Size & Time of Meals

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k_pickle
k_pickle Posts: 45 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
"Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince, and dinner like a beggar." I read this today, and wondered how true it is. I usually do the oposite. But, would it be more beneficial to eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince, and dinner like a beggar?

Replies

  • mindidily
    mindidily Posts: 196 Member
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    I usually wind up doing kind of the opposite as well. I have a pretty small breakfast, medium lunch and dinner and maybe a few little snacks. I think it's just a matter of finding what works for you and sticking to your daily calorie plan.
  • vypeters
    vypeters Posts: 475 Member
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    I generally eat breakfast like a prince, snack like a beggar, lunch like a prince, snack like a beggar, dinner like a prince and snack like a beggar.

    But that's just me. It's worked for 173 lbs lost, so I can live with it.
  • dahkneeka
    dahkneeka Posts: 163 Member
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    The idea is that you eat your largest meals early in the day so your body can metabolize and digest well, however, it can be hard not to have a nice well rounded and fufilling dinner.
    I usally try to eat more in the mornings and stop eating no later then 7pm.
  • stellaskies
    stellaskies Posts: 161 Member
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    There's no way I could eat like a king in the morning. But I do try and have my biggest meal at lunch so I have time to burn some of it off. I also try not to eat anything after 7 pm. I guess I'm like a begger, a king and then a prince. lol
  • perne11
    perne11 Posts: 46 Member
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    I agree...I rarely eat a large breakfast. However depending on the day my lunch may be my biggest meal. I follow the belief that "calories in" are "calories in" regardless of the time of day or name of the meal.
  • JoolieW68
    JoolieW68 Posts: 1,879 Member
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    I try to eat my largest meal around lunch (not a big breakfast eater, either), and a smaller dinner. I also work out later in the day to end my day with a calorie burn.
  • stfuriada
    stfuriada Posts: 445 Member
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    Calorie total at the end of the day matters.
  • runnercheryl
    runnercheryl Posts: 1,314 Member
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    I follow that structure, simply because it works for me.

    If I eat a majority of my calories before lunch, I'm less/not hungry in the evening.
    If I don't eat a majority of my calories until after lunch, I'm hungry all day, even once I've eaten all that I'm supposed to and more.
  • babyseal_24
    babyseal_24 Posts: 26 Member
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    I never eat like a king. I just eat like a prince for all three meals and snack like a beggar. That way, my calories are even spread throughought the day.
  • tweetybaby69
    tweetybaby69 Posts: 258 Member
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    I agree...I rarely eat a large breakfast. However depending on the day my lunch may be my biggest meal. I follow the belief that "calories in" are "calories in" regardless of the time of day or name of the meal.

    ^^This. I am not usually a breakfast person unless its on the weekends. Lunch is usually my favorite meal and I try to taper off the eating around dinner.
  • kristen6022
    kristen6022 Posts: 1,926 Member
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    You've got to find what works for you and stick to it. If I eat too less for dinner by the time I go to bed I'm starved and want to eat everything in house. It's about learning balance for you...I eat about 300 cals for breakfast/ 150 snack/ 500 lunch/ 150 snack/ 500 dinner/ 200 snack (on average 1800/day). Some people do better with just 3 balanced meals.
  • Sidesteal
    Sidesteal Posts: 5,510 Member
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    This decision should be based on personal preference, gym performance, and lifestyle, unless you've got a medical condition that requires a specific meal structure/sizing/timing.

    In terms of energy balance it's not going to matter, at all.
  • amnski
    amnski Posts: 251 Member
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    This decision should be based on personal preference, gym performance, and lifestyle, unless you've got a medical condition that requires a specific meal structure/sizing/timing.

    In terms of energy balance it's not going to matter, at all.

    I go by this theory as well. Some people do not sleep as well if they eat later at night, but I spread out my calories and eat as necessary. Haven't had a problem :)
  • Crochetluvr
    Crochetluvr Posts: 3,143 Member
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    I have heard that saying. I used to eat a larger meal at dinnertime but I learned to spread out the calories a bit more efficiently.
  • Athijade
    Athijade Posts: 3,250 Member
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    It's a myth. Meal size and timing have no impact on weight loss. It is all personal preference.

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