Eating 3-6 Times a Day

Do I HAVE to eat if I'm not hungry? And by hungry I mean stomach getting ready to growl. On most days I'm not hungry around lunch time, or hungry enough to eat tiny meals (which bother me really, if I'm going to EAT then I'm going to actually EAT). Right now I'm getting about 1000-1300 calories a day, on some days it's closer to 1000. So far I've lost about 4 lbs since Nov. and doesn't seem like it's going down any further.

I just don't want to force myself to eat when I don't want to. I don't see how eating more cause you to weigh less. It seems backwards to me, but what do I know? I'm just a girl with an opinion.

No you don't have to eat when you are not hungry and you certainly don't need to concern yourself with WHEN you eat, or how frequently.

However, you DO need to concern yourself with total daily intake, and if you are eating far too little you could have long term issues that you don't want.

100% agree with sidesteal.

same here

100% agree with sidesteal.

same here

+1

now if we could just end the thread right here...

i eat frequently during the day and i never get hungry..unless i bump it up at the gym and then i will listen to my body and have something extra. just because you do not eat does not mean it will help you down the line. i eat to fuel my body and keep it fueled.. take it from soneone who ate only a few times a day and sometimes once and was 300lbs.. now i eat all the time and i weigh much less and am healthy

If you are trying to lose weight, eathing 5-6 small meals a day is better than eating 2-3 larger meals. There's a few reasons for this - eating requires digestion and digestion stokes your metabolism. Also, eating these smaller more frequent meals helps to prevent spiking of your blood sugar -- keeps your blood sugar level. So, you might just need to take the foods you eat and divide them up into smaller meals every 3 hours. Try to eat within an hour of waking up and not to eat for 2 hours or more before going to bed.

Aaaaand, here we go

the ONLY thing eating frequently will do for you is curb some behavioral issues...like bingeing on crap because you're starving and grab whatever is close at hand

I'm generally against eating when not hungry. But it seems illogical that you would need to lose weight if you were satisfied with 1000-1200 calories per day. I think more likely you are ignoring hunger in order to lose weight more quickly. This will likely work in the short term, especially since you are so young. But I think you'll find you'll be less likely to gain the weight back if you eat the amount MFP recommends.

If you are trying to lose weight, eathing 5-6 small meals a day is better than eating 2-3 larger meals. There's a few reasons for this - eating requires digestion and digestion stokes your metabolism. Also, eating these smaller more frequent meals helps to prevent spiking of your blood sugar -- keeps your blood sugar level. So, you might just need to take the foods you eat and divide them up into smaller meals every 3 hours. Try to eat within an hour of waking up and not to eat for 2 hours or more before going to bed.

Agree with T. Many of my family are diabetics. Their endos say 5-6 a day to stabilize blood sugar levels. Now, 5-6 meals is 3 meals and 2 to 3 healthy snacks inbetween. If you are not getting enough food, your blood sugar will drop and then you will feel the need to overeat to compensate. I'm hypoglycemic. When I do the 5-6, my energy levels are great. When I don't, it's a yo-yo effect.
That being said, everyone's metabolism etc. is different. Try both ways for a couple of weeks each and see which one is the most efficient for you.
Also, if you are not eating enough, you're body will go into a starvation mode. It will hoard fat and not release it so we need to eat for fuel as someone else posted. Try eating more and surprisingly the weight may just come off.

To each their own after reading the posts above - you have to choose what is best for you.

I personally have myself in almost a set schedule - I once upon a time didn't eat breakfast and usually hunger wouldn't really get to me until sometime around 2 pm or so..

My thought process is - for ME to have success in what I am doing I need to have constant fuel - good fuel. I eat 3 meals a day with 2-3 snacks. Each meal to the most has a lil of everything - meaning protein, carbs, etc. - my snacks are usually a yogurt with some added almonds or a protein shake...

But again - you should do some research - try a couple of things and find what is best for you. Determine for self what you believe to be the healthy way of living you are seeking

Agree with T. Many of my family are diabetics. Their endos say 5-6 a day to stabilize blood sugar levels.

Yes, because DIABETICS have a physiological DEFECT. For those of us without diabetes, this advice is horsesh!t