How often do you eat?

[gingerbabe]

Hey ladies,

I'm wondering if it's best for me to have meals/snacks more often that are low-calorie or if it's better to have 3 real meals per day that are higher in calories with small snack in between? What is your eating schedule like? How many hours are in between each of your meals?

[soleuvanathlete]

It's very individual and a lot of people will tell you different things. I eat as follows:

7am
10am
Noon
2pm
6pm
9pm

These are rather small meals, but it helps keep my blood sugar levels steady, which has been an issue for me.

[heidismommy]

I agree, I'm sure you'll here varying responses. I generally eat 7-8 times per day, no set eating times, but usually once every 2-3 hours. Like the above poster I tend to have issues with blood sugar stability and the smaller frequent meals just work best for me.

[user4894514884]

5:30 am
8:30am
11:00/11:30
3:00...this meal is usually late....
7:00pm

[squeaks77]

I prefer to eat many small meals. I eat 8 meals each day that are about 200-250 calories each. I don't like to eat a lot at a sitting and have a very full stomach.

6:30am
9:00am
11:00am
1:00pm
3:00pm
workout
pwo shake
5:30pm
8:00-9:00pm

[jchap]

Hey ladies,

I'm wondering if it's best for me to have meals/snacks more often that are low-calorie or if it's better to have 3 real meals per day that are higher in calories with small snack in between? What is your eating schedule like? How many hours are in between each of your meals?

I eat generally as follows but my work/ work out schedule will often have me adjusting what I eat.
6 AM
between 9 and 10 AM
Between 12-1
Between 3-4
Between 7-8
We eat dinner late some nights so then I might eat at 2 and 4 to eat at the 8 PM time. If we eat at 7 I sometimes add a snack around 9:30 if I plan to be up late.

I try to have protein at each "feed" and one to two complex carbs- no bread or starchy veg after 3 PM.

I have been doing this for the past 4 weeks and I love it. Before I was eating the same schedule but I was mostly carbs. Now I boosted my protein to try to gain some weight. I lost a few pounds at first then I added more fats and I seem to be holding my own and this week when I weigh in I may have gained a pound. Most important, I feeling great.

[PremierGirl]

I eat many small meals too....
my wake up times alter A LOT(like from 8am-2pm) and from then on I probably eat like every hour or so

[futurebird]

um... all the time!!

I tend to put of breakfast until 10am... unless I go running then I eat sooner. I just snack all day-- like 6-8 times. A yogurt, a pear... etc.

I eat each food individually. Except for dinner.

[wendel34]

Average day

wake up at 8am


0800 300 calories
1100 300 calories
1400 300 calories
1700 500 calories
2000 300 calories
2300 300 calories


average 2,000 calories per day

about 80% proteins
lots of water (SF Kool-aid or Chrstal Light or Unsweet Iced Tea)

[nextsuperhero]

I have 3 meals, 1 pre-WO shake with fat (nuts or seeds) & 1 post-WO smoothie (still have those on non-WO days too).

They're each around 300-400 calories.

On average...
breakfast is at 7:20 (I have to leave my house by 7:50)
pre-WO is 11-1 (time depends on how much work I have)
post-WO is around 1:30-2
Lunch is 4:30ish (I have to leave my house at 5)
Dinner is 8:30 to 9:30 (again, depending on workload & when I get home)

It looks like my schedule dictates how long I go between meals, but it works for me.

[lilly_julia]

once every three hours, in order of calories: 400, 400, 300, 200, 200. With protein each time! definitely keeps me from ever pigging out (unless its a cheat and I'm allowed)

[ozigal]

I prefer more small meals. It keeps my hunger at bay and keeps my energy constant.

7.00am- 300-350 cals
10am- 200 cals
1.00am- 300 cals
4.00am- 200 cals
7.00am- 300 cals
9.00am- 120 cals

I know a lot of you will think those are quite low (and I've always been one to advocate higher calories as most will know); however I'm trying something completely different for a short period of time just for a shock!

[Zenree]

My typical day looks like this:

8:00/30 -- preworkout meal
10:30 -- post-workout shake
12:00/1:00
3:00/4:00
6:30/7:30
9:30/10:00 -- usually cottage cheese w/pb to get that slow digesting protein through the night

Must say I'm rarely hungry when its "time" to eat again --- but it certainly keeps cravings and ultmate binges at bay

[jsmircich]

I eat through out the day @ 2000 cals.

8A
10:30A
1P
3:30
Gym
6-6:30P
9P

[mattsmom]

Every 3-3.5 hours and always consume a carb and protein.

[FencingGal]

I eat every 2.5 starting 15 minutes from whenever I wake up.

[eglionz]

Every 2-4 hours, 5 meals a day.

Each meal is about 300-350 cals.