Thread: is it really nessary to eat 5 meals?

The body is more efficient if you spread the meals through the day, instead of "piling 20 pounds of coal in the furnace all at once". You also obtain the added benefit of speeding up the metabolism.

So, its not REALLY neccessary, but I think if you want to reach a certain level, you will have to, and even at current you would be better off if you could find a way to do it.

It is kind of tough though, 6 meals a day means your up for 16-19 hours of the day, in theory, if they are 3 hours apart.

You could fit another meal at 9 and be set for the night.

Some interesting trivia! Cory Everson (former 6 x Ms. Olympia) never ate more than 3 meals per day.

another

I don't believe that...does she claim to be all-natural as well ?

alright, i guess i can fit the last meal.

for the between snacks im eating err drinking protein shakes.
is it wise to go wit a whey protein shake at 9pm?

Originally posted by LAM
I don't believe that...does she claim to be all-natural as well ?

Actually, her former husband, Jeff Everson, is the one that said this in a article in his magazine Planet Muscle.

Why would he lie?

Originally posted by Prince

Why would he lie?

Because he can?

Originally posted by w8lifter
Because he can?

You're missing my point! What would he have to gain by saying she only ate 3 meals if she really ate more?

Bragging about genetics? Who knows.

Originally posted by Mudge
Bragging about genetics? Who knows.

No, he was not bragging about her, he was talking about eating, dieting, etc., and he just made the comment how most bodybuilders eat 6-8 times per day, and that's when he made the comment that he was not sure if this is necessary and he used Cory as an example. That's it.

I can see 3x a day to maintain. but not to gain or lose body fat, at least not for anyone with average genetics and training natural...

Prince, i'm familiar w/ the Planet Muscle where Jeff Everson mentions Cory never ate more than 3 meals, and I do believe he was being honest. The problem is she was also on a host of drugs to help her out with her physique. BUT, even though this may be true, I don't believe 5-6 or as some do 7-8 meals is necessary at all.

For startes, several meals a day DOES work, thousands have gotten ripped on it, and build muscle. But it doesnt mean it is optimal or the best way. Consider that 6 meals a day started becoming popular with the invention of the MRP (Met-RX was the original), since eating 6 meals a day is pretty near impossible if one has a life, buy their supplements and you can get in the 6 meals you need to reach your goals.

Research on several small meals also comes mainly from research with diabetics, who are given a HIGH CARB DIET. Why Diabetics would be given a diet that is actually CAUSING their problem is beyond me, but several small meals higher in carbs stabilizes blood sugar much better than bigger carb meals b/c the insulin response is determined not only by the Glycemic Index but also the quantity of carbs consumed (as well as protein and fat in a meal, which makes a huge difference, which is why the glycemic index is speculation at best). But if your goal is to get leaner OR put on muscle (or if you want to be healthy), eating carbs all day is NOT optimal.

Then their is more speculation as to the maximum amount of protein one can utilize in a meal. I've heard anywhere from 30g per meal up to 80g per meal, but studies have NOT been done so this is all just bogus from peoples imagination. I CAN tell you there is research supporting a "Protein Pulse", where elderly people got 80% of their protein intake in a single meal, and had better protein synthesis and nitrogen retention than a group eating the same amount of protein in a spread pattern, but more research needs to be done.

Serge Nubret (one of the greatest physiques of all time) worked out in the evening and ate one huge meal for the day after his workout. Of course he was well juiced as well, but it certainly worked for him. Is this optimal, probably not. This is b/c during fasting, there are 3 distinct phases. Phase I and II allow for adaptions where protein remains protected, fat utilization increases up to 90% of energy, and enzymes become upregulated to utilize what protein does become ingested. At 18 hours of fasting/starving, we enter phase III where protein muscle protein breakdown increases dramatically, and fat utilization drops.

Another arguement is several small meals raises metabolism. Lyle McDonald referenced research comparing 4 or 6 meals at equal calories, and fat loss is equal as long as the diet composition is the same. 4 meals raises metabolic rate less often but more and 6 meals raises it more often but less. The body doesnt shut down its metabolism after a couple hours after not eating, nor does it "EAT UP MUSCLE", if protein isn't eaten every 2-3 hours. Evolutionarily, this would make NO sense as muscle is one of our most precious resources, and humans went through times when food was scarce. Our bodies have the ability for unlimited fat storage b/c its our primary fuel source and if we are eating right its what we are meant to burn when no food is present.

Allright, I gotta stop typing, gotta hit the gym and my hands are tired. Hope this helps.

Spreading your meals through the day is way older then MetRX.

Originally posted by Mudge
Spreading your meals through the day is way older then MetRX.

I agree that the concept is older, but, like Pood said, didn't become mainstream until the MRPs were developed. It's the convenience factor.

I like what W8 said about Mr. Everson Lying.

I also like how we're all talking about eating, Cory, and spreading without getting pornal.

Oh, I'm sorry, I just did. I think we should eat three good meals and give our significant others oral the other times to get five good eats in per day.

Or we could eat the five meals and concentrate solely on ourselves like selfish, uncaring, biatches........

Originally posted by Rob_NC


I agree that the concept is older, but, like Pood said, didn't become mainstream until the MRPs were developed. It's the convenience factor.

I suppose, you could be right. Guys like me are still only eating 1/2 of what the pros of the 60s ate, which is what I'm comparing too. There comes a point where consuming 3 pounds of food at 3 meals would just seem ridiculous, so spreading it out was the way to go.

Originally posted by Mudge


There comes a point where consuming 3 pounds of food at 3 meals would just seem ridiculous, so spreading it out was the way to go.

And I think the toilet will thank you later.

How about my digestive system, alot easier to consume smaller meals through the day instead of 3 huge ones.