several small meals vs 2-3 big ones

[Mothercooter]

Can someone tell me the benefits or why we should eat several small meals instead of 2 or 3 regular ones.

I havent been doing that for the past few days. I have been waking really nauseous and no appetite so I start of my water. I am not even intrested in food till noon. sometimes I do take a nibble of cheese just cause of the 6 hour rule. I then make me a nice lunch. meat, an "other" veggie and 1 cup salad, then for dinner, meat, cheese, 1 cup salad.

Somedays I have "brunch" though instead of lunch around sy 10 or 11 but havent done that in a week or so. Id have eggs and cheese and bacon.

Yesterday was a horribly busy day and for some reason I was so un-hungry I only ate lunch. Was a nice sized lunch though or meat, speghetti squash, cheese, and half deviled egg. It wasnt a huge plateful or anything but a nice amount but that was it and I wasnt hungry anymore.

Anyway, what Im asking is could I be slowing my progress by not eating more often? I know one of the reasons we should eat often is to prevent hunger and cravings, less chance we would cheat but I believe there is a better reason that has to do with metabolism. Is it OK to skip breakfast, or any meal for that matter? If not and Im not hungry do i have to eat a whole meal or just something like a few eggs or something?

[CroweKitty]

Re: several small meals vs 2-3 big ones

Congrats on your weight loss so far!

The theory is that several small meals rev's up your metabolism, because you burn several calories just digesting food. Of course, those meals are supposed to be smaller than normal meals.

And, like you said, it stabilizes your blood sugar, preventing binging.

I think that breakfast is really important, mostly because you've already fasted since dinner time, so your body needs something. So I would suggest you eat at least a little something at breakfast.

[2big4mysize]

Re: several small meals vs 2-3 big ones

have you ever seen a little kid eat they can be very picky for a couple days and then you are wondering where all the food is going. that is listening to your hunger. when you do Atkins listebn to your hunger remember we have a very large energy reserve in out body fat. it you are not hungry use the 6hr rule and only have a small snack fo some protein/fat with a samll amount of your carbs. then if 6 more hours pass and you still are not hungry have another small snack. until you do feel hungry. remember feeling hugry isn't just a growling stomach it can be any or all of this too.
Feeling of emptiness in stomach, Dizziness, faintness or light-headedness, Headache, Irritability, easily agitated, Lack of concentration, Nausea

learn what for you hunger is by using Dr Atkins method as explained in DANDR eat only part of what you got on the plate and stop if you are huungry eat more if not put it up for later. when you get hungry you can eat more. If you make it on 1/2 the plate the next time fix just 1/2 a plate and eat only 1/2 of it and stop. Keep doing that until you learn how littel you need to eat to satisfy your hunger and what your hunger feels like.

happy low carbing

[MotherOfGizmo]

Re: several small meals vs 2-3 big ones

I have extremely bad reflux and was advised years ago to eat 6 small meals a day - it helps keep your stomach from trying to digest itself! Like everyone said, it keeps your blood sugar stable and your metabolism revved up! Plus, it keeps you from gorging yourself from being too hungry!