How many meals do you eat a day?

Butterfingers · Post by **Butterfingers** » Thu Apr 12, 2018 3:06 am

Today is the start of a 12 week transformation I am doing. My training won't change (6 days per week high intensity cardio or weights) but I am following a new nutrition plan which suggests minimum six meals a day, PLUS a protein and glucose mix before and after working out each morning. I've just had lunch and have so far consumed 1220 calories, which feels like a lot. I am meant to have two more liquid and one more normal food meal today (will probably just be some veggies). This feels like I am constantly eating. Breakfast was epic.

How often do you eat a day and if heaps, how do you prepare to do this at work? Especially if you have a lot of meetings that day? Do you feel gassy all day?

Bill Barilko · Post by **Bill Barilko** » Thu Apr 12, 2018 3:33 am

Two (2) -decent brekkie then slightly late lunch otherwise nothing digests properly.

Maybe a cup of Tea in the evening-actual dinner a couple times a month maybe.

hth

Scrubb · Post by **Scrubb** » Thu Apr 12, 2018 4:16 am

Depends.

When I'm at work I eat 3 meals plus "snacks" (which could almost qualify as meals in them selves). IT's easy because all food is prepared for us at work - no fuss for me at all. I take snacks back to my office in tupperware if it's not just a sandwich/muffin/roll/fruit/etc.

I'm used to it so don't feel gassy.

When I'm at home I eat a small breakfast and sometimes lunch, sometimes not, and dinner. Lunch, and probably 3 dinners each week, are leftovers or simple things like a can of sardines or a can of beans or cheese and crackers.

snowgirl · Post by **snowgirl** » Thu Apr 12, 2018 2:08 pm

Three meals a day plus snacks. I find if I don't eat every four hours I start to get lightheaded and grumpy. I have no idea how many calories, tho. I've never been one to count calories.

EMG · Post by **EMG** » Thu Apr 12, 2018 2:17 pm

One or two meals a day.

I almost never have breakfast. Sometimes I eat at work, sometimes I just eat after work.

flatfoot · Post by **flatfoot** » Thu Apr 12, 2018 2:39 pm

Two, lunch and dinner. Breakfast is usually just coffee.

VinnyD · Post by **VinnyD** » Thu Apr 12, 2018 2:46 pm

Three, plus coffee with lots of milk mid-morning.

a protein and glucose mix

Eat food.

lolasf · Post by **lolasf** » Thu Apr 12, 2018 3:30 pm

I eat 3 meals a day during the week, rarely any snacks. On the weekends it's sometimes a brunch (or really big breakfast), then an afternoon snack like crackers and cheese, then dinner.

I bring my dog to work, which means I use my break and lunch time walking her (I then eat at my desk). It's made me super organized about planning lunches, cooking dinner that will have leftovers, things like that.

cowtown · Post by **cowtown** » Thu Apr 12, 2018 5:33 pm

what is the OP training for?

flatfoot · Post by **flatfoot** » Thu Apr 12, 2018 6:24 pm

Competitive eating

Bill Barilko · Post by **Bill Barilko** » Thu Apr 12, 2018 6:26 pm

flatfoot wrote: ↑
Thu Apr 12, 2018 6:24 pm
Competitive eating

Sure sounds like it.

Six meals a day would generate so many dirty dishes I'd have to hire someone.

Butterfingers · Post by **Butterfingers** » Thu Apr 12, 2018 7:09 pm

cowtown wrote:what is the OP training for?

Bill Barilko wrote:
flatfoot wrote: ↑
Thu Apr 12, 2018 6:24 pm
Competitive eating
Sure sounds like it.

Six meals a day would generate so many dirty dishes I'd have to hire someone.

Ha! I just like to train. Am doing the nutrition thing because since I do train a lot, apparently there is optimum windows for me to eat certain foods and get more results from the training. The meals are smaller meals but still a lot.

I ended yesterday having had 170 grams of protein in the day, and I'm a vegetarian. This will be a long twelve weeks, not sure this would be sustainable in the long run.

guruwil · Post by **guruwil** » Thu Apr 12, 2018 11:02 pm

Ive just started a trial of the 16/8 program, its a development from the 5/2 fasting program. Basically you eat only in an 8 hour window every day and fast for 16. That means I have dinner and maybe an early snack with coffee after dinner and then dont eat again until lunchtime. It’s pretty easy to do. I dont usually have much between lunch and dinner, maybe an afternoon piece of fruit.

cowtown · Post by **cowtown** » Fri Apr 13, 2018 9:53 pm

Bastet · Post by **Bastet** » Fri Apr 13, 2018 11:22 pm

I eat 2 meals a day 5 days a week - then whatever I want on the weekend.

I do 5/2 and 16:8 during the week. This means I eat 500 calories 2 days a week and 5 days don’t eat after dinner at all until lunch. This means it’s often longer than 16 hours fasting. Sometimes I go through to dinner so it’s 24hrs.

I’ve done a few water-fasting too (36hrs without eating) and that was really hard.

I’ve lost 15kg so far. Another kilo or so and I’ll be out of the obese range of BMI and move into overweight.

snowgirl · Post by **snowgirl** » Sat Apr 14, 2018 1:14 pm

Wow, that's really impressive, Bastet! That diet sounds really hard to me. How will you change your eating habits when you've lost the weight you want?

Bastet · Post by **Bastet** » Sat Apr 14, 2018 7:18 pm

snowgirl wrote:Wow, that's really impressive, Bastet! That diet sounds really hard to me. How will you change your eating habits when you've lost the weight you want?

I don’t plan to stop. When I’ve reach a healthy weight I will cut it to 6/1 like Michael Mosley. I might also increase the calories that day to the newest suggested number of 800.

It was hard at the start but what makes it possible is that:

1) My husband is doing it with me.

2) I eat and drink the same as I always did on the weekend.

3) I don’t cut or count calories on the non 5/2 days.

4) 500 calories give you more food than I thought if I eat veggie or vegan.

5) I didn’t do it all in one go. I did 5/2 alone for 4 months first and eat 3 meals a day. When I was used to it I added 16:8. I found it harder than 5/2 and initially I stuck to 16hrs exactly. This often meant I had a snack at 10am to break the fast.

veronica_inheels · Post by **veronica_inheels** » Sat Apr 28, 2018 6:56 am

Jesus Christ. What a load of crap.

I eat breakfast, lunch and dinner. I am losing weight. I basically eat less and watch what I eat . I stopped baking and sweets.

My breakfast is always turkish type. Lunch - Greek salad or similar. Then I have a simple dinner.

Stephen_Dedalus · Post by **Stephen_Dedalus** » Sat Apr 28, 2018 7:13 am

Veronica has discovered the art of moving about more and shovelling less in your gob.

mad hatter · Post by **mad hatter** » Sat Apr 28, 2018 6:53 pm

you also need to reconfigure what you shove into your gob ie less calory dense shite like baking and cheese and more vegetables.

mad hatter · Post by **mad hatter** » Sat Apr 28, 2018 6:57 pm

i eat 3 meals and some snacks later.

breakfast. baked beans
lunch. leftovers from evening meal.
dinner. protein. vegetables. a liitle carb.
snack. nuts and seaweed

Stephen_Dedalus · Post by **Stephen_Dedalus** » Sat Apr 28, 2018 10:13 pm

Start with Alpen

One hot meal at some point.

Then I graze throughout the day.

Ledbetter · Post by **Ledbetter** » Sun Apr 29, 2018 12:06 am

My diet has changed big time since I've moved to the tropics. I used to eat a lot of bacon & egg breakfasts , roasts and other heavy meals for dinner.
It's just too hot to feel comfortable after eating that sort of thing.
I have to eat breakfast or I'm miserable, but now it might just be a few fruits and coffee with toast. My biggest meal is usually lunch,..no holds barred on lunch. Filet of fish with loads of garlic, mashed potatoes and steamed veggies is something I might eat for lunch.
Supper varies, but it's usually light with snacks in the evening.

This all changes when my friends drop by. They're all big eaters, non stop snacks in between meals with pop and chips. They burn it off the next day, most of them walk a few kms to work, plus they do physical labor.
I have to be careful not to keep up with them, but I've never really liked chips, and don't drink pop unless I have a rum...Chocolate is my only vice..oh, and ice cream...homemade ice cream..mmmm

Ledbetter · Post by **Ledbetter** » Sun Apr 29, 2018 2:39 am

mad hatter wrote: ↑
Sat Apr 28, 2018 6:57 pm
i eat 3 meals and some snacks later.

breakfast. baked beans

snack. nuts and seaweed

You eat baked beans every morning? I've never had seaweed, much less for a snack. Do you salt it, drizzle chocolate on top and serve? That's what I would do if I didn't have access to normal snacks.

mad hatter · Post by **mad hatter** » Sun Apr 29, 2018 3:16 am

Ledbetter wrote:
mad hatter wrote: ↑
Sat Apr 28, 2018 6:57 pm
i eat 3 meals and some snacks later.

breakfast. baked beans

snack. nuts and seaweed
You eat baked beans every morning? I've never had seaweed, much less for a snack. Do you salt it, drizzle chocolate on top and serve? That's what I would do if I didn't have access to normal snacks.

most mornings.

we snack on the korean dried seaweed "leaves" they are really morish

Ledbetter · Post by **Ledbetter** » Sun Apr 29, 2018 3:27 am

mad hatter wrote: ↑
Sun Apr 29, 2018 3:16 am

Ledbetter wrote:
mad hatter wrote: ↑
Sat Apr 28, 2018 6:57 pm
i eat 3 meals and some snacks later.

breakfast. baked beans

snack. nuts and seaweed
You eat baked beans every morning? I've never had seaweed, much less for a snack. Do you salt it, drizzle chocolate on top and serve? That's what I would do if I didn't have access to normal snacks.
most mornings.

we snack on the korean dried seaweed "leaves" they are really morish

sounds addictive.

mad hatter · Post by **mad hatter** » Sun Apr 29, 2018 3:33 am

supposedly they are healthy

https://www.elle.com/beauty/health-fitn ... s-healthy/

strife · Post by **strife** » Mon Apr 30, 2018 6:56 pm

Probably seven or so, about 300 calories each.

Homerj · Post by **Homerj** » Mon Apr 30, 2018 9:28 pm

3...no snacks.
On weekends 3 but I will have a snack (nuts...chips...cheetohs etc.) with my first cocktail but in very small quantities.
We eat pretty healthy (maybe too much meat) and we hardly eat anything processed.

Butterfingers · Post by **Butterfingers** » Tue May 01, 2018 9:29 am

So I have been doing this for 3 weeks and I have to say I like it. I do meal prepping in weekends and so don't have to cook during the week. I am not stuck on a really hungry/too full hamster wheel I was on before I started. I am doing about 6 meals a day of between 200 - 300 calories and am eating every 3 to 4 hours. I am never ravenous and my energy is more consistent. I am less focussed on weight loss and more toning, so tracking before/after photos and measurements will be interesting.

veronica_inheels · Post by **veronica_inheels** » Tue May 15, 2018 10:33 pm

I still eat breakfast lunch and dinner.

Herc · Post by **Herc** » Wed May 30, 2018 1:22 pm

Normally 2 a day. About 12:30 and then sometime between 8 and 9. Plus sometimes a snack in between.

Occasionally I'll have breakfast too if I'm staying in a nice hotel or something.

I don't think there's much evidence for metabolic , orf indeed 12 week transformations, but something to focus on can be nice.

gnd · Post by **gnd** » Thu May 31, 2018 8:47 am

Butterfingers wrote: ↑
Thu Apr 12, 2018 3:06 am
Today is the start of a 12 week transformation I am doing. My training won't change (6 days per week high intensity cardio or weights) but I am following a new nutrition plan which suggests minimum six meals a day, PLUS a protein and glucose mix before and after working out each morning. I've just had lunch and have so far consumed 1220 calories, which feels like a lot. I am meant to have two more liquid and one more normal food meal today (will probably just be some veggies). This feels like I am constantly eating. Breakfast was epic.

How often do you eat a day and if heaps, how do you prepare to do this at work? Especially if you have a lot of meetings that day? Do you feel gassy all day?

Shred/cutting. So This Week:

I´m awake at about 4am. Eat: a little plain roast chicken, about a half cup of steel cut oats made with whole milk.
WATER all day. Workout at 6am. WATER. (about 2 gallons or more entire day total)
4pm meal: plain roast chicken. Steamed Broccoli. Steamed brown&black&red rice.

(I´m a mesomorph. Fractured my elbow so haven´t done much for about 4 months. This week added weights, barbell ice hockey squats, dumb bells--my injured side stll healing won´t take much in some positions so I can use different weights per hand--about an hour of cardio not HIIT...handstands, hangs, box step ups....). With a little rock climbing (up only)

Next Week, starting this weekend:

Meal numbers will increase (so apprx 5am, 8am, noon, 2-3, 4-5...maybe a late meal up to 11pm)

Meals will be:
plain roast chicken, steel cut oats, the steamed rices, beef stew with black beans and spices (all homemade, barely any fat).
with some whole grain bread (barley, rye, spelt, whole wheat, very rough dense bread from bakery)

Rest days. So just walking, swimming in sea.

I cook meals on Sundays, divide into lidded containers. If I am having meals in the day, I bring container, if not, ll eat at home (but still have the meals ready in the fridge)

gnd · Post by **gnd** » Thu May 31, 2018 8:53 am

imho those glucose drinks are unnecessary, and can fuck up your system. Just a money maker. Certainly not needed daily.

Ditto the protein powder. Arnold ate a steak. IMHO that is quite enough protein. Most people are not body building to that extent to need protein powder (whole eggs, whole milk, whole plain yogurt, red meat like steak or lean beef, real food is fine for protein).

good luck with your plan though:)

Curious, what body type are you? IS that a trainer who gave you those meal plans etc?

Homerj · Post by **Homerj** » Thu May 31, 2018 8:12 pm

veronica_inheels wrote: ↑
Sat Apr 28, 2018 6:56 am
Jesus Christ. What a load of crap.

I eat breakfast, lunch and dinner. I am losing weight. I basically eat less and watch what I eat . I stopped baking and sweets.

My breakfast is always turkish type. Lunch - Greek salad or similar. Then I have a simple dinner.

No shit.
I also eat like a normal person.
3 meals a day.
Rarely snack except with cocktails.

Bastet · Post by **Bastet** » Thu May 31, 2018 10:37 pm

Good for you that it works for you and that you need to insult those for whom it doesn’t. Based on level of obesity around the Western world it makes you a minority.

For me, decades of that brainwashing of what is “how things are done” didn’t work - ever. Now I’m losing weight whilst maintaining my weekend lifestyle. And it doesn’t feel like I’m sacrificing anything.

Each to their own and all that.

Butterfingers · Post by **Butterfingers** » Fri Jun 01, 2018 2:08 am

Bastet, who is being insulted by who?

Gnd, my body shape is probably considered hourglass with less boob. I am a medium size (sometimes small) ,in clothes. My trainer signed me to the online nutrition coaching, but you modify it to suit yourself. At the start it was hard/felt like to much but am now adjusted. I lost a lot of weight a few years back and I think it made my metabolism sluggish, so I needed a reset. Have lost a wee bit on the scales but feel leaner mostly

Although I have cut out booze at the same time so that would be making a difference.

Scrubb · Post by **Scrubb** » Fri Jun 01, 2018 4:48 am

gnd - just one comment - after I had knee surgery, when I started doing weights to try to get some muscle back the physiotherapist told me NOT to use different weights on each side.

kirrabi · Post by **kirrabi** » Thu Jun 28, 2018 12:57 am

I eat two meals a day 5 days a week. About 1300 to 1500 calories.

One day a week I eat 3 meals. 1800 to 2100 calories.

One day a week I eat as many meals as I want, whatever I want, as much as I want

muthafunky · Post by **muthafunky** » Tue Jul 03, 2018 6:19 am

Why would you drink more than two gallons of water per day?

lolasf · Post by **lolasf** » Tue Jul 03, 2018 6:14 pm

I frequently drink over a gallon of water a day, but nowhere close to 2. I don't know if I could do it if I tried.

ceylon_tea · Post by **ceylon_tea** » Wed Jul 04, 2018 5:03 pm

I eat 3 meals a day. I usually don't snack unless I'm on holiday. Then I binge on snacks. Just as well I don't go on holiday very often.

veronica_inheels · Post by **veronica_inheels** » Wed Jul 04, 2018 10:14 pm

8 litres of water a day.

I don't get it.

I probably drink 1-1,5 l of liquids a day. I don't live in a hot climate.

desertstorm · Post by **desertstorm** » Thu Jul 05, 2018 9:59 am

3 meals on weekdays:
Big enough breakfast, light lunch, huge dinner. I have snacks if I am hungry.

Weekends:
Huge breakfast, lunch can be anything, huge dinner, and snack/meal in between and after if I have an appetite.

Andrea1 · Post by **Andrea1** » Sun Jul 08, 2018 3:25 pm

plumsole · Post by **plumsole** » Thu Jul 12, 2018 5:15 am

I was thinking 3 meals/day, but it's really more like 2 with snacks. My breakfast is 150-300 calories (1 packet of oatmeal, or 1 non-huge pastry) so it probably isn't really a "meal".

I used to not eat breakfast, but since I started eating less for dinner, funny how I'm hungry before lunchtime now.