mini meals

K

kariev

Cathlete
Hi guys, i wanted to know if you guys embrace the mini meal theory? i have been doing 6 small meals a day for years. when i get sick of doing that i do 3 large meals a day instead and i notice no difference. i just wanted to know what you do and what benefits you have noticed from doing this? thanks
karie
 
I don't know...I think it definitely makes sense. But then again...I never eat "big meals" even when I'm not eating multiple small meals. I prefer to have small meals, with a couple light snacks between.

Yeah. Actually, now that I'm thinking about it...when I'm trying to lose weight - the small meals is what works for me.
 
Smaller meals are better because it keeps you at a more steady state of satiety and keeps your metabolism revved, which is conducive to more energy. In working out as hard as a lot of us do, you tend to get hungry more frequently, anyhow. I know I don't do well when I am ravenous and will start to graze before I can get to preparing a snack or meal. The aim is for a good ratio of complex carbs/protein/fat throughout the day, so to break that up during the day as you see fit. I definitely think this works better than just three large meals a day. I tend to feel slug like if I eat too much at one meal, thus sapping my energy. HTH.


Debbie


"Today I'll teach you to recognize when you're boring. This is called a yawn. When you see one, stop talking about yourself."
- Dogbert, Social Obliviousness 101
 
I have tried to do mini meals. It just doesn't work for me. I eat too much. I do better with 3 normal meals a day. I don't snack much so that's not a problem for me.
DH eats 6 minis because he is hypoglcemic and it works for him.
LD
 
Hi karie! For me the 6 small mini meals benefit me. If I were to go back to 3 meals & 2 snacks my stomach would bloat. I use BFFM eating plans & they work! Maybe you have a faster metabolism than I do since you didn't see any difference. Also it would depend on how long you were eating those 3 meals. If it was for only one week, then I don't think you would see a difference. However, given more time I believe you would. That's my .02 for what its worth. Kathy:D
 
I am able to do mini meals and prefer them but many working people cannot. It doesn't work very well when you are a customer servie rep answering phones all day--people generally don't like to listen to someone chew in their ear!
 
thanks for all of your responses:) I do notice I feel better with smaller meals but I guess lately i have just been lazy and have not been wanting to deal with them. I might have a touch of hypoglycemia as well. I've noticed that if i go over 4 hrs of no food no matter how large the meal was prior to, i get shaky and cranky and don't feel very well. Sometimes I feel so different then the people i'm around b/c i'm such a health fanatic. I plan my 6 meals, bring them with me if i go out, order double veggies with dinner, workout at 5 a.m. 5 days a week. I need to be proud of taking care of myself. Sometimes its hard when your the only one and the others are eating pizza and sitting on there a** all day. I know I can come here for support though. Thanks guys
 
how do you guys balance your small meals with your family? do you make them eat on your schedule? sometimes i find it difficult to keep a regimen with people who don't care about health when they eat.
 
I graze all day long. I really know what calories I am taking in, as well as their protein contents. I cannot eat full meals - it just doesn't feel good to me to be so full.

Benefits: *Pretty* clean eating (I am vegetarian), never have had a weight problem, eating often helps me get all my nutritional needs in without eating "wasted" calories, I eat natural and healthy foods...I never have to cook!!!! (I LOATHE cooking :)) I eat when I am hungry.
 
Also, fitting my eating habits in with my family is easy. I will eat what I want when we are having dinner. My husband cooks and my babies are still babies so it is easy. Even when I do the cooking, I will cook for my family and still eat what I want to eat. You NEVER have to compromise your healthy lifestyle or beliefs (ie) being a vegetarian for others. Do what is right for you and your health. People will ask questions and that is ok!! No big deal.
 
I do more like 2 small meals, 2 small snack, and a dinner. I generally eat dinner as my biggest meal of the day bc its about the only time we all have to sit as a family and see what went on during the day. I just tend to load up the plate w/ veggies. I also workout after dinner and it gives me the fuel to get through. I eat a small breakfast, a light snack, a small lunch, and a light afternoon snack. I'm hypoglycemic and if I don't eat something every couple hours I get light headed and shaky and extra crabby and generally feel craptastic. The only time I change it up is if I know I have to work late, I'll eat a bigger lunch, push the snack back, and eat a small dinner when I get home. I noticed I did lose weight when I switched to the is approach, but at the same time i cut out a lot of the junk I was eating, so I think it has to do more with that, then when I was eating. I think everyone's different. Do what works for you. But I also think it'll take more than a week to figure it out.

Nan
 
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