I am curious what works for other people. I know people tend to reccomend eating little and frequently but that has NEVER worked for me. It makes me hungry all the time!
What consistently works for me is having three 400-500 calorie meals spaced 4-5 hours apart. (And no snacking!) I have a big problem when I get into snacking, it's hard to stop and eating this way helps eliminate that.
So, what works for you? Little meals frequently or big meals spaced out?
Definitely big meals spaced out. I do intermittent fasting so I have a short window to eat all my calories (12pm to 8pm.) A while back, I had developed a problem with snacking and feeling hungry late at night no matter what I tried- this way of eating eliminated these.
I do the 6 meals concept - usually 250-150-350-200-350-100. I have been considering trying a week of no snacks though, because I seem to spend way too much time thinking about eating. I skipped my morning snack today (combined it w/ lunch) and I survived. It helped that I was busy!
This! I am like a squirrel. Lol my stomach cannot hold very much. I often get annoyed, like tonight, when I eat something and my stomach feels uncomfortably full, and I know I am still needing calories and will have to wait to eat more. Sounds good, in theory, but it can be very annoying. I simply cannot go more than a couple of hours without food or I start to feel faint. I have to make sure I always have something in my purse, because I hate having to stop and buy something in emergencies.
I actually wish I could go longer and figure out how to make my food have more impact. I'm having a hard time doing regular workouts because I can't eat a ton beforehand, but I also feel like I have zero reserves for working out anymore. It's so weird. Blah! That took a random, rambling turn. Sorry!
Small breakfast (200 calories or lower)
Medium lunch (400 calories)
And around two servings of whatever my mom makes for dinner.
I eat snacks, but they're usually around 100 calories.
I know people say that you should eat a big breakfast, but it doesn't really help for me. I have the same amount of energy no matter what, and eat the same amounts later in the day.
Last edited by CoffeeFueledUnicorn; 06-22-2012 at 09:47 PM.
This! I am like a squirrel. Lol my stomach cannot hold very much. I often get annoyed, like tonight, when I eat something and my stomach feels uncomfortably full, and I know I am still needing calories and will have to wait to eat more. Sounds good, in theory, but it can be very annoying. I simply cannot go more than a couple of hours without food or I start to feel faint. I have to make sure I always have something in my purse, because I hate having to stop and buy something in emergencies.
I actually wish I could go longer and figure out how to make my food have more impact. I'm having a hard time doing regular workouts because I can't eat a ton beforehand, but I also feel like I have zero reserves for working out anymore. It's so weird. Blah! That took a random, rambling turn. Sorry!
And you just described my life!
I'm also trying to gain a few lbs and this makes it all the more difficult
i eat maybe 300 calories in the morning at some point...a bit before a workout and most of it sometime afterwards...i have about 300 or a bit more through the afternoon spread out between what would be lunchtime and early evening...i usually eat the remainder of my calories in the evening but it's always healthy foods...that's just the way that my body likes to eat...so far it's been fine
250 (breakfast) - 350 (lunch) - 500 (dinner); & my snacks are around 150 cals so usually between lunch & dinner, and if i'm hungry after dinner i'll have a small snack then too.
I prefer moderately big meals, usually two a day, with some room for snacking. I also put more emphasis on the number of calories I consume in a week versus a day. This helps me to a feel a lot less restricted in my daily eating habits while still ensuring an overall caloric deficit.
How do you like to spread your calories out?
muahahahhaaaa. Yay IF!
