Three square meals vs. grazing...
07-08-2012, 11:07 PM
#2
FitDay Member
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Orange, VA
Posts: 72
For me it's helpful just to do three meals and absolutely not eat any other time. I try to wait until 7:00 a.m. to eat breakfast and I keep it under 600 calories. I can't have lunch until noon and still keep it under 600 calories. Ditto dinner which I do not allow myself to start preparing until after 5:00 p.m.
If I have to have a snack between meals it is not allowed to take my last dinner total over 600 (so if I only ate 500 calories for lunch, then I can have a snack at 3:00 p.m. that's under 100 calories).
Keeping carrot chips or pepper rings or dill pickles around to munch on if I'm really hungry helps. At night my "snack" is usually just decaf coffee or tea. I've lost 59 pounds in just under 3 months (300 lbs to 241 lbs). So far it's worked for me.
If I have to have a snack between meals it is not allowed to take my last dinner total over 600 (so if I only ate 500 calories for lunch, then I can have a snack at 3:00 p.m. that's under 100 calories).
Keeping carrot chips or pepper rings or dill pickles around to munch on if I'm really hungry helps. At night my "snack" is usually just decaf coffee or tea. I've lost 59 pounds in just under 3 months (300 lbs to 241 lbs). So far it's worked for me.
07-09-2012, 01:55 AM
#3
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Thread Starter
Join Date: Jun 2012
Posts: 26
Well, matttymatt, I tried eating three square meals and no snacks -- the French way -- and it drove me mad! It must me my blood sugar, or the meds I take, but after I ate my three square, healthy meals I still craved sugar like I was a junkie... grazing little bits of what I wanted has made my life much easier... and my 16W jeans are starting to fall down, so that's the gravy... what do other people on the forum have to say? Behlor
07-09-2012, 02:46 AM
#4
FitDay Member
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Pennsylvania
Posts: 1,517
I say that every person has something different that works best for them. Personally I stick with 3 meals a day but I have healthful snacks when I need one. Right now I am eating an apple because breakfast was at 7 and today I am not eating lunch until almost 1:30 so I don't want to get over-hungry.
07-09-2012, 07:59 AM
#6
FitDay Premium Member
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Riverside, CA
Posts: 2,042
I say that every person has something different that works best for them. Personally I stick with 3 meals a day but I have healthful snacks when I need one. Right now I am eating an apple because breakfast was at 7 and today I am not eating lunch until almost 1:30 so I don't want to get over-hungry.
07-09-2012, 08:34 AM
#7
FitDay Member
Join Date: Jul 2010
Posts: 36
Track your calories for 2 weeks on fitday. Find your average and drop 500 cals/day. If you lose around 1lb/week for a month you will be on track. Adjust as needed. Start by eating the same foods you eat now but just less and slowly switch out out for more nutrient rich foods.
07-09-2012, 12:04 PM
#8
FitDay Member
Join Date: Jan 2012
Posts: 77
I vote small meals! I have been eating small meals since January and have lost almost 50 pounds. (I am at about 45 pound right now because I had to gain some back for my marathon training....which I ran on Sunday!!! So now back at it)....Anyway, that method worked great for me, but I think it is a personal choice. I had to fully plan out my day to make sure I reached all my nutrition goals, but I liked the food plan. If you have any questions about it, let me know.
07-10-2012, 02:35 AM
#9
FitDay Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jun 2012
Posts: 26
Interesting, liberatedmist... the small meals work for me too! Yes, I tend to eat lots of carbs, but the carbs tend to be fruits, veggies, and little bits of whole grains... I also like something like a cup of seafood salad or a salad with cheese for lunch (must pack in the protein)... I still eat sugar, but I have little craving for soda these days... I'm more into coffee and herbal tea... and moving much more definitely helps... Behlor
