I have been eating 6 small meals a day for the past two years and am tired of eating by the clock. My question is will eating three larger meals hurt me any? I am extremely active and i just want to be normal and not have to bring my food everywhere i go. What are your eating schedules like b/c i know everyone is different.
meal frequency
- Thread starter kariev
- Start date
balletgrrl
Cathlete
I also eat around 5 to 6 meals per day but it is easy for me bc I work in an office and can just keep everything in the refrigerator all day. On the weekends, it is much harder, though bc I never know what my schedule will be, and like you said, you end up having to always bring food with you which can be annoying.
There are many benefits to eating often. First, the more often you eat, the higher your metabolism. I'm not sure of the exact science behind this, but apparently it's similar to kind of "keeping the fire going." Of course, if you eat more often you have to eat smaller portions and the food should always be healthy!
Also, if you eat often, you never get all that hungry and it keeps you from over-eating or having a really huge meal bc you are so hungry. I find too, that I really don't like to feel "full" and eating often keeps me from feeling that way. It is just kind of a grossed out, lethargic blah feeling.
From someone who has done both, I would say stick to the smaller meals. But that is just my personal preference... everyone is different.
There are many benefits to eating often. First, the more often you eat, the higher your metabolism. I'm not sure of the exact science behind this, but apparently it's similar to kind of "keeping the fire going." Of course, if you eat more often you have to eat smaller portions and the food should always be healthy!
Also, if you eat often, you never get all that hungry and it keeps you from over-eating or having a really huge meal bc you are so hungry. I find too, that I really don't like to feel "full" and eating often keeps me from feeling that way. It is just kind of a grossed out, lethargic blah feeling.
From someone who has done both, I would say stick to the smaller meals. But that is just my personal preference... everyone is different.
During the week I'm more regimented eating 5 small meals a day. Its easy for me to just pack everything up & eat at my desk at work. However, on weekends (especially Saturday) its very difficult. I really don't sweat it. I just eat a big breakfast, run out & do my errands come back by lunchtime, fix my DH, son & myself something for lunch & then make dinner. No snacks in between. On Sunday I like to eat pancakes w/blueberries, have a large salad for lunch & then make dinner. So I'm much more flexible on weekends. Hasn't hurt me one bit. I'm still as lean as ever. Try it by eating normally breakfast, lunch & dinner w/2 snacks in between & see what happens. HTH, Kathy
Cathe Friedrich
Administrator
Hi Kariey! If you are feeling frustrated by the 6 meal plan then try the three meal plan and see if it works for you. Frustration (especially long term) only leads to unnecessary stress, which in turn can negate your overall efforts to keep fit and healthy. Who needs that right? So give it a try. If it doesn't work, you can simply switch back. Good luck!