one meal

[TrojanMan60563]

I've been thinking.... It seems like many people agree diet all boils down to calories in vs calories out. No benefits to eating smaller more requent meals etc... So if this holds true then why not eat 1 large meal per day? I think logic says eating more frequent is better for digestion and metabolism. But I guess in reality if you eat 2000 calories in 6 meals or 1 it really doesn't matter right?

So does anyone eat just one meal a day and have any success with it?

 

[nkira]

Did you read this http://www.ironmagazineforums.com/diet-nutrition/101530-investigating-optimal-protein-frequency.html

 

[Yanick]

It would be difficult to get 2k cals in, in one sitting, without having to resort to junk food. This might not be a problem, but lets not forget food is more than calories. Fiber, water, micronutrients, antioxidants and stuff we don't even know about yet, are all found in unprocessed foods. These micronutrients are essential to health, deficiencies in one/some of these micronutrients can lead to some serious problems. So its really a matter of practicality. I'm not one to push the whole 6 meals bullshit on people, I don't do it either. Its just too time consuming and you wind up living your life around your food. I still eat an average of 4 times per day though, its just more practical and allows me to get my cals in with good food but without having to constantly think when/where/how I'm gonna shovel the next meal into my mouth.

 

[danzik17]

Don't go to either extreme. I'm sure 1 meal isn't ideal (whether or not there's research to support that, I don't know). Neither is 6 meals ideal (research supported).

The answer is probably somewhere in the middle. Just eat in whatever way makes you comfortable.

 

[nkira]

I can barely eat 1000cals in one sitting, feels like my tummy is gonna explode.

 

[Perdido]

No benefits to eating smaller more frequent meals etc...

Isn't not being hungry a benefit?

 

[nkira]

Only if one is on extreme cut, but even while cutting you must hit your macros.

 

[TrojanMan60563]

I eat 4-5 times a day...easily 5 if you count shakes. Typically 4 meals and 1 post workout shake that I add enough shit to it you might as well call it a meal replacement.

I dont know if I could eat all my daily calories in 1 setting, but I am just trying to figure out if in theory your body would benefit just the same as if you split it up into more servings. My mind automatically leans towards less food more often to utilize more of what you eat.

 

[Built]

Do this if it's more comfortable to you, TrojanMan.

 

[Yanick]

Yeah it all basically boils down to comfort and sustainability. Whatever the science might say, its not like one way is a huge improvement over the other. Even if more frequent feedings are more anabolic its to such a small degree that unless you are an elite BB'er trying to inch ahead of the competition its pretty meaningless. For regular folks who are trying to stay healthy/sexy/strong etc, it just boils down to what you can maintain in the long run.

 

[Built]

Nicely put.

 

[P-funk]

Some people who do the warrior diet do this. Fast all day and eat one large meal in the evening.

I find it easier to break it up into 3 meals if possible.

My daily meals depend on my intermittent fasting schedule.

patrick

 

[Gazhole]

I think it can vary from day to day.

Some days i cant eat a lot in one sitting, but an hour afterwards im hungry again. Other days ill have a giant breakfast, nothing all day, then a giant meal in the evening. Half the time i fall somewhere in the middle, a good sized meal every few hours. Maybe 4 or 5 a day?

So long as you're eating good stuff, you're ahead of the curve. Id rather be comfortable than stick to an arbitrary plan for no reason other than because its on the paper. Go with your gut feeling

 

[nkira]

^ Same here.

 

[DocHoliday]

I've been thinking.... It seems like many people agree diet all boils down to calories in vs calories out. No benefits to eating smaller more requent meals etc... So if this holds true then why not eat 1 large meal per day? I think logic says eating more frequent is better for digestion and metabolism. But I guess in reality if you eat 2000 calories in 6 meals or 1 it really doesn't matter right?

So does anyone eat just one meal a day and have any success with it?

You need to read up on "Starvation Mode", because that is what happens when you go more than about 3 hours without food. Not a good thing, unless you WANT to get fat!

 

[TrojanMan60563]

You need to read up on "Starvation Mode", because that is what happens when you go more than about 3 hours without food. Not a good thing, unless you WANT to get fat!

I agree with this idea...the more often I eat the quicker I get rid of the food and the more I get hungry. To me that says I am burning through food faster due to increase in metabolism. Others on here do not agree with this, and say that a calorie is a calorie...no matter how you get it...and if you burn more in a day you lose weight, and if you eat more then you burn you gain....no matter what your schedule is for eating.

 

[Built]

You need to read up on "Starvation Mode", because that is what happens when you go more than about 3 hours without food. Not a good thing, unless you WANT to get fat!

If I ate every three hours I'd still be fat.

Newsflash: starvation mode takes a LOT longer than three hours!

I try to stay hungry as long as possible, and then eat a nice, large, satisfying meal with plenty of fat and protein. Ultimately, it's all about the calories. I'd rather feel full a few times a day than have this happeh:

I agree with this idea...the more often I eat the quicker I get rid of the food and the more I get hungry. To me that says I am burning through food faster due to increase in metabolism.

Nope. It just means the smaller meal suppressed less ghrelin than the larger meal would have - so you get hungrier sooner.

That being said, there's nothing wrong with this approach if you find it more comfortable. Many do. Many don't.

Others on here do not agree with this, and say that a calorie is a calorie...no matter how you get it...and if you burn more in a day you lose weight, and if you eat more then you burn you gain....no matter what your schedule is for eating.

That's what the research continues to demonstrate, but as I said, ultimately it comes down to comfort: if you can't stick to your diet, nothing else matters.

 

[TrojanMan60563]

Is there a timeframe where your body slows metabolism down if not fed something?

The smaller meals not keeping me satisfied for as long I can see your logic Built. I think for some sick reason I feel better when I diet and I am hungry.

 

[tucker01]

Is there a timeframe where your body slows metabolism down if not fed something?

The smaller meals not keeping me satisfied for as long I can see your logic Built. I think for some sick reason I feel better when I diet and I am hungry.

My guess would be a couple of days

It is absolutely ludicrous to think, that oh oh I haven't eaten in a couple of hours, better go into organ protection mode.