Eating 6 meals per day ... hmf - Help!

[MKBC]

Hey guys.
Okay, so I need a little bit of help!

So I have been exercising since about July of 2010. I used to be 12 pounds over weight, and so far I've lost 17 pounds. I'm no longer over weight, however my body fat % does need to go down, I'm still not happy. Not giving up though!

Anyways, I can say that exercising hasn't been that persistent as I would like it to be, but I've been losing at least 2 pounds a month.

I want to aim at losing AT LEAST 1 pound a week. I'm really going to kick my ass.
I think the only problem that is holding me back is that I only eat 3 meals, with a snack in between which is usually an apple. I feel like my proportions are all crazy, and I might be eating too little / too much at times - I'm lost.





H O W D O I E A T 6 M E A L S P E R D A Y ? !
I am 5'9
Female
18
and about 157 lbs.
My goal is to tone up + lose fat.


Can someone give me an example?
For instance,

Meal 1:
1 protein
2 dairy
1 fruit

Meal 2:
Protein shake
1 fruit

Meal 3:
2 fruits
1 dairy


etc.

Ahh, I'm so lost please help!

[Scooter4]

Eating six meals per day is not entirely necessary. Weight loss will occur as long as your are in a caloric deficit regardless of how many meals per day you eat. It looks to me like your diet is too low in protein, and far too low in fat (fat is not bad for you).

This is my advice to you: Figure out how many calories you are eating per day. Since you said you have been losing 1/2lb per week and would like you lose 1lb per week, subtract approximately 250 calories from your current intake.

Remember: 1lb of fat is 3500 calories. This would mean eating 500 calories less than your maintenance level each day. 1g of carb has 4 calories. 1g of protein has 4 calories. 1g of fat has 9 calories.

This sticky may be helpful if you want to get an idea of how many calories you should be taking in. However, the best way to figure that out would be trial and error.

http://forum.bodybuilding.com/showthread.php?t=121703981

[MKBC]

Thanks for the tips! :)
I feel like if I eat any less I'll be in starvation mode. For some reason, the past few days I've been feeling hungry ALL FREAKING DAY. I'm still eating the same things I was before .. I have intense hunger pains, hope they go away.

Anyways, just an outline of what I eat most days:

Approx 1 cup of oatmeal with tsp of peanut butter.
Cinnamon and a little bit of splenda for taste.

Apple

I usually take 16 oz thermos with me of chicken breast, broccoli, and brown rice.

Apple

Cardio 45 minutes + strength training.

1 cup of egg whites [ omelette ] I put spinach, low fat cheese, and lean turkey on it.

Then I usually have like 2 or 3 apples if I'm up late doing homework.


As you can tell I really like apples!


I just really want an outline of what I should eat.
I want to know if I should have 1 protein and 2 fruits with every meal?! how do I split it?

[illiniStrive]

The calories and macros you achieve at the end of the day matter more than meal frequency or individual meal content (how you split your p/c/f ratios at every meal). At least when it comes to losing fat.

Read the thread Scooter4 posted (actually read it) and then read this thread for good measure: http://forum.bodybuilding.com/showthread.php?t=129247741