Food portrions, does it matter?

[xfile384]

For instance, if your on a 2,000 calorie diet. This is 3 meals a day, vs 5-6.

What's the difference between eating 800 calories for breakfast, 600 calories for lunch and 600 calories for dinner. VS 400 calories for breakfast, snack, lunch, snack, and dinner...

I mean, would this really make a difference? It's easier for me to have a bigger breakfast to get the day started and a smaller lunch and dinner...Usually i eat more than 3 times a day, but sometimes it's only breakfast, lunch, and dinner and i divide it like this...

 

[Built]

Comfort.

Metabolically, nothing. Eat whenever you want. The one suggestion I'd add would be to ensure you eat before and after you train.

 

[Unreal]

Lets say I'm shooting for 2500 calories a day. Normally I eat about 300 for lunch, then 400-450 in my preworkout meal. Then I have my largest meal right after working out when I am feel like I could chew my arm off. This is normally 800-1000 calories, then whatever I have left over I eat right before bed. If larger meals less often works for you then go for it.

 

[QuestionGuy]

BUILT:
Isnt it true that your body can only process about 40g of protein in one "sitting" (meal)...Which would make him consume only about 120 g of protein a day IF HE even gets 40g of protein in per meal..120g of protein a day would most likeley not be enought to cut or especially bulk...unless he is a 120-30 pound woman...............the main reason i eat 5-6 meals a day (this is including my shakes and MRP's) is to get that high amount of protein in that I need for BB puposes....

 

[Unreal]

Not even close to true. You could eat all 200g in one sitting and it will all get used.

 

[largepkg]

Not true at all! Yes the body will absorb a considerable amount of protein in one sitting but if it's not needed it will be used as an energy source, fat storage, or urinated out. Extreme amounts of protein will also stress the kidneys!

 

[Unreal]

I didn't say it would be used to build tissue but it will be used. It just doesn't pass through your body and get ignored. Even eating small ammounts it doesn't all get used to make tissue.

 

[largepkg]

Fair enough. My point is for the BB'er who takes in large amounts of protein. More than 1.5 grams per lb of LBM is overkill and a waste IMO.

I'm guilty of it but it's usually done so I can reach my caloric needs without screwing up my macros. I have no delusions that it's aiding me in building muscle.