Metabolism, fasting, or many small meals?

McMehu · February 2019

In the past I used to hear that it was good for your metabolism to eat a bunch of very tiny meals all throughout the day. Recently I have been hearing more about fasting and intermittent fasting playing a role in insulin and hormone levels that effect your resting metabolic rate and fat burning.

Anyone do research on this? Is it currently decided that fasting or intermittent fasting is more beneficial for your metabolism and long term weight loss?

cwolfman13 · February 2019

None of it matters for your metabolism. It's all whatever the fad flavor of the day is. People who talk about IF and insulin and whatnot typically don't really understand insulin and the roll insulin plays in the body...ie, if you eat and your insulin levels go up then congratulations...you're healthy and your body is working the way it's supposed to. Insulin carries energy to every cell in your body...it is far from just being the fat storage hormone. Beyond that, you can't have net fat storage in a calorie deficit regardless of the evil insulinz.

kshama2001 · February 2019

cwolfman13 wrote: »

None of it matters for your metabolism. It's all whatever the fad flavor of the day is. People who talk about IF and insulin and whatnot typically don't really understand insulin and the roll insulin plays in the body...ie, if you eat and your insulin levels go up then congratulations...you're healthy and your body is working the way it's supposed to. Insulin carries energy to every cell in your body...it is far from just being the fat storage hormone. Beyond that, you can't have net fat storage in a calorie deficit regardless of the evil insulinz.

What he said ^

Just eat the way that makes it easiest for you to create a calorie deficit.

Some people like IF, some OMAD, some 3 squares, some many small meals.

MikePTY · February 2019

None of it matters for metabolism. Whichever method is best is the one that helps you personally stay with in your goals while feeling satiated. Personally, I am on the "eat more small meals" train, because I find that works best to keep me within my goals and going throughout the day. However for other people, IF works great. For others, eating the standard 3 meals.

If you are interested in a way of eating, I say go ahead and give it a try for a few weeks. See if it has any benefits for you for appetite control. If yes, stick with it, if not, move on to something else. There's no wrong way to eat a Reese's, so to speak.

magnusthenerd · February 2019

At the extremes, fasting will cause the greatest drop in metabolism, but that's because a corpse tends to have a metabolism of zero.
At the extremes, constantly eating will decrease metabolism, because staying awake to be able to eat will eventually cause death from lack of sleep.
Outside of extreme levels, or rather specific metabolic issues, meal timing matters about 67.2333% of nothing towards weight loss and metabolism.
It has some level of application towards exercise.

McMehu · February 2019

heybales wrote: »

Use the wonderful search feature to discover all your questions have already been answered multiple times.

Call it research, and get use to it - very useful and needed for so many things related to diet and health and fitness.

Geez. Sorry for using the forums. No need to be a jerk. Why comment at all? I guess I should crawl back to my hole because you know my 101 or so forum posts ever are OBVIOUSLY cluttering the internet.

I was researching but there are a lot of fads and it's easy to go down the rabbit hole and I was curious what people actually currently losing weight had experienced. Excuse me for not thinking to scrub the internet before being social.

McMehu · February 2019

Thank you to those who left constructive information. I kinda figured it was a fad which was why I asked. Wanted to hear people's opinions on metabolism. Already eating at a deficit and I have always found skipping breakfast works for me for that because I am not hungry in the morning. I can remember hearing I shouldnt do that because it would slow my metabolism. I also saw a series of videos on youtube talking about IF which seemed opposite which is why I considered asking.

Going to continue just regular calorie counting and small carb reduction as it's worked for me in the past... always just open to learning ways to help it along.

Thank you.

pierinifitness · February 2019

McMehu wrote: »

heybales wrote: »

Use the wonderful search feature to discover all your questions have already been answered multiple times.

Call it research, and get use to it - very useful and needed for so many things related to diet and health and fitness.

Geez. Sorry for using the forums. No need to be a jerk. Why comment at all? I guess I should crawl back to my hole because you know my 101 or so forum posts ever are OBVIOUSLY cluttering the internet.

I was researching but there are a lot of fads and it's easy to go down the rabbit hole and I was curious what people actually currently losing weight had experienced. Excuse me for not thinking to scrub the internet before being social.

@McMehu, if you'd like to have discussion with MFP members having an interest in intermittent fasting, also known as IF enthusiasts, consider joining us at the Intermittent Fasting group. Lots to share and learn about in our collective fitness, health and wellness journeys. If you decide to stop by, I'll personally greet you at the "front door."

My best to you in chasing your dreams and goals.

kimny72 · February 2019

McMehu wrote: »

Thank you to those who left constructive information. I kinda figured it was a fad which was why I asked. Wanted to hear people's opinions on metabolism. Already eating at a deficit and I have always found skipping breakfast works for me for that because I am not hungry in the morning. I can remember hearing I shouldnt do that because it would slow my metabolism. I also saw a series of videos on youtube talking about IF which seemed opposite which is why I considered asking.

Going to continue just regular calorie counting and small carb reduction as it's worked for me in the past... always just open to learning ways to help it along.

Thank you.

Yeah, there are all sorts of things that can have small, temporary effects on metabolism as your metabolism is constantly reacting to what your body needs to do, but there's no evidence any of it makes a difference worth mentioning. Unfortunately lots of woo-sellers over dramatize those small benefits.

Finding an eating schedule that helps you stay at the right calorie level will have a real and noticeable affect on your weight loss, so if you've found what works for you, stick with it :drinker:

AnnPT77 · February 2019

McMehu wrote: »

Thank you to those who left constructive information. I kinda figured it was a fad which was why I asked. Wanted to hear people's opinions on metabolism. Already eating at a deficit and I have always found skipping breakfast works for me for that because I am not hungry in the morning. I can remember hearing I shouldnt do that because it would slow my metabolism. I also saw a series of videos on youtube talking about IF which seemed opposite which is why I considered asking.

Going to continue just regular calorie counting and small carb reduction as it's worked for me in the past... always just open to learning ways to help it along.

Thank you.

For someone otherwise healthy, metabolism isn't really something you can much affect intentionally. It "just happens".

There are some gross affects that people sometimes refer to as "metabolism", but aren't, really. One, for example, is the tendency to lose energy if we undereat, get fatigued, so rest more/move less, and burn fewer calories in daily life activity. It isn't "metabolism", it's activity.

The eating schedule that gives you the best satiation (for compliance with calorie goal) and the best energy level (especially for workouts, but also everyday life) is the best eating schedule for you.

Trying to manipulate "metabolism" is a waste of time, if you ask me. Intentionally manipulating daily life activity (NEAT) or exercise are better investments of attention, for weight management purposes.

Metabolism, fasting, or many small meals?

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