S/O S/O - why does eating 1000 calories mean you'll gain it back? Q about cal counting

[Anonymous]

Sorry to say 5 to 6 meals a day is very bad advice.
3 meals a day and no snacks if you are overweight.
2 low carb meals a day and no snacks even better.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Sorry to say 5 to 6 meals a day is very bad advice.
3 meals a day and no snacks if you are overweight.
2 low carb meals a day and no snacks even better.

2-3 meals a day no snacks is not sustainable over long period of time.
5-6 meals (mostly veggies +lean protein) between 9 am and 6 pm almost guarantee no snacking at night, no mid-might binges, stable blood sugar levels around the clock. And, your calories intake is still in 1500-1800/day range. No overeating, no crazy 1000 cal a day restrictions

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Sorry to say 5 to 6 meals a day is very bad advice.
3 meals a day and no snacks if you are overweight.
2 low carb meals a day and no snacks even better.

+1.

I would add though that if you feel that you absolutely need to snack have only one carb free or low carb snack a day in the beginning. Then learn to not snack at all. You don't want your blood glucose to spike often. And adults don't need snacks, we are not newborns to constantly feed ourselves.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Sorry to say 5 to 6 meals a day is very bad advice.
3 meals a day and no snacks if you are overweight.
2 low carb meals a day and no snacks even better.

2-3 meals a day no snacks is not sustainable over long period of time.
5-6 meals (mostly veggies +lean protein) between 9 am and 6 pm almost guarantee no snacking at night, no mid-might binges, stable blood sugar levels around the clock. And, your calories intake is still in 1500-1800/day range. No overeating, no crazy 1000 cal a day restrictions

Who on earth eats 5-6 meals a day unless you are bulking? How do you possibly keep calories low if you are eating nonstop?

[Anonymous]

I eat frequently. My snacks are usually things like a piece of fruit, a yogurt (without sugar or artificial sweeteners), raw veggies, lean protein, a mini Kind bar. My meals are healthy and moderate (and not carb free or low carb).

I lost weight eating like this (around 1500 calories) and I'm maintaining my weight eating like this (with added calories). Listening to my body works better than starving it (I just had to get it to ask for an apple instead of 4 Oreos). I have always had this appetite.

I do feel like I'm eating all the time but oh well! DH doesn't snack and has a small breakfast and lunch and a large dinner. He weighs twice as much as I do (he is 4 inches taller).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I eat frequently. My snacks are usually things like a piece of fruit, a yogurt (without sugar or artificial sweeteners), raw veggies, lean protein, a mini Kind bar. My meals are healthy and moderate (and not carb free or low carb).

I lost weight eating like this (around 1500 calories) and I'm maintaining my weight eating like this (with added calories). Listening to my body works better than starving it (I just had to get it to ask for an apple instead of 4 Oreos). I have always had this appetite.

I do feel like I'm eating all the time but oh well! DH doesn't snack and has a small breakfast and lunch and a large dinner. He weighs twice as much as I do (he is 4 inches taller).

You are not "starving your body" if you eat three meals a day! Your DH clearly eats more calories regardless of the time of the day he eats and how many times he eats.

[Anonymous]

^^ and as you clearly write about your DH, eating three times a day is clearly not starving for him!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Sorry to say 5 to 6 meals a day is very bad advice.
3 meals a day and no snacks if you are overweight.
2 low carb meals a day and no snacks even better.

No, it really isn't.

The number of meals or snack you eat in a day does not matter at all as long as your calories are in check. If you eat say 1500 calories it doesn't matter if those calories are consumed over 1, 3, 6, or 10 meals day.

It is all about figuring out what works best for you.

[Anonymous]

This is OP. I don't understand the eating plan, but so far it's working; I'm more afraid what happens when "real life" starts and if I'm screwing myself up ala Biggest Losers. Being 49 years old, I don't want to do anything that's going to make this harder for the next 40 years!

My husband has been a muscle guy for the entire 30+ years of our marriage. He's always insisted most traditionally trained nutrition people and doctors really don't understand diet and supplements and metabolism, and things that have been "proven" by the fitness community. (So interesting to hear him and our daughter debate certain things!) I always likened it to Ayurveda and other alternative medicines - probably something to it, but ymmv. The gym's nutritionist explained the goal is to feed the body with the most efficient/nutritious foods, make sure it understands it's not going to starve even with low cals and "reset the metabolism". I don't know - it seems like exciting talk, but it's hard for me to trust - is the body smart enough to recognize those efforts, or is it really a matter of calorie in/calorie out? But even on this thread the opinions are so extremely varied.

To the PP who asked "how can you even eat 6 meals a day and stay low cal", I had the same thought. When I read the plan and saw that a snack might be 2 egg whites, I thought WTF? Who can only eat 2 egg whites and be satisfied?! But 5 weeks in, I'm starting to see that is exactly what happens when you're eating good quality foods in the right portions. Like I said, I'm averaging 1350 cals. I try to get 1 gallon of water/day, and yesterday's meals were:


1.5 oz oatmeal
1 oz berry mix
1/2 serving almonds
4 egg whites


protein drink


4 oz turkey burger
2.5 oz sweet potato
huge garden salad w/olive oil


5 oz fat free cottage cheese w/tomatos


4 oz grilled chicken
2.5 oz rice
asparagus


no sugar added greek yogurt
1/2 serving almonds



I wake up at 5, take a 45 minute HIIT class 5 mornings/week, and try to be in bed by 8:30-9, but it's closer to 11 by the time I actually fall asleep. I know I need to work on getting better/more sleep. For me, the hardest part of this has been planning. Also boredom, which is why I think most people think this wouldn't be sustainable. But I'm always satiated and have recognized my cravings are head hunger usually around ovulation/period.

I'm only 20 lbs in...so I could be 100% off base and doing irreparable damage. I'm looking to as many sources as possible to understand how to fix my life in the best way. (I just learned we're going to be grandparents and I want to take that kiddo on a hike without being out of breath and worried if my knee is going to give out.) I appreciate all the opinions and will continue researching. thank you!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is OP. I don't understand the eating plan, but so far it's working; I'm more afraid what happens when "real life" starts and if I'm screwing myself up ala Biggest Losers. Being 49 years old, I don't want to do anything that's going to make this harder for the next 40 years!

My husband has been a muscle guy for the entire 30+ years of our marriage. He's always insisted most traditionally trained nutrition people and doctors really don't understand diet and supplements and metabolism, and things that have been "proven" by the fitness community. (So interesting to hear him and our daughter debate certain things!) I always likened it to Ayurveda and other alternative medicines - probably something to it, but ymmv. The gym's nutritionist explained the goal is to feed the body with the most efficient/nutritious foods, make sure it understands it's not going to starve even with low cals and "reset the metabolism". I don't know - it seems like exciting talk, but it's hard for me to trust - is the body smart enough to recognize those efforts, or is it really a matter of calorie in/calorie out? But even on this thread the opinions are so extremely varied.

To the PP who asked "how can you even eat 6 meals a day and stay low cal", I had the same thought. When I read the plan and saw that a snack might be 2 egg whites, I thought WTF? Who can only eat 2 egg whites and be satisfied?! But 5 weeks in, I'm starting to see that is exactly what happens when you're eating good quality foods in the right portions. Like I said, I'm averaging 1350 cals. I try to get 1 gallon of water/day, and yesterday's meals were:


1.5 oz oatmeal
1 oz berry mix
1/2 serving almonds
4 egg whites


protein drink


4 oz turkey burger
2.5 oz sweet potato
huge garden salad w/olive oil


5 oz fat free cottage cheese w/tomatos


4 oz grilled chicken
2.5 oz rice
asparagus


no sugar added greek yogurt
1/2 serving almonds



I wake up at 5, take a 45 minute HIIT class 5 mornings/week, and try to be in bed by 8:30-9, but it's closer to 11 by the time I actually fall asleep. I know I need to work on getting better/more sleep. For me, the hardest part of this has been planning. Also boredom, which is why I think most people think this wouldn't be sustainable. But I'm always satiated and have recognized my cravings are head hunger usually around ovulation/period.

I'm only 20 lbs in...so I could be 100% off base and doing irreparable damage. I'm looking to as many sources as possible to understand how to fix my life in the best way. (I just learned we're going to be grandparents and I want to take that kiddo on a hike without being out of breath and worried if my knee is going to give out.) I appreciate all the opinions and will continue researching. thank you!

It not just a talk. You truly teach your body not to starve, like Pavlov's dog. When you know that next food is coming 2.5-3 hours - there is no point in saving energy for a rainy day. In addition, you keep your blood sugar stable. When you're eating every 2.5-3 hours, your blood sugar doesn't sink below certain level, therefore, it doesn't spike up either. In addition - there is nothing in your diet that can really cause spikes - no sweets, minimal amount of fruit and starches. No dips in sugar means no hunger and cravings.
In the long run problem is planning. You should always have your next meal ready, even if it's just cherry tomatoes and cheese stick.
As for boredom - yes, a bit of that. On the bright side - same menu every day means less energy spent thinking about it. Remember Steve Jobs and his same outfit every day? No brain power spend on what to wear - more energy to be spent on something more exciting.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is OP. I don't understand the eating plan, but so far it's working; I'm more afraid what happens when "real life" starts and if I'm screwing myself up ala Biggest Losers. Being 49 years old, I don't want to do anything that's going to make this harder for the next 40 years!

My husband has been a muscle guy for the entire 30+ years of our marriage. He's always insisted most traditionally trained nutrition people and doctors really don't understand diet and supplements and metabolism, and things that have been "proven" by the fitness community. (So interesting to hear him and our daughter debate certain things!) I always likened it to Ayurveda and other alternative medicines - probably something to it, but ymmv. The gym's nutritionist explained the goal is to feed the body with the most efficient/nutritious foods, make sure it understands it's not going to starve even with low cals and "reset the metabolism". I don't know - it seems like exciting talk, but it's hard for me to trust - is the body smart enough to recognize those efforts, or is it really a matter of calorie in/calorie out? But even on this thread the opinions are so extremely varied.
...

It not just a talk. You truly teach your body not to starve, like Pavlov's dog. When you know that next food is coming 2.5-3 hours - there is no point in saving energy for a rainy day. In addition, you keep your blood sugar stable. When you're eating every 2.5-3 hours, your blood sugar doesn't sink below certain level, therefore, it doesn't spike up either. In addition - there is nothing in your diet that can really cause spikes - no sweets, minimal amount of fruit and starches. No dips in sugar means no hunger and cravings.
In the long run problem is planning. You should always have your next meal ready, even if it's just cherry tomatoes and cheese stick.
As for boredom - yes, a bit of that. On the bright side - same menu every day means less energy spent thinking about it. Remember Steve Jobs and his same outfit every day? No brain power spend on what to wear - more energy to be spent on something more exciting.

You seem familiar with this type of plan, thank you for that blood sugar info. Do you know about "refeed" (used to be called cheat) meals? 3 weeks in, we were instructed to have a carb meal - spaghetti, a bun w/our burger, pancakes w/whipped cream - something carb-y, but not a lot of added sugar. I noticed after that refeed, my cravings, which had really been intense the few days before, subsided. The nutritionist mentioned "my nutrition clients are always pleasantly surprised when I call out of the blue and tell them to refeed". If you're familiar with this concept, do you know its purpose and how often those are supposed to happen? Is there a trigger like plateauing, or a timed event? Is it only carb refeeding, or is it ever another macro? Sorry to put you on the spot, but if you happen to understand, I'd love to hear your thoughts on that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is OP. I don't understand the eating plan, but so far it's working; I'm more afraid what happens when "real life" starts and if I'm screwing myself up ala Biggest Losers. Being 49 years old, I don't want to do anything that's going to make this harder for the next 40 years!

My husband has been a muscle guy for the entire 30+ years of our marriage. He's always insisted most traditionally trained nutrition people and doctors really don't understand diet and supplements and metabolism, and things that have been "proven" by the fitness community. (So interesting to hear him and our daughter debate certain things!) I always likened it to Ayurveda and other alternative medicines - probably something to it, but ymmv. The gym's nutritionist explained the goal is to feed the body with the most efficient/nutritious foods, make sure it understands it's not going to starve even with low cals and "reset the metabolism". I don't know - it seems like exciting talk, but it's hard for me to trust - is the body smart enough to recognize those efforts, or is it really a matter of calorie in/calorie out? But even on this thread the opinions are so extremely varied.
...

It not just a talk. You truly teach your body not to starve, like Pavlov's dog. When you know that next food is coming 2.5-3 hours - there is no point in saving energy for a rainy day. In addition, you keep your blood sugar stable. When you're eating every 2.5-3 hours, your blood sugar doesn't sink below certain level, therefore, it doesn't spike up either. In addition - there is nothing in your diet that can really cause spikes - no sweets, minimal amount of fruit and starches. No dips in sugar means no hunger and cravings.
In the long run problem is planning. You should always have your next meal ready, even if it's just cherry tomatoes and cheese stick.
As for boredom - yes, a bit of that. On the bright side - same menu every day means less energy spent thinking about it. Remember Steve Jobs and his same outfit every day? No brain power spend on what to wear - more energy to be spent on something more exciting.

You seem familiar with this type of plan, thank you for that blood sugar info. Do you know about "refeed" (used to be called cheat) meals? 3 weeks in, we were instructed to have a carb meal - spaghetti, a bun w/our burger, pancakes w/whipped cream - something carb-y, but not a lot of added sugar. I noticed after that refeed, my cravings, which had really been intense the few days before, subsided. The nutritionist mentioned "my nutrition clients are always pleasantly surprised when I call out of the blue and tell them to refeed". If you're familiar with this concept, do you know its purpose and how often those are supposed to happen? Is there a trigger like plateauing, or a timed event? Is it only carb refeeding, or is it ever another macro? Sorry to put you on the spot, but if you happen to understand, I'd love to hear your thoughts on that.

I am not familiar with your particular plan, but it has some points of my plan - high protein, multiple meals a day, low sugar but not low carb, focus on controling craivings.
My understanding here is that limited diets lead to shortage of some minerals/elements, and you just crave them no matter what. Satisfying those cravings once in a while allows you to stay close to the plan longer. Mind trick of sorts to keep you going without building deprevation that would cause abondoning your plan altogether. Just a wild guess, maybe there are other explanations.
System I follow uses different approach for cravings - variety of tastes and textures, always. I can pick particular food withing the group to satisfy whatewer itch I have. They also more focused on timing (eg bowl of spagetti for breakfast - not a big deal, bowl of icecream at 9 pm -big no-no) and mitigation (always go for a walk immediately after cheat meal - help your body lower that sugar spike via light cardio)

[Anonymous]

There be a pp here with nothing to do all day but make her 5-6 meals per day!
Ain't nobody else got time for that between work and kids! Must be some rich person that does nothing all day long but that!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There be a pp here with nothing to do all day but make her 5-6 meals per day!
Ain't nobody else got time for that between work and kids! Must be some rich person that does nothing all day long but that!

Meals don't have to be extravagant. Hard boiled eggs+overnight oats+handful of baby carrots or chopped up cucumbers/tomatoes/bell peppers + feta cheese constitutes a meal in my books. It is boring, but exactly time consuming.

[Anonymous]

/\ NOT time consuming