Sport Six Meals a Day Myth

Sport Fitness
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Chris.D

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Someone posted links on this forum a couple of weeks (or more) ago to information about a few studies that have proven that the whole 'six meals a day will increase metabolism' thing is one big fat myth - however I'm now unable to find those links. Can the person who provided these links please repost them?

And before I get mauled by people who believe anything they read on a web forum - my personal view is that I love to eat 5 meals a day, because it keeps me from being hungry - however, people on these forums tend to underestimate the body's adaptability. We dont need to eat 6 times a day, and it's perfectly possible to have a killer body on 2 or 3 meals a day, if that tickles your fancy.
 
If someone did say that 6meals a day would speed your metabolizm then yes they are wrong. But only due to the wrong reason.

The reason you should eat 6meals a day is to stop muscle protein break down. Its obvious that you need to eat before and after your workout, Its also obvious that you need to eat 1st thing in the morning and last thing at night.

When you feel hungry, it means that you body is already breaking down protein for fule.

You should be eatting 5-6 times a day no matter what your goal. This does not mean eatting more. Hell no, but spread it out over the day.
 
I bet your definition of a killer body is different than mine. A 'killer body' on 2 meals a day would be interesting, considering the huuge insulin spike you'd get you would definatly store fat. There's science behind the multiple meals, personally I eat 7-8 a day.
 
Yeah, I eat 5 big meals per day. But thats not including 1 protein shake, 1 protein bar (home made), plus fruit, handful of nuts here and there, and other odd snacks. I make homemade cookies for the car, about 5g protien, 15g carbs, 3g fat - I eat one every time I get in and out of the car even if im not hungry.
 
Chris, I have posted a study here that was posted up at bodyrecomp.com that varied between individuals having 4 meals a day and 6 meals a day and there was very little difference between teh two groups.

We have found out that the TEF (thermal effect of food) doesn't play into the picture as much as previously thought.

However, comparing 2 meals vs 6 meals is way different than comparing 4 meals vs 6 meals. 4 meals=1 meal every 4 hours+8 hours of sleep with no food intake.

I'm a lot like Mreik at this point-I have 6-8 feedings a day.

The body's ability to adapt is a completely different animal and a completely different discussion.
 
and often the term 'metabolism' is used when 'energy' is meant. eating 5-7 times a day produces a more stable energy level, because you don't have such hugh insulin/blood sugar spikes, or drop offs. A big carb-filled lunch is why people are so lethargic from 2-5pm...after insulin deals with blood sugar, you bottom out and feel like death warmed over.

indirectly eating often does boost metabolism, because it gives you the energy to perform exercise, which does increasee metabolism.
 
evolution said:
Chris, I have posted a study here that was posted up at bodyrecomp.com that varied between individuals having 4 meals a day and 6 meals a day and there was very little difference between teh two groups.

We have found out that the TEF (thermal effect of food) doesn't play into the picture as much as previously thought.

However, comparing 2 meals vs 6 meals is way different than comparing 4 meals vs 6 meals. 4 meals=1 meal every 4 hours+8 hours of sleep with no food intake.

I'm a lot like Mreik at this point-I have 6-8 feedings a day.

The body's ability to adapt is a completely different animal and a completely different discussion.
Click to expand...

THis is completely avoiding overall energy intake, as well as rate of digestion (and adaptation of the latter to the former).

Lyle's been of the opinion recently that amount of feedings doesn't matter, if you take energy intake into account. 4000 calories a day, if you only eat two meals, assuming you can get that much down, the food will stay in the stomach so long that you might as well have broken it into several meals anyway.

It seems to be another issue of hair-splitting.
 
If you know a diabetic with a blood sugar tester you can test this yourself.

On both days test your blood sugar level every half hour.
Both days eat 3000cals.

On the 1st day eat your 3000cals over 6 evenly spaced out meals

On the 2nd day eat them in two meals.

You will see why we eat 6 or more meals per day.
 
PMDilly said:
THis is completely avoiding overall energy intake, as well as rate of digestion (and adaptation of the latter to the former).

Lyle's been of the opinion recently that amount of feedings doesn't matter, if you take energy intake into account. 4000 calories a day, if you only eat two meals, assuming you can get that much down, the food will stay in the stomach so long that you might as well have broken it into several meals anyway.

It seems to be another issue of hair-splitting.
Click to expand...

If you over eat, some food will be passed only partially digested (or at least not fully), so you're not getting all 4k calories. And on top of that, your body can't take more than 50-60g of protein in one sitting so how do you advise we get 250g if that's our quota?
 
PMDilly said:
THis is completely avoiding overall energy intake, as well as rate of digestion (and adaptation of the latter to the former).

Lyle's been of the opinion recently that amount of feedings doesn't matter, if you take energy intake into account. 4000 calories a day, if you only eat two meals, assuming you can get that much down, the food will stay in the stomach so long that you might as well have broken it into several meals anyway.

It seems to be another issue of hair-splitting.
Click to expand...

I know that Lyle is less concerned with meal frequency so long as everthing else is considered equal, but I don't think I've every seen him go lower than 3 meals a day when aesthetic purposes are the primary concern.

Rate of digestion is always a fun discussion with fun scenarios of person X eating blah blah blah and person Y eating blah blah blah
 
Pretty darn thought provoking stuff here.

Good replies

Defining what metabolism is: (as wikipedia defines) biochemical modification of chemical compounds in living organisms and cells.....including catabolism and anabolism.

Does eating every 2-3 hours you are awake (about 6 meals) effect metabolism. YOU BET YOUR ARSE IT DOES. Since food/supplement is chemical put into the body at different times. It will speed up or slow down metabolism :D
 
trainerty said:
Pretty darn thought provoking stuff here.

Good replies

Defining what metabolism is: (as wikipedia defines) biochemical modification of chemical compounds in living organisms and cells.....including catabolism and anabolism.

Does eating every 2-3 hours you are awake (about 6 meals) effect metabolism. YOU BET YOUR ARSE IT DOES. Since food/supplement is chemical put into the body at different times. It will speed up or slow down metabolism :D
Click to expand...

This is what I believe, food every 2-3 hrs does speed metabolism. Just my belief because i've seen the results on myself, and mother.
 
mreik said:
If you over eat, some food will be passed only partially digested (or at least not fully), so you're not getting all 4k calories. And on top of that, your body can't take more than 50-60g of protein in one sitting so how do you advise we get 250g if that's our quota?
Click to expand...

It can't? Since when?
 
evolution said:
I know that Lyle is less concerned with meal frequency so long as everthing else is considered equal, but I don't think I've every seen him go lower than 3 meals a day when aesthetic purposes are the primary concern.

Rate of digestion is always a fun discussion with fun scenarios of person X eating blah blah blah and person Y eating blah blah blah
Click to expand...

Read some of the recent stuff he's been posting on the forums. He's made it pretty clear that meal frequency isn't something to be that concerned with.

The three meals thing is a matter of convenience, not biological necessity.
 
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