More vs less meals each day

ldwatene
ldwatene Posts: 150 Member
edited November 2024 in Food and Nutrition
So I get that weight loss is all about calories in, calories out but are there additional benefits to how often you eat each day either health or body wise?

I was told that it's better for your body to eat smaller meals more often when it comes to better digestion, metabolism and getting the most nutrition out of what you eat.

What are your thoughts on this?

Replies

  • Derf_Smeggle
    Derf_Smeggle Posts: 610 Member
    The general consensus seems to be do what works best for you.

    I'm personally great with 5-6 smaller intakes on non-cycling days. Cycling days that might jump to 7 to 10 depending on how far I go.

    Some people do great with 1-2.

    The science seems to suggest that neither way, nor any in between method, greatly affects your metabolism.

    So do what's comfortable to you.

    ( :D Those once a day eaters are just nuts though... :D:p )
  • livingleanlivingclean
    livingleanlivingclean Posts: 11,751 Member
    Do what works best for you....
    I prefer less meals. I feel more satisfied with bigger meals, I don't have time to prep multiple meals, I don't have time to eat multiple meals properly (as in sitting down, eating mindfully, and enjoying my food... Not shoving it in because it's 2.5 hours since I last ate)
  • ldwatene
    ldwatene Posts: 150 Member
    Derf_Smeggle wrote: »
    The general consensus seems to be do what works best for you.

    I'm personally great with 5-6 smaller intakes on non-cycling days. Cycling days that might jump to 7 to 10 depending on how far I go.

    Some people do great with 1-2.

    The science seems to suggest that neither way, nor any in between method, greatly affects your metabolism.

    So do what's comfortable to you.

    ( :D Those once a day eaters are just nuts though... :D:p )

    Oh my gosh. I use to be one of those once a day eaters.

    I could never imagine eating 10 times a day
  • malibu927
    malibu927 Posts: 17,562 Member
    It's not better, but it's not worse. Meal timing and frequency are personal preference, unless you have a medical reason to watch when you eat. I do three meals and dessert. Others eat more often, others eat less often.
  • Ironandwine69
    Ironandwine69 Posts: 2,432 Member
    Like others have said it's a personal preference. I do better with less bigger meals, it fits my schedule and it's better for my mental health:-). I do one or two meals with minimal snacking.
  • kommodevaran
    kommodevaran Posts: 17,890 Member
    I was told exactly what you say - small frequent meals improves metabolism. And then I was told that fasting for extended periods improves fat burning. Much confuse. Reason to the rescue! Eat in a way that makes you feel good, satisfied, energized and not with an increased desire to eat too much. Then don't eat too much.

    My body doesn't care whether I eat many small meals or a few large. It just wants food. And I like to eat. More meals means more variety, but fewer meals means less planning and freeing up time. I don't feel obligated to eat just to avoid bingeing or ruining my metabolism, or fainting or getting arrested for assault, I feel free to eat whenever suits me, and I can wait a couple of hours for a meal, no big deal.
  • J72FIT
    J72FIT Posts: 6,013 Member
    ldwatene wrote: »
    So I get that weight loss is all about calories in, calories out but are there additional benefits to how often you eat each day either health or body wise?

    I was told that it's better for your body to eat smaller meals more often when it comes to better digestion, metabolism and getting the most nutrition out of what you eat.

    What are your thoughts on this?

    IMO, personal preference wins the day. Eat in a way that fits your goals and preferences so you can sustain it for a lifetime...
  • RED_0N3
    RED_0N3 Posts: 22 Member
    At the end of the day it is what works for your lifestyle. For me I enjoy spreading out the meals throughout the day.

    It shouldn't matter how many meals you spread it over as long at you hit your calorie or macro goals by the end of the day.
  • stevencloser
    stevencloser Posts: 8,911 Member
    kommodevaran wrote: »
    I was told exactly what you say - small frequent meals improves metabolism. And then I was told that fasting for extended periods improves fat burning. Much confuse. Reason to the rescue! Eat in a way that makes you feel good, satisfied, energized and not with an increased desire to eat too much. Then don't eat too much.

    My body doesn't care whether I eat many small meals or a few large. It just wants food. And I like to eat. More meals means more variety, but fewer meals means less planning and freeing up time. I don't feel obligated to eat just to avoid bingeing or ruining my metabolism, or fainting or getting arrested for assault, I feel free to eat whenever suits me, and I can wait a couple of hours for a meal, no big deal.

    Isn't it funny how if you keep looking, almost all nutrition advice that "they say" cancels out with advice that's mutually exclusive?
  • earlnabby
    earlnabby Posts: 8,171 Member
    ldwatene wrote: »
    So I get that weight loss is all about calories in, calories out but are there additional benefits to how often you eat each day either health or body wise?

    I was told that it's better for your body to eat smaller meals more often when it comes to better digestion, metabolism and getting the most nutrition out of what you eat.

    What are your thoughts on this?

    For the majority of people, it makes no difference whatsoever.

    Timing some meals or macros may give elite athletes a performance advantage but most people need to only be aware of comfort: if you feel better working out on a full or empty stomach or somewhere in between.

    The number of meals eaten during the day seems to affect diabetics more than anyone, especially those on insulin or medications. Eating frequent small meals can keep blood sugars more level so there is less of a chance of extremely high or low blood sugar events.
  • dutchandkiwi
    dutchandkiwi Posts: 1,389 Member
    Personal preference. I work bestow multiple meals/snacks
  • HeidiCooksSupper
    HeidiCooksSupper Posts: 3,831 Member
    Although occasional studies show up that find small differences in time-of-day or number-of-meals food consumption and digestion, there's little consensus that it makes much difference at all. Do what works best for you.
  • lemurcat12
    lemurcat12 Posts: 30,886 Member
    livingleanlivingclean wrote: »
    Do what works best for you....
    I prefer less meals. I feel more satisfied with bigger meals, I don't have time to prep multiple meals, I don't have time to eat multiple meals properly (as in sitting down, eating mindfully, and enjoying my food... Not shoving it in because it's 2.5 hours since I last ate)

    Personal perference/do what works for your lifestyle.

    Above is exactly how I personally feel about it.
  • 1958lysmith
    1958lysmith Posts: 2 Member
    I defensively agree with you.Small meals daily keep your metabolism more consisten.Have been on ww. For 10 years.Lost 120 pounds.Now have neuromuscular disease which recommends same thing.I also don't crave as much.
  • kommodevaran
    kommodevaran Posts: 17,890 Member
    1958lysmith wrote: »
    I defensively agree with you.Small meals daily keep your metabolism more consisten.Have been on ww. For 10 years.Lost 120 pounds.Now have neuromuscular disease which recommends same thing.I also don't crave as much.

    How can you tell?
  • Christine_72
    Christine_72 Posts: 16,049 Member
    kommodevaran wrote: »
    1958lysmith wrote: »
    I defensively agree with you.Small meals daily keep your metabolism more consisten.Have been on ww. For 10 years.Lost 120 pounds.Now have neuromuscular disease which recommends same thing.I also don't crave as much.

    How can you tell?

    Yeah this.

    I prefer less larger meals than small, unsatisfying teaser meals which just make me more hungry and therefore eat more in the end!
  • H_Ock12
    H_Ock12 Posts: 1,152 Member
    I think it depends on personal preference...how much you like to eat at one time. I'd much rather eat a double steak dinner, Big Mac meal, or medium pizza in one sitting than nibble on snacks throughout the day.
  • Psychgrrl
    Psychgrrl Posts: 3,177 Member
    Do what works for you and helps you keep the calories within your goal.

    Week days, at work, I usually eat multiple small meals. My schedule is hectic and I don't have. Lot of time to sit down and eat. I pack my food at home and take it to work in a wheelie cooler which also holds my bottles of ice tea.

    Weekends, I tend to eat fewer, larger meals. I have more time to cook and can have things that don't reheat as well (egg whites).
  • J72FIT
    J72FIT Posts: 6,013 Member
    1958lysmith wrote: »
    I defensively agree with you.Small meals daily keep your metabolism more consisten.Have been on ww. For 10 years.Lost 120 pounds.Now have neuromuscular disease which recommends same thing.I also don't crave as much.

    Really? How? Studies?
  • Lizzy622
    Lizzy622 Posts: 3,705 Member
    some people say too many meals does not allow your digestive system proper time to rest and others say many small meals digest better. I think it is individual and we each should see which works better for how our body functions.
  • tbirk
    tbirk Posts: 25 Member
    More meals works for me! I have 3 meals and one or two snacks. I can't make it so many hours without eating. Snacks are things like bananas, granola bars, string cheese, peanut butter crackers. Just something 200 calories or less to help me make it to the next meal. I get headaches and stomach pains if I go too long without eating. That's just me though. :smile:

    Best of luck to you on your weight loss journey!
  • J72FIT
    J72FIT Posts: 6,013 Member
    edited June 2017
    Lizzy622 wrote: »
    some people say too many meals does not allow your digestive system proper time to rest and others say many small meals digest better. I think it is individual and we each should see which works better for how our body functions.

    ^^^This. And also see what the individual prefers.

    Some people find spreading out their meals prevents them from getting hungry making it easier to eat less. Others find it stimulates there appetite making it harder to eat less...
  • Penthesilea514
    Penthesilea514 Posts: 1,189 Member
    edited June 2017
    I kind do a little of both. I eat about half my calories split over breakfast (~70kcal)/morning snack(~270kcal)/lunch (~340kcal)/afternoon snack (~140kcal). I work a desk job so I just pack it all up each day and save the rest of my calories for a big dinner. At work I have some more temptations (snacks/treats) and I have personally found that making sure I have a little something to eat whenever I start to feel a little hungry to prevent me from grazing. Then I have the other half of my calories (800-900kcal) for a big dinner. I have a protein shake in the afternoon in addition to all of this when I am lifting that day. On the weekends, I tend to eat 2-3 bigger meals with minimal snacking.

    I recently had to change my process a little more to accommodate my new workout schedule, but I am happy with where it ended up. I will change it again as I need to. This is what works very well for my body and my schedule. Experiment and find what works well for you, OP. That's part of the whole process here- finding out what is helpful for each individual.
  • court_alacarte
    court_alacarte Posts: 219 Member
    i was at my lowest weight eating one meal a day, and my mom is at her lowest weight eating 6 times a day. i would rather eat big meals than to eat small throughout the day because, more often than not, i'm still hungry after the snack.

    and then there went 200 calories i could have used at dinner... :'(
  • RodaRose
    RodaRose Posts: 9,562 Member
    I would kill someone if I had to eat small meals and snacks throughout the day.
    I eat two meals between 6:00 p.m. and 10:30 p.m.

    Eat whenever you like. <3
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