Is eating every 3 hours necessary?

[Fitchick32]

I have been training for the last year and have been eating every 2-3 hours. The past few days I have even drinking green smoothies and they fill me up until lunch. They are only about 200 calories but I don't want to eat in btwn breakfast and lunch bc I am still full.

Do I have to eat that often even if I am not hungry? I guess I wouldn't meet my caloric requirements but I don't like feeling so full.

[lobsteriffic]

You don't have to. We have people on here that do intermittant fasting and only eat for a few hours a day and then fast the rest of the time. They have made great progress while doing this. xjohanx and cubby would the ones to talk to, and I think chrisjs.

[lobsteriffic]

If you're not meeting your caloric goals by eating less often, you could always just make your meals bigger...

[Fitchick32]

Thanks! The green smoothies definitely fill me up so I am not forcing myself to eat a snack and I feel great!

[sosso]

The reason many people eat every three hours or so is to speed up metabolism and also make sure they can eat enough food. Just think about it in practical terms, for the people who eat 4000-5000 calories a day to gain or maintain weight. It's considerably more difficult to eat three 1500 calorie meals than it is to eat six 750 calorie meals.

[Zack]

The reason many people eat every three hours or so is to speed up metabolism and also make sure they can eat enough food. Just think about it in practical terms, for the people who eat 4000-5000 calories a day to gain or maintain weight. It's considerably more difficult to eat three 1500 calorie meals than it is to eat six 750 calorie meals.

I find it easier, and the metabolism boosting is a huge myth. Johan once posted a cool article about it.

[sosso]

Ah really. I'd like to read that.

[chewybaws]

I don't think it really matters how you spread it out over the day. Most days I'll spread my meals out over 2-3 hours, occasionally I'll eat everything before 5-6pm.

I would also look at what you're eating. I find it easier to make a lot of smoothies and drink my calories (most meals, but not all). I find they digest quicker compared to the solid meals they replaced and noticed no difference in weight gain. I also prefer more nuts/seeds to rice/beans - they just seem to sit in my stomach for hours and make it hard to eat anything else. Everyone's different, but i definitely recomend experimenting with how spread out your meals are, meal order, what you're eating. It's hard enough work as it is, try making it a bit easier on yourself.

[vege]

i also blend most of my meals, especially the beans, chickpeas and lentils, and with them also the veggies. I put some tahini, or ground flaxseed, or pumpkin seed butter in it, and it's like baby food, great on my stomach. And I can eat tons of food like that. Every 3 hours! I'm lucky to work at home, so I can fix that food anytime I want it

[Zack]

Ah really. I'd like to read that.

I'll look around and see if I can dig it/others up.

[Fitchick32]

Thanks everyone! I am only eating 3-4 times/ day and only when I am hungry. I was so used to eating every 2 hours on my old diet but I am getting so many nutrients and now and I stay full. Something is working because I have made changes in just a few weeks!

Does anyone cut carbs out after lunch?