Does Eating Every 3 Hours Actually Speed Up Metabolism?

[Gmoney23]

I always thought this was true. If you eat small meals 5 to 6 times a day that its better for fat loss.

But, recently Ive read a couple different articles that it doesnt really make a difference.

Does eating once or twice a day really screw up your metabolism that badly? I always thought breakfast was so important and if you dont eat breakfast your metabolism will be slow till you get some food in you.

[gujdek]

I always thought this was true. If you eat small meals 5 to 6 times a day that its better for fat loss.

But, recently Ive read a couple different articles that it doesnt really make a difference.

Does eating once or twice a day really screw up your metabolism that badly? I always thought breakfast was so important and if you dont eat breakfast your metabolism will be slow till you get some food in you.

It doesn't, most of people still believe it does. Amino acids from a meal stay in a body for around 6 or 7 hours if they were solid food. The upper limit of limiting muscle breakdown is around 5 hours. For bulking purposes, eating every 5 hours will make eating those calories needed very hard, so it's better to increase meal frequency.

[Npeart]

I always thought this was true. If you eat small meals 5 to 6 times a day that its better for fat loss.

But, recently Ive read a couple different articles that it doesnt really make a difference.

Does eating once or twice a day really screw up your metabolism that badly? I always thought breakfast was so important and if you dont eat breakfast your metabolism will be slow till you get some food in you.

Sure does. It's like constantly stoking the flames or putting coal in the fire - it just burns hotter and hotter. Just be sure the meals are small in portion and contain protein, carbs and healthy fats. Oh, and that occasional cheat meal blast your metabolism, too, so be sure and get that in as well.

[in10city]

http://alanaragon.com/an-objective-l...t-fasting.html

Glad you liked the article, but the one thing you have to ponder is the fact that controlled metabolic ward studies (where subjects were fed by the lab and kept in a metabolic chamber) showed no difference in thermogenesis regardless of differing meal frequency. This is not my mere opinion, this is objective evidence as seen in scientific experimentation.

I'm talking about scientfic evidence in the strictest sense. To my knowledge, there are no controlled metabolic ward studies (the highest standard for enforcing compliance and suppressing confounding variables) showing a thermogenic increase when the same amount of calories are broken up into more frequent feedings. If you can present them to me, I'd like to see them. By the way, the greater insulin output from a lower meal frequency has not affected body composition in the vast majority of research.

There's science, and there's opinion. Or rather, BRO-pinion. Again, show me the objective evidence in opposition to anything I've said.

[becky21]

Hmmm quite interesting...I was under the impression that eating more frequent did speed up metabolism, from word of mouth and personal experience.

Anyone else have any info on this?

[Andrey_I]

You can accelerate you methobolism doing cardio + coffeing. You can try 0,25 g of coffeing and 15-30 minutes of cardio. After that I feel myself as after good breakfast! Methabolism remains 3-6 hours after execises.

[DJohnson]

Hmmm quite interesting...I was under the impression that eating more frequent did speed up metabolism, from word of mouth and personal experience.

Anyone else have any info on this?

He's right. Pretty well all the experiments show no change in weight loss or body composition between different meal frequencies.

High meal frequency will keep you more satiated though and make it less likely for you to cheat because you're never too hungry.

[tnguyen8485]

im not sure if it really speeds up the process. but so far from almost every magazine i read it states that it does. also ever since i changed my diet and started to eat frequently i lost mega weight(since feb 12th i lost 54lb to date).... -=oP

imo it does, i eat a good amount of food every 2.5-3 hrs. and after 2.5hrs i feel my stomach growling. and have to eat once agian. but all day i feel full and dont binge or have craving for bad food.

[utvolman99]

I always thought this was true. If you eat small meals 5 to 6 times a day that its better for fat loss.

But, recently Ive read a couple different articles that it doesnt really make a difference.

Does eating once or twice a day really screw up your metabolism that badly? I always thought breakfast was so important and if you dont eat breakfast your metabolism will be slow till you get some food in you.

I wonder if breaking your meals up allows your body to expend more of the calories you eat instead of storing them as fat. For instance, if I took in a whole days worth of calories in one sitting would my body use what it could, and then store the rest as fat. Meanwhile three hours later I would be starving because my body had already distributed the calories from my meal?

For me, eating six meals a day (as opposed to three) is the difference between feeling a little hungry because of my cal deficient and wanting to eat my desk at work because I am going into starvation mode!

[newedgepnoy]

I read an article that said it doesn't speed up metabolism. But they said that it does help control appetite since you don't have to wait so long before your next meal.

[Cronos1247]

Regardless if it does or doesn't, by eating smaller meals more frequently, your body is less likely to over eat which would result in more food being stored as fat. Since your eating smaller meals spread out, you aren't over stuffing your body and storing what you don't need.

I eat 7 meals a day, breakfast always the largest followed by my post workout meal being slightly smaller.

[ChiefGuy]

The most recent article I saw said it could contribute to up to 2-3 lbs additional weight loss over 2 months. Didn't mention whether or not it had anything to with metabolism or people eating slightly less because they weren't as hungry.

[Tobey77]

"infinite diversity, infinite possibilities", need i say more? We all know change is what makes us better, stronger and healthier too! Change in all aspects of your life is only good. So what does this break down to in fat loss? Some change is good, alot of change may not be helpful.

Not big news i guess, but it helps me be on track. Cheat meals can help, it can also screw things up cause it has more then 1 aspect of fatloss then just the eating aspect, also gotta consider the mind aspect of eating.

But then again, we all do things a little different dont we? find your own way is the only way to ensure 100% success. Get going my friend, i know you dont want to loose time listening to peoples advice of a question that hasnt been settled among the most prestigeous scientists on the planet.

[RU4A69]

Does eating once or twice a day really screw up your metabolism that badly? .

Absolutely not

[The_Contrarian]

http://alanaragon.com/an-objective-l...t-fasting.html

Dude, props for the scientific outlook/evidence on most of your posts! I love it!! rep coming for you!!

[Gmoney23]

I read an article that said it doesn't speed up metabolism. But they said that it does help control appetite since you don't have to wait so long before your next meal.

That I could definitely see as being true..

[Gmoney23]

You can accelerate you methobolism doing cardio + coffeing. You can try 0,25 g of coffeing and 15-30 minutes of cardio. After that I feel myself as after good breakfast! Methabolism remains 3-6 hours after execises.

Why does Caffeine boost your Metabolism? I know it gives you energy right? But, if you already have enough energy to do the Cardio do you really need the Caffeine then?

Also what are some ways to get that dosage of Caffeine in you besides Cofee? I hate Cofee..

[Bo DeLone]

Eating 6 small meals a day v. Eating one large meal a day

Both methods work. I am eating 1 meal a day now and it definately works for improved body composition and 6 small meals a day has also worked before.

[Jake4130]

I have always look at it like your stomach is a fire, put 3 big logs on it and it will burn slow, put 6 small sticks on it and it will go up in flames.

[The_Contrarian]

Eating 6 small meals a day v. Eating one large meal a day

Both methods work. I am eating 1 meal a day now and it definately works for improved body composition and 6 small meals a day has also worked before.

1 meal a day? isnt that pushing it? lol.

Results:Subjects who completed the study maintained their body weight within 2 kg of their initial weight throughout the 6-mo period. There were no significant effects of meal frequency on heart rate, body temperature, or most of the blood variables measured. However, when consuming 1 meal/d, subjects had a significant increase in hunger; a significant modification of body composition, including reductions in fat mass; significant increases in blood pressure and in total, LDL-, and HDL-cholesterol concentrations; and a significant decrease in concentrations of cortisol.

So eating 1 meal a day increases your blood pressure and cholesterol concentrations...but you do lose fat? hmm .

[Adam444]

Half the studies over the IntE3rn3Tz are useless because we don't know anything about the subjects, or their diet/workout.

I would love to see a study where the subjects are bodybuilders who workout 5 days a week, and if they will get same results with 1-2 meals, compared to 5-6 meals.

Show me that study, and I'll believe what you guys are saying...

[The_Contrarian]

Half the studies over the IntE3rn3Tz are useless because we don't know anything about the subjects, or their diet/workout.

I would love to see a study where the subjects are bodybuilders who workout 5 days a week, and if they will get same results with 1-2 meals, compared to 5-6 meals.

Show me that study, and I'll believe what you guys are saying...

Its not a 'internet study'.

From the Beltsville Human Nutrition Research Center, US Department of Agriculture, Agriculture Research Service, Beltsville, MD (KSS, DJB, KS, DRP, GKW, and WVR), and the Clinical Research Branch (PS and LF), and the Laboratories of Cardiovascular Science (SSN), Experimental Gerontology (DKI), Immunology (DLL), and Neurosciences (MPM), National Institute on Aging Intramural Research Program, Baltimore, MD

Still relevent to the OP's question in regards to meal frequency. I think 1 meal a day is pushing it....

[terracotta]

You don't see a difference in the controlled lab setting because we are just dealing with "if you eat the same thing, but in only 2 meals, what happens". Whereas, most people would be absolutely starving if they restricted intake to two meals and seek out more food. It is going to be easier to stick to a diet where you eat more often.

So the answer is, it doesn't make a difference to how you split up the calories BUT you should be doing what will increase your personal dietary compliance.

I personally get pretty ravenous at anything under 5 meals.

[Northman69]

Oh Here We Go Again, Another Posting Articles. Does This Article Say Hey If Your A Bodybuilder This Applies?

If Not Please Pay No Attention.

[The_Contrarian]

Oh Here We Go Again, Another Posting Articles. Does This Article Say Hey If Your A Bodybuilder This Applies?

If Not Please Pay No Attention.

Can provide a benchmark...

[terracotta]

I've tested both methods and I found I got leaner, had a better body composition and overall looked and felt healthier eating 6 meals a day rather then 3....Also I was much happier and calmer...

I even tried the one meal a day for 2 weeks....I liked the studies etc on doing this but it wasn't for me...I hated it...too extreme...

I think most are testing for fat loss and not LBM retention, as most probably don't involve weight training and that is where the difference could lie in your appearance difference.

[rhizome]

Everyone seems to be going off on tangents. Metabolic changes and changes in body comp are 2 different things.

[Epictetus IV]

You don't see a difference in the controlled lab setting because we are just dealing with "if you eat the same thing, but in only 2 meals, what happens". Whereas, most people would be absolutely starving if they restricted intake to two meals and seek out more food. It is going to be easier to stick to a diet where you eat more often.

So the answer is, it doesn't make a difference to how you split up the calories BUT you should be doing what will increase your personal dietary compliance.

I personally get pretty ravenous at anything under 5 meals.

I actually think the exact opposite. I think it's easier to stick to a diet where you eat less often. IMO, when you eat every few hours (well when cutting at least, which is what i'm doing) you have to eat smaller portions and if you're eating 6-7 times a day it can be tough. It's way more satisfying eating 3 LARGE meals when cutting because it's a lot of food and you get pretty full. Rather when you spread your calories out you are more likely to cheat because you're hungry eating those small portions and that's when you cheat, when you're hungry. I've done both ways, but have only recently started eating few meals. (I'm actually doing Intermittent Fasting) And it's working wonders right now and so far it is really easy to stick to and I haven't cheated once. I really never had much control over what I ate because I would get so damn hungry when eating 6-8 meals a day but now it's not a problem. Big satisfying meals > smaller portioned meals.

So far i've dropped from 200 when I started to about 193.

[terracotta]

I actually think the exact opposite. I think it's easier to stick to a diet where you eat less often. IMO, when you eat every few hours (well when cutting at least, which is what i'm doing) you have to eat smaller portions and if you're eating 6-7 times a day it can be tough. It's way more satisfying eating 3 LARGE meals when cutting because it's a lot of food and you get pretty full. Rather when you spread your calories out you are more likely to cheat because you're hungry eating those small portions and that's when you cheat, when you're hungry. I've done both ways, but have only recently started eating few meals. (I'm actually doing Intermittent Fasting) And it's working wonders right now and so far it is really easy to stick to and I haven't cheated once. I really never had much control over what I ate because I would get so damn hungry when eating 6-8 meals a day but now it's not a problem. Big satisfying meals > smaller portioned meals.

So far i've dropped from 200 when I started to about 193.

It is definitely person dependent. I do better on 5 meals. But I get hypoglycemic if I have meals too far apart, so that's a whole different issue.

[Epictetus IV]

It is definitely person dependent. I do better on 5 meals. But I get hypoglycemic if I have meals too far apart, so that's a whole different issue.

Yep, definitely person dependent. I really think it's all what your body gets used to. I was used to eating every 2 hours and when I would miss a meal I'd be real irritable and cranky, but now I'm fine. The body adjusts pretty remarkably.