ok, so for the past month i have been eating 3 meals a day trying to get my body used to this eating method b/c when i start my physical therapy rotations in november i thought it would be a whole lot easier doing 3 meals instead of 6. however, even though i'm eating the exact same cals, fat, protein, and carbs, over the past month i have watched my ab definition disappear. so my question to any experts out there is why? if all things are the same except for the frequency of my meals, does meal frequency really have an effect on fat storage? i'm so nervous about not being able to eat as frequently when my rotations start. is anyone here a medical professional with some tips
meal question
- Thread starter kariev
- Start date
CollinsMom
Cathlete
**I am NOT a medical professional**
Hmmm, that is bizarre. I moved from 3 meals to 5 basically because of my energy level. I could feel these highs and lows and they were just killing me. I know that eating more frequently allows me to make it thru my day without falling out on the couch prematurely.
Have you noticed a difference in your energy level? If you are sitting on the couch more, maybe that could do it...
Hmmm, that is bizarre. I moved from 3 meals to 5 basically because of my energy level. I could feel these highs and lows and they were just killing me. I know that eating more frequently allows me to make it thru my day without falling out on the couch prematurely.
Have you noticed a difference in your energy level? If you are sitting on the couch more, maybe that could do it...
teddy16410
Cathlete
Karie-
Your body can only process so much food at a given time. Although your daily caloric/nutritional values may be the same the manner in which your body must process is not. This may be a temporary adjustment but many people cant handle that much food in just 3 meals per day.
Obviously it isnt fat on your belly (if everythings the same) rather its the dreaded bloat. If your body cant process the excess food at each meal it just sits there and then you eat another meal... etc....
You also said in another post you were cutting back even further on cardio.... If thats the case it could be fat if you aret burning enough calories any longer... I have always found that too many changes at one time make it difficult to pin point what works/doesnt work for my body. Before I learned what worked my "rule" was 1 change at a time every 3 weeks.
Hope some of that helps!
Your body can only process so much food at a given time. Although your daily caloric/nutritional values may be the same the manner in which your body must process is not. This may be a temporary adjustment but many people cant handle that much food in just 3 meals per day.
Obviously it isnt fat on your belly (if everythings the same) rather its the dreaded bloat. If your body cant process the excess food at each meal it just sits there and then you eat another meal... etc....
You also said in another post you were cutting back even further on cardio.... If thats the case it could be fat if you aret burning enough calories any longer... I have always found that too many changes at one time make it difficult to pin point what works/doesnt work for my body. Before I learned what worked my "rule" was 1 change at a time every 3 weeks.
Hope some of that helps!
LeanneM
Cathlete
Although I am far from an expert on this issue, everything about nutrition that I've read in the past couple of years has said that your metabolism definitely slows down when you eat only a few times a day. (The books I have all offer various reasons, but two of the books that seem to offer better explanations are BFFM and Fire Up Your Metabolism.)
Since you're noticing a difference not only in your body definition but also in your mood, can you try to sneak in two mini-meals/snacks to round out your day?
Even when your PT rotations start, you'll still have small breaks, and bringing small snacks (like cottage cheese, Ziploc baggies of nuts, and small protein bars) might make it easier for you to get the nutrition you need very quickly and easily, without having to take a lot of time to eat. I have to do this a lot with my job, but it's amazing how quickly I can wolf down a snack in just five minutes!
Hope this helps!!
Leanne
Since you're noticing a difference not only in your body definition but also in your mood, can you try to sneak in two mini-meals/snacks to round out your day?
Even when your PT rotations start, you'll still have small breaks, and bringing small snacks (like cottage cheese, Ziploc baggies of nuts, and small protein bars) might make it easier for you to get the nutrition you need very quickly and easily, without having to take a lot of time to eat. I have to do this a lot with my job, but it's amazing how quickly I can wolf down a snack in just five minutes!
Hope this helps!!
Leanne