANKS FOR THIS POST I WAS JUST THINKING ABOUT THIS YESTERDAY, i feel as if one big meal satisfies me better and holdsme back of eating more .. vs 3 small meals add up calories so quickly with me still feeling hungry.
  • runningkel
    runningkel Posts: 53 Member
    Personally, I couldn't only eat one meal, I get hangry! But, I know people who sort of have several small snacks and one big meal and they seem to do ok. Or two meals if you're not a breakfast person. I guess it's what works for you...so long as you're eating enough and getting your nutrients.
  • Sharon_C
    Sharon_C Posts: 2,132 Member
    I eat all day long. LOL. Protein shake after my workout, a few hours later a banana, a few hours after that a Greek yogurt, then lunch a few hours later (usually another Greek yogurt and a source of protein), then dinner. Once dinner is finished I'm done for the day. Until my protein shake the next morning. I find it very easy eating under my calories this way.

    I didn't plan on this routine, it just sort of evolved into this and it works for me.

    Or you could take your one big meal and split it into thirds.
  • shans34
    shans34 Posts: 535 Member
    I eat one big meal and two snacks (a snack being an apple or a like). I find it keeps me in calorie balance and I lose weight. You have to find what works for you as long as you are in a calorie deficit.
  • Angall08
    Angall08 Posts: 148 Member
    hoorayselma wrote: »
    touchsosoftlyrch wrote: »
    How many of you just eat one big meal a day. I am one of them who do. It's not supposed to be good for your body however.......I'm afraid to do 3 small meals a day for the risk of eating to much or gaining weight.

    Which way should I turn too? Any advice?
    OMG THANKS FOR THIS POST I WAS JUST THINKING ABOUT THIS YESTERDAY, i feel as if one big meal satisfies me better and holdsme back of eating more .. vs 3 small meals add up calories so quickly with me still feeling hungry.

    You are welcome!! I saw somewhere frequent small meals build up energy and makes it easier to lose weight. I'm just thinking how about one big meal. It feels you up and you get enough food.
  • fitoverfortymom
    fitoverfortymom Posts: 3,452 Member
    It doesn't work for me, but hubby seems to eat this way very naturally. I get too hangry!
  • JeromeBarry1
    JeromeBarry1 Posts: 10,179 Member
    PaulaWallaDingDong wrote: »
    Arrange your calories any way you like that ensures you're getting proper nutrition and keeps you satisfied and within your goal.

    And then get all virtue signally by saying things like "IF" and "22:2".
  • kommodevaran
    kommodevaran Posts: 17,890 Member
    Almost everything has been supposed to be good for your body, it depends on who you ask, and when. If you eat the appropriate amounts of calories, you won't eat too much, and if you don't eat too much, you won't gain weight. Number of meals has in itself nothing to do with this.

    Listen to your own body. If you struggle with interpreting the signals, estimate your calorie need, log your food intake properly, hit your calorie goal (and macro goals), and weigh yourself regularly.

    I have eaten 6-7 meals daily, and that was okay, now I like eating 3 or maybe 4. 3 meals is very practical, and I feel satisfied after eating. Less than that would make it hard to get in the calories I need and the variety I want, I think. I like the rythm and normality that regular meals gives to my day.
  • joemac1988
    joemac1988 Posts: 1,021 Member
    touchsosoftlyrch wrote: »
    How many of you just eat one big meal a day. I am one of them who do. It's not supposed to be good for your body however.......I'm afraid to do 3 small meals a day for the risk of eating to much or gaining weight.

    Which way should I turn too? Any advice?

    Follow cartergood on instagram; he has a recent post that talks meal quantity. Also, look up Intermittent Fasting. You're fine doing what you're doing. It's calories in vs out and doing what works for you.
  • psuLemon
    psuLemon Posts: 38,432 MFP Moderator
    While there is nothing wrong with IF or OMAD, it might make it harder to achieve the goals you want, if you want to go beyond weight loss or if you are active. I think the average person would struggle to get adequate protein to support their long term goals with just OMAD.
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